19th century netsuke representing theatrical mask of Shojo. Shojo are mythical creatures living near the sea, and are particularly fond of sake. Made in saishiki technique - the wood is covered with gesso, which in turn is painted in bright colors. Some obvious losses to paint from wear. Great modeling, wonderful depiction of its face and hair. Inscribed or signed on the back bar, but impossible to read because of paint losses . Height 1 1/2 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a theatrical mask, traces of painted mustache identifies the character as Chujo. Made in saishiki technique - the wood is covered with gesso, which in turn is painted in bright colors. A lot of wear to the surface, but still has good presence. Height 1 9/16 inches.

19th century netsuke carved as a theatrical mask of a SHOJO - mythical creatures living near the sea who are particularly fond of sake. Wonderful quality carving on ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece, that being typical for the Hida school of netsuke carvers. Very nice tranquil face, beautiful staining and patina, old losses by its left eyebrow and on the right upper side on the back as can be seen on photos...

Small silver vase with flared and hemmed neck. A finely chiseled snake is wrapped around the neck and an enameled chrysanthemum. The lower body is enamelled in polychromy by silver wire partitions. Under a round base there is a signature in a golden cartouche of Mitsu Shige. Period: Meiji. Height: 10cm (4")

Antique Japanese mokugyo, fish bell, carved of keyaki (zelkova, elm) wood with traces of red and white lacquer. This wooden temple bell was used by Buddhist priest during religious ceremonies and chants. Laid on it's side on a pillow, the bell was struck to a rhythm to match the cadence of the chant. The carving on the bell is of two fish embracing a pearl, a symbol of unity. The fish themselves symbolize wakefulness, in this case to remind the chanters to focus on the sutra...

Antique Japanese jizai-kagi in the form of a catfish. In a Japanese home, water in a kettle or pot is heated over an irori (sunken hearth). The jizai hook hangs from a strong ceiling beam. From this, a long device is suspended with a hook on the end that can be adjusted up or down by moving the jizai-kagi. This unusual jizai-kagi is carved of kayaki (zelkova elm) wood and has patination from hearth smoke. A portion of it's original iron chain is still attached...

Antique Japanese stoneware kame (wide mouthed bowl) from Shigaraki kiln. Made using the local sandy clay from the bed of Lake Biwa, Shigaraki ware is identified by the embedded granules of feldspar. Mineral and ash glaze is dribbled and spattered over the surface leaving long, uneven drips...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese boxwood seal, most probably used in a temple to stamp pilgrimage papers. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Excellent quality crisp carving of 2 rows of differently sized characters, caked old red seal paste on the bottom. Metal stud on the side indicates the position of the top of the imprint. Beautiful patina on the surface of wood...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Original wiped lacquer technique finish and hand made iron hardware. The lock knobs feature a Plum Blossom design and the design of the handles is a straight Gumbai. Sliding side by side doors open to a spacious area where once merchant books and records were stored.

A rare feature of this chest are the hidden compartments under the four bottom side by side drawers...

Antique Japanese carved boxwood jizai-okimono of a dragon. Literally meaning "decorative object, moves at will", this jizai-okimono is made up of many separately carved moving pieces. There are differing theories about why these articulated creatures came to be made, the most accepted being that the armorers who normally created suits started crafting jizai-okimono as a way to show off their skills to daimyos in hopes of being chosen next time their armor needed to be replaced...

Antique Japanese figure of seated Quan yin, made of carved cinnabar lacquer. She is seated on a lotus throne and holds a scroll in her hands. Her robes are carved all over with floral and Buddhist motifs. Her facial expression is serene, befitting her role as goddess of compassion.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 6 1/4" high x 3 1/2" wide x 3 1/4" deep

A large Japanese wood okimono of a shishi with its puppy on a wooden base. Silk, enamel and glass eyes. Edo period 18th century Sizes: 37 x 50 x 30 cm Condition report: Good condition

A shell incense box (kogo) painted in relief pure gold with waka writing inside with probably poetic or romantic references. Very similar to shells for the game of kaiawase, but larger in size. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 5 x 10 x 8 cm Condition report: Good condition – with tomobako

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting a lobster and some fishing implements including a straw raincoat and a woven ring. Clever design of the terminus as a curled lobster, superb crisp work - see the fine differentiated textures of the crustacean’s body, ring and long strands of the coat...

