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April 2024 Update – New Arrivals and Auctions – Oriental Antiques UK


After a long hiatus, we are back with our monthly shop updates. Below you will find a complete list of newly added items with photos and short descriptions.

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New arrivals last month
Large Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Vases by Gyokuzan Meiji Period


Large Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Vases by Gyokuzan Meiji Period

Large pair of very finely decorated Japanese Meiji period Satsuma vases, each featuring a continuous procession scene with three groups of figures. Interestingly, this pattern is not simply mirrored but characters on each vase are slightly different, as if the two processions are meeting in the middle. Each signed 玉山 ‘Gyokuzan’ to the base.

Height: 25.5 cm / 10 inches.



Fine Antique Japanese Aka-e Kutani Porcelain Vase With Butterflies Meiji Period


Fine Antique Japanese Aka-e Kutani Porcelain Vase With Butterflies Meiji Period

Stunning Japanese Meiji period Kutani porcelain vase decorated all around with large butterflies flying amongst a profusion of chrysanthemums. Unusual decoration and a rare form. Marked 九谷 ‘Kutani’ in iron red inside the foot.

Height: 21.5 cm



Large Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Figurine Republic Period or PRoC


Large Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Figurine Republic Period or PRoC

Beautifully hand-painted large Chinese famille rose porcelain statue depicting a figure in long, flowing robes and holding a fan. Stamped and impressed marks to the base. Rare late Republic period or early PRoC example.

Height: 32 cm / 12.5 inches



Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Bowl Meiji Taisho Period Marked Kusube 楠部


Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Bowl Meiji Taisho Period Marked Kusube 楠部

Finely decorated antique Japanese Satsuma pottery bowl with central figural scene framed by an intricate, colourful floral border. Exterior of the bowl decorated with wisterias and simple geometric patterns. Base marked Kusube 楠部.

Diameter: 15.5 cm



Antique Japanese Matt Black Gilt Satsuma Pottery Vases by Hakuzan Early 20th c.


Antique Japanese Matt Black Gilt Satsuma Pottery Vases by Hakuzan Early 20th c.

Nice pair of Japanese matt black Satsuma vases with gilt decoration featuring trees and birds. Each signed 白山 ‘Hakuzan’ to the base.

Height: 19 cm.



Fine Chinese Vintage Cloisonne Enamelled Black Ground Dragon Vases 20th Century


Fine Chinese Vintage Cloisonne Enamelled Black Ground Dragon Vases 20th Century

Fine pair of Chinese black-ground cloisonne enamelled vases, each depicting a pair of yellow dragons chasing after the flaming pearl.

Height: 15.5 cm



Fine Antique Japanese Kyoto Satsuma Pottery Vase With Figural Scenes Meiji Era


Fine Antique Japanese Kyoto Satsuma Pottery Vase With Figural Scenes Meiji Era

Beautifully painted large Japanese Kyoto Satsuma vase with two cartouches depicting figural scenes, framed by an intricate background with oversized butterflies and various geometric designs.

Height: 30.5 cm



Vintage Japanese Inscribed Silver Sake Cup Presented by Tomujiro Ochiai 20th c.


Vintage Japanese Inscribed Silver Sake Cup Presented by Tomujiro Ochiai 20th c.

Lovely 20th century Japanese presentation silver sake cup with inscription that reads:
贈落合留次郎君 Presented by Tomujiro Ochiai
漆器地物商組合 Lacquerware dealers association
From what we were able to find online, it appears that Tomujiro Ochiai was active in Yokohama.

Weight: 41.8 grams
Diameter: 7.5 cm



Antique Japanese Gilt Lacquered Table Cabinet Jewellery Box Early 20th Century


Antique Japanese Gilt Lacquered Table Cabinet Jewellery Box Early 20th Century

Nice early 20th century Japanese gilt lacquered miniature table cabinet with four drawers, decorated with typical kacho-ga bird-and-flower painting.

Dimensions: 21.5×15.5×8 cm



Rare Chinese Antique Painted Pottery Figure of a Standing Attendant Tang Dynasty


Rare Chinese Antique Painted Pottery Figure of a Standing Attendant Tang Dynasty

Rare Chinese polychrome painted pottery figurine, depicting an attendant with arms folded on his chest and wearing a typical headdress and robe.

