Japanese pair of porcelain Inari kitsune (foxes). Glazed and painted they sit on brightly colored bases, one with a scroll, the other with a ball in it's mouth.
Also called zenko, these good spirit kitsune are specifically associated with the goddess, Inari. Believed to be both messengers and guardians, kitsune served Inari in her role as goddess of agriculture, specifically rice. Part of the folklore surrounding the fox is it’s ability to shape shift into human form...

1900's Japanese Ando Jubei Cloisonne Box with Gold & Silver Wires & Maple Tree & Birds

It is 2.28 inches (5.8 cm) tall by 4.76 inches (12.1 cm) wide and 6.45 inches (16.4 cm) in length. It is 2.6 Lb.

It is tarnished and has enamel chips, enamel bruises, rubbing of gold, minor bent and cut marks at the inner metal rim, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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Antique Japanese set of four lotus leaves and blossoms. Carved of wood and lacquered silver. Made for a Buddhist altar, these leaves and blossoms symbolize the stages of the path toward enlightenment. Every petal of the lotus flower is carved separately. Each blossom and leaf comes fitted with a custom metal stand so they can be rearranged at will.

Age: Taisho Period

Dimensions: approx 24"hight (tallest leaf)

Antique Japanese root wood basket. Made of a single piece of carved burl. Beautiful grain.

Age: Taisho Period

Dimensions: 5 1/4" high x 12" long x 7 3/4" wide

Antique Japanese Lacquer Fubako, a box used to store document. Of deep rectangular shape, decorated with twigs of different flowers, mainly chrysanthemum and morning glory and leaves in gold and silver hira maki-e on a gold nashiji ground. The interior in loose nashiji on black ground. Fitted with two metal mon rings. Size: L 38 x W 7,5 x 8,5 cm. Edo (1603-1868) 19th century. Condition: Good with a few minor nicks along the inner corner of the lid(see last picture)...

The ultimate in tranquility, a sage aloft his peak gazing out at the fresh green landscape, one can hear the rush of the falls in the distance, and occasional birdsong on the spring breeze. The painting is by Shirakura Niho and comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kankyo Chosen (Leisure Life at the Quiet Spring). Ink & Pigment on Silk, it is 54.5 x 134.5 cm (21-1/2 x 53 inches) and is in excellent condition...

A tiny figure sails on the placid lake depicted among exaggerated precipices of this early landscape by Shirakura Niho enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shunpu Taito. Ink & Light color on Silk, it is 59 x 130 cm (23-1/4 x 51 inches) and is in overall excellent condition.
Shirakura Kinichiro (Kinro, Niho or Jiho, Kanyu, 1896-1974) was born the first son of lawyer and scholar Shirakura Shigeichi in Shibata city, Niigata...

A quintessential image of a tiny bean-shaped figure lost in thought, perhaps staring out to sea on a sunny hillock before cascading water in lush Spring-green washes by Shirakura Niho enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Enpokihan (Distant Sails Returning). Ink & Light color on Silk in fresh green extended with beige featuring bone rollers. It is 64 x 143.5 cm (25 x 56-1/2 inches) and is in overall excellent condition...

Futonji with tsutsugaki (glue resist dye by free hand) made of hand spun cotton. It has traditional "Karajishi-Botan", imaginary lion and peony motif. The green ground cloth is dyed with vegetable indigo and natural yellow, the painting is colored with pigments. It is remade to futonji from originally yogi, which is a futon in the shape of kimono. The tsutsugaki technique is excellent and in excellent condition. Meiji period (1868~1912).

A fine Japanese cloisonné cigarette case. The top showing a cartouche with a bird flying among flowers on a green ground, the rock with little aventurine. The reverse with blossoms. The interior, the edges and wires are gilt. Condition: fine, minor traces of usage. Dimension: c. 8.8 x 7.7 x 1 cm.

A river runs past deeply forested hills populated by rooftops in this naïve ink painting reflecting the charm of rural Japan by Shirakura Niho. Ink on paper mounted in a green cloth border extended with beige featuring Shunkei nuri lacquered wooden rollers which would instantly call to mind the mountain village of Takayama, home of the Shunkei style. It is 52.5 x 116.5 cm (20-1/2 x 46 inches) and comes in the original signed wooden box titled Satoyama Fukei (Mountain Village Scenery)...

This is a fabulous painting dated 1930 by Shirakura Niho enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ko-Ten-Bo-Setsu (Twilight Snow in the Bay). Viewing it one can hear the silence, the soft pattering of snow and the flap of wings as geese take flight in the distance. Shirakura Niho was from Niigata prefecture, so was a man who not only knew snow well, but was well known for his snowy landscapes...

A masterpiece painting by Shirakura Niho showing every aspect of his pre-war fame, lurid washes of color, wispy figures, a dreamlike allure, and hints at continental scenery. Here the foreground is dominated by a thatched hut, beyond which we see a single hazy figure twisting up in a narrow doorway beside twisting trees all like smoke rising to the sky. It is performed with ink and pigment on silk bordered in brass colored satin with rosewood rollers...

A small Japanese Arita kilns blue and white porcelain sauce dish, or mamezara, of mokko-gata form. Namban (or Nanban, Southern barbarian) decoration of a foreign figure, with dog, falconing in picturesque landscape. Painterly shironuki decoration in the cavetto of cranes flying among clouds. Edo period, Circa 1800. Good condition for its age, with two small chips inside the foot rim and a small glaze abrasion just above the foot rim. About 3 15/16 inches (10 cm) square.

A small pair of Japanese Imari porcelain bowls (or small, deep dishes) with Namban (or Nanban, Southern barbarian) subject bowls. Imari palette decoration in three reserves, each of a figure among blossoming karakusa, in the cavetto. The center with blue underglaze decoration of Shishi with auspicious objects. The verso also with decoration in blue underglaze of precious objects around the raised, glazed ring feet surrounding a recessed, unglazed band around glazed, further recessed center...

Boxwood netsuke depicting a snake wrapping around a pumpkin. The snake is a symbol often associated with rebirth, transformation while the pumpkin is a symbol of fertility, abundance and prosperity in Japanese tradition. Signed Yoshimasa (吉正) under the pumpkin in “ukibori”. For similar netsuke see the Katchen collection, published N7, vol.2, p.31, no.K329. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century. Dimensions: 3 x 3.5 x 3.3 cm. State of conservation: Very good

A bronze and ivory okimono depicting a street entertainer playing the shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument. The player wears a traditional kimono, rests his right foot on his box which he carries along with his umbrella on his traveling journey. It is signed Jōnan 城南 with engraving on the bronze. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji 19th century Dimensions: 21 x 20 x 15 cm. State of conservation: Very good

The sage gazes out from his hermitage clinging to the hillside upon a sparse scene of falling water and precipitous climbing peaks dominating this painting by Shirakura Niho dating from the prime of his career...