Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (183)

Calligraphy by the Joseon Dynasty's Last Prime Minister, Lee Wan Yong aka Ildang (1858 - 1926). He was prime minister of Korea in 1906 - 1910. Lee is Korea's most infamous traitor, the "Benedict Arnold of Korea", for signing the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty in 1910. Connoisseurs begrudgingly acknowledge his great talents as a calligrapher, but the disdain with which he is regarded keeps the demand, and thus the prices of his work very low. Mounted on sky blue silk. Scroll: 74.5 x 17.5 inches, 189 x 44.5 cm; Calligraphy: 51.5 x 12.75 inches, 131 x 32.5 cm.

Rare Antique Onggi Medicinal Pot and Cover from Gyeonggi Province, with a beautiful deep, dark brown color. This pot is formed from two halves, a bottom half and a top half, that are put together to form this striking and unusual shape, with a ridged seam around the circumference of the pot. The clay is rich in iron and the glaze is made from clay mixed with wood ash and a little raw lead. The result is a rich dark chocolate brown. Height: 8 inches, 20.5 cm; Circumference: 26.5 inches, 67.25 cm. Onggi are the most 'Korean' of Korean pots. All words related to onggi are of pure Korean origin, not based on Chinese characters. They are a beautiful form of Korean folk art.

Very Fine and Rare Silver Inlaid Iron Brazier (a source of heating and light), hexagonal shape, beautifully rendered and in excellent condition. Each protuberant side is decorated with a keyfret-bordered roundel enclosing six different works of art: a crane and sea turtle in beautifully stylized clouds and waves beneath a silvery moon (symbols of longevity); one of the Eight Buddhist Emblems of an oversized conch shell; a leafy floral design symbolizing abundance; a leafy branch of pomegranates whose many seeds symbolize fertility; another leafy floral branch; and a deer couple at rest beneath a wonderfully curving pine tree that encircles and protects this gorgeous, idyllic scene blessed with symbolism of a long, healthy, happy and peaceful life filled with love. Each roundel is surrounded by a cell diaper pattern with a keyfret border on each side of the brazier. The decorated waisted neck supports a flat everted hexagonal rim decorated with a floral vignette on a cell diaper ground and a keyfret border, all resting on a keyfret-bordered base with six bracket feet decorated with lotus flowers and scrolls. The lotus is a Buddhist symbol of purity, because it rises above the muck to the surface of the pond to show its face to the sun, symbolizing hope and redemption. Height: 6.5 inches, 16.5 cm; Width: 8 inches, 20 cm.

Joseon Dynasty Ton-kwe (Korean Coin Chest). Coin chests are highly prized by collectors, as their purpose required that they be the largest, heaviest, and most well constructed piece of furniture in the home of an aristocrat. Paper money did not exist in Yi Dynasty Korea, and the coins were of very small denominations. They had to be strung together in large quantities to have any worth, so a strong money box was obviously a necessity. This is a very heavy and likely the most impressive authentic antique Korean coin chest you will ever see for sale. This massive and handsome coin chest must have belonged to a very wealthy family. 19.5 x 56 x 29 inches, 49.5 x 142 x 74 cm.

Very Rare Goryeo Dynasty Gan Chal Calligraphy by the famous scholar Jeong Yi Oh aka Gyo Eun, born 1347. Frame: 19 x 19 inches, 48.25 x 48.25 cm; Calligraphy: 12 x 12 inches, 30.5 x 30.5 cm.

Beautiful and Rare Korean Joseon Dynasty Silver and Coral Eunjangdo with Very Fine Floral Design. The eunjangdo was worn by a woman of rank as a chest pendant and a symbol of her social standing. This dagger also served as a tool to save women from personal humiliation or peril, not by attacking an assailant but by killing themselves, under the Confucian moral obligation of medieval Korea 'to remain faithful to one spouse'. 4 inches, 10 cm.

Rare Antique Korean Funerary Figure (Kkokdu) with much of its original pigment still intact. From a renowned and published New York collection. One of the finer examples we have seen. 11.5 inches, 29.5 cm.

17th Century White Tara Tibetan Thangka. The White Tara goddess symbolizes transcendent knowledge and purity. In ancient Tibet, it was believed that Tara was reincarnated in every virtuous and pious woman. She was born from the eye of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and became his wife. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum. Mineral pigments on silk. 11 x 9 inches, 28 x 23 cm.

17th Century Tibetan Avalokitesvara Thangka, 29.5 x 21 inches, 75 x 53.5 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

Newari Mask, 12 inches, 30.5 cm.

17th Century Tibetan Sakyamuni Thangka, 32 x 24.25 inches, 81 x 61.5 cm. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

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.

17th Century Tibetan Arhat Thangka, 36 x 26 inches, 91.5 x 66 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

19th Century Korean Sword with missing scabbard. Condition is good but slightly shaky. Overall length is 35 inches (89cm), blade is 26 inches (66cm).

Antique Onggi Water Jar (Mul Tongi) from Gangwon Province with lovely finger-painted designs. The potter creates the whimsical designs by running his finger (or thumb) through the still-wet glaze. 14.5w x 14.5h inches, 37w x 37h cm (the width includes the handles). Onggi are the most 'Korean' of Korean pots. All words related to onggi are of pure Korean origin, not based on Chinese characters. They are a beautiful form of Korean folk art.

17th Century Bhaisajyaguru Thangka. Antique Tibetan Thangka of the Medicine Buddha seated upon a lotus throne, holding the medicine bowl, and surrounded by Heavenly clouds and four Bodhisattva. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum. Mineral pigments on silk. 16 x 12 inches, 40 x 30 cm.

Early 20th Century Large Black-Lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Box, in fair condition with much loss of the mother-of-pearl. The brass hardware is old but is not original. 31.5 x 18.5 x 16.5 inches, 80 x 47 x 42 cm.

17th Century Tibetan Green Tara Thangka, 49.5 x 29.5 inches, 126 x 75 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.