Height: 24 cm



Vintage Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Figurine of Taoist Deity Taishang Laojun


Vintage Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Figurine of Taoist Deity Taishang Laojun

Impressive large 20th century Chinese famille rose porcelain statue depicting Daode Tianzun (Taishang Laojun) – one of the ‘Three Pure Ones’, the highest immortals of Taoism. Stamped and impressed marks to the base.

Height: 26.5 cm / 10.5 inches



Vintage Balinese Wood Carving Statue of an Elderly Man With a Rooster


Vintage Balinese Wood Carving Statue of an Elderly Man With a Rooster

Charming vintage Balinese hand-carved wooden statue depicting a seated elderly man with his rooster, perhaps getting ready for a fight. In great condition with some minor age-related surface marks.

Height: 24 cm



Antique Japanese Kutani Porcelain Figurine of a Seated Archer Early 20th Century


Antique Japanese Kutani Porcelain Figurine of a Seated Archer Early 20th Century

Lovely Japanese Kutani porcelain figurine of a seated archer in a long floral robe and with elaborate headdress. Gorgeous decorative piece!

Height: 18.5 cm



Antique Japanese Kutani Porcelain Charger With Carps Leaping Over the Dragon Gate


Antique Japanese Kutani Porcelain Charger With Carps Leaping Over the Dragon Gate

Stunning antique Japanese Meiji period Kutani porcelain charger depicting a traditional scene with carps leaping over the dragon gate to be transformed into dragons. Reverse decorated with blossoming prunus branches and with red rectangle in the centre but without a mark.

Diameter: 33 cm / 13 inches



Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Bowl Meiji Taisho Period Marked Ryozan 亮山


Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Bowl Meiji Taisho Period Marked Ryozan 亮山

Gorgeous little antique Japanese Satsuma pottery bowl with central figural scene framed by a floral border. Exterior decorated with bamboo and simple scrolls. Marked Ryozan 亮山.

Diameter: 9.5 cm



Fine Antique Japanese Aka-e Kutani Porcelain Miniature Cup Meiji Period 九谷 Mark


Fine Antique Japanese Aka-e Kutani Porcelain Miniature Cup Meiji Period 九谷 Mark

Cute antique Japanese aka-e Kutani porcelain cup with finely detailed iron red and gold decoration depicting cartouches with figures enjoying a drink and playing music. Marked 九谷 ‘Kutani’ to the base. Really lovely example of its type.

Diameter: 6 cm



Antique Chinese Ko-Sometsuke Blue and White Porcelain Carp Dish Late Ming, 17th century


Antique Chinese Ko-Sometsuke Blue and White Porcelain Carp Dish Late Ming, 17th century

Pretty little Chinese late Ming dynasty ko-sometsuke porcelain dish with typical scene depicting carp leaping over the dragon gate.

Dimensions: approx. 8.5×8.5 cm



Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Rectangular Box Meiji Taisho Era Marked 壽


Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Rectangular Box Meiji Taisho Era Marked 壽

Stunning antique Japanese rectangular Satsuma covered box with finely painted landscape scene on the lid, bird-and-flower decoration along the sides and additional flowers inside. Marked 壽 to the base.

Dimensions: 11.5×8.5×5.5 cm



Antique Japanese Cobalt Blue Satsuma Pottery Vases Marked Taisen Early 20th c.


Antique Japanese Cobalt Blue Satsuma Pottery Vases Marked Taisen Early 20th c.

Stunning mirrored pair of Japanese cobalt blue-ground Satsuma vases depicting a mountain temple. Each signed 泰仙 ‘Taisen’ which might refer to 泰仙寺 ‘Taisen temple’ or the name of the decorator. Beautiful decorative pair!

Height: 19 cm



Antique Chinese Amber Glazed Pottery Group of Foo Lions Late Ming 16th-17th century


Antique Chinese Amber Glazed Pottery Group of Foo Lions Late Ming 16th-17th century

Highly unusual antique Chinese amber glazed pottery figurine depicting a group of foo lions. Compare with a similar type of figure of a horse rider in The Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art collections, dated 16th-mid 17th century, late Ming dynasty.

Height: 8 cm



Fine Antique Japanese Yokohama Kutani Porcelain Plates by Yamashita Meiji Period


Fine Antique Japanese Yokohama Kutani Porcelain Plates by Yamashita Meiji Period

Very fine set of four Yokohama decorated porcelain plates depicting various scenes with birds and Mt. Fuji. Beautifully painted examples of their type. Each marked 横濱 山下造 ‘Yokohama, Made by Yamashita’ in iron red on the back.

