Antique Japanese set of 10 imari plates with foliate edges, underglaze motifs of and scrolling vines with gilt accents. The underside features cobalt blue underglaze auspicious objects and a four character signature.

Size: 9.5" W x 1.75" H

Antique Japanese hardwood cha tansu (tea chest) with four tiered shelves for the display of tea ceremony articles such as tea pots, plates, etc. The top right section holds a storage compartment behind two sliding panels, while the lower section holds both a large shelved compartment and a secret hidden drawer. Late Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 28.75" L x 10.75" D x 36" H

Antique Japanese kannon biraki tansu of an unusual small size, made of Kiri (paulownia) wood. The front of the chest is covered in ornate iron hardware with studs. The central lock is a motif of Kiri leaves with two door pulls. The doors open to a shelved interior space with two exterior drawers below. All original condition.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 22.5" L x 15.25" D x 19"H

A Beautiful unusual Japanese display cha dana tansu, with 3 sets of sliding Keyaki burl front panels with copper handle pulls, 11 drawers with iron warabite handles, and an open compartment with shelves for the display of tea ceremony articles. This piece features a secret compartment hidden underneath one of the top panels.

Meiji period (1868-1912) 19th century.

Size: 69.25" L x 14.5" D x 36" H

Japanese kanto style Kannon Biraki double-stacking personal clothing chest (isho-dansu). Often referred to as a "wedding chest," this tansu would have been used to store a bride's formal wedding kimono. Hinged doors on the upper section open to reveal four drawers. The layout of the drawers is characteristic of the earliest form of kanto style chests. The doors exhibit the traditional configuration of five iron hinges and iron strapping surrounding a round foliate lockplate at the center...

A very interesting chawan (tea bowl) dating from the Korean Joseon period (Richo in Japanese; 1392-1897). This particular piece appears to date from the 16th/ 17th century and comes with a very old box which appears to have been furnished sometime in Edo. The light creamy crackled glaze is smooth in the hand and fine hairline fractures radiate along the sides of the bowl contrasting nicely with the gold repairs...

With short neck and ovoid body, this beautiful Japanese copper ‘do-chu' vase is marked 'Hisayoshi' on the side. The brilliant rich color of this type of ware is achieved by adding smoked straw during firing and often deepens over time...

The inside of the bowl is painted with cherry tree boughs laden with blossoms—done in a dazzling underglaze blue-and-white porcelain distinctive of Imari-wares. Below, the trunks of the trees can be seen grounded in a grassy field resting on an abstract ring of karakusa (arabesque). The center of the bowl displays a fashioned wreath of cherry blossoms strung together with field grasses...

Japanese noh theater mask of a young woman, carved with pierced eyes, mouth, and nostrils for the wearer, as well as two pierced holes at the temples to be secured against one's head. Lacquered in flesh tone, black hair and blackened teeth and eyes, red lips, and black lacquer interior. With kiri (paulownia) tomobako, inscribed with the name "Juuroku".

Size: 5.25" L x 3" D x 8.25" H

Impressive Japanese Kyo-yaki Chawan, hand molded by legendary Nin'ami Dohachi during the Edo Period. His signature is written on the bottom of the chawan.

It comes with an older wooden box. Size: 7,5 cm height x 14,8 cm in diameter.

Chawans of Nin’ami Dohachi are exhibited in the most important museums, for example the British Museum...

Ninani Dohachi (1783 - 1855) was second in the long line of Kyoto potters that continue to this day to be held in high regard...

Nicely aged patinated Japanese old ivory letter opener or possibly a page turner with carved and dyed lizard making its way up the handle. The piece is 9.5 inches long and .5 inches wide. It is slightly doomed across the width and the "blade" section is sharpened on one side... Really a lovely piece.

With meticulously sculpted vines and fantastic Peony blossoms in low relief on the kinuta celadon powdery blue background, this extraordinary vase is a truly Japanese expression of classical Chinese motifs...

Very little distorted cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of little reddish, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part and through the finger marks (rokuro-me) covered with an ash glaze inside and outside. The little iron oxide in the clay turned the glaze to light brown.

On two opposite sides, decoration has been applied under the glaze in iron oxide with a little white engobe...

