Catalog (335)

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.

Meditative calligraphy: Empty Your Heart and Mind by Lee Nam Ho aka Geum Choo (1908-2001). Lee Nam Ho is renowned as a painter. This is a rare and fine example of his calligraphy. 26 x 12 inches, 65.5 x 31 cm.

Pair of Framed Korean Antique Embroidered Pillow Ends with the Characters 'Su' and 'Bok', Long Life and Happiness, and Peonies, ancient symbol of love and prosperity. These are set in a deep and lovely frame made of exotic paulownia wood (odong namu), a wood prized for its beautiful wide grain. Each Frame: 8.5 a 8.5 inches, 21.5 x 21.5 cm; Each Pillow End: 4.75 x 4.75 inches, 12 x 12 cm.

Early 20th Century Tibetan Thangka of Yellow Tara from a renowned and published collection. Very Good Condition. 30 x 22 inches, 76 x 56 cm.

Early 20th Century Tibetan Thangka of Unusual Garuda from a renowned and published collection. Very Good Condition. 27 x 20.5 inches, 69 x 52 cm.

Early 20th Century Tibetan Thangka of Mahakala and Consort from a renowned and published collection. Very Good Condition. 27 x 20.5 inches, 69 x 52 cm.

Early 20th Century Tibetan Thangka of Mahakala and Consort from a renowned and published collection. Very Good Condition. 28 x 21 inches, 71 x 53 cm.

Rare Early 18th Century Bhutanese Thangka Painting of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), founder of Tibetan Buddhism. 26.5 x 21 inches, 67.25 x 53.25 cm.

Dragon Skies set of 10 paintings created in 2004 by Renowned Korean Artist Don Ahn aka Ahn Dong Kuk (1937-2013). We encourage you to research Don Ahn's sales record and market prices on sites such as Artsy, so you can appreciate what a great opportunity this is to purchase an original work of art by the master at a price well below the actual value. The second photo here pairs the 10 paintings with the 10 Bodhisattvas by Choi Dae Shik that are on this website for $2500. Both sets may be purchased at the discounted price of $3000. Don Ahn was a pioneer of Korean art in America. In the 1950s he was the first to move permanently to the US and receive recognition here, beginning with the 1952 exhibition of his work at the Kilbride Bradley Gallery in Minneapolis, the very first exhibition of Korean contemporary art in America. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and other major museums. There was recently an exhibition of Don Ahn's work at the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York's Chelsea art district. Acrylic on paper. Frames: from 14.25 x 11.25 to 8.5 x 8.25 inches (36 x 28.5 to 21.5 x 21 cm); Paintings: from 7 x 3 to 3 x 3 inches (18 x 7.5 to 7.5 x 7.5 cm). See also preeminent art critic Holland Cotter's review of Don Ahn's work in the April 4, 1997 New York Times article, Of Asians Among the Abstractionists, where he describes Don's paintings as "Exuberant" and "Inspired by Zen brushwork".

This is an important painting in Korean art history. It was featured as the very first illustration, Plate Number 1, in the catalogue of the historic Korean Cultural Service exhibition, Coloring Time, the first exhibition ever to cover the history of Korean art in America. This is Dragon in the Fog, painted in 1997 by Renowned Korean Artist Don Ahn aka Ahn Dong Kuk (1937 - 2013). Don Ahn was a pioneer of Korean art in America. In the 1950s he was the first to move permanently to the US and receive recognition here, beginning with the 1952 exhibition of his work at the Kilbride Bradley Gallery in Minneapolis, the very first exhibition of Korean contemporary art in America. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and other major museums. There was recently an exhibition of Don Ahn's work at the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York's Chelsea art district. Acrylic on paper. 28.5 x 21 inches, 72.25 x 53.25 cm. See also preeminent art critic Holland Cotter's review of Don Ahn's work in the April 4, 1997 New York Times article, Of Asians Among the Abstractionists, where he describes Don's paintings as "Exuberant" and "Inspired by Zen brushwork".

Dragon painted in 1998 by Renowned Korean Artist Don Ahn aka Ahn Dong Kuk (1937-2013). We encourage you to research Don Ahn's sales record and market prices on sites such as Artsy, so you can appreciate what a great opportunity this is to purchase an original work of art by the master at a price well below the actual value. Don Ahn was a pioneer of Korean art in America. In the 1950s he was the first to move permanently to the US and receive recognition here, beginning with the 1952 exhibition of his work at the Kilbride Bradley Gallery in Minneapolis, the very first exhibition of Korean contemporary art in America. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and other major museums. There was recently an exhibition of Don Ahn's work at the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York's Chelsea art district. Ink and color on paper. Unframed Dimensions 13.25 x 11.75 inches, 33.5 x 30 cm. See also preeminent art critic Holland Cotter's review of Don Ahn's work in the April 4, 1997 New York Times article, Of Asians Among the Abstractionists, where he describes Don's paintings as "Exuberant" and "Inspired by Zen brushwork".

