19th Century Scholar's Objects

Antique Chinese Cameo Agate Snuff Bottle, 19th century. The stone of a cloudy translucent color and caramel skin on the front side carved in high relief creating a cameo effect of a ...

Stunning Pair of early Meiji period Satsuma heavy gauge earthenware Rouleau Japanese Vases of Museum quality and generous proportions. These beautiful Satsuma-ware vases were made du...

This is an antique gentleman's writing slope. An English, burr walnut and leather correspondence box, dating to the mid Victorian period, circa 1850. Delightful craftsmanship with ...

Rare Early Shinto Temple Find This is an incredibly rare and authentic Omikuji (Sacred Fortune Telling) set, dating back to the Late Edo Period. Unlike modern plastic or simple wo...

A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...

A fine pair of antique Chinese Qing dynasty ( 1644-1911) hand carved jade table screens, circa 1850. The rectangular screens are made of variegated s...

Antique Chinese Chalcedony “Peanut and Jujube” Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty. The large pear shaped striated stone carving of a caramel colored jujube fruit (Chinese date) and two beige...

A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...

A rare and refined Meiji-period walking cane clad in spiraled ray skin (shagreen), polished and finished in traditional black lacquer. The lacquered shagreen surface reveals the unde...

Antique 19th century Chinese carved gold gilt and painted wood wall panel or plaque with scholar and warrior figures scene. Signed on back as p...

Antique Chinese Crystal Agate Snuff Bottle. This bottle is in a a stout rounded form, with countersunk base, short thick neck, concave lip with a sharp edge and narrow mouth, in a we...

Antique Chinese Agate Sleeve Snuff Bottle, exceptionally carved with great precision, a flat spade shape, narrow concave base, flared neck, concave mouth rim, narrow mouth, all of an...

Hand-carved of the highest quality jade, this 19th century Archer's ring was likely worn by a gentleman-scholar in Northern China. Traditionally, Chinese archers wore these rings to ...

This exquisite Chinese snuff bottle, dating from the late Qing to early Republic period, is a remarkable example of inside-painted glass artistry in the classic Chinese water-color style. The bottle features a square form, providing four distinct canvases for the artist's work. Each side of the bottle is finely painted with a bird amidst a group of flowers, capturing the essence of traditional Chinese painting. The meticulous brushwork and attention to detail are evident, making each scene a standalone masterpiece. The bottle is complemented by a large red stopper...

This is a museum quality book form Grand Tour plaster intaglio case, Circa 1820 in date. The intaglios are encased in a red leather gilt tooled binding titled 'L. FERRARIS BIBLIOTH...

A stunning carved and pierced Chinese jade vase, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. The vase is carved with a design of birds, flowers and trees, each rife ...

Horagai conch shell trumpet with beautiful patination and bronze mouthpiece. This Horagai conch shell trumpet is a rare and valuable piece of Japanese history and culture. It was made in the Late Edo period (18th-19th century) and is in fine original condition with expected abrasions due to the significant age of the item. The trumpet is made of a conch shell with a bronze mouthpiece. It measures 34x 16.5 x 13 cm (13.5 / 6.5 / 5 inch) and weighs 1.2kg (2.5 lb). The trumpet has a beautiful patina, resulting from years of use and exposure to the elements. The bronze mouthpiece is also in good condition and shows no signs of wear. The trumpet is powerful and can produce a loud, clear sound. It was traditionally used in Japanese ceremonies and festivals and is still used today by some Shinto priests...

A rare Japanese Koto made from carved Paulownia wood and lavishly decorated with lacquer Maki-e circa late 19th century of Meiji Period (1868-1912). The ...

An exquisitely hand carved bone Chinese dignitary standing figure portraying a lavishly dressed bearded male. Difficult to date, in our opinion last quarter of the 19th century. ...

