Tall dark bronze vase decorated with a bas-relief depicting irises (hanashobu) ; the rim with an openwork border with maji-motive.

Bottom marks : Kakuha-Sei, the mark of Sano Takachika, Kakuha Kanzaemon IX (角羽勘左衛門 - active early Meiji period). In 1869 he started a bronze-ware business in Yokohama.

Japan – Meiji (1868-1912)

Height: 15.7 in. (40 cm) – Diameter: 7.9 in. (20 cm)
Netherlands Private Collection

Sculpture in chiselled and stained wood representing a hare lying down.

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...

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...

Wooden netsuke of the demon Oni hiding in a foot warmer (anka) in order to protect himself from the bean seeds that are thrown at him. The beans are represented by two inlaid stones. His right arm stands out, a part of his head is visible through a small hole in the foot warmer.

The Setsubun festival came from China it is introduced in Japan around the 8th century. Its celebrates the arrival of spring...

Funny brown-patinated bronze featuring a mouse standing on its hind legs on a squash.

Japan – Meiji (1868-1912)

Height : 14 cm (5.51 in) - Length : 24 cm (9.45 in) – Width : 8 cm (3.15 in)

Very beautiful Japanese table with four legs in gold, black and brown lacquer with two richly decorated tops. The upper tray presents a decoration of bats, kumori (蝙蝠), in flight in gold hiramaki-e lacquer on a brown lacquer background. The openwork side panels feature the same motif...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Kuri (Chestnut) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Upper section has 2 large drawers, a small drawer and a hinged door that hides 2 smaller drawers. The bottom section has 2 full width drawers for spacious storage. Each section has side handles for carrying from place to place...

An antique Japanese Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) in 2 sections made of HInoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkkova) woods. All original hand forged iron handles including the Mokko style handles. Upper section has 2 sliding doors with iron wire mesh screen that was used similar to the western pie safe with 4 drawers below. The lower section has 2 sliding doors behind which is a removable shelf with 2 side by side drawers below. Side supports added strength and visual design to the chest...

High class Ohi Chawan made by the 8th generation Ohi Chozaemon (1851-1927) 120 years ago and is done in a style known as 'ameyu' or candy glazing. It comes with its originally signed and sealed wooden box.

The glazing is a wonderful example of ameyu and, in fact, approximates the color of a caramel candied-apple.

The interesting color scheme and glossy sheen make it an attractive backdrop for a frothy bowl of dark green matcha...

An antique Japanese Kasane Kimono Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Gumbai drawer handles and the stylized Chrysanthemum lock plates. Each section has two full width drawers for abundant storage and each section has side handles for carrying the tansu...

An antique Japanese low Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware with Warabite style handles. 2 Sliding doors behind which a split level shelf allows for abundant storage. Side support slats provide strength and visual design. 4 side by side drawers below provide additional storage.

Age: Meiji Era (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 43 1/2" Wide by 32" High by 15 3/4" Deep

Rare 17/18c Red Raku Kyogen Tsutsu Chawan (cylinder bowl) with old golden repair.
No mark...

A rare and exquisite piece by the 12th Kichizaemon (1857-1932) of the Raku lineage, now in its 16th generation. Not only with excellent documentation including a certification and endorsement by famed tea-master Sei-sai and a record from its sale at the Tokyo Art Club in 1938, there are many facets of this work that make it a must-have for serious collectors. The color is quite unique among Raku tea bowls with a distinctive yellow glaze that you rarely find on works such as this...

A Chinese style celadon incense burner by one of the 5 Imperial Court Artists of Meiji. Sozan spent his life perfecting techniques for celadon production first used in the Souther Song Dynasty as evidenced here with his powdery blue “kinuta” glaze. The bottom of the vessel is unglazed showing the fine porcelain clay and the adjacent glazed foot bears his Imperial Court Artist seal...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware with Warabite style handles. Upper section includes a pair of sliding doors with 3 side by side drawers below. The bottom two sections each have full width drawers for clothes storage. Made using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Sections can be stacked as shown or used in different rooms of the home.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Period (1910-1920)...

An antique Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. Made in 2 stacking sections, the upper part features 2 sets of sliding doors with four drawers below and the bottom part has a pair of sliding doors with a removable split level shelf. All original bronze hardware including the Marui style handles. Center doors have intact copper wire mesh screen used to prevent flying pests from entering. Built with slide slats for strength and visual...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (marchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles and incised Chrysanthemum lock plates. Unusual low size with two drawers side by side, a pair of sliding doors and a security hinged door behind which lie 3 small drawers and a secret hiding box. Side swivel handles through which a pole passed through allowing two persons to carry this chest from place to place. Constructed using straight dovetail...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking 2 section chest on chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute style handles and beautiful lock plates with the owner's family crest incised in the design. Each section has two sets of side handles, one for long distance moving and a hand pair for room placement. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: ...