Catalog (335)

Very Finely Embroidered Deluxe Pair of Korean Pillow Ends with Two Cranes (symbol of a long and happy life together) and Peonies (symbol of love and prosperity). A very special pair. Mounted and framed, but the frame is in disrepair and should be replaced. 5.5 x 4.25 inches, 14 x 11 cm each.

Rare Antique Korean Spirit Shrine Painting (Kam Mo Yo Je Do). Spirit House Paintings are in the collections of several major museums. This painting would have been placed in a place of reverence in the home, and on the anniversary of an ancestor's death, a slip of paper with the ancestor's name would be placed on the blank space in the open doorway of the shrine in the painting and a ritual would have been performed in front of the painting. Kammo means 'to adore with deep emotion' and Yoje means 'to respectfully address the spirits as if they were at the ceremony', and Do means 'painting'. Ink on paper. Frame: 37.5 x 27 inches, 95 x 68.5 cm; Painting: 31 x 21 inches, 79 x 53.5 cm.

Ceramic Sculpture by Cha Wa Sook. 18h x 16w x 4d inches, 46h x 40.5w x 25.5 cm.

Porcelain Cube Tower Vase in the signature geometric style of Korean contemporary ceramic artist, Lee Min Kyu. The body subtly tapers at the top and bottom. This vase makes a great set when combined with the Lee Min Kyu Porcelain Bowl (Stock #0388), as seen in the last photo here. Height: 15.5 inches, 39 cm; Circumference: 18 inches, 45.5 cm.

Porcelain Cube Bowl in the signature geometric style of Korean contemporary ceramic artist, Lee Min Kyu. The sides of the bowl seem to rise up straight, yet they flare outward ever so slightly. This bowl makes a great set when combined with the Lee Min Kyu Porcelain Vase (Stock #0387), as seen in the last photo here. Width: 9.5 inches, 24 cm; Height: 4.5 inches, 11.25 cm.

A Fine and Old Painting of Dokseong, Korea's Hermit Saint in a most beautiful landscape. This gorgeous painting has a phenomenal dark patina that could only have developed through years of ritual use and adds greatly to the contemplative beauty and serenity of this very special work of art. Dokseong is pictured in an inspiring remote mountain forest, a Daoist style landscape where he seeks solitude and self-cultivation. His attire is that of a Buddhist monk. He is revered by Buddhists and Shamans. Paintings of Dokseong are the most constant companions of Sansin (Mountain God) paintings in the Sansin-gak Shrine of Buddhist temples in Korea. Some temples even give Dokseong his own shrine, the Dokseong-gak. There is an old inscription at the bottom of the painting. Frame: 34.75 x 26 inches (88 x 66 cm), Painting: 29.75 x 21 inches (75.5 x 53.5 cm).

Rare Korean Black Lacquered Arrow Case (Quiver) of bamboo with a design of grapes, peonies, and ferns. Length: 40 inches, 101.5 cm.

Seo Byung Ho was the recipient of the top prize in the 2009 World Ceramic Biennale, the highest paid ceramic art prize in the world. With this lovely pair of sculptural vases, Seo has combined the shape of a traditional vessel with the form of a fish, a symbol of eternal vigilance because the fish never closes its eyes. For the same reason, the fish is also a symbol of diligence that has long been a source of inspiration for Korean scholars, and is a common motif employed in scholar's implements. In the surface, color, and form of this delightful work, the Korean ceramic artist Seo Byung Ho shows why he is deserving of such top acclaim. 14.25 x 7.75 inches, 36 x 20 cm.

Shaman's Feast Woodblock Print on Traditional Hanji Paper by Hong Sung Dam in 1982 (21 x 15 inches, 53.5 x 38 cm, including margins). Hong Sung Dam is a woodblock print artist who was a leader of the minjung, the peoples' political movement that arose from the ashes of the Gwangju Massacre where the Korean government slaughtered hundreds (some witnesses say thousands) of their own citizens in the streets in response to demonstrations in Gwangju. He was arrested in 1989, and suffered brutal torture in prison. He was released in 1992 after a three-year-long campaign by Amnesty International. After the subsequent democratization of Korea, Hong was commissioned by the government in 1996 to create the large (120 feet) Minjung Mural in Gwangju. Early minjung art is much sought after, and Hong Sung Dam is one of the most revered and acclaimed minjung artists. He donated much of his early work, so opportunities to buy are very infrequent (practically non-existent, actually). So we are very pleased to offer this rare collection of woodblock prints on traditional hanji paper by Hong Sung Dam that were created before his imprisonment, hidden from authorities by his friends, and donated to Amnesty International after their successful effort to get him released from prison. Own a piece of history and a beautiful work of art from a man who grew up in poverty (on the island of Haui) and illness (severe tuberculosis as a youth) to become an inspiring artist who gave his life to his art and his people.

