Here are two antique rice cracker (sembei) presses, made of heavy hand-tooled iron. Each one has a design that transfers to the cracker when used. One of the presses (round one) has a chrysanthemum and water design; the other (rectangular one) has an inscription (dai-uchi), likely the name of the company. The other side of this press has an offering stand--the type used in Shinto-related celebrations, such as weddings. < ...click for details
This wonderful iron kettle has plovers (chidori) flying over waves, which is a romantic Japanese "mono-no-aware" allusion. Imagine: It's sunset at the shore, the fishermen have all come home for the day, gentle waves roll onto the beach, the smell of salt water is in the air, only the crying plovers are flying about. There are many literary references to this beautiful but sad and lonely image.
This is a set of 6 large, matching drawer pulls from an antique (19th c.) Japanese tansu chest (Edo period). I've provided a pic of the type of chest these pulls would have been used for. They are made of very heavy iron. Great patina!
Original pins to attach pulls to wood included.
Each pull is 6 in. (15.4 cm) long x 2.5 in. (6.4 cm) wide. ...click for details
This large copper bell once hung from the eaves of a Shinto shrine in Japan. Before beginning to pray, visitors would pull down on the cord to call the "kami" (god-sprits). Clapping their hands twice, they would then pray.
When rung, this bell makes a very wonderful hollow sound. It has a charming, all-over greenish patina. Hard to date, but patins suggest significant age. See my pics of Hanazono shrine in Shi ...click for details