Late Meiji (1890s - 1910s) Japanese hammered copper incense burner - tripod with wide body, flaring mouth and 3 short feet. Wonderful object made by hammering a chunk of copper, raising it and giving it shape - no casting is involved. Fantastic clean gently curving organic form with beautifully hammered surface and superb reddish patina, very pleasant to the touch. Signed JUZAN on the bottom, beautiful object for scholar’s desk. Height 2 1/4 inches, diameter 3 7/8 inches at the widest.

A Japanese woven bamboo reed ikebana basket. Of small size and fine work. Having handled a good number of ikebana baskets over time, this one strikes us as quite sophisticated. Of baluster form, meticulously consistent woven pattern, defined foot and rim, sparse and well balanced decorative intertwined bamboo shoots across the face, and confidently woven handles. Excellent condition. Height, 8 inches.

19th century Japanese ceramic miniature seal netsuke modeled as shishi - Buddhist lion - sitting on a square base, its head turned to its right. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Nice modeling, dark olive glaze thinning on raised spots adding the depth to design...

19th century Japanese ceramic miniature seal netsuke modeled as shishi - Buddhist lion - sitting on a rectangular base, its head turned to its left. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Nice modeling, brown glaze thinning on raised spots adding the depth to design...

Meiji (1868-1912) Japanese Wood Lacquer Mother of Pearl Inlay Shibayama Hand Warmer

It is 8 inches (20.3 cm) tall with handle up and 5.5 inches (14 cm) tall with handle down by 9.2 inches (23.3 cm) wide. It is 2.4 Lb.

It has hairline cracks at the cover and peeling at the inner corner of the cover, and a crack at the corner and trace of glue (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item fr...

A Japanese studio porcelain okimono of Daruma (the legendary Chinese Buddhist monk Bodhidharma), dating to the first half of the 20th C. The long robe with thick celadon glaze, the face with fierce expression, the ears with movable earrings. Base with sealmark. Condition: fine, one ear with firing crack. Dimension: 22.8 cm high, weight: 1.2 kg.

Hanging scroll. A dragon shoots upwards through the clouds. Its head clearly visible, pointing straight up, the tail faintly disappearing in the darkness of the sky. Black ink on silk. Very skillful use of many shades of black and gray. Signed and dated in the lower left: Bunka year of the dog (1814), Fuyu and artist’s red seal Rintai.
Japan

Image: H 52.5 x W 20 in. Mounting: H 81.5 x W 25 in. (lower roller 27.25 in. wide)

Mounting in excellent condition, painting too.

Antique Japanese pair of paintings depicting two dragons in a dense mist. Gold flashes light up the clouds. Symbolizing the ultimate yang, or masculine energy, the dragon is the controller of both winds and water. Painted in sumi and gold ink on silk and signed by the artist. Both panels are loose (unmounted). Dates from 1834 or later by painter Kanō Seisen'in Osanobu (1796-1846) Some biographical information here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG4764 Here he's...

Large porcelain charger decorated in underglaze blue with a map of Japan, as drawn in the Edo period. The map (Gyoji type) shows the main islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, divided into the 63 provinces. The names of the provinces are written in kanji. Here and there a name of a city (i.e. Edo) is added.
The main islands of Japan are surrounded by several islands (names written partly or entirely in katakana) and real and imaginary countries, such as Choseon, the Ryukyus, the country o...

Very rare cast bronze sculpture of the Chinese monk Xuanzang with a pile of Buddhist scriptures rolled up and stacked in the pack on his back and a lotus leaf over his head from which dangles an incense burner, as he returns to China from India.
In his hands he was holding a scroll and a fly whisk that are now missing. Figure stands on an irregularly shaped base. Japan, mid Edo period, 18th century.
Height incl. base ca. 5.25 inches (13.3 cm).
Hands slightly damaged.

Genjo ...

19th century Japanese ceramic chawan (tea bowl) for tea ceremony with light cream glaze and underglaze blue decoration of a moon rising over a Buddhist mountain temple. Inscribed in underglaze black with 3 characters which translate as ISHIYAMA-DERA (“Stone Mountain Temple”) - a Shingon temple in Otsu (Shiga Prefecture) and the thirteenth stop of the Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage. Superb free painting with strong Zen feeling, wonderful potting of shiro Raku (white Raku) body. Stamped by the foot ...

19th century Japanese ceramic chawan (tea bowl) for tea ceremony with crackled orange / cream glaze and underglaze blue decoration of torii gates among pines and birds in flight. Superb free painting, Raku pottery produced in the Kyoto region. Beautiful potting with spiral line on the bottom of the bowl showing the way potter finished turning the piece. Stamped with potter’s seal on the lower body. Well-used, in great condition, 3 old Japanese gold lacquer repairs on the rim testifying to the ...

