An interesting and rare dish, something of a homage both to Nabeshima ware and root vegetables. The central motif is a Daikon painted in underglaze blue, following a similar motif found on Nabeshima porcelain, see Les Cadeaux au Shogun page 155, plate no 28, for a large Nabeshima dish decorated with a similar representation of a daikon set against a repeating wave ground,...

19th century netsuke in button form carved out of the coronet part of a deer antler. Strong early piece, nicely chunky, beautiful staining, warm patina, natural blemishes as is usual with staghorn, which make it so attractive. Wonderful tactile object. Average diameter 2.15 inches.

19th century Japanese tobacco pipe consisting of a reed stem and 2 metal parts, the mouth one with low relief design of a blooming peony and inlaid brass butterfly, the smoking one with inlaid copper butterfly. Main metal has not been tested, but appears to be silver. The top of the smoking part bears the signs of wear due to the fact that it was tapped on hard surfaces to empty the bowl...

Late 18th to early 19th century bronze suigaraake (ashtray) netsuke in a modified hexagonal drum shape, its outside cast with a sinuous water dragon chasing a Precious Gem. Very well designed piece, good detailing, functional netsuke shape. Nice old piece with very pleasant patina on metal. Maximum diameter 1 3/4 inches.

An antique Japanese Ikebana bamboo basket in a baluster form. A pair of twisting branches form the handle and extend in a swirl pattern around the body. The knots connecting the branches to the body take the shape of stylized cranes and turtles. The body has a criss cross spiral weave.

Age: Circa 1900-1920

Dimensions: 11" Wide by 22" High by 9 3/8" Deep

Antique Japanese tall banner for Boy's Day celebration, two mon (family crests), scene depicting a noted scene from a noh play called Takasago. The two old couples represent the wish for a couple to be together till the end. The rake represents raking in fortune and the broom for sweeping away misfortune and bad energy. A crane above and an ancient turtle below, both also symbolic of longevity. The banner is painted in mineral pigments on cotton. 190" high x 26 1/2" wide.

Hinagata (sample book of hanten (short jacket) design which is wood-block print. Hinagata is a sample design book and it was for customers when they make orders. The designs are stencil-dyed in the back of hantens which were worn by workers such as shop clerks, fish market workers, firemen and so on. This book is a remake of the original book as the ground paper had many damages so that the original design hantens were cut out and pasted on Japanese paper and newly bound...

The size of Tabacco Ire: 6 3/8" Long x 2" Wide x 7/8" Thick. Very unuusal Japanese Tabacco Ire set. The pipe holding case made of Bamboo work with clasp made with tin plated on brass. Bamboo work done well weaving. Tabacco case made by silk brocde. It has brass part. The condition of Tabacco Ire, very good except some wear on back of string area and a couple of other place. And tin plate some worn. Early Meiji, 1870-1880...

Antique Japanese bronze Shakudo (mixture of Gold and Copper) menuki of a fu dog with signature engraved on its backside. Menuki are one of many components to a Japanese sword, mounted as an ornament on the tsuka (handle). They are believed by some to secure the swordsman's grip. Size: 1 1/4" Long x .5" wide

19th century Japanese bronze tea ceremony hibashi (long metal chopsticks for handling charcoal in hibachi brazier) with finials in a form of heads of the Fungus of Immortality. These hibashi are for use in the summer time (winter ones have top half covered in wood). Finely made of bronze, beautiful casting and chiseling of the fungus, embossed areas at the working end for better handling of charcoals...

18th to early 19th century Japanese sword fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) with inlaid and gilded relief design of three differently colored quails feeding on millet stalks. Very good quality crisp work, different patinas, some expected. Length 1.48 inches, width 0.93 inches, height 0.43 inches

Unusual 19th century Hirado Japanese porcelain brush rest in a shape of a karako (Chinese boy) lying on his stomach with his head and feet raised, his head is moveable. Wonderful modeling with incised details, excellent face, beautiful glaze, unglazed bottom, in great condition (no chips, cracks or repairs), very pleasant to the touch. Typical Hirado underglaze blue highlights, rich cobalt firing beautiful gray/brown in saturation areas, brown glaze on his pants...

19th century or earlier Japanese sword set of fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) and kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with design of flowering prunus branches issuing from an old tree stump. Silver inlays and gilding (wear), finely textured ground called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Kashira length 1.32 inches, fuchi length 1.5 inches.

Late 19th century Japanese stoneware kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony) in a form of Daikoku holding a rice bale in front of him. Daikoku is one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune, that of rice, and, as a consequence, of wealth. Stoneware with wonderful potting, beautiful celadon glaze, very pleasant patina. Great piece in Japanese taste. Height 2 inches.

Dochugi made of kudzu fiber for wefts and cotton yarn for warps. Dochugi is a kind of haori worn over kimono and kudzu-fu one is worn in summer. Kudzufu has been produced mainly in Kakegawa in Shizuoka prefecture since 13th century. It was used for hakama (pants), kamishimo and dochugi. The collar and one of straps of this dochugi are replaced. straps have damages and several pin holes in the back and a cut (3cm) in front. It has a slit for a sword in the left side...

This is Chuya-Obi used for Edo period. In Chuya-Obi, one side is twill fabrics, and other aspects are black satin. As for this, the basics of twill fabrics are dyed with a natural indigo plant. And a thread dyed with other plant dye is interwoven. The black satin side has 2.3 places of split points. The twill fabrics side has some stains, but does not stand out. There is no damage on the plane of twill fabrics. Size 384cmx 32.5cm (151.8 "x 12.7")

Rare “kiln waster” possibly from the Qingliangsi Kiln, Baofeng, Henan- see reference in last enlargement. D: 11.8cm/4.7in and H: 4cm/1.6in. Very shiny black glaze. There is one star crack on the side as well as “slag” adhesions on the rim. Please examine enlargements. May still be used for tea ceremony if you don't mind a little "wabi sabi"

Late 19th to early 20th century Japanese tea ceremony short hibashi (metal chopsticks for handling charcoal in hibachi brazier) with brass working part and bronze handle inlaid with shakudo and silver keyfret design, and with flower finials. These hibashi are for use in the summer time (winter ones have handle parts covered in wood). Finely made, wonderful quality inlays. Beautiful patina, seem to have never been used, very pleasant to hold. Come with original holder made out of banana leaf...