Diameter: 18 cm / 7 inches



Fine Vintage Chinese Blue Ground Monochrome Cloisonne Enamelled Vases 20th Century


Fine Vintage Chinese Blue Ground Monochrome Cloisonne Enamelled Vases 20th Century

Fine pair of Chinese miniature blue-ground monochrome cloisonne vases with matching wooden stands. Vase on the left has one small nick on the lower part of the body. Vase on the right has three or four similar small dents all on one side so could easily be rotated the other way when displayed.

Height: 10 cm / 12 cm including wooden stands



Antique Japanese Damascene Mixed Metal Belt Buckle Fujii Yoshitoyo. Early 20th Century


Antique Japanese Damascene Mixed Metal Belt Buckle Fujii Yoshitoyo. Early 20th Century

Fine quality Japanese damascene belt buckle by Fujii Yoshitoyo. Depicting figures in elaborate kimonos walking in the garden. Both parts stamped with a typical mark of Fujii Damascene Co. with Mt. Fuji (藤) and character ‘i’ (井) inside (= 藤井 ‘Fujii’). 

Dimensions: 8.5×5.5 cm



Antique Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Snuff Bottle With Kangxi Mark. Qing Dynasty


Antique Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Snuff Bottle With Kangxi Mark. Qing Dynasty

Interesting Chinese blue and white porcelain snuff bottle in the form of a miniature meiping. Decorated in underglaze blue with a continuous scene depicting scholar with his attendant, figure on a horse, and another one carrying a load on his back. Base marked with a six-character Kangxi mark. Foot rim smooth to the touch and bluish-green glaze with loads of bubbles. Haven’t seen one quite like it before!

Height: approx. 7.5 cm



Large Antique Japanese Late Edo Blue and White Ko-Imari Porcelain Dish With 'Ken' Mark


Large Antique Japanese Late Edo Blue and White Ko-Imari Porcelain Dish With ‘Ken’ Mark

Rare large antique Japanese Ko-Imari porcelain dish of quatrefoil form, decorated in impressive underglaze cobalt blue. Featuring a large central landscape scene framed by an intricate and beautifully painted border with various geometric, floral and foliate motifs. Back marked with a typical 乾 ‘Ken’ mark in underglaze blue. Rings like a bell.

Dimensions: approx. 29×28.5 cm (slightly irregular)



Large Vintage Japanese Amber Brown Glazed Onta Ware Onta-yaki Jar. 20th Century


Large Vintage Japanese Amber Brown Glazed Onta Ware Onta-yaki Jar. 20th Century

Impressive and beautifully potted Japanese Onta-yaki jar from a remote mountain village in Ōita Prefecture. Featuring a characteristic incised decoration and gorgeous amber-brown glaze. Stamped 小鹿田焼 ‘Onta ware’ – pieces are never signed by an individual but only with the sign of the Onta village. This is to signify that the production of a single vessel was the combined work of the community.

Height: 21.5 cm



Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Bowl, Meiji or Taisho Period. Marked Suizan 翠山


Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Bowl, Meiji or Taisho Period. Marked Suizan 翠山

Gorgeous antique Japanese blue-ground Satsuma pottery bowl with central figural scene framed by a floral border. Cobalt blue exterior decorated with additional floral and foliate scrolls. Marked Suizan 翠山.

Diameter: 12 cm



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Antique European ceramics inspired by Chinese and Japanese porcelain

This post is dedicated to European ceramics inspired by antique Chinese and Japanese porcelain or other Oriental objects. Europe has a long history of trade with these countries so it is not surprising that many European potters were inspired by their designs and attempted to recreate them in order to capitalize on their popularity. All objects pictured below are from our own collection (some already sold). We will keep updating this page as we come across any additional examples of European ‘Chinoiserie’ or ‘Japanesque’ ceramics influenced by Oriental designs.

Last update: August 2024


Beautiful antique Meissen porcelain dish decorated with 'Yellow Tiger' pattern
Beautiful antique Meissen porcelain dish decorated with ‘Yellow Tiger’ pattern based on Japanese Kakiemon porcelain. Marked with underglaze blue swords mark. Knaufzeit period, 1860-1924.

