Antique Japanese small Gigaku performance mask. Gigaku (literally meaning "skill music") is an earlier form of Japanese theatre that was brought over from Korea and China in 612. Gigaku reached a high point during the Nara Period and continued it's popularity until it was eventually replaced by Bugaku theatre. Traditionally performed outdoors at a temple, Gigaku masks were carved with exaggerated features in order for them to be seen by an audience seated at a distance...

Beautiful Japanese keyaki wood zeni bako, or money box, the top of which has a handled door with three studded iron hinges and flower-shaped lockpin, and thin iron slot for depositing money, dropping into a small drawer with an iron lockplate. Two more drawers are in front with kan/ring pulls. Edo period (1615-1867) Size: 9" height, 8.5" width, 12.75" depth

19th century boxwood netsuke of a puppy reclining inside a winnowing basket. Wonderful depiction of its chunky body and mouth open in delight, eyes are double inlaid with light and dark horn, fur is incised and etched with ink, beautiful patina. Signed NOBUMASA on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 835. Length 1 3/8 inches.

Japanese Nagoya ware porcelain bulb shaped perfume decanter with stopper, painted over glaze with design of flowers with gold scrolling vine motif, surface covered with tiny raised dots, early 20th century. Size: 6 1/8" high

Ca. early 1800s

Finely potted shallow bowl-form dish with an everted octagonal rim, painted on the exterior in underglaze cobalt blue with a scrolling vine and flower motif. The interior is delicately painted in overglaze enamels with a scene of a male and a female pheasant among flowers and the rim is decorated with eight flower scrolls in red, green and blue enamel colors and gilding. The bowl is raised on a low footring encircled by three underglaze blue lines...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print kakemono (vertical diptych) of a full figure samurai walking in an elegant kimono by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) published by Sanoya Kihei between 1844-1845. Signed Kochoro Kunisada at the lower right corner with the publisher's seal and Tanaka censor seal beside it. The assembled size is about 28 1/2” x 9 9/16" (top sheet: 14 1/8" x 9 1/2"; bottom sheet: x 14 9/16" x 9 9/16." Very good clean overall condition...

Woodblock print by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Utagawe Hiroshige (1797-1858). The streets are bustling with activity as we see a gentleman who wears a top hat being pulled along in a handcart, a woman in a kimono shading herself with a parasol, and other characters. There are sakura trees blossoming around a flagpole, a communal well, and a beautiful view of the sun rising beyond Mt. Fuji in the distance. Size: (print only) 6" height, 8.5" length (with frame) 9.25" height, 11.75" length

Antique Japanese woodblock print by the famous woodblock artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), best known for his print titled 'The Giant Wave off Kanagawa'. This print depicts a small boy riding the back of an ox. Certified original by publisher T. Sakai est. 1874. Size: 7" height, 5" width

18th century decent size wooden netsuke of standing sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a robe and a leaf cape robe and stroking his long beard. Very strong early carving, wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful flowing lines of the robe, superb sense of volume. Does not stand of flat surface, large differently sized himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time, superb patina. Excellent netsuke. Height 3.55 inches (90 mm).

During the Meiji period in Japan, the humble iron kettle, known as a "tetsubin," emerged as an iconic symbol of traditional craftsmanship and functional artistry. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and often adorned with intricate designs—as can be seen here with a cherry blossom motif and a what appears to be a pine-cone for a gripper—they became an essential tool in the Japanese tea ceremony...

Japanese hibachi, or brazier, made of an attractive wood exterior and inlaid with flowers and overlaid with gold macho-e lacquer. Remnants of ash on the interior add to its charm. Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). Original finish and condition. Size: 9.5" H x 14" W

Antique Japanese craftsman's block. Made of keyaki (elm) wood and carved with two fan-shaped handles. Thought the term dai usually refers to plane blocks, this block also functioned as an important tool or surface for a serious artisan. It is unusual in that it is carved with a rectangular opening on the underside, a customization possibly to help hold it in place while in use.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8" high x 7" wide x 10 3/4" long

Antique Japanese imari vase with a rounded middle and fluting mouth and foot. Two small grey and yellow fu dogs serve as handles. The body of the vase has bright yellow enamel background with scrolling vines, and images of fu dogs playing with each other. The bottom of the vase is marked in red. Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Size: 12" height, 7" width

Japanese Imari Porcelain Barber Bowl, or Shaving bowl, Ca. Edo period, between late 1700's to early 1800's, 10 5/8" diameter-top rim, 2 5/8" high, typical Imari color of underglaze blue between three(3) cartouche of Japanese garden fence scene decoration around wide rim in overglaze iron red, blue urn filled with bouquet of flowers in the entire center, some of the iron red enamel is worn in the middle caused by many years of usage. Gold highlights on the leaves on the wide rim is somewhat worn...

18th century netsuke of an emaciated Gama sennin wearing old monk’s robe with his ribs visible sitting on rockery as his constant companion - a toad - affectionately puts its paws on the man’s knees. Somehow netsuke manages to convey the relationship between two characters...

A Japanese Edo period 17 - 18th century Arita Imari Kakiemon blue and white and over glaze enamel large ewer / kendi. Good condition with crack lines at the body, please see picture for detail, size: 20.5 cm height.

Antique Japanese small scroll painting for a shrine depicting the goddess Benzaiten (Benten). One of the 7 Lucky Gods, Benten is the goddess of good fortune, wealth, music and knowledge. She originates from Saraswati, goddess of music. Here in this painting, she is in her 8-armed form called Happi Benzaiten. Each hand holds a specific buddhist attribute. She stands atop a dragon which hold a precious magic pearl in it's claws. On her crown is a small torii gate...

An armorer's tsuba, with very slightly raised rim on the strong, flat iron plate. Pierced decoration of a shrimp with pleasing, subtle swell along the antennae and legs (mostly on the ura.) Small, irregular brass inlays for the eyes (missing from one eye - not conspicuous.) The kogai-ana plugged with a copper rich alloy. Oval form about 2 7/8" (7.3 cm) by 2 3/4" (6.985 cm). Thickness at rim about 5/32" (.39 cm). Late 16th century to early 17th century - perhaps Momoyama period...