Asian

This tea bowl was created around 1850, by a Kyoto-based potter by the name of Lokuba. As the capital and seat of the Imperial Court in Japan for over 1000 years, Kyoto set the quality standard for arts and crafts. Artists who hail from this region are considered to be some of the best, and [...]

This set of two painted porcelain bowls were created in the Jingdezhen province of China. These bowls feature a design of a Western dragon in blue glaze on the inside. The Western dragon is associated with anger and isolation, rather than strength and wisdom like its Eastern counterpart. The outside of the bowl is a [...]

This woodblock print was created by Sadao Watanabe, a famous Japanese printmaker of the twentieth century. Watanabe is best known for his biblical productions made in the traditional Japanese style. The scene depicted here is of a nativity, with three men praying over a child being held by its mother. The print is primarily monochrome, [...]

This print was made by Hiroshige Ando, a great Japanese printmaker famous for his landscape series and woodblock techniques. Hiroshige came from the Samurai class, and was charged with preventing fires in Edo Castle. This responsibility left him with much leisure time, and at the age of fourteen he started to learn traditional painting, which [...]

This monochrome woodblock print depicts a man prostrate with angels alongside him. Above the man and angels, there is a chariot driven by God. Hiroshi, or Yo, Iwashita was born in 1917, but beyond that little is known about the artist. His woodblock prints are considered highly popular and continue in the long Japanese tradition [...]

This beautiful photo album is comprised of photos taken before 1890, some of which were taken by photographer Felice Beato in Japan. Beato spent more than 20 years in Japan, and through his photos he provided a rare visual record of a Japan that was restricted to foreign travelers. Filled with hand tinted photographs of [...]

This style of terracotta vase, dated to the Han Dynasty, is known as a cocoon vase. This style of vase was very popular in the earlier years of the Han Dynasty, but dwindled in popularity as time went on, nearly falling out of use by the end of the dynasty. This style of vase has [...]

This earthenware vase was created during the Han dynasty. The Han dynasty was one of the longest lasting dynasties in China, lasting upwards of four centuries. In terms of power and culture, the Han dynasty is considered to be a Golden Age of Chinese history. During this time period, Chinese culture thrived and great advancements [...]