Antique French Porcelain Plate in Japanese Kakiemon Style. Gabriel Fourmaintraux
Very rare early 20th century dish by French artist Gabriel Fourmaintraux (1886-1984). Decorated in Kakiemon style with a scene featuring dragon coiled around a bamboo and a tiger gazing up to the sky. This pattern was copied either from the original 17th century Japanese Arita piece or from one of later European copies of this type (such as those produced by Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory during the mid-18th century). Marked with Sun symbol to the base with initials GF inside and inscribed Desvres France 20500.

Fine French Limoges Chantilly Decorated Japanese Kakiemon Style Porcelain Plate
French Chantilly decorated Limoges porcelain plate in Kakiemon style. Marked with traditional red hunting horn mark and inscribed Chantilly, décoré à la main. Green Limoges, France stamp with overpainted flowers. 20th century.

Fine French CHARLES AHRENFELDT Limoges Plate in Chinese Famille Verte Style
French Limoges porcelain plate decorated in the manner of Chinese Qing dynasty famille verte porcelain. Marked with iron red Chantilly hunting horn mark and with France déposé biscuit stamped mark used by C. Ahrenfeldt between 1894-1930.

Antique Haviland and Co. Japanese Fan-Shaped Platter by Dammouse. Fleurs Parisiennes Pattern by Girardin. 1882-1889
Antique Haviland and Co. Japanese Fan-Shaped Platter by Dammouse. Fleurs Parisiennes Pattern by Girardin. Rare Limoges porcelain platter by Haviland and Co. produced during the peak of French Japonisme movement of the late 19th century. Porcelain blank was designed by A. Dammouse and is based on the shape of Japanese war fans (gunbai-uchiwa). Hand-painted impressionist decoration from the series ‘Fleurs Parisiennes’ created in 1882 by J. Girardin. Green H & Co. L mark to the base used by Haviland between 1876 and 1889.

Jardiniere with mask handles and famille rose style decoration by Samson, Edmé et Cie, Paris
Samson, Edmé et Cie, Paris – jardinière withChinese style brown-dressed mask handles and famille rose type decoration featuring exotic birds and oversized peonies. Marked with underglaze blue ‘S’ mark.
Porcelain tray by Samson of Paris, done in typical manner of Chinese famille rose export porcelain. Red pseudo-Chinese mark on the back typically found on Samson porcelain copying Chinese designs.

Antique English Coalport Imari Style Money Tree Plate Impressed Mark c.1815-1825
Rare Coalport imari style plate decorated in ‘money tree’ or ‘rock and tree’ pattern. Impressed number 2 on the back used between c. 1815 and 1825.

Rare Antique 19th c. Staffordshire Clobbered Chinoiserie Ironstone Dish
Highly unusual antique English Chinese style clobbered dish. Transfer-printed underglaze blue fence pattern with bamboo, peonies and scholar’s rocks is combined with hand-painted overglaze polychrome decoration done in the manner of C.J. Mason. Iron red pseudo-Chinese artemisia leaf mark underneath. It’s interesting to note that outlines of dragons are present in the transfer-printed underglaze pattern.

Antique English Clobbered Ironstone Plate with Dragon and Butterfly Decoration. In the manner of Miles or C. J. Mason, c. 1820
Another English ‘clobbered’ plate with dragon and butterflies painted in the manner of Miles or C. J. Mason. Red nine-character pseudo Chinese mark to the base. This pattern and mark combination is often found on clobbered Chinese export porcelain.

Pair of 19th century miniature teapots decorated by C.J. Mason around c.1840-45. Decorated in Chinoiserie pattern featuring dragons, flowers and butterflies. Each marked with characteristic rectangular iron red pseudo-Chinese mark to the base.

Antique Mason’s Ironstone Bandana Pattern Pot Pourri Vase with Blue Handles.
Antique Mason’s Ironstone Bandana Pattern Pot Pourri Vase with Blue Handles. Stunning Mason’s chinoiserie gilt vase in the Bandana pattern featuring transfer-printed and hand-coloured Foo lions against gold background. Impressive blue twin handles imitating original Chinese examples. Underglaze blue pseudo Chinese Jiaqing (1796-1820) reign mark to the base.
Rare antique C. J. Mason & Co. ironstone vase featuring transfer-printed pattern imitating Chinese export porcelain and with two colourful applied chimeras on the shoulder. Base stamped with underglaze blue pseudo-Chinese reign mark of Emperor Jiaqing. Similar pattern illustrated in the book ‘Chinese Whispers: Chinoiserie in Britain 1650-1930’ is dated c. 1830-1845.
Pair of Mason’s Ironstone bandana pattern lidded vases, c. 1870-1880. Each with iron red pattern number B3122 to the base.

