Catalog (335)

Bodhisattva by Choi Dae Shik aka Daniel Choi, Set of Ten Paper on Wood Sculpture, as featured in SOFA, Sculptural Objects and Functional Art, the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design. Each one has a hook on the back, so they may also be displayed hanging on the wall. 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall.

Joo Ji Wan's meditative groups of celadon cubes reference Korea’s ancient tradition of geometric patterns in a contemporary form. Her work was recently displayed at the Korea Society exhibition, Korean Contemporary Ceramics, and it was her work alone that was chosen for the cover of the exhibition catalogue. This fine set of 13 cubes is the very last set of cubes that Joo Ji Wan will offer for sale, as she is moving on to other projects, and there are no more cubes in her inventory or in the inventory of any gallery. She has saved this grand set of cubes, her very best, for last. Joo Ji Wan's work was also in From The Fire: Contemporary Korean Ceramics, an historic traveling exhibition of works by 54 of Korea’s best contemporary ceramic artists. It has traveled to major museums all over the world, and is the most important exhibition ever mounted on Korean contemporary ceramics. The artist given the very prestigious honor of having her work chosen for the front and back covers of the beautiful hardcover exhibition catalogue was Joo Ji Wan. In fact, her work alone was also chosen for the cover of all brochures and literature related to this most important exhibition, and so has become the symbol of contemporary Korean ceramics. Joo Ji Wan's work has been exhibited at a long list of major museums, including the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Yale University Art Gallery, Freer/Sackler Gallery of Art, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Harvard University Art Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Saint Louis Museum of Art, Newark Museum, American Craft Museum, Portland Art Museum, Society for Contemporary Crafts, Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Vancouver Art Museum, Royal Ontario Museum, and many others. It is appropriate that Joo offers her work in sets that are described with musical terms, such as Duo, Trio, Quartet, Ensemble, etc. Musical metaphor is almost required in describing Joo’s inlaid celadon and porcelain cube sets. Consider the melodic interplay of the pieces within a set, the rhythm of the patterns that are inlaid in each piece, and the harmony of the set as a whole. Just as music is mathematical but should not be predictable, Joo’s forms are simple, mathematically fundamental cubes that are inlaid with labyrinthine surprises rooted in Korea’s ancient tradition of geometric patterns imbued with centuries of meaning. Artistic innovation deeply rooted in Korea’s long celadon tradition is what puts Joo Ji Wan at the vanguard of Korean art today. Each cube: 5.25 inches, 13.25 cm. Entire Display: 31w x 21d x 26.5h inches, 78.75w x 53.25d x 67.25h cm.

A fine example of a Joseon Dynasty Korean tiger hunting painting, that makes use of the best quality pigments and finest silk, and is rendered with the highest level of artistry and skill, likely by a painter from the royal court. A similar painting recently sold at auction in Korea for $5500. Unique to Korea, almost all Korean hunting paintings depict hunters in Mongolian costume. In spite of the Mongols' brutal occupation of Korea in the 13th Century, Koreans maintained great admiration for Mongolian hunting and equestrian skills. This painting is one of a pair. The other painting is on this website (Stock #1186). Scroll: 50 x 17 inches (127 x 43 cm); Painting: 27 x 13 inches (68.5 x 33 cm).

Very Rare Calligraphy by Kang Se Hwang aka Pyo Am (1713-1791), artist, calligrapher, art scholar and critic, and one of the most important figures and the most influential scholar-painter of 18th Century Korea. Calligraphy by Kang Se Hwang is so rare that the only other example that we know of in America is a very similar work in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, illustrated on pages 172-173 of the recently published, Pathways to Korean Culture: Paintings of the Joseon Dynasty by Burglind Jungmann. The left and right margins bear the signed and sealed authentication of the most renowned expert on Korean calligraphy, Kim Sun Won aka Mae San, celebrated calligrapher and host of the television show Jin Pum Myung Pum, the Korean equivalent of the Antiques Road Show. Mae San's authentications are highly valued and can be found on pieces in museum collections throughout Korea. 25 x 11 inches, 63.5 x 28 cm.

Painting of Scholar Under Moonlit Plum Blossoms by Park No Soo aka Nam Jeong (1927-2013). Just the first page of a google search reveals both the renown that Park No Soo enjoyed internationally, and the adoration he received locally in Korea. His minimal style and palette is instantly recognizable, and this beautiful, contemplative painting is a fine example of his inimitable, expressive brushwork, from the silvery-blue sliver of a moon, to the unique rendering of orchids and rocks. The orchid is an ancient symbol of virtue, and the rocks symbolize eternity. The combination had great meaning to Korean scholars, as it symbolized eternal devotion to your principles. The plum blossoms are a symbol of courage, because they bloom early, before winter is finished. The Park No Soo Museum opened in 2013 in Seoul's Jongno District, Jongno's first public museum. Park No Soo was a student of Yi Sang Beom, who was a student of An Jung Sik, who was a student of Jang Seung Eop, the very best possible lineage of Korean art royalty. Watercolors on paper. Frame: 23 x 18.5 inches, 58.5 x 47 cm; Painting: 13.5 x 9 inches, 34.25 x 23 cm.

