Antique Japanese hikeshi banten, fireman's coat. Made of layers of cotton fabric and stitched in the sashiko quilting technique. Fires were common in Japanese urban areas due to the dense population as well as construction material (primarily wood and paper). Fire brigades were made up of samurai class (buke hikeshi) as well as common class (machi hikeshi). Their primary goal in containing a fire was to tear down the surrounding buildings so the fire had no more fuel...

Antique Japanese pair of bronze warrior attendant figures. Dressed in Chinese armor and holding tall poles. Their tight curls suggest the mains of fu-dogs. Made of bronze with mixed metal details. The figures stand on square, footed platforms. Intricately sculpted with great movement and expression.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 15" high (including pole) x 6 1/4" wide x 4 1/2" deep

Late Taisho Period C.1915 buddhist temple bronze altar lanterns with intricate zen cloud patterns and lattice work. The bronze work is immaculate and the cratsmanship without flaw; typical Taisho Period work. The oiled rice paper lining the inside of the main body is gone but the condition of the pieces is excellent. H:23cm x W:13cm. Ask for shipping quote.

Japanese Antique Walking Stick of Bamboo and Bamboo Root with a wonderfully carved Shangri-la scene depicting a goddess' arms extending to reach the Heavenly Peaches of Immortality. A fun and delightful work of Japanese art that you can take with you anywhere you go. 35.5 inches (90cm).

This fan has lovely paintings of water lilies on one side and daisys on the other. The paper shows wear on the edge of the folds and there is some paint loss on the bottom of the struts. Such wear is commensurate with age and use.

This Japanese antique tsutsugaki textile fireman coat Sashiko Edo era(1800-1867), has a beautiful and dynamic drawing of a hawk that spreads its wings and flaps powerfully on the bold waves. This powerful hawk movement is a painting that is rarely seen in the firefighter Sashiko. And the sharp eyes of the hawk are very impressive. There is a light stain on the bottom wave, but it is not noticeable...

Wonderful pair of antique Japanese temple doors, made of very heavy solid keyaki (elm) wood, beautifully weathered, heavy iron hardware, back locks with single large keyaki beam, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Total size: 80" high x 80" wide x 3" thick

Chinese bronze tea kettle, Its body decorated with raised dragons within beautifully shaped borders. Its spout has the form of a dragon's head with a ball in its mouth, with a nice green patina formed around the opening. Its handle has the form of a dragon's body, its tail and neck curled inwards, and the lid has a cute dragon with spindly legs within a triquetra shape, decorated with raised designs. Marked on the bottom of the kettle...

Early Showa period (1910s) Japanese mingei (Arts and Crafts) shallow copper box with enameled decoration of a spray of aoi (hollyhock) leaves with tendrils. Wonderful combination of uchidashi (hammered-out) and moriage (piled-up) techniques : metal was raised from the opposite side and raised surface was subsequently thickly enameled and fired. Beautiful work, cleverly textured surface, excellent patina, in perfect condition. Enameled green on the inside...

Japanese okimono boxwood carving of Ashinaga and Tenaga. Old Japanese folklore tells that Tenaga (with his very long arms) would climb onto the back of Ashinaga (with his very long legs) and would work to catch fish together. Dates from Taisho Period c1920.

Dimensions: 2 1/4" x 8" H

Smashing pair of zen temple buddhist cloud carvings form the late Edo Period/early Meiji Period c. 1870. Carved out of cypress wood and with gold gilt. Slight wear due to age on a couple of spots but adds character (see photos). Condition very good. One is 10" tall by 12" wide the other slightly smaller. Ask for shipping quote.

Late Meiji wooden netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned demon Namanari. The mask is mostly used in the play The Cursed Metal Head-Ring for the role of the wife who is crazed with jealosy beyond any possibility of redemption. Uncommon image, excellent mad facial expression. Cleverly carved out os soft evergreen wood in ittobori (one-cut) style characteristic of Hida school, colors and gold lacquer highlights, beautiful patina. Signed KYUNADA in ink on the back. Height 1 7/8 inches.

Eggshell bowl, saucer and Kakiemon-style decorated cover, artist’s name in overglaze red. Extremely thin, Arita, c 1840-70. Diam. of cover: 3 1/2" / 9 cm, height of bowl: 2 1/4" / 6 cm. Condition: chips to rim of saucer.

This type of fukusa is a cover placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as "Yui-noh" which is prior to a wedding. It has a peaceful, ordinary outside view seen through an elegant blind (shown at the top) and a silk room divider (left side) which are both remainders of the Heian Court (794-1160). Cranes and plums represent longevity, harmony and women’s beauty along with their strength...

Antique Japanese kannon biraki isho tansu (chest on chest with hinged doors for storing clothing). Made with all keyaki (elm) wood on the front. Sugi (cryptomeria) wood on the sides and top. The top portion of the tansu has hinged doors which open to reveal two large drawers. The bottom section has two large exterior drawers and a safe box with a hinged door in the lower right hand side. Inside the safe box are three small drawers...

Very old and wonderful carved wood figure of the buddhist god Fudo Myoo, he stands with laso in one hand and sword in the other, made of wood with mineral pigments, glass eyes, metal details including sword, large and dramatic with fire nimbus, Muromachi Period, inscription on the back of nimbus says Yuwayadera (name of temple), nimbus is signed that it was restored by Minamoto Haruhisa April 16, 1560. Size: 62" high

A very rare and early imari that more closely resembles the kakiemon palette, but with the heavy use of gold and some under glaze blue, it would fall under the imari family group. This is a very rare dish as it displays the pomegranate fruit in the center well, its seeds being exposed as to suggest the hope of many sons. 5 cranes are symmetrically arranged, 3 on the garden rock, 2 in flight. Condition is excellent, save a very tiny glaze flake to the rim...