A early Japanese wooden candle-holder with red and black lacquer coating. The undercoat is a black lacquer over which a shiny dark red lacquer layer was added. The candle-holder is in a tripod form and has a short metal pricket in the top to anchor the candle. It is clearly hand turned and carved by some folk carver in the country.
This is one of a series of paperback books published by the Board of Tourist Industry, Japanese Government Railways in 1939. It is a first edition and is the 26th book in the series of books on a host of subjects about Japanese life in the early 20th century. This particular book was written by TEKIHO NISIZAWA, and translated by S. Sakabe. It is in softcover and is 19.5 cm, with 82 pages of text and color drawings of pull toys, dolls and many other varieties of folk toys enjoyed by Japanese chil ...click for details
This is a most unusual set of four small papier mache Japanese mask faces with gesso coverings. All four are covered in a reddish maroon gesso and all have very fierce expressions. All of them have real hair on their head, especially the eyebrows, mustaches and sideburns. Each expression is unique and clearly hand made.
This is a fun little soapstone bottle stopper in the shape of a shi shi - nicely carved. We believe it is a Chinese piece from the way the shi shi is carved and because the Chinese use soapstone as a carving medium more often than the Japanese. The stopper measures 2 1/2" high and is 1" diameter. Fine condition.
We date it anytime between the 1920s and 1950s.
A rather rare example of a Japanese portable lamp with a spur inside to hold a candle and an hooded ovoid opening in the front to insert the candle and protect it from the wind. On the back there is a metal strap that could be used to hang the lamp on a wall. We date the piece to the late Edo to early Meiji period, circa 1840-1870. Excellent patina with rust and wear – but still in usable condition. The lamp measures 9 ½” tall and is 3 ½” in diameter.
This is an excellent otsu-e painting or water color of a Japanese traveling beggar playing a shakuhachi flute. It is mounted on a hard background with a border of silk cloth. Wandering beggar priests known as komuso played this instrument during the Edo period (1615 -1868 ) to solicit donations. As they wandered they wore baskets on their h ...click for details
A Mingei (folk art) wooden figure (okimono) of a seated priest or scholar seated on a rock.
Ittobori is a uniquely Japanese carving technique. The name literally means "one chisel cut". You can see by the angles made by the chisel that they are not smoothed out. The carving is excellent and has fine old patina. The scholar is is on a rock base which is carved separately from the figure itself. We cannot identify the wood other that to note that it is carved from two separate blocks ...click for details
A very simple but handsome yatate – a scholars holder for his brush and ink. This yatate is shaped as a narrow fan and opens on a hand made copper/bronze swivel. At the wide end is the metal well that held the solidified ink and the shaft holds the narrow brush with horse hair bristles. The yatate shows signs of excellent use and patina which leads us to date it to the late Edo to early Meiji period, circa 1850-1880. It measures 10 “ long and is 1” wide at the widest end and 5/8” wide at the ...click for details
A very strong and superbly carved wooden figure of a Nio - the temple guard who tradionally guards the gates of a Buddhist temple. The piece measures 13" high by 6" wide by 3" deep and is in excellent condition. Wonderfully carved details in the facial expression, the musculature and the overall presence of the Nio. We date the piece to the late Edo period, circa 1850. It came from a major collection of Japanese antiques in Victoria Island, BC, Canada. The word Nio literally means ...click for details
An interesting comb or brush folk art piece which we would date to the late 19th century. A design has been burned into the handle with a heated tool. On one side the design is that of flowers and leaves - on the other is a design of a small boy carrying a goose while an elder looks on. Although the characters in the design have a Chinese appearance based on the hair styles, we believe the piece is of Japanese origin. The Kanji signature on the one side translates to "Kogen Made". We d ...click for details
A wooden statue of a horse of the Yamato period - carved in the mid to later Edo period, circa 1800-1860. This piece was made in the ancient manner in that it was formed from two pieces of wood that were glued together and then carved. Although it seems that it was colored in various colors from the first, only reddish brown powdered paints remain now. Height: 3 1/3" by 3 3/4" wide by 1 1/8" deep. Very good condition - with the exception that the tail is missing.
A mingei folk art carved wood figure of a court attendant or an acolyte - he stands holding a cup or shallow bowl in both hands in front of him. Age: about 150 years, Height 6 1/2" by 2 3/4" wide " by 1 5*" deep. Condition is generally very good. The left eyelid is missing for some time - traces of old red gesso or paint- other preservation states are very good. Late Edo period.
Fine early bokuto sagemono (known as a doctors sword) dating from the Edo period, circa 1750-1860. A bokuto was a simulated sword made of wood. In ancient Japan only Samurai were allowed to wear a real sword. Therefore non-samurais (doctors, merchants, etc.) used the bokuto. We surmise that in the dark, robbers who were thinking of accosting doctors or businessmen going about their rounds might have been scared off when the saw the shape of the bokuto in the dark.The piece is possibly of Ainu ...click for details
Chinese glazed pottery figure of Li T'ieh-kuai or LI Tie Guai - "Iron-crutch Li", who always carries a crutch and a gourd; he is the emblem of the sick. Li T'ieh-kuai is the Sage of Magician and the Patron of the Sick. Li T'ieh-kuai is said to have had magic powers and left his body to explore the celestial sphere. Once his servant thought he was dead because he was absent much longer than usual, and buried his body. When the soul of Li T'ieh-kuai returned, he hadn' ...click for details
Small Mingei folk pottery figure of Ebisu in clay, late-Edo Period. The shichifukujin, or seven gods of good luck, are among the most popular figures in Japanese mythology, and Ebisu is a particular favorite. Originally part of the Shinto pantheon and revered as the patron of fishermen and merchants, Ebisu is always depicted with a large tai (bream) tucked under his left arm.
This Edo-Period (1603-1868) clay Ebisu, at once grinning and grimacing and otherwise in seeming disarray, charms disar ...click for details
