Boro noragi (work wear) made of many cotton fragments, which are hand spun and vegetable indigo dye. It is from Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district and called Shonai-sashiko. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:89cm, L:81cm

A ghost rises from the darkness pulling on her hair, a wry grin as she looks sideways at the viewer on this antique painting by Moriwaki Unkei. Ink on paper completely cleaned and remounted in vine patterned blue silk with dark wood rollers. There are old age stains on the paper, which appear much stronger in the photos than in life. It is 40 x 200 cm (15-3/4 x 78-3/4 inches) and in excellent condition...

Long verses fall like rain upon the sinister figure of an Oni (type of devil) dressed in the habit of a priest who glares as he walks through the village, banging out a warning to all evil-doers. Around his neck hangs a bell which he clangs loudly with the hammer held high in one hand. The stern figure carries in the other hand a booklet titled Hogacho...

Jizai okimono of an articulated bronze praying mantis.

The praying mantis (in Japanese, kamakiri) is considered an auspicious symbol.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 3.15 in / 8.5 cm – width: 3.94 in / 10.5 cm – depth: 4.72 in / 12.5 cm

Rectangular kobako box in takamaki-e and kirigane gold lacquer circled with pewter depicting a lake landscape. Inside and back of the box in nashi-ji lacquer.

Japan – Edo period (1612-1868)
Height: 0.8 in (2.6 cm) – width: 2.4 in (6.7 cm )– depth: 3.1 in (8 cm)

Takamaki-e and kirigane lacquer kobako box depicting two samurai entering an enclosure. Four guards block their access. The side is decorated with cherry blossoms in maki-e lacquer on a fundame background. Interior in nashi-ji lacquer.

Japan - Edo period (1612-1868)
Height: 0.4 in / 1.5 cm - Width: 1.97 in / 5.3 cm - Depth: 1.97 in / 5.3 cm

Jizai okimono of an articulated wooden lobster. This one is a Japanese spiny lobster (ise-ebi in Japanese), a lobster species of Pacific Ocean that grows up to around 12 in (30 cm). It is a popular item in high-class Japanese cuisine.

Wooden jizai okimono are quite rare...

Jizai okimono of an articulated crab in bronze with dark brown patina.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 2 in / 5 cm – width: 7 in / 18 cm – depth: 3.9 in / 10.5 cm

Ivory netsuke depicting four painter's seals, linked together, of which the most important has a karashishi as a handle, a symbolic figure representing protection and courage. Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 2.2 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm. Conservation status: Excellent condition

Ivory netsuke with amber patina depicting a seated child playing with a turtle while a cat climbs onto his shoulder. Signed Komin 虎眠 within a rectangular reserve under the base. Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 3 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm. Conservation status: Excellent condition

Oval ivory netsuke manju depicting the profile of Daruma, also known as Bodhidharma, a spiritual figure of great importance in Japanese Zen Buddhism. Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.2 cm. Conservation status: Excellent condition

Ryoshibako document box in black and gold lacquer decorated in takamaki-e and hiramaki-e. In the center of the panel stands an imposing castle, immersed in a natural landscape dominated by Matsu pines. Nashiji lacquer forms a cloud-like texture adding a touch of depth...

Ivory okimono of exceptional quality depicting a fisherman standing on a rock, with the rough sea crashing around him. The scene captures a moment of triumph for the fisherman, who raises his fishing rod with a freshly caught fish still attached to the hook. Signed Munemasa with engraving under the red lacquer dowel base next to an old Christie's label. Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 21.4 x 7 x 5.5 cm...

Ivory netsuke depicting a monk intent on decisively cutting an Oni horn using a large knife. The act itself suggests a struggle between good and evil. Shōkusai signature with engraving under the base. Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.9 x 1.9 cm. Conservation status: Excellent condition

A marine ivory okimono with elephant ivory parts depicting a daily life scene of a seated craftsman while he repairs a small wheel...