Pair of early 19th century Mason’s ironstone square-form vases with Chinese style handles and cartouches with transfer printed designs imitating Chinese export porcelain. Rest of the vases decorated in pseudo tobacco leaf pattern set against a heavily gilded cobalt blue background. Not marked.

Antique Royal Worcester Porcelain Japanesque Brush Washer with Chilong Dragon
Antique Royal Worcester Porcelain Japanesque Brush Washer with Chilong Dragon. Very rare Royal Worcester Japanesque porcelain calligraphy brush washer or a small vase in Chinese style with figure of a chilong moulded in high relief against a plain background with floral motifs moulded in low relief all around. Green Royal Worcester date mark to the base with number 77 below and stamped M for year of production 1877. Additional red inscription “CN” next to the date mark. Catalogued as shape #573 (Harry Sandon, Royal Worcester Porcelain from 1862 to the Present, London, Barrie and Jenkins, 1975)

Antique Royal Worcester Japanesque Brush Washer with Chilong Dragon
Slightly later version of the same ‘Japanesque’ design. Relief moulded peony scrolls are in this case highlighted in underglaze blue. Foot and rim decorated with black petal-shaped border and gold accents. Purple Royal Worcester date mark to the base with letter O for year of production 1889.

Antique Royal Worcester Japanesque Spill Vase With Relief Moulded Scenes
Antique Royal Worcester Japanesque Spill Vase With Relief Moulded Scenes. Very rare Royal Worcester quatrefoil shaped spill vase with relief moulded oriental scenes inspired by Japanese and Chinese carved calligraphy brush washers. Body is supported by two beautiful three-dimensional pine trees on each side of the vase. Fully gilded reticulated rim. A fantastic piece produced during the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century. Green date mark to the base dated 1884 and inscribed initials “BK”. Stamped 956 for catalogue shape #956.

Rare antique Royal Worcester ewer modelled after a Persian or Ottoman example. Marked with purple backstamp with letter Z for the year of production 1888, shape number 1191 and RdN 62252.

Rare Vintage Lladro Chinese Style Porcelain Vase by Vincente Martinez 1972-79
This is a more modern vase produced by Lladro between 1972-79 and made in the manner of Chinese prunus blossom decorated examples, complete with attached display stand copying carved wooden originals. Designed by Vincente Martinez.

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Identification of Asian art and antique porcelain marks
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Photos of The Summer Palace by Mei Li Photographic Studio, c. 1928-1937

I would like to share with you some fascinating old photos of the Summer Palace in Beijing, made and distributed by Mei Li Photograhpic Studio during the late 1920s or 1930s. We’ve acquired two separate sets of these. First one is a set of four framed hand-tinted panoramic shots measuring approx. 30×10 cm. Second set features 23 smaller black and white photos with typewritten English explanations on the back. Hope you’ll enjoy these as much as we did!


Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in The Temple of Heaven
Camel Back Bridge (Jade Belt Bridge)
Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiang Ge) overlooking Kunming Lake
Seventeen-Arch Bridge connecting the shore of the lake with Nanhu Island
Mei Li Photographic Studio Label
Mei Li Photographic Studio 美麗照相舘 original label on the back of the frames. Use of the name ‘Peiping’ dates these somewhere between 1928-1937, Republic period.
Second set of photographs came in this brown paper envelope titled 萬壽山, SUMMER PALACE, All With English Explanations
Summer Palace – Bronze Cow and Seventeen Arch Bridge
Summer Palace – Camel Back Bridge
Forbidden City – Throne in Reception Hall
Forbidden City – Throne in Pao Ho Hall
Summer Palace – Empress Dowager’s Garden
Summer Palace – Empress Dowager’s Celebration Hall
Summer Palace – Empress Dowager’s Fasting Quarter
Summer Palace – Bronze Temple
Summer Palace – Marble Tablet
Summer Palace – Pavilion on Marble Bridge
Forbidden City – Bronze Incense Burners
Summer Palace – The Arch
Forbidden City – General View

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Identification of Asian Antiques. Translation of Chinese and Japanese Porcelain Marks