Imari ware soba choko (soba noodle dipping cup) from the mid-late Edo period (1600-1868.) Porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue painting of "takenoko" bamboo shoot pattern. H.5.5cm(2.17") x Dia.7.5cm(2.95"). A crack in the rim has been repaired using synthetic gold and lacquer. Soba choko were originally used for small morsels of food much like the mukozuke is used in today's Japanese place setting...

A large Japanese tokurri, emulating Korean Buncheon ware, with inlaid slip decoration; Edo period. The decoration is divided into multiple bands of repeating designs, which have been incised into the clay body. A white slip was applied, and the body wiped clean; leaving the slip infilling the incisions...

Kanban or shop sign. The sign indicates that the store would sell or manufacture ornamental pin holders for the oars on a boat (ireko), in the shape of dolls. According to the sketch pasted to the back of the kanban, this holder is mounted on the oar and is placed over a pin mounted on the boat edge. The oar pivots around that pin, so that the oar moves the boat through the water.

The pin holders are decorated as a male and a female doll in court style, their mouths wide open...

Nabeshima hard porcelain dish. Okawachi kilns. Decoration in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze enamels. Although the model already exists at the beginning of the 18th century, we do not believe that the dish presented here is authentic. The enamels are perfect, one can distinguish with a magnifying glass discreet wear of use and the enamels show age cracks, but the cobalt blue on the reverse is too pale. It is not a modern copy, as it has been in the Sakura collection for about forty years...

A fine Arita blue and white four lobed bowl. Decoration of Sennin Chokaro with his gourd attribute in landscape, centered by extraordinary shironuki (drawn in white) decoration in the cavetto - each of four panels with a different auspicious figure and attributes. The outside of the shaped rim and sides also with simple shironuki decoration of a water border and a lotus blossom floating at each, dimpled corner...

Antique Japanese round porcelain plate decorated with blue underglaze scene of two fish and underwater plants. The plate stands on a round foot and the underside is decorated with rings and scrolling flora in blue underglaze. A small gold kintsugi repair and kiri tomobako are evidence that this was a valuable and prized part of someone's collection years ago.

Age: 17th century

Dimensions: 6 1/4" wide x 1 1/8" high

A miniature vessel in the shape of a Japanese water bucket. Earthenware finely decorated in enamels and gold with iris flowers. Base signed below the Kinkozan Kyoto paper label next to an old price label. Condition: fine. Dimension: 6.5 cm high, weight: 32 g.

This is a wonderful slender pear shaped bronze vase from the Meiji era (1868-1912. It is highly detailed and decorated with three raised relief elephants. One of the images was deliberately overexposed to show off the fine detail. It has the original patina and is in excellent condition. Stands 12 3/4 inches tall and is signed underneath by Genryusai Seiya. Buyers should be careful because there are poor copies or fakes of this elephant vase showing up in auctions.

Antique Japanese tobacco pouch and matching pipe case, each carved with an octopus. The pipe case is made all of boxwood and holds a tobacco pipe made of bamboo with silver and mixed metal fittings. The matching tobacco pouch is carved of kiri wood in the form of a fisherman's basket with a lid made of of boxwood and carved in the form of another octopus. Both practical and whimsical.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: Pipe case: 8" long...

An antique Japanese Kasane Kimono Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Hand forged iron hardware.

Originally used for the storage of Japanese Kimono, it functions well in today's home as a pair of nightstands, a daily dresser drawer or a beautiful accent piece in any room decor...

Meiji period Japanese bronze vase. Silver bamboo inlaid design. Signed by ¡°Nobuyoshi¡±. Maker¡¯s stamp is on the bottom. It is in good condition. H: 5 inches, W: 2 inches

Two characters on this Japanese banner are Yoshitsune (Minamoto family) and Noritsune (Taira family). It was towards end of the Genpei War (1180-1185), Yoshitsune (Minamoto family) flying high on the top escaping the attack of Noritsune (Taira family). Yoshitsune was said to hopped eight boats at this scene...

Simply elegant bronze crane candlestand on a base with baby crane and turtle, the auspicious symbols of happiness and long life. C. 1910, the bronze is "aka do" a rich red bronze. The coloring is natural and not painted on. Finely detailed feathers and tail point to a the top class of bronzemanship. At the top lotus flowers adorn the candleholder. Ask for shipping quote. H:14" x W:7"

This is a large doll, probably dated from Meiji to Taisho period, modeling a maiden from the Genroku era (1688-1703). Genroku culture which was the beginning of uprising power of the merchants in the Osaka area was glamorous and quite a contrast to the stiff culture of the samurai. Partially green lipstick that is shown on this doll became fashionable at the time. Her hair style is called Taka (high) Shimada or Bunkin Taka-Shimada...

Antique Japanese tea bowl made by Sen Sosa VI, Kakukakusai Genso (1678-1730) who was the 6th Iemoto of Omotesenke school.
There is the "Fu-niko" mark and the inscription which says "with Shigaraki sand soil".

A museum quality masterpiece made by the head of one of the main tea ceremony school in Japan.

Kakukakusai Genso, the son of Soei Hisada, was adopted by the 5th generation Zuiryusai Ryokyu, and inherited the Iemoto title of Grand Master of Omotesenke tea ceremony ...

Iron tsuba inlaid in nunomé zogan (damascened) of gold of different colors. Japanese work from the Edo period 18°-19° century, the artist's signature should give a precise date of creation. The scene finely cut in iron shows us a medieval fight on a bridge, perhaps that of Uji near Nara. The tsubas of the Soten school style are numerous but most often of low quality, the one presented here is superior, neat carving, well drawn subjects, great thickness giving volume to the characters (see the...

Very rare Ca. 1910 bronze zen temple dragon spout used in front of the temple entrance. Water from the dragon's mouth would run into a stone tsukubai where vistors to the temple would purify mouth and hands before entering the sacred space. Very good condition. 14" tall; 9" wide; 11" deep. Ask for shipping quote from CA warehouse.