On offer is a vertical Chinese scholar rock balanced on a carved wood display stand. The specimen is a wonderful example of Ying (or Yingde) stone, one of the four famed stone types known to Chinese literati and a less common type than Lingbi or Taihu. Gray in color, it has an extraordinary upright form rising from a small stem, like an "Avatar Mountain" peeking out of the mist. Visually it feels impossible for the stone to balance on its thin stem and the wood base. The illusion is due to the thickness of the depth which is not immediately visible from front or back. This type of exotic form was highly desired by the collector. The surface is remarkable with pronounced schisms, gullies, folding lines, with several formation of openings that give it a grotto and airy feel. Different sceneries are revealed when viewed from different angles, making this one of the most intriguing stones in Tishu Gallery...

A good antique Early 19th Century Southeast Asian Bronze Buddha statue, Circa 1800. The Buddha seated upon a triangular shaped base with lotus decoration, the Buddha's hands posed i...

A charming Korean keyaki (Japanese elm), lacquer, and mother-of-pearl inlaid personal accessory chest for a woman, Joseon Dynasty, early 19th century or earlier, Korea. The small ac...

A Spinach Jade Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty. The flattened ovoid form symmetrically rendered from a waxy spinach green speckled nephrite stone having a high shoulder and short stout ro...

Rare one-of-a-kind collection Japanese Connoisseurs Collection of Five (5) Fine Antique Smoking Pipes, Kiseru. You dont need to be a conn...

This elegant container is a 19th-century Chinese document box, once used by a Qing-dynasty scholar-official to store stationery accessories such as brushes, seals and ink sticks. Cra...

A finely carved Chinese brush pot made from a single section of bamboo, dating to the late Qing Dynasty. The exterior is decorated in deep relief with a detailed scene of figures set...

Antique Chinese Qing Molded Infinite Huiwen Ruyi Scepter with White Jade Medallion A beautiful Chinese Qing ruyi scepter with carved white jade medallions. The scepter is decorated ...

Antique Eyeglasses in nicely decorated Case, China Circa 1900. The core is in wood and the case in shagreen, tinted with copper oxide. Shagreen is s...

Antique Chinese Moss Agate Snuff Bottle, 19th century. The bottle of a deep forest green color overall with white and brown inclusions. The finely carved rounded square form well ho...

Antique Chinese Moulded Tangerine Skin and Wood Snuff Bottle. A pear shaped hexagonal form with relief character design on each side possibly translating to “good” - “fragrance”. Th...

A vertical Taihu scholar stone in a wonderful grotto form perched on a custom wood stand. The stone, in a nearly pure grey color, displays a weathered surface with visually arresting...

A very tall and slender Chinese scholar rock of Taihu type in an elegant Lingzhi mushroom form well-balanced on a custom-carved wood stand circa late 19th century. Being exposed to t...

Among the many esteemed objects of the traditional Chinese scholar’s studio was the scroll pot, a large container for storing one's collection of landscape paintings, poetry and work...

An impressive Chinese scholar Lingbi stone (also known as Gong Shi in Chinese; meditation stone and spirit rock in the West) of substantial height and mass on a carved wood display s...

A Chinese scholar stone of Lingbi type presented on a carved wood base. This stone takes a singular vertical form with one convex side that is largely flat, and the other side slight...

An antique Chinese inside painted mini glass snuff bottle ( IPSB ), both sides delicately hand painted with shanshui scene circa: 1900, Late Qing to ROC period, late 19-20c

This finely carved Chinese tea caddy dates to the late Qing period and was likely produced in the Canton region, where intricately worked bamboo objects were highly prized both domes...

This is a set of two (2) very fine quality (2) authentic Chinese jade bi disc from the 20th century or older. These come from our private collection. Quality: very fine translucen...

Antique Chinese Smokey Quartz Snuff Bottle. A beautiful flattened rectangular form with sloping shoulders of a desirable smokey quartz material, footed oval base, round neck, narrow...

