To mark World Heritage Day, (18th April 2024) we are shining a light on the Shrines and Temples of Nikko. Nikko is one of 25 World Heritage Sites located in Japan and the various buildings at this beautiful site are popular subjects in our collection of Japanese Fine Art and Antiques. World Heritage Day is an international day of observance held on the 18th April every year around the world. A range of activities including conferences, guided visits, round-tables and media campaigns take place on this day and each year the International Council on Monuments and Sites chooses a theme to ..read more

  We are thrilled to showcase something very special for this Month’s Featured Item. This exceptionally fine Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912) Wakizashi sword, with masterful Shibayama style decoration to the Saya (scabbard) is a new arrival to our collection of Japanese 19th Century works of art. The post Our “Item of the Month” for April, this exceptional Gold lacquer Wakizashi with Shibayama decoration appeared first on Kevin Page Antiques ..read more

  As a long-standing member of the BADA (The British Antique Dealers Association) , we were delighted to take part in their new “Meet  the Dealer” initiative where they get to know the people and personalities that form their membership. We were asked three questions about the world of Oriental Art and you can see our responses below.   “Tell us about your favourite piece currently in stock and what makes it so special:”   “It’s hard to choose just one piece to call a favourite. It is like asking a film buff for their favourite movie or a music fan, for their favourite albu ..read more

  Our featured “Item of the Month” for January  is this monumental (92cm across) late 19th Century Japanese Iron and Multi-metal plate depicting a Nio, (Temple Guardian.)     Nio are large, muscular creatures seen throughout East Asia standing guard at the entrances to Temples and Shrines. A Nio is a manifestation of the oldest and most powerful Bodhisattva Vajrapani who was the guide and protector of Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism known now days across the world as “Buddha.” The below image shows a wood-carved Okimono depicting a pair of Temple Guardians.   &nb ..read more

  As we approach the end of the calendar year, we allow ourselves one last look at some of our favourite pieces that we said a fond farewell to over the last twelve months.   SOLD: This masterful Silvered Bronze Hawk on Torii Gate spread it’s wings and found a new home in the Middle-East   In many ways it has been another difficult year for the trade with the knock-on effects of Brexit, Covid, devastating Global events and many other challenges but we were very happy to see some familiar faces as well as well as to welcome some new customers at our North London galleries in 202 ..read more

  In many ways, it has felt like a long, cold, dark, wet Winter, but there is no mistake now that the days are getting longer, the Magnolia is beginning to bloom and the temperature is tentatively starting to rise. Spring is on its way and with that, it is time for the latest edition of our quarterly Oriental Art-inspired Newsletter. In this edition, we mark the start of the New Lunar Year by telling “The Tale of the Four Dragons”, one of the most popular Chinese folk stories. We shine a light on one of our favourite characters of Japanese legend, “The Shojo” and we showcase two magnifice ..read more

  Our featured item for February is this wonderful, large Bronze Okimono group depicting a pair of fighting Lion Dogs, a recent addition to our collection of Japanese late 19th Century Metalwork. As one of the “Shishi” is considerably larger than the other, it is likely a parent enjoying a “playful” wrestle with its young.     Shishi are often depicted in the vicinity of waterfalls and in Japanese legend, it is said that adult Shishi would throw their offspring from a high rock as a test of the strength and resilience of their young. If the youngster made it back to the top of ..read more

  Also known as Kenkoku Kinen no Hi, National Foundation Day is celebrated in Japan every year on the 11th February. It is a National Holiday that marks the ascension of the legendary first Emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu.   Striking! An impressive large, Bronze Okimono of Emperor Jimmu (Circa 1880)   It is believed that Jimmu became the Emperor on New Years Day (in the Lunisolar calendar) in the year 660BC and there are records of Foundation Day being celebrated as far back as the 7th Century when two ancient Chronicles of Japan (The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki) were written. The C ..read more

  As we celebrate the New Lunar Year and the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, we thought it a nice opportunity to share one of our favourite Chinese folk tales. We hope you enjoy the read:   (All the Dragons featured in the below photographs are from our online inventory of antique Chinese porcelain. You can click on any of the images to take a closer look at the collection.)     Once upon a time, many years ago, there were no rivers or lakes on Earth. The only source of water was the Eastern Sea, in which lived four Dragons; the Long Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the Bla ..read more

  This coming weekend, billions of people around the world will come together to celebrate the New Lunar Year. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon! The Chinese Zodiac calendar assigns one of the five elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth to each year. The complete cycle takes 60 years to complete before starting over. We are entering the Year of the Wood Dragon. (As always, you can click on the images below to take a closer look at the items displayed.)   A large, fully-articulated Japanese Jizai Okimono of a Dragon   The Chinese New Year is celebrated across South-East Asi ..read more