Catalog (335)

Ming Dynasty Chinese Wood Sculpture of Emperor and Empress. Purchased from Askenasi in Paris in 1978 by 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. 8.5 x 5 x 2 inches, 21.5 x 12.5 x 5 cm.

Ming Dynasty Chinese Wood Sculpture of a General on Horseback, with original pigments. 11 x 5 x 3.25 inches, 28 x 13 x 8 cm. Purchased from Askenasi in Paris in 1978 by 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.

Antique Timor Message Drum from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art. 20.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches, 52 x 14 x 14 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered tiger and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 7.5 inches, 68.5 x 19 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered animal and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 29.75 x 7.75 inches, 75.5 x 20 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with script and sublimely rendered human and animal figures and representations of modes of transportation, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 8.75 inches, 68.5 x 22 cm.

Lee Seung O's innovative paper assemblage, 36 x 28.75 inches, 91 x 73 cm. Lee's work is in the permanent collection of many major museums, including the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, and he has an excellent auction record, with not a single work going unsold in the many major auctions that have listed his work over the last several years, including Christie's. It is said of Lee Seung O that he is an old spirit with a young mind. While so many young Korean artists are looking to the West for guidance, Lee has found inspiration in the soulful symbolism of traditional Korean folk art. His work is a most inventive and unrestrained interpretation of this tradition, true to the creative spirit of Korean folk art. He has created an entirely new technique of stacking colored paper and wetting the stacks so that they will be stuck together when they dry, then cutting the stacks into strips, and then assembling 'painting-like' compositions that use the edge of the stacks of paper, creating exciting works of great textural density. His work uses an everyday material to make us look at objects (and the world) from a different viewpoint and in an entirely new way, reminding us that innovation and beauty shouldn’t be forced or contrived and needn’t be sought in unknown regions, but can be rooted in tradition and found naturally.

Lee Seung O's innovative paper assemblage, 39 x 31.5 inches, 100 x 80 cm. Lee's work is in the permanent collection of many major museums, including the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, and he has an excellent auction record, with not a single work going unsold in the many major auctions that have listed his work over the last several years, including Christie's. It is said of Lee Seung O that he is an old spirit with a young mind. While so many young Korean artists are looking to the West for guidance, Lee has found inspiration in the soulful symbolism of traditional Korean folk art. His work is a most inventive and unrestrained interpretation of this tradition, true to the creative spirit of Korean folk art. He has created an entirely new technique of stacking colored paper and wetting the stacks so that they will be stuck together when they dry, then cutting the stacks into strips, and then assembling 'painting-like' compositions that use the edge of the stacks of paper, creating exciting works of great textural density. His work uses an everyday material to make us look at objects (and the world) from a different viewpoint and in an entirely new way, reminding us that innovation and beauty shouldn’t be forced or contrived and needn’t be sought in unknown regions, but can be rooted in tradition and found naturally.

The three porcelain plates by Kim Ki Chang aka Unbo (1913 - 2001) that we offer here on our website are the only ceramics by the revered master that we have seen offered for sale. They were all acquired from the same collection and are sublime examples of his unique style. Don't miss this rare opportunity to acquire a piece in this lustrous medium by one of Korea's most famous artists. Village Along the Mountain River: 14 inches (35.5 cm) wide, 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep. In Korea, a rendering of a mountain and river (called Sansu in Korean) has for centuries been thought of as more than a beautiful landscape; it is also a profound philosophical and spiritual statement. Heaven, Earth, and Humanity are represented, by the mountain, river, and human figures, respectively.

The three porcelain plates by Kim Ki Chang aka Unbo (1913 - 2001) that we offer here on our website are the only ceramics by the revered master that we have seen offered for sale. They were all acquired from the same collection and are sublime examples of his unique style. Don't miss this rare opportunity to acquire a piece in this lustrous medium by one of Korea's most famous artists. Lotus Blossoms, Ducks, and Fish: 14 inches (35.5 cm) wide, 2 inches (4 cm) deep with lipped rim. This image is filled with ancient and profound symbolism. The lotus represents purity and rebirth, because it rises above the muck of the pond to show its face to the Sun. The ducks symbolize eternal faithfulness, because it was believed ducks mated for life. The fish is a symbol of tireless dedication and constant vigilance, because fish never close their eyes, even when they are sleeping.