A medium sized ido-gata (well shaped) tea bowl with exceptionally fine and beautifully crafted kintsugi gold repairs. One side of the bowl features a thickly applied ferrous glaze that pools generously near the base, while the pale green ashen glaze on the outside is decorated with impressed textured patterns...

It is commonly said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet, in the real world, there seems to be a fair amount of congruity about what people consider beautiful, with most arguments about particular instances being about degree, not direction. This chawan is pure beauty - no matter from which angle you look at it.

Slightly distorted cylinder shaped tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay in the early Edo Period around 1620...

Japanese kabuki actor doll, dressed as a fearsome white lion with long, flowing mane, made with real hair. He wears silk garments of bright orange, white and grey, with his face done in traditional cat eye makeup of white, black, and red.

Size: 16.75" x 13.75" x 20.5" H

Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi—often described as the beauty found in the imperfection and transience of the world—cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history and importance of a ceramic object. Practitioners of tea in particular are fond of reminding us that works repaired with lacquer and gold such as the one featured here become more resilient and beautiful for having been damaged...

This lovely Shino tea bowl fashioned from coarse Mino clay and covered in a crackled feldspar glazing shows nice age and comes with what appears to be its original box.

Shino-ware dates to the Momoyama period when potters were attempting to recreate white porcelain-wares that were being imported from China at the time. Originally they were made in a single-chamber anagama style kilns set into the hillsides...

A finely enamelled Japanese export bowl decorated with Chrysanthemums and Peonies between a pair of Fan Shaped reserves of Kiku form. The petals alternating between a gilt leaf and tendril blue brocade and an unusual iron red shaded wash...

The design of this mirror has not entirely escaped the conventions of earlier Kagami-e (Long handled Mirrors) of the late Muromachi –Momoyama era, which are essentially mirrors of conventional round form retaining a central boss to which a handle has been attached. In this example the Cranes are arranged directly opposite each other, their beaks meeting with that of the kame, to create a T form; a convention that appears in the late 16th century. Contrast that with earlier examples in ...

A small bronze, hakudo (white bronze), early handled mirror 17.2cm long. The mirror portion measuring 7.7cm in diameter. Typically for an early bronze mirror, it is basically a round handleless mirror, even down to a pierced boss for the attachment of a ribbon, with an attached handle. The mirror is of a design typical of the sixteenth century incorporating a pair of Cranes, sotsuru, conjoined at the beak with a tortoise kame-gata form central pierced boss in a “Y” shaped formation In add...

A charming porcelain figurine of Fukurokuju, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune. Fukurokuju is the god of wisdom and longevity, and is easily recognized by characteristics such as his dramatic, elongated forward, his root wood cane, and the scroll he holds. He wears a beautiful, flowing robe with flying cranes accented by gilt outlines. The cranes are an attribute to Fukurokuju as they, too, are a symbol of longevity.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 7" L x 6" W x 12" H

Antique Japanese fireman's coat, cotton indigo dyed with sashiko stitching and freehand paste resist decoration (tsutsugaki). Design of Immortal God Kinko Sennon riding a giant carp.

Size: 46" W x 40" H

Antique Japanese cotton woven futon cover, dyed with a paste resist technique called Tsutsugaki on an indigo ground with the mythical creature Baku, devourer of dreams and nightmares and protector against evil. The Baku should not be summoned without caution, however, as ancient legends say that if he is not satisfied after consuming one's nightmares, he may instead devour their hopes and dreams.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Size: 64.5" x 53"

Antique Japanese two section Kannon Biraki tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) wood, original red lacquer finish. The top section houses two large drawers behind a pair of double hinged doors. Decorations of iron hardware include a charming heart shaped lock within a single iron ring and strips of iron across the front of each door, with chrysanthemum shaped studs. The lower section also holds two drawers with iron locks, as well as a safe compartment in its bottom corner. Inside its safe are thre...

Antique Japanese temple carving, beautifully carved with remnants of red and black pigments. The imagery of a fu dog between large peonies represents protection (fu dog) over wealth and prosperity (peonies).

