Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian (37)

Photo Album with 128 Photos of August 30, 1937 Installation Festivities of Chandrasingji, a Jadija Rajput as Thakur of Drhol, Khawiatar, India. Photos by Joshi Studio, Rajkot. The album has a lot of wear, but the photos are in excellent condition. Most of the photos are 8.5 x 6 inches (22 x 15 cm) with several that are 12 x 9.5 inches (30 x 24 cm). Album dimensions: 21 x 16.5 inches (53 x 42 cm).

Indian Monkey Mask from Himachal Pradesh in the Himalayas. 11 inches, 28 cm.

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.

Humia, Nepal Shaman Mask, 15.5 inches, 39.5 cm.

Nepalese Joker Mask from the Terai Region with traces of kaolin pigment. 10.25 inches, 26 cm.

Oil Painting by Park Deuk Soon (1910 - 1990), signed and dated 1949, with original frame. Park Deuk Soon studied in Tokyo with Ryohei Koizo and graduated from the Pacific Fine Arts School in 1938. He exhibited often at the National Art Exhibition and the Chosun Art Exhibition. He was also an educator and an active member of the Kukjeon, and served for a time as President of the Korean Painters Association. Frame: 23.5 x 19 inches, 59 x 48 cm; Painting: 17 x 12.25 inches, 43 x 31 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.

Korean Village Life, a Beautiful Oil Painting by Won Hyeok Pak, 1966, original frame. It comes with a 1966 letter to one of his patrons, where he explains his artistic ideas. He includes a photo of this painting with the letter, and a photo of a portrait he created of the patron, and photos of some of his other paintings. A rare and gorgeous piece of mid-20th Century Korean art and history. It captures a way of life and type of dress at a time that it was at its very end. Frame: 20 x 16 inches, 51 x 41 cm; 15 x 11, 38 x 28 cm.

Painted Tibetan Pig Mask. 13d x 11.5h inches, 33 x 29 cm.

Sublime Celadon Tea Bowl by the Last Korean Princess, Yi Bangja (1901 - 1989) with the original signed box. The glaze is the same prized celadon color and refined texture as that achieved by 12th century Korean potters. She has expertly created pools of thicker glaze and resulting darker color around the circumference of the rim, foot, and carved raised band. She has highlighted the single subtle carved lotus blossom with the same glaze pooling technique. The lotus is an ancient symbol of rebirth because it rises above the muck of the pond to show its face to the Sun. Diameter: 5.5 inches, 14 cm. Height: 2.5 inches, 6.5 cm. Part of a special and stunning collection we have acquired of ceramics created by one of Korea's most revered artists and beloved humanitarians. You now have the rare opportunity to own a beautiful work of art and an important piece of Korean history created by the last member of the royal household to reside in Korea's royal palace. Princess Yi Bangja devoted her entire life to the education of mentally and physically handicapped people, and worked tirelessly to support them. She is the subject of television and stage dramas, operas, movies, and books, including her autobiography, "The World is One."

Pair of Cranes Painting and Poem by Korean Buddhist Monk Su An Sunim (born 1940). The crane is a an ancient symbol of longevity and immortality. Because cranes were believed to stay with one mate for their lifetime, it is also a symbol of faithful love. When the crane is paired like this, the meanings of immortality and fidelity combine to mean eternal love. The flying-white brushwork and ink washes here display Su An Sunim's mastery of zen art at its best. The recent exhibition of Su An Sunim's work at the Zen Buddhist Temple in New York City was the most highly-attended exhibition ever presented by the Korean Art Society. At that exhibition, Su An Sunim's works of similar size and quality sold for multiples of the prices we are asking here. Ink and colors on paper. 27 x 14 inches, 69 x 35 cm. The second photo here shows a wall label from that exhibition with a price of $2000 for a similar painting. That painting is smaller than the Su An painting we are offering here.

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.

Ode to Autumn, fan painting by one of Korea's most famous contemporary artists who worked in the traditional style, Lee Nam Ho aka Geum Chu (1908-2001), beautifully framed and newly silk mounted. The sparrow sings to the beautiful flower of autumn, the camellia, an ancient symbol of faithfulness in Korea. The bamboo on the right is a symbol of resilience and integrity. When faced with a strong wind, the bamboo bends but does not break, just as the person with determination and principle, even when pressed down, doesn't give up and resumes their upright posture. The rock is a symbol of eternity, so when it is with the bamboo and camellia, it is a poetic representation of eternal adherence to principle and undying faithfulness. Ink and colors on paper. Frame: 34.75 x 19 inches (88.25 x 48.25 cm), Painting: 22.5 x 11.5 inches (57 x 29 cm).

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.

Very Large, Nearly Five-Feet-Wide Mountain and Waterfall by Kim Ki Chang aka Unbo (1913 - 2001) in it's original stunning frame. Despite being deaf, Unbo was one of Korea's most beloved 20th Century artists. His works are now sought by museums and collectors internationally. In this original and very large signed lithograph, Unbo gives us an inspiring depiction of blue-green mountains with a mountaintop lake and waterfall. Frame: 56.25 x 38.5 inches, 143 x 98 cm; Image: 44 x 26.5 inches, 111.5 x 67 cm.

Refined Inlaid Celadon Tea Bowl by the Last Korean Princess, Yi Bangja (1901 - 1989) with the original signed box. The glaze has the same prized celadon color and precise inlaid technique as that achieved by 12th century Korean potters. A Chinese philosopher of that period described Korean celadons as "The first under Heaven." The interior of the bowl features cranes flying in clouds (both longevity symbols) around a chrysanthemum in full bloom. The chysanthemum with its many petals is a symbol of abundant good fortune. Lovely chrysanthemums inlaid in black and white slip adorn the exterior of the bowl, as well. Diameter: 5.5 inches, 14 cm. Height: 3 inches, 7.5 cm. Part of a special and stunning collection we have acquired of ceramics created by one of Korea's most revered artists and beloved humanitarians. You now have the rare opportunity to own a beautiful work of art and an important piece of Korean history created by the last member of the royal household to reside in Korea's royal palace. Princess Yi Bangja devoted her entire life to the education of mentally and physically handicapped people, and worked tirelessly to support them. She is the subject of television and stage dramas, operas, movies, and books, including her autobiography, "The World is One."

Heartwarming Hagi Tea Bowl by the Last Korean Princess, Yi Bangja (1901 - 1989) with the original signed box. This bowl is a spectacular achievement in ceramic artistry and technique. The glaze is a pale biwa color that was highly prized by 16th-17th century Korean Hagi potters living in Japan. The foot features the shrunken glaze that was used in those days. Diameter: 5.5 inches, 14 cm. Height: 3 inches, 7.5 cm. Part of a special and stunning collection we have acquired of ceramics created by one of Korea's most revered artists and beloved humanitarians. You now have the rare opportunity to own a beautiful work of art and an important piece of Korean history created by the last member of the royal household to reside in Korea's royal palace. Princess Yi Bangja devoted her entire life to the education of mentally and physically handicapped people, and worked tirelessly to support them. She is the subject of television and stage dramas, operas, movies, and books, including her autobiography, "The World is One."

1971 Oil Painting by Choi Young Rim. Frame: 30 x 24 inches, 76 x 61 cm; Painting: 20 x 15 inches, 51 x 38 cm.