Pair of bronze vases adorned with inlays, decorated with two Onagadori roosters, known for their elegant length of tail. The roosters are represented perched on a plum branch. Signed by Yoshimasa for Nogawa company. Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 17 x 7 x 7 cm. State of conservation: Excellent condition – With wooden bases and tomobako (storage box)

Ivory okimono, carved from a single block, depicting a Samurai with his katana and fan, while a phoenix appears suspended in the clouds. Next to the Samurai, a fox and a monkey are curious and seem to share the samurai's surprise and enthusiasm. Signed Kazutoshi 一俊 with engraving under the base. Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 26.5 x 6.5 x 5.5 cm. Conservation status: Excellent condition...

A deliciously horrifying painting of a ghost rising from the empty field dating from the 19th century completely remounted and ready to go for another century of leering from the shadows. Ink on paper with highlights of gofun and red pigment separated from a field of blue by a single narrow strand of red and gold Kinran silk terminating in dark wood rollers. The artist has sealed the panting with two crimson chops in the lower corner...

A rare Arita export dish decorated in Kakiemon style with a pair of Hoo birds, (Fenghuang or Pheonixes) amongst rocks and flowers, Peonies and Chrysanthemums. The rim decorated with a Bird and vine pattern arabesque. Identical dishes exist painted in this pattern but enamelled in the classic Kakiemon palette. The “Bird bird and vine” pattern appears on “Kakiemon” export teapots of the same period. The curious blobs arranged in groups of three, represent Stars, Hoshi...

Height: 5.8 cm (2.3 in) Width: 2.7 cm (1.1 in) Depth: 2 cm (0.7 in)
Quality Japanese carved netsuke of a young woman holding a garland of flowers over her head; finely detailed, natural material; textured and stained throughout; signed to the base; good condition

Cherry blossoms. Painted with ink and pigments on silk. Signed Eitai and sealed.

Ito Eitai (1876-?) was a Japanese painter born in Nagasaki prefecture in Japan. He was a disciple of Migita Toshihide (1863-1925), Murase Gyokuden, and Kawabata Gyokusho. He specialized in portrait paintings, landscape paintings, and bird and flower paintings.

Some insignificant light marks are present on the painting itself, otherwise the painting and mounting are in fine condition...

Height: 7 cm (2.7 in)
Width: 6.5 cm (2.5 in)
Depth: 9 cm (3.5 in)

Japanese carved wooden okimono of a yawning man; very characterful piece with inlaid horn eyes; good condition with few signs of age

This is a Japanese antique Boro textile old indigo dye soft hemp patched rag. It's cotton with a very nice touch. Size::Length::196cm (77.1inch) Width::102cm ( 40.1inch)

Oshie (raised cloth picture) with samurai, which is displayed with hina-dolls on the Girl's Festival, or Hina-Matsuri, on March 3rd. It is from a collector in Matsumoto city in Nagano prefecture, and this one was made by a craftsperson in the city too. Made of several kinds of silk, gold brocade, silk crepe, black satin, etc. The face is hand-painted. The back side is washi. In excellent condition. Late 19th early 20th century. W:33cm, L:45cm

This is a Japanese antique shibori cotton kimono. Indigo dyeing and Shoen dyeing. There are some remaining grains (protrusions) from the aperture. It is in good condition with no damage. Size: Length: 136cm (38.5") / Cuff to cuff, full back: 122cm (48")

An unusual Kakiemon dish the outer register finely painted with the Shochikubai. The pine, bamboo and prunus painted separately with elongated trailing branches growing from rockwork. The centre painted with a single bough of flowering Camellias, Tsubaki, symbolic of the season of Spring. The reverse painted with a continuous vine arabesque, karakusa and four supur marks arranged in a "Y" shape. An identical dish is to be found in the Sakaida (Kakiemon) family collection...

Love lasts beyond the grave, here a skeleton walks, her pate decorated with flowers and a bundle of daisies in her hand as she strolls grinning under the shade of a dilapidated umbrella held by an attendant, a poignant painting signed Shoken dating from the Taisho period (1922). The four character verse above is taken from the Lotus sutra (Hanya-Shingyo) and reads shikisokuzeku, meaning (loosely) all color is void, the void is all color...