Edo period (1603-1868)

Size: 55.5" L x 5" D x 19.5" H

Antique Japanese Sakata region choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of Kiri (paulownia) hardwood, with original red lacquer finish. The top drawer and safe box door are covered in more elaborate iron hardware than the other drawers, with motifs of lingzhi mushrooms, bamboo stalks, and other floral elements. Two small drawers are hidden away inside the safe box. Three plain drawers are on the lefthand side, the middle drawer has a center divider inside. Two smaller drawers sit between the top and...

When the founder of the Urasenke style of tea ceremony, Sen-So Soshitsu (1622 -1697) was invited to Kanazawa as the lord of the tea ceremony for the powerful Kaga lords in 1666, the first Chozaemon came with him and established Ohi-yaki ware in Kanazawa. Chozaemon had been the chief apprentice for the Raku family in Kyoto and took with him many of the principles and ideas associated with Raku-ware. Since those auspicious beginnings, Ohi-ware has held a high place in the world of tea ceremony des...

Pair of Antique Japanese ranma, or transom, carved with flying frames and clouds with black lacquer frames. Original patina and finish.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 73.5" L x 1.25" W x 16" H

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu (clothing chest), made with Kiri (paulownia) wood front and Sugi (cypress) sides. Copper hardware with lovely original patina on handles, and locks are complimentary to the original warm finish.

Taisho period (1912-1925)

Size: 35.25" L x 15.5" W x 40.5" H

A stunning Japanese two-section choba tansu (merchant's chest), made from solid Keyaki (elm) wood, originating from the Mikuni region. The upper section holds a roomy, shelved interior with two bold Keyaki grain sliding door panels. The bottom section holds a long top drawer, with elongated lock plate typical to Mikuni tansu. Below are two small drawers with iron Warabite handles, with old labels in Japanese on the fronts, and a smaller set of sliding Keyaki panel doors. The very bottom of the ...

This Hirado-yaki brush-rest—fashioned for the scholars desk of a bygone era—features meticulously sculpted plum blossoms set in a porcelain reproduction of a knotted plum branch. Hirado wares—alternately known as Mikawachi wares in some contexts—are known throughout Japan and also abroad for their high quality and fine craftsmanship and date back at least as far as the mid-18th century when they were produced exclusively for powerful lords and their families. In the 19th century, Hirado ...

Antique Japanese two section kimono tansu made with all natural finish Kiri (paulownia) hardwood. Adorned by handles and middle round metal lock incised with floral motifs. The upper section houses six long, shallow drawers for folded clothing, while the lower section holds three large drawers.

Taisho period (1912-1925)

Size: 42" L x 17.75" W x 67.5" H

Antique Japanese half section Mizuya (kitchen tansu) made of Hinoki (cedar) and Sugi (cypress) hardwoods in a dark lacquer finish. The tansu has two sliding front doors with horizontal slats and side bracing, with very roomy storage interior complete with middle shelf.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 47.5" L x 17" W x 32" H

Beautiful half cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl from the early stage of the Edo Period (1603 - 1868) with a rounded brim, made of iron bearing, coarse, unrefined Narumi Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part.

The unglazed foot is relatively large. In the style of Ao-Oribe bowls this bowl was covered with a green copper oxide glaze - leaving a window on one side, which was decorated with turtle pattern in iron oxide under a clear a...

This a beautiful and unique Japanese Satsuma bowl. Yabu pieces with unique birds like this one has are rare. The piece is very finely rendered with intense work. Condition is excellent. The bowl measures 5 inches across and is 3 inches tall. This wonderful bowl is from the same great collection the large Yabu museum/exhibition bowl came from. Contact for price and shipping.

This is one of the most significant Japanese satsuma pieces ever created. This is a museum piece with fabulous workmanship in combination with a very large size. This bowl truly has a volume 10-20 times bigger than a normal 5 inch Yabu Meizan bowl. It measures 7 inches tall and is 9 ¾ inches wide. It is also heavily made weighing about 4-5 lbs. The bowl features 6 different exquisitely decorated panels in polychrome and gilt. These panels depict people, birds and landscape scenes. The board...