Dhyangro drums are usually separated from their phurba (ritual dagger) handles, and the handles are sold by themselves. This is a common occurrence with Nepali dealers. This is because the handles are easier to transport and sell. So it isn't very often that you see a completely intact, old Tibetan ritual drum. The drum is made of wood and animal hide, and has shaking balls inside for accenting the rhythms created by the shaman dancer. The handle is a wonderfully carved wood phurba (ritual dagger) with multiple faces. An old and beautiful piece that displays nicely. From the collection of Sam Hilu, prominent collector and author on Asian and African art. 26 x 15 x 5 inches, 66 x 38 x 13 cm.

Mid-20th Century Melanesian New Hebrides Islands (Vanuatu) Shield, with woven rattan attachments. 67 x 10 inches, 170 x 25.5 cm.

Asmat Tribe War Shield and Spirit Protecting Shield, made on the Dutch (Indonesian) side of New Guinea (Irian Jaya) by the Asmat people. It shows carving done by stone or shell tools, rather than more recent metal-carved examples. 74 x 20 inches, 188 x 51 cm.

Rare Type of Korean Antique Dining Table with Engraved Floral Scrolls and Calligraphy of Happiness and Long Life Characters. If you are interested, we can provide information on a very similar Korean table that recently sold at an auction in Korea for $4000. These types of tables are rare and much sought-after by collectors. The original natural oil finish has been buffed to a clear beautiful shine over many decades of buffing and cleaning, and is so much more attractive than the waxy chemical finishes on today's furniture. 36.5 x 20.5 x 11.5 inches, 92.75 x 52 x 29.25 cm.

19th Century Chinese Personal Dining Table with Beautiful Grain and Color, and a Rare and Elegant Form. The original natural oil finish has been buffed to a clear beautiful shine over many decades of buffing and cleaning, and is so much more attractive than the waxy chemical finishes on today's furniture. 22 x 14 x 5 inches, 56 x 35.5 x 12.5 cm.

Old Greenland Inuit Figure. The second photo shows the superb face rendered on the attachment. From the 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 and Asian art fairs. 7 inches, 18 cm.

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.

Kim Young Mi Celadon. The color of this organic form is stunning, and upholds a long tradition of beautiful Korean celadons. Kim Young Mi says, "My ceramic works are a form of meditation - my humble attempts to live in grace like an open vessel, empty and yet full, of giving and receiving." Kim Young Mi's ceramics, with her inner thoughts woven into the clay, are the end results of her meditation. They quietly stir the human heart. They transform ordinary clay into the extraordinary. This piece was recently displayed in the exhibition, Korean Contemporary Ceramics at the Korea Society. This was an historic exhibition, as it was the first group exhibition of Korean contemporary ceramics in New York. 12w x 9.5h inches, 30.5w x 24h cm.

Kim Young Mi Unglazed Wood-Fired Stoneware. Kim Young Mi subjects these pieces to eight wood-firings, until the ash from the firing has performed all of its organic magic on the surfaces of these living, breathing works of art, giving incomparable texture and color to her nature-loving forms. Kim Young Mi renews the pristine artistic intention of humanity. She says, "My ceramic works are a form of meditation - my humble attempts to live in grace like an open vessel, empty and yet full, of giving and receiving." Kim Young Mi's ceramics, with her inner thoughts woven into the clay, are the end results of her meditation. They quietly stir the human heart. They transform ordinary clay into the extraordinary. This piece was recently displayed in the exhibition, Korean Contemporary Ceramics at the Korea Society. This was an historic exhibition, as it was the first group exhibition of Korean contemporary ceramics in New York. 20w x 11h inches, 51w x 28h cm.

This spectacular and truly one-of-a kind telephone was not only crafted by what was Korea's premier lacquer and mother-of-pearl company in the mid 20th Century (Kimpo Chilgi Gongyaesa), this is the one-off deluxe telephone that they made for themselves to use in their own office, so they put everything into this phone, and there really is no other like it. The label, like the rest of the telephone , is in remarkable condition, so you can still read the company name and telephone number on the label. The phone actually works, and it spins on the stand like a lazy susan. This is a grand and beautiful piece of Korean history. 11.5w x 7.5h inches, 29w x 19 cm.

Beautifully Carved Indonesian Antique Inkline Carpenter's Tool for marking straight lines with ink. From the Irwin Hersey Collection of Indonesian Art. Irwin Hersey was the author of Indonesian Primitive Art. Catalog #ID288 from the Hersey Collection. 6 x 3.75 x 2.5 inches, 15.25 x 9.5 x 6.25 cm.

15th Century Gilded Tibetan Manuscript Cover. 28 x 11 inches.

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.