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese ceramic tea ceremony kashiki (dish for holding sweets served along with the tea) modeled in modified lozenge shape. Shino ware with stoneware body and thick glaze with a texture of small holes originated in the 16th century in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture) and has been popular ever since. Wonderful free potting, elegant grey nezumi (“mouse”) glaze with underglaze iron painting of a long leaf and tendrils with smaller leaves, beau...

19th century Edo period (before 1867) Japanese porcelain Hirado plate with scalloped edge and underglaze blue decoration of a dragon in pursuit of a tama (Sacred Gem). Excellent potting, milky white body and clear glaze. Great early painting with charming freedom, wonderful dynamic design - see the flames issuing from the body of the dragon. Some surface wear as to be expected, overall in great condition. Diameter 7 1/4 inches.

A charming painting in ink and colors on silk depicting a young, long-haired girl in traditional dress with her back turned to the viewer. Signed: Nobumaru (Mitsubumi 1812–1879), a late Tosa School painter in the Nihonga tradition. Exquisite mounting. Meiji, c. 1865–1875. L 182 cm, W 60 cm. Picture frame: L 109 cm, W 42.5 cm. Condition: Very good.

A Japanese white glazed studio porcelain model of a water buffalo. Hirado type though the eyes are not left unglazed to the biscuit as is typical. Holding sculpted form and details well, the biscuit base smooth to the touch and bearing an imprint from the fabric it sat upon. Except for a clean break to one horn, in otherwise good condiiton. A line of separation of the glaze under the buffalo's neck due to "crawling" in the kiln. Length, about 14 inches horn tip to tail. Wood plinth about 13 5/8 ...

An Asian wood cookie press. Folk art (Japanese or Korean - if Japanese would be considered "Mingei") utilitarian object. The "cookies", or treats, pressed from this mechanism could have been sweetened bean paste, possibly with rice starch, and not necessarily cooked. The iron nails slide along routing to enable the pressing action. Well used and in fair condition - exhibiting some distress by loss of wood on ends of the top board. A nicely decorative curiosity. Length, 9 7/8 inches

This is a finely hand-carved netsuke in Ebony wood of a Nasube (Aubergine or eggplant). Netsuke was carved by an unknown artist from the Iwami Province sometime during the 19th century. The carving exhibits similar material and carving characteristics of a netsuke (Photo #7) made by Kyokusui; item 133* of Bonhams catalog. Observe the smoothness of the surface, and the realistic form of the piece. Netsuke is unsigned. It measures 2.44 inches (6.2cm) tall. and 0.94 inches (2.4cm) in diamet...

This is a finely hand-carved netsuke in Kurogaki (Black Persimmon) wood of a large Seated Hotei with a wide Smile, by an unknown artist from the Iwami Province, carved sometime during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The carving exhibits similar material and carving characteristics of the region. Observe a similar looking figure on top of a toad, finished in a very smooth texture, by Gokyotei Baiseki, in photo #6*, from Iwami Netsuke, RS Huthart Collection, Japanese published book, page...

Meiji (1868-1912) Japanese Dark Green Satsuma Bowl with Chicken Group & Geisha (Unmarked)

It is 2.75 inches (7 cm) tall by 3.75 inches (9.7 cm) wide. It is 0.5 Lb.

It has minor rubbing of gold and stains, glaze crazing, and surface wears (as seen in the photos).

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This is a finely hand-carved netsuke in Kurogaki (Black Persimmon) wood of a Lotus Seed Pod, made as a Karakuri or 'trick' Netsuke in that the seeds rattle and peep out of the seed holes. Netsuke was carved by an unknown artist from the Iwami Province sometime during the Early 19th centuries. The carving exhibits similar material and carving characteristics of a netsuke (Photo #6) made by Seiyodo Gansui (1809-1848). Observe the lines of the sides of the lotus pod and how they compare with the...

Late 18th C. Early 19th C. Japanese Iwami Kurogaki Netsuke: Gama Sennin with Toad This is a finely hand-carved netsuke in Kurogaki (Black Persimmon) wood of a Gama Sennin with a Toad on top of his shoulders, by an unknown artist from the Iwami Province carved sometime during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The carving exhibits similar material and carving characteristics of the region. Observe the Ukibori work on the sennin's toad (photo #3) that resembles the finish of the toad s...