A wildly crafted bronze image of a shishi lion breathing out a cloud forming the basin for a flower arrangement (known as an usubata). The curly hair has been somehow flaked off and maintained during the casting process, quite an exceptional example. The basin can be removed from the mouth of the creature. Assembled it is 32 x 28 x 33 cm tall (12-3/4 x 11-1/4 x 13 inches) and weighs 4390 grams (9.5 pounds). It is in fine original condition.

A finely potted dish decorated with a pattern of scattered shibagaki, bundles of brushwood, which would have formed part of a decorative garden hedge, with boughs of Plum blossom. This pattern was made for the domestic market and would have been particularly appropriate for the celebration of the New Year. The design is referencing the strong winds and storms of early spring. The dish is decorated in a combination of underglaze blue and “Kakiemon” enamels, over-glaze blue, green. Both of w...

Very rare Japanese comic demon Buaku Kyogen mask dating from the early Edo Period, the golden age of Noh Drama. The Buaku mask is a Kyogen version of the Noh Beshimi character. Kyogen were short, humorous skits performed between Noh acts to lighten the mood. The heavily knit brows and wide leering grimace are wonderful characteristics of this mask. It is covered in layered colored gofun (oyster shell lacquer). It is brilliantly carved, accentuating the depth of his eye sockets, and adding a sens...

Pair of 6-panel screens; ink, colors, gofun (crushed calcified crustacean shell) and gold on paper framed by a double silk brocade border. The screen on the right represents numerous geese (14), some flying down in front of a black moon, others in search of food or resting among the grass at the edge of a body of water with a background of a mountain. The left screen depicts egrets (7), three of which are perched on the trunk of a majestic weeping willow, covered in a white pigment represent...

A fine rectangular vase or incense stick holder of slab construction with applied leonine taotie style handles to its narrow sides. The front and back sides of the vase decorated with contrasting triangular blocks of diaper brocade in underglaze blue with iron red and gold highlighting the gobenka and pine motifs in the cells and an aka-e kinrande pattern with budo-karakusa (grape vine) in underglaze blue with gilt outlining. The sides decorated with Chinese style sansui landscapes wit...

A masterpiece basket made from used split bamboo arrows by Maeda Chikubosai enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Jidai Yadake-sei Hanamori (Basket made of Old Arrows) dated Showa 5 (1930). Hints of red and gold lacquer give clues to the origin of the bamboo shafts, making this an example of one of the most sought of all types of baskets by this elusive artist. It is roughly 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) diameter, 49 cm (19 inches) tall and in excellent, original condition. Maeda Chikubos...

This is an original Edo period (1603-1867) patchwork silk kimono textile. The collar part is a beautiful cloth with hand embroidery and shibori dye from the Genroku period (1688-1704). This is a yosegire kimono made with a patchwork of natural safflower-dyed katazome, shibori, purple root dyeing, and indigo-dyed katazome silk. All are originals from the Edo period. The lining is natural safflower-dyed silk and will discolor over time.There are some stains and damage on the cuffs. Recommended fo...

A square shallow bowl in the form of a Japanese rice measure, masu, which was considered to be an auspicious form decorated to the exterior with two Dragons in different stances with two eight character poems with seals. Presumably the shape was intended as a play on the word, namasu, a term used to traditionally describe a serving of pickled vegetables and the related bowl. It could possibly have been used as a guinomi, sake cup, as the vessel when filled takes a similar quantity to square s...

An exceptionally fine porcelain bowl made for presentation, kenjo-te. The centre of the dish is decorated with an unusual version of a Karashishi which would seem to be floating upon a feather set against a net like blue ground which has been produced using the shiranaku technique. It is strikingly similar to the karashishi and feather compositions that appear on Chinese porcelain of the Wanli era. The motif would seem influenced by representations of Lions on contemporary Ming military Ran...