Michael Dunn's decades-long love of Chinese antiques began when he was a fledgling antiques dealer in upstate New York. For many years Dunn exhibited in the prestigious Winter Antiques Show, held every year in January in New York City.

Dunn later met his wife, Wurui, while on a trip to Bejing. The couple are the owners of Michael Dunn Antiques in Wiscasset village, specializing in ancient Chinese artifacts and art. The Dunns spend several months a year in Beijing, China, and the remainder of the year in Maine.

Recently the pair came upon a collection of the much sought after Chinese pottery figures, circa 1550, which had been in a private collectors home for several decades. What made this collection desirable was that this collector had a passion for the rare and unusual blue glaze — and most of this collection of 16th century pottery figures have this scarce blue glaze. Most of the pottery figures produced during this period have the more commonly seen light green glaze.

Some of the rare blue glaze items include: a Ming equestrian figure astride his horse, a group of nine Ming pottery figures (one of a horse), dating from around 1550, a group of 19 Ming pottery figures, and a pair of Ming Pottery Miniature Blue Glaze tables.

Ming figures decorated with the traditional green glaze include a Sedan seat carrier, a groom with horse, and one table.

An 18th Century Chinese Scholar’s Cabinet (black lacquer) with gilt decoration, is from Shanxi Province. The doors are decorated with scholar’s objects, including a clock and the lock plate and locking pin are original.

Scholar’s Object were created for the literati class, who were the civil officials in dynastic China. The right door features two incense burners, and a three legged toad, which spits money is pictured underneath. When the missionaries came to China, they brought clocks, and the Chinese were fascinated with the west and clocks which were exotic to the Chinese. The province of Shanxi had sales and exported salt to the coast, and the merchants and bankers there shipped all the way to Moscow.  

To see items from this private collection, visit the shop located at 49 Middle Street. The shop is open from mid-May through Columbus Day, 11 a.m. to 5. For more information, visit michaeldunnantiques.com or email ruiwu@hotmail.com.