Dragon painted in 1998 by Renowned Korean Artist Don Ahn aka Ahn Dong Kuk (1937-2013). We encourage you to research Don Ahn's sales record and market prices on sites such as Artsy, so you can appreciate what a great opportunity this is to purchase an original work of art by the master at a price well below the actual value. Don Ahn was a pioneer of Korean art in America. In the 1950s he was the first to move permanently to the US and receive recognition here, beginning with the 1952 exhibition of his work at the Kilbride Bradley Gallery in Minneapolis, the very first exhibition of Korean contemporary art in America. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and other major museums. There was recently an exhibition of Don Ahn's work at the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York's Chelsea art district. Acrylic on Canvas. Unframed Dimensions 20.5 x 12.5 inches, 52 x 31.75 cm. See also preeminent art critic Holland Cotter's review of Don Ahn's work in the April 4, 1997 New York Times article, Of Asians Among the Abstractionists, where he describes Don's paintings as "Exuberant" and "Inspired by Zen brushwork".

Deluxe Pair of Finely Embroidered 19th Century Korean Pillow Ends from the renowned, published, and exhibited Lea Sneider textiles collection, with Peonies (symbol of prosperity) and Mountains (symbol of longevity). Frames: 9.5 x 9.5 inches (23 x 23 cm); Pillow Ends: 6 x 6 inches (15 x 15 cm).

This exemplary work of 19th Century Korean folk art is sculpted in and painted on wood and metal and features the two most revered mythical creatures in Korea: The Yellow Dragon and The Blue Dragon. This creative composition has a patron couple who seem to have the dragons' tails coming out of them. The Dragon brings rain, blessings, and life. The Yellow Dragon writhes dynamically and shows its face at the top of this piece, while The Blue Dragon offers a foundation to the composition and makes its presence known with a single all-seeing eye protruding through the bottom. In ancient Korean cosmology, The Yellow Dragon rules from the center of the sky. Korean emperors chose from ancient times the symbol of The Yellow Dragon to represent the royal family. The Blue Dragon is the color of the sky and the sea and symbolizes the power of both. Farmers prayed to the Dragon for rain and fishermen prayed to him for a good catch, while fishermen's wives asked the Dragon to bring their husbands home safely. The Yellow Dragon and The Blue Dragon have been paired for millennia, with a wonderful example on the 7th century tomb of King Muyeol (reign 654-661). This tradition was continued by the 19th century owner of this sublime example with a string in the back for hanging and displaying in order to repel evil spirits while bringing blessings to the home. 20.25 x 14.25 inches, 51.5 x 36 cm.

Cosmic Space painted in 1963 by Renowned Korean Artist Don Ahn aka Ahn Dong Kuk (1937-2013). We encourage you to research Don Ahn's sales record and market prices on sites such as Artsy, so you can appreciate what a great opportunity this is to purchase an original work of art by the master at a price well below the actual value. Don Ahn was a pioneer of Korean art in America. In the 1950s he was the first to move permanently to the US and receive recognition here, beginning with the 1952 exhibition of his work at the Kilbride Bradley Gallery in Minneapolis, the very first exhibition of Korean contemporary art in America. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and other major museums. There was recently an exhibition of Don Ahn's work at the Walter Wickiser Gallery in New York's Chelsea art district. Ink on paper. Unframed Dimensions 52.5 x 28.25 inches, 133.25 x 71.75 cm. See also preeminent art critic Holland Cotter's review of Don Ahn's work in the April 4, 1997 New York Times article, Of Asians Among the Abstractionists, where he describes Don's paintings as "Exuberant" and "Inspired by Zen brushwork".

Chrysanthemum Fan Painting by Jeon Yeong Suk aka Yeo Cheong (1960 - ). The chrysanthemum's many petals is an ancient symbol of an abundant life or fertility. 21 x 6.5 inches, 53.5 x 16.5 cm. This, along with our Stock Numbers 1318 and 1320, is part of a set of three fan flower paintings by Jeon Yeong Suk.

13 x 12.5 x 6 inches, 33 x 32 x 15 cm

Chinese Song Dynasty Guanyin Wood Sculpture. 41.5 inches, 105 cm.