New Life Woodblock Print on Traditional Hanji Paper by Hong Sung Dam in 1982 (29 x 20 inches, 74 x 51 cm, including margins). Hong Sung Dam is a woodblock print artist who was a leader of the minjung, the peoples' political movement that arose from the ashes of the Gwangju Massacre where the Korean government slaughtered hundreds (some witnesses say thousands) of their own citizens in the streets in response to demonstrations in Gwangju. He was arrested in 1989, and suffered brutal torture in prison. He was released in 1992 after a three-year-long campaign by Amnesty International. After the subsequent democratization of Korea, Hong was commissioned by the government in 1996 to create the large (120 feet) Minjung Mural in Gwangju. Early minjung art is much sought after, and Hong Sung Dam is one of the most revered and acclaimed minjung artists. He donated much of his early work, so opportunities to buy are very infrequent (practically non-existent, actually). So we are very pleased to offer this rare collection of woodblock prints on traditional hanji paper by Hong Sung Dam that were created before his imprisonment, hidden from authorities by his friends, and donated to Amnesty International after their successful effort to get him released from prison. Own a piece of history and a beautiful work of art from a man who grew up in poverty (on the island of Haui) and illness (severe tuberculosis as a youth) to become an inspiring artist who gave his life to his art and his people.

Rare Old Korean Map with Beautiful Topographic Detail of Korea's many mountain ranges. The list of kings at the bottom ends with Sukjong, whose reign ended in 1720. It also has a list of distances from various places to the capital, and mileage charts of distances between various locations. Map: 42 x 24 inches, 106.5 x 61 cm; Frame: 59 x 30.25 inches, 150 x 77 cm.

Woo Jong Taek (born 1973) paints with ink and watercolor on both sides of the paper, combining the ancient techniques of Goryeo Dynasty Buddhist painting with modern techniques to create compositions that are deeply contemplative meditations on our modern times, casting the 21st Century everyman as Bodhisattva, offering us a thoughtful way to see our world. Woo is in touch with Korea's ancient history while he is also informed by the modern minjung 'people's movement' in art. His paintings are a rare and paradoxical combination of bold brushwork and sensitive rendering, and characters that seem timid, but are confident in their compassion. They reward repeated viewing with a variety of emotions, ‘hope’ being chief among them. 60 x 60 inches, 150 x 150 cm.

Woo Jong Taek (born 1973) paints with ink and watercolors on both sides of the paper, combining the ancient techniques of Goryeo Dynasty Buddhist painting with modern techniques to create compositions that are deeply contemplative meditations on our modern times, casting the 21st Century everyman as Bodhisattva, offering us a thoughtful way to see our world. Woo is in touch with Korea's ancient history while he is also informed by the modern minjung 'people's movement' in art. His paintings are a rare and paradoxical combination of bold brushwork and sensitive rendering, and characters that seem timid, but are confident in their compassion. They reward repeated viewing with a variety of emotions, ‘hope’ being chief among them. Frame: 48.5 x 23.5 inches, 123.5 x 59.5 cm; Painting: 41 x 15 inches, 104 x 38 cm.

Rare 18th Century Burmese Wood Doll with Leather Skirt, Articulated Arms, and Painted Leather Hat Acquired by Irwin Hersey from Ohly's of London in 1976. 10 inches, 25.5 inches. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Large Burmese Guardian Figure Wood Sculpture of an Overseer. Purchased in Barani, New Delhi in 1995. 27.5 inches, 70 cm. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Large Horse Head Festival Mask from Orissa, an area of India renowned for centuries for its fine sculpture. A beautiful, colorful and large example, 2 feet (61cm) in height. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Nepalese Middle Hills Shaman Mask. 12 x 8.75 inches, 30.5 x 22 cm.

19th Century Korean Black Lacquered Mirror Box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay of a pair of cranes, representing longevity and marital bliss, and peaches of immortality and abundant and propitious floral and geometric patterns. As is usually the case, the mirror is replaced. 9 x 7.5 x 4.5 inches, 23 x 19 x 11.5 cm.