The three porcelain plates by Kim Ki Chang aka Unbo (1913 - 2001) that we offer here on our website are the only ceramics by the revered master that we have seen offered for sale. They were all acquired from the same collection and are sublime examples of his unique style. This one is on a tall attached porcelain pedestal. Don't miss this rare opportunity to acquire a piece in this lustrous medium by one of Korea's most famous artists. Rooster and Plum Blossoms: 13.5 inches (34.5 cm) wide, 5.5 inches (14 cm). The rooster is sacred in Korean culture. It is often featured in art and used as a good luck and guardian figure to bless and protect the home. Because it is believed the rooster's morning cry drove away the night's evil spirits, it is an important talisman. The rooster’s comb symbolizes intelligence; traditional officials’ hats are based on the comb. The claws represent strength. There is a museum in Seoul devoted entirely to chicken and rooster art. The beautiful plum blossoms here are a symbol of courage, because they bloom early, before winter is finished.

Choi Sung Jae (born 1962) is the most widely exhibited Korean ceramic artist, in international galleries and in the permanent collections of major museums, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Peabody Essex Museum, and many others. He is a master of white slip buncheong ceramics, a style revered and imitated by Japanese artists for centuries. This lovely Pond with Geese and Reeds is a fine example of his work. This is an ancient subject in Korean art and is called "noando." The literal meaning of "noando" is reed and geese painting, but it is a play on words, as "no" is a homonym that can mean either "reed" or "old", and "an" is a homonym that means either "geese" or "comfort" ("do" means "painting"). So "noan" can mean either "reed and geese" or "old comfort", therefore a painting of geese and reeds symbolizes a wish for a comfortable and peaceful old age. 12.5 inches, 32 cm.

19th Century Korean Hat Box made entirely of Exotic Paulownia (Odong-namu) Wood, from the collection of a French diplomat stationed in Korea in the 1950s. Paulownia is very desirable for collectors because of its beautiful wide grain, light weight, and fire and bug-resistant qualities. The paulownia used for this rare hat box is especially fine. 9.5 x 9.5 x 8.5 (height) inches, 24 x 24 x 21.5 cm.

Rare and Ancient Celtic Stone Janus from the Published and Renowned Collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on 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. 4.5 inches wide, 3 inches high.

Exceedingly Scarce Set of Three Iron Age Korean Pots with Exquisite Color and Beautiful Form. 4th to 1st Century BC. You are unlikely to ever see another Iron Age Korean pot offered for sale, much less a set of three. The remaining examples are all in museums or tightly held private collections. These prehistoric pieces are finely potted and made from soft and sandy red clay. They are aesthetically striking in both color and form and are historically significant. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the scholar/collector/aesthete. Right Pot Dimensions: 16.25 inches (41cm) circumference, 3.25 inches (8.5cm) height. Middle Pot Dimensions: 18.25 inches (46.5cm) circumference, 4 inches (10cm) height. Left Pot Dimensions: 12.5 inches (32cm) circumference, 2.75 inches (7cm) height.

Large Prehistoric Bronze Age Korean Arrowhead of a scarce type and size illustrated in the catalogue: The 29th United Association of the University Museums of Korea Exhibition - Korea's Bow and Arrow. There are also similar examples of early Korean arrowheads in the December 1934 Transactions of the Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 1500 - 300 BCE. 6 inches (15 cm).

Lovely 13th Century Korean Celadon Chrysanthemum and Bullocho Bowl. The chrysanthemum is a Korean symbol of plenty, as represented by its many petals. The mythical bullocho plant is an ancient symbol of longevity. 4.5 inches (11.5cm) wide by 1.5 inches (4cm) high.

Very Rare Joseon Period Lacquered Bamboo Fan with the Korean Taegeuk National Symbol.The last photo here shows a similar fan in a recent Korean auction with an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000. You can see similar examples on page 475 of the catalogue of the Korean art collection of the Grassi Museum in Leipzig, Germany. The Taegeuk symbol has been used in Korea for thousands of years and is the center of the Korean flag. The three colors here, yellow, red, and a very light blue, represent balance in the universe, and Humanity, Earth, and Heaven, respectively. These fans very rarely come up for sale and are highly desired by collectors and museums. We offer this opportunity for one of our clients to make this rare acquisition of a sublime and contemplative 19th Century Korean meditative object at a generous price. 13 inches (33 cm) high x 9 inches (23 cm) wide.