Complete set of 4 Negoro bowls. Middle of the Edo period (late 17th to early 18th c.). Very smooth and shiny surface and a particularly deep orange-vermilion, caracteristic of the period. A damage on the border of the larger one. Signed. Diam. 14,2 cm, 13,3 cm, 12,7 cm and 12 cm

A bucolic scene of temples and rugged seaside hills dotted with pagodas in silver and gold wraps around the black surface of this deep tray dating from the Momoyama to early Edo period (16th-17th century). It is 27 cm (10-1/2 inches) diameter, 8.5 cm (3-3/8 inches) tall. The bottom has been re-lacquered at some time in the past...

Antique Japanese suzuki-bako, calligraphy box. Lacquered with a profusion of wildflowers in gold maki-e technique on black lacquer ground. The underside of the lid is beautifully preserved with more wild flowers growing near a swirling stream. This scene is also rendered in maki-e but includes some flashes of red leaves and a silvery moon on a black lacquer ground with clouds of nashiji...

Small namban style chest with a semi-cylindrical lid made of black lacquered wood (urushi) with gold lacquer (maki-e) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl (raden).
Mon style decoration (family emblem) of ginkos and chrysanthemums framed by friezes alternating three grooves and mother-of-pearl inlays...

Namban chest in lacquer with inlayed mother-of-pearl in a floral pattern. The metalwork is in engraved copper.

The word "Namban" comes from namban-jinou "southern barbarians", used by the Japanese to refer to the Europeans, especially the Portuguese. Namban art came about between 1500 and 1600. The Portuguese reached Japan in 1543 and forged a very intricate commercial relationship.
Initially, the Japanese weren't overly fond of the Portuguese...

Extremely rare Sage jubako in wood covered with basketry applied with flowers and plants in lacquer, gesso, mother-of-pearl and pewter (or lead). The box is composed of several stacked parts. The interior is lacquered in red. In the top compartment there are two Chinese characters which are perhaps an artist's signature. Underneath one can see the weft of a strong lacquered fabric ensuring a good solidity...

Lacquered and painted wood travel coffer or cabinet with iron mountings and lock. Japanese work. The exterior is black lacquered decorated with gold and polychrome. Some typical patterns allow us to date it with certainty around 1580 more or less 20 years. Very rare specimen, few similar models exist. The lock is one of the very first executed in Japan because it was the Portuguese who brought the technique when they landed in Japan around 1550...

Kogo in Japanese lacquer urushi, decorated on maki-e with a dog playing with a fan. The interior is Nashiji. Diameter : Inches. Japan Edo (1603-1868), End of 17th, early 18th century.

Rare japanese urushi lacquer box of a calabash shape. Beautiful Hoteï sleeping on his bag on a black ground. Nashiji lacquer inside with two figthers. A rare border of checkerboard and mother of pearl inlays.

Cabinet in black lacquered wood. Decor of plants in gilding and mother-of-pearl inlay. The mounts are incised and gilded copper. Two doors conceal a series of drawers and a small door. The small handles of the drawers are in cast bronze as well as the handles. On the top is represented in mother-of-pearl Mount Fuji partly concealed by clouds...

Inro 4 cases.Peonies in mother-of-pearl inlaid on a brown lacquered ground and gold dust. Japan earlier Edo 17th century.It is rare to find inros from this period, they are probably the first to have been created. The lacquer is dark red-brown, almost black, it is very solid and despite the shocks and more than three centuries of handling it has not chipped at all. The mother-of-pearl is also well preserved and there is only a tiny lack due to a direct impact...

Rare lacquer box with nashiji background. Gold lacquer decoration in relief of pavilions in a lake landscape. Kirikane gold and silver, pine needles in yellow metal inlaid in high relief blackened by oxidation and dirt. Early Edo period, late 17°or earlier. Inside there is a tray. 18 x 10 x 8cm. A broken and badly glued interior edge (visible on photo). Sold as is, never restored nor cleaned. No lack. Very good condition considering the venerable age.

A very rare Japanese lacquer cabinet made for the Dutch export. The quality of this model is very good and surpasses the usual cabinets of this period. The landscape decorations are very finely and artistically painted, notably the trees whose foliage is swayed by the wind...

Rare box with 3 compartments in lacquered wood from the beginning of the Edo period, end of the 17th century, beginning of the 18th. Decor of chrysanthemums in a landscape. Some flowers are encrusted in solid gold. The decoration is in lacquer in light relief powdered with gold and silver on a nashiji background. Details in Kirikane. The silver is strongly oxidized and has turned greyish-black as on all very old lacquers of this period. In the bottom of the box on the base compartment we can dis...

Negoro Marubon (circular tray). Late Muromachi to early Momoyama period -16th. Nice balance between the cinnabar shrinkage and the black lacquer underlying, due to a long time use. It is possible that the upper side as been later relacquered (18th c. ?) as orange-vermilion slightly appears under the dark brown lacquer coat. diam. 29 cm (11.4’’) With box.

Exceptional example of a very old Japanese bronze. This type of lacquered bronze of the best quality is extremely rare. We only know a handful. This is the Mule of Toba in cast bronze, lacquered in red and cream. The animal is represented lowering its head. His rider, Toba has disappeared. Note the elegance of the movement, the strength but also the humor that emerges from this sculpture, this is the unique work of a great sculptor. Having no known reference dated with certainty, it is impossibl...

Japanese inkstand (suzuribako) in lacquer (urushi). Decor on a spangled background (nashiji) of a lakeside mountainous landscape treated in relief (takamaki-e) flat silver powdered details (hiramaki-e) and mosaic (kirikane ) gold and silver. The rocks are particularly well treated. The interior is decorated with a rich nashiji background forming scrolls of mist and flowers in relief. The suzuribako is complete with its original simple and gilded copper stone and dropper. The style of the decor i...

Wooden lectern covered with black lacquer, decorated with Japanese seignorial emblems (Mon) with gold powder. The emblems are treated in three different versions, all three of excellent lacquer quality in a very elegant style. The lectern can be dismantled into 4 parts, the box, the drawer, the top and the axis, the elements are assembled using mercury-gilded copper frames, which are finely chiseled with scrolls of stylized plants on a nanako background. This simple “Mon” decor but of superb...