Antique Japanese two section 6ft Mizuya (kitchen tansu) make with Hinoki (cedar) wood, with Keyaki (elm) burl panels. The top section has two sets of sliding doors, one with mesh, all with ornately carved panels across, the lower portion has eight small drawers with beautiful Keyaki burl. The bottom section houses a single shelf behind two large sliding door panels. Its sides are reinforced with horizontal braces. Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 71.5" L x 20" W x 67.5" H

A pair of Namasu or small serving bowls in revived Kakiemon style decorated with a depiction of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in low moulded relief; here represented by just two of them. The Sages were synominous with a hedonistic lifestyle of drinking and poetry. The foliate rims of the dishes are painted with a fuchi beni, iron brown glaze. The central roundel in the well of each bowl is decorated with a Namban or Tojin style figure of a European with a two legged long tailed dog like cr...

This piece features a warm golden crackled glaze with several patches of lighter pigmentation and a number of gold and silver repairs. The inside of the bowl is especially inviting, showing a magnificent patina developed over many decades of use. The outside of the bowl displays Chrysanthemums (Kiku)—long considered an auspicious symbol of longevity and rejuvenation in Japan and used as a family crest for the royal family—and what appear to be Wild Ginger (Aoi hana)—symbolizing protection ...

The jet-black glaze of this cha-ire (tea caddy) nicely highlights the Chrysanthemum flowers (Kiku) adorning the upper surface—long considered auspicious symbols of longevity and rejuvenation in Japan. When first introduced to the island nation during the Nara period (710 – 793 AC), the Japanese Royal Family was fascinated with the Chrysanthemum. Over time, it became the Imperial Family Emblem and during certain eras was generally forbidden to be used by the general public.

In f...

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a small bird, perching on the branch of a tall growth of flowers. Signed with red chop.

Size: 16" W 9 69" H (entire scroll) 10.25" W x 38" H (painting only)

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a horse, done in sumi ink, its legs kicked up into the air. Very disciplined calligraphy brush work is used, and may have been executed by a Zen Buddhist monk. This horse painting was possibly cut down from a larger screen and mounted as a scroll.

18th century Edo period (1603-1868)

Size: 17.5" W x 52" H (entire scroll) 14.25" W x 20.75" H

Antique Japanese small Kiri tansu from the Sakata region, with red lacquer top and sides and black lacquer front. Motifs of bamboo, pine, kiri leaves, and other floral imagery can be seen in the iron plates of each drawer. The bottom right corner houses an ornate lockbox with two small drawers inside. Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 33.25" L x 16" W x 21.5" H

This remarkable hira tea bowl displays a subtle grace and refined elegance grounded in classic form, masterfully applied glazing, and a delightful rustic feel bestowed by the hand of time. Though the glazing is described as shiro-yu, or white glazing, it appears more of a creamy shade of beige. The fine crackles of the glaze, the soft flowing edges, and the excellent patina combine to really make this Kiyomizu tea bowl shine.

The birth of Kiyomizu-yaki, with its over 400 years of hi...

Surely an extraordinary confluence of circumstances must have come into alignment in order to bring this remarkable composition into existence. Done in the Korai style—referring to the heavy influence from Korean forms and glazing—this exquisite Edo period Karatsu-ware tea bowl features a white stripe running horizontally along the outer surface of the bowl known as Hakeme. This type of white slip brushing serves as a high-contrast background for the iron spotting and pigmentation brought ou...

A large Japanese Imari dish of saucer form with slightly everted rim decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gilding with a central motif of a vase on a verandah containing an arrangement of Peony and Chrysanthemum flowers. The cavetto of the dish decorated with an underglaze blue brocade ground inset with three lobed reserves containing Hydrangea, Ajisai, Chrysanthemums, Kiku, and Peonies, Botan. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs to the reverse. The dish dates to the period 1700-...

This is a very fine and rare Japanese cloisonne box. The piece could have been made by Kumeno because of the style and quality. This box has been masterfully repaired on the bottom underside to chips in the dark blue enamel. The repair look great with no silver wire work and none of the flowers affected. The box has also not been sprayed. It has gilded bronze rims and this has worn. The box measures 4 3/4 by 4 1/4 and is 2 1/4 inches tall.

A very interesting chawan (tea bowl) from the Korean Joseon period (Richo in Japanese; 1392-1897). This particular piece appears to date from the 15th/ 16th century and comes with what may be the original box and a quite old silk pouch. The light creamy crackled glaze is smooth in the hand and fine hairline fractures radiating along the walls of the bowl show remnants of gold repairs from previous centuries. Such pieces have long been favored by learned cha-jin (tea people) and are quite prized ...

