Extremely rare Japanese antique usagi (rabbit or hare) mask for a Noh performance. Carved of wood and covered with gofun, a raised paste made from ground oyster shells. The surface of the usagi mask is carefully textured so that every hair is visible and some areas are polished from wear. The eyes of the hare are a pink color, similar to those of an albino snow rabbit.

Usagi is the creature most closely associated with the moon...

An amazing small wooden figure covered in with glass eyes made in the hyper-real likeness of a Rakugo-shi Comic storyteller, dressed I traditional Hakama trousers and seated on a large cushion clutching a fan in his right hand. It is 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) tall, while the cushion upon which he sits is 19.5 x 15.5 cm (just under 8 x 6 inches) and the figure is in excellent condition. There is what appears to be a signature on the bottom; Ta?Saku...

A large pair of temple foxes carved from granite. The Inari foxes come complete with separate plinth bases. This pair of Kitsune (foxes) is finely rendered with ears pricked back, tail upright, with paws and hinds seated on its bases. The stone Imari foxes have bryophyte moss growth which is now dormant...

A pair of wood sculpture of Ebisu and Daikoku which are two of seven gods. Ebis is for good business and Daikoku is for luck with money. They are put on the ouse shrine. In good condition but some parts are missed in Ebis (left). Late 19th to early 20th century. Base:15cm x 5cm, Height:12cm

Antique Japanese reclining black bull, wonderfully sculpted in Ceramic. Painted low-fire ceramic in good condition. Very heavy and charming. Great life like detail. Meiji Period (c. late 1800's). Size: 11" high x 23" long x 11" deep.

Japanese antique carved boxwood figure of Soko-tanuki. Here he is disguised as a monk with a large temple bell. The story goes that a tanuki (who is famous for his shapeshifting abilities) worked in the temple for many years. One day while he was taking a nap, he was caught in his original form...

Japanese bronze rooster with artist sign.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, 20th Century
Size: Height 29.8 C.M. / Width 13.3 C.M. / Thickness 9.8 C.M. (size excluding stand)
Condition: Nice condition overall. Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the shipping fee.

Very rare cast bronze sculpture of the Chinese monk Xuanzang with a pile of Buddhist scriptures rolled up and stacked in the pack on his back and a lotus leaf over his head from which dangles an incense burner, as he returns to China from India.
In his hands he was holding a scroll and a fly whisk that are now missing. Figure stands on an irregularly shaped base. Japan, mid Edo period, 18th century.
Height incl. base ca. 5.25 inches (13.3 cm)...

This very well made bone carving of the legendary Chinese figure Xiang Yu 項 羽 (232 BC~202BC) is a late 19th century product. Xiang Yu is popularly known in Chinese as “Xi Chu Ba Wang” 西 楚 霸 王 which means “Conqueror of Western Chu”. For more information, please refer to the entry on Xiang Yu in Wikipedia. This statue is 9" high (with carved fitted wood base is 10" high), 3 3/4" wide and 3" in depth...

Japanese bronze mouse holding a chestnut with artist sign.

Age: Japan, Meiji Period, 19th Century
Size: Length 18 C.M. / Width 8.5 C.M. / Height 9 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall. Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the shipping fee.

Absolutely rare and amazing pottery shisa ( foo dog, foo lion ) from the mid. Meiji Period, signed by the artist and covered with wonderful white Hagi glaze.

Do you find more impressive ones on the antique art market?

The figure shows a lot of artistic details (take a look on the teeth and the tongue)...

Antique Japanese bronze hiten (Sanskrit, apsara), celestial musician. She sits on swirling clouds, her drum in her lap. Stylistically represented in the Indian or Southeast Asian traditional garb of bodhisattvas with high crown, elaborate pectoral jewelry and flowing drapery. The billowing clouds on which she sits have a green patina.

Age: Taisho period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 14 1/4" high x 9 1/2" wide x 6 1/2" deep

Unusual 19th century Japanese carved wooden head of a scholar. Was carved and, judging by patina, most probably used, as the top of a votive statue. Wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful patina, inscribed in ink on the back of the post. The bottom of the post is branded with the mark of the workshop where the piece was carved. Height 3.64 inches.

19th Century Edo Period Japanese Clay Mask of Tengu, the mischievous God of the Forest. A wonderful example of Mingei used as decorative art, with an underglaze of red and white fired to give a wonderful presence. 8.25 inches (21cm) tall) x 6.25 inches (16cm) wide. From a widely renowned and published collection that has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and Japan Society.

Chiseled wood sculpture representing a sitting hare.

In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are designated by a single word: usagi. The hare occupies an important place in Japanese legends and superstitions. Like many other animals, it is supposed to reach a fabulous age and become blue at five hundred years old...

Taisho Period Japanese Bronze Tear Drop Vase with original box. A classic shape with a gorgeous caramel patina. 8 inches (20.5cm) tall. From a widely renowned and published collection that has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and Japan Society.

An early pair of Japanese Kutani Porcelain Shishi (Foo Dogs). These unique porcelains have a rich brown glaze with black and white under glaze. They have a wonderful mythological presence. 7 x 4.5 inches, 18 x 11.5 cm each. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

Fine example of a Jomon Period (13,000-300BC) Dogu, the earliest known Japanese figure. This figure was purchased at a Parke Bernet auction by a renowned author on and collector of Asian art. The Dogu acted as effigies of people. They manifested some kind of sympathetic magic. For example, it may have been believed that illnesses could be transferred into the Dogu, then destroyed, clearing the illness, or any other misfortune. Because of the ritual destruction of Dogu, they are quite rare...