An extremely finely carved antique Chinese Qing dynasty, Celadon green triple vase/brush washer with an Imperial Dragon from behind attacking a bird in fro...

The Chinese scholar rock on offer here is a wonderful example of Ying (also known as Yingde stone), a less common type than Lingbi or Taihu. Gray in color, it has an extraordinary up...

A Korean writing box from the Joseon Dynasty. This is a beautiful and very decorative antique Korean writing box made during the period of the Joseon dynasty, circa 1880. This box h...

Unusual Chinese Scholars’ Incense Tray, beautifully crafted of wood covered in a parquetry of small pieces of coconut wood in a “Cracked Ice” pattern, small footed base with flared rim with beaded edge. Complete with a Japanese Collectors’ wood storage box labeled: “Chinese coconut...

This is an antique set of 8 calligraphic ink blocks. A Chinese, cased set of printing shapes, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Appeali...

19th century Chinese red and black lacquer box with gilded highlights. This amazing box is a new favorite of mine. So cool! This late Qing Dynasty piece brings to mind Japanese anime...

An extraordinary specimen created by nature millions of years ago, this large and stunning Chinese black chrysanthemum stone features white crystalline mineral (calcite and chalcedon...

Rare, early 19th Century Antique Chinese Scholars Table Mirror/Screen from the Qing Dynasty. This collectors item is signed by the craftsman who ...

A Chinese scholar stone originated from Wuling Mountains, Hunan Province in central China. A type of geological wonder, formed through wind erosion and polishing by the elements of t...

A highly unusual Japanese crackle glazed koro (incense burner or censer), lacquered and inlaid with mother-of-pearl embellishment, signed Gyokusen, Ed...

A Chinese late Qing dynasty shadow agate snuff bottle, exquisitely carved to depict a scene of contemplative serenity. It features a scholar, thoughtfully seated on a rock, positione...

Antique Chinese Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Bottle, Guangzho, Circa 1850. A thin circular flattened form known as a sleeve bottle (easily kept in the sleeve of a garment). The material is...

A fixture of the Chinese scholars' studio, the inkstone was among the "Four Treasures of the Study" and was used in calligraphy and landscape painting along with paper, ink and brush...

An exceptional scholar's rock lingbi (灵璧石), traditionally intended for Chinese scholars, on a very elaborate Qing period wooden base. It is presented with the larger end above the sm...

An intriguing Chinese scholar rock in vertical form presented on a custom hand-carved wood stand circa late Qing Dynasty. The greyish black stone is of Yingde type. Its upright form ...

A scholar's object intended for the workshop—most likely used as an ink drip rather than a true teapot—recognizable by its small spout opening and tightly fitting lid. The piece is c...

Chinese Qing Dynasty Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Hardwood Wood Scholar's Seal Stand, 19th Century An exceptional 19th-century Chinese scholar’s seal s...

A lingzhi fungus table screen Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) The unusual Chinese scholar’s object, mounted natural dried and preserved lingzhi fungus. Lobed asymmetrical outline with dee...

A Chinese scholar rock carved from a natural lapis stone and displayed on a brocade wrapped stand circa late 19th century Qing Dynasty. The brightly blue lapis was considered as am exotic gemstone in China and mostly imported from Persia through the silk road. While not a conventional rock types of materials for scholar stones, it is occasionally carved and polished into smaller Gongshi to be displayed and meditated upon in the scholar's study. Similar approaches were also done with jade, malachite and turquoise, even petrified wood, Chenxiang Agarwood, roots in spirited form, porcelain and even bronze in rock forms. The lapis was carved into a mountain form with stacked rocks...

Chinese Gray Scholar's Rock, of naturalistic form, on early 19th century rosewood stand.

A Chinese Hardwood Miniature Table Form Stand, Late 19th century Dimension: Height: 11.5 cm Length: 32 cm. Depth: 12 cm. Provenance: Old Melbourne Chinese Collection.