A good Arita sometsuke style dish probably from one of the favoured inner set of kilns at Arita, the so-called Uchiyama kilns. The dish is decorated with a border of stylised waves, painted in reverse style, with a single branch of a Camelia Tree in the centre. The underside of the dish decorated with a pair of sketchily painted Gourd vines. For an identical dish see no 216 of the Shibata Collection Part II at page 87. There dated circa 1660-80. The dish measures approximately 18.1 cm in diam...

A Namasu or small serving bowl in revived Kakiemon style decorated with a depiction of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in low moulded relief; here represented by just two of them. The Sages were synominous with a hedonistic lifestyle of drinking and poetry. The foliate rim of the dish with a fuchi beni, brown glaze. The central roundel in the well of the bowl decorated with a Namban or Tojin style figure of a European with a two legged long tailed dog like creature. This is the kind of n...

A Namasu or small serving bowl in revived Kakiemon style decorated with a depiction of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in low moulded relief; here represented by just two of them. The Sages were synominous with a hedonistic lifestyle of drinking and poetry. The foliate rim of the dish with a fuchi beni, brown glaze. The central roundel in the well of the bowl decorated with a Namban or Tojin style figure of a European with a two legged long tailed dog like creature. This is the kind of novel...

An interesting dish of moulded Kraak form decorated with a partially obscured Chinese four toed Dragon painted in underglaze cobalt blue with gilt outlined enamelled auspicious clouds framed by a band of stylised Chrysanthemum demi-florets to the rim. The reverse of the dish is decorated in underglaze blue with stylised Chinese style auspicious clouds and a six character mark for the Emperor Yongzheng. An identical dish appears in the Shibata collection dated circa 1750-80, although I think the ...

A set of five Sake cups of tapering cylyndrical form, nozoki, decorated in underglaze blue with a diaper border, renzuku mon, to inside of the mouth, and an iron red diaper ground inset with shaped reserves or mikomi, each containg a gilt outlined and enameled Suisen, the Japanese Narcissus with Chrysanthemum demi florets in iron red and gilt with matsuawabishi mon in underglaze blue flanking them. The cups date to the end of the late Mid Edo period. The cups measure between 5.5cm and 6cm high ...

A pair of Hirado dishes decorated with scenes adapted from the woodcuts of Utagawa Hiroshige. The dish on the left hand side is adapted from the Sixty Nine Stations of the Kiso Kaido, principally the station at Itabishi and in part, the pedlar with basket, the station at Takasaki. The dish on the right hand side shows a group of figures struggling against a gale probably inspired by the woodcutShono Shono from the Fifty three Stations on Tokaido Highway, but adapted with a great deal of licence....

Here in Kyoto our gallery is located along the Kamo River in a district known as Shobu-en Machi, which roughly translates as “Iris Town.” As you can imagine, the scene depicted in this painting of irises and cranes is one that can be commonly witnessed in our neighborhood in the spring (May) when these flowers are in full bloom. Close inspection of the painting shows one crane amusing itself in the swirling eddies created by rocks on the river bed, while another lifts its head to admire the ...

This antique Seto piece features a warm matte ash glaze with several patches of darker and lighter pigmentation. The molded clay shows striations that resemble textured wood grains—highlighted by a soft patina developed over many decades of use.

Seto is a pottery tradition established in the 12th century with the aim of reproducing fine Chinese porcelain and tenmoku-style chawan—which were hard to come by in Japan at the time. Later, during the Muromachi period, Seto potters es...

Beautiful and slightly distorted masterpiece Mizusashi (water jar for tea ceremony) of dark Seto yaki with black and brown glaze. Around 1900, Meiji Period. No chips, no cracks.

Size: 18 cm height x 13 cm diameter on top.

Shipping included

An excellent example of Japanese rustic charm that transcends its humble origins to embody a refined artistic work, this mizusashi, or fresh water pot used in tea ceremony, displays a beautiful natural ash glaze that includes dazzling ochres, browns, grays, and yellows splashed across the intentionally rough and contoured ceramic landscape.

Iga-ware pottery dates back to 7th and 8th century and—like so many other pottery styles in Japan—takes its name from the region where it wa...