Japanese antique large censer depicting the fisherman Urashima Taro from the fairy tale, Otogi Banashi. In the story, the fisherman discovers some children on the beach toying with a turtle. Urashima Taro buys the turtle from them and sets him free. The turtle grows in size and carries Urashima Taro down beneath the sea to the Dragon Palace (Ryugu-jo) where he is met and thanked by the Princess Otohime. After a few days, Urashima Taro decides to return to the world above the sea...

Japanese hardwood platform shelf for a tokonoma, a recessed art display area for a traditional tea ceremony room. Made with bold Keyaki (elm) hardwood with original dark lacquer finish. Original condition.

Dimensions: 54" L x 18" D x 9" H

This tall and lovely Hagi chawan rests firmly on a wari kodai or “split foot” pedestal that is unglazed—displaying the coarse rich clay. The crackled milky glaze covers the curves and contours of the bowl, contrasting dramatically between the foot and the clay body. Hagi-ware such as this is part of a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery...

Japanese hand-forged iron tsuba, used to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The front depicts two joyful festival performers, one holding a drum and the other holding a fan, the figures in relief with gilt accenting throughout. The backside of the tsuba shows a large mallet and mortar traditionally used for pounding rice into mochi.

Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 3"

Japanese hand-forged iron tsuba, used to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The openwork tsuba depicting two sages, their robes accented in gilt, one sage with a face of silver and the other with a face of copper. The front image is signed 'Soheishi Nyudo Soten' , the other side reads 'Goshu Hikone ju' (resides in Goshu-current Shiga prefecture).

Dimensions: 3 1/8" x 3 1/4"

Japanese ko tansu (personal chest) with two sliding doors opening to a compartment on top, five smaller drawers, and a sixth drawer extending along the bottom. Two side carrying handles. Pawlonia (kiri) wood with black iron hardware. Late Meiji to early Taisho Period (circa 1900 - 1920). 26 1/8" wide x 24 3/8" high x 13" deep. Very good solid overall condition. There are a few old repairs to the right sliding door, which is a bit difficult to slide open...

Japanese tsuba, a sword fitting to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The tsuba depicts a scene of hunters, one on horseback and the other on foot wielding a staff, in pursuit of a leaping rabbit, in gilt and silver. The backside of the tsuba depicts a running fox in gilt and copper.

Dimensions: 2 1/2" x 2 1/8"

Antique Japanese inro with three compartments, made of wood with gold lacquer and inlaid with gold flecks. One side is decorated with a pair of cranes and sprouting pines. The other side of the inro depicts an ancient turtle who carries, on his back, a large rock formation. Out of the rock sprouts a plum tree, a pine tree and bamboo - together called Sho chiku bai or "The Three Friends of Winter". The inside of each compartment is cover with dense nishji lacquer (fine gold flecks)...

Height: 3.8 cm (1.4 in)
Width: 5.1 cm (2.1 in)
Depth: 2.3 cm (0.9 in)

Antler bone netsuke of sea life; carved from the base of an antler; good condition

This is a beautiful rare Japanese Cloisonne tray. If it were not signed, many would attribute this fine piece to the workshop of Namikawa Sosuke. The workmanship on this piece exceeds that of many other cloisonne trays to be seen with roosters or chickens. The tray measure just under 11 by 11 inches. Condition is very good but there is a slight indent on the rim with a minor bit of crazing at this spot on the reverse side. To view see the last 2 images.

A very fine sometsuke dish of scalloped octalobed form painted with a mon form central motif of a symmetrically arranged pair of leaping carp. Framed by a continuous band of botan karakusa, Peonie lotus scroll, within which are reserves containing, dragons, Ryu, in clouds and a gilt rim, kin-beni. The reverse decorated with hagi-karakusa, vine pattern and a six character mark for the Chinese Emperor Jiajing. The quality of the painting is of the highest quality...

A dish of scalloped rim form of six-sun size decorated with a central motif of a bouquet of Cherry blossom wrapped in the traditional manner for formal presentation with a sheath of washi paper, tsutsumi, shaped into a horn and tied with cord. The rim of the dish decorated with auspicious motifs of gobenka and cho butterflies in the typical Imari three colour palette dating to the Kyoho period circa 1710-40. The reverse decorated with ribbon ties and trailing flowers...

A dish of scalloped rim form of six-sun size decorated with a central motif of a bouquet of Cherry blossom wrapped in the traditional manner for formal presentation with a sheath of washi paper, tsutsumi, shaped into a horn and tied with cord. The rim of the dish decorated with auspicious motifs of gobenka and cho butterflies in the typical Imari three colour palette dating to the Kyoho period circa 1710-40. The reverse decorated with ribbon ties and trailing flowers...

A Japanese porcelain steep-sided dish depicting a traditional zashiki room or perhaps a temple interior. The plants seen through the windows are banana and cycad, both common in warmer climates as experienced in Kyushu or Okinawa. Arita 1730 - 1750. Two plates with similar central designs are found in ‘The Story of Imari’, Goro Shimura. ‘The Story of Imari, The Symbols and Mysteries of Antique Japanese Porcelain’, Ten Speed Press, Toronto. 2008. Items 61, 62...

A very large plate decorated with a kylin surrounded by panels of cranes among pine and prunus trees, separated by formal lotus flowers.

Just a tad under 41 cm diameter. No cracks, chips or restoration...

Antique Japanese bronze okimono, animated in a recumbent pose. The tanuki clothed in Buddhist monk robes, curled and withdrawn for rest. A strand of prayer beads is visible out from underneath his crossed front legs. The sculpture is skillfully cast with a bronze dark russet patina, essentiated by the chasing of the hair and the smooth surface of the folds. The artist has also rendered in detail of the tanuki's paws, which is the underside of the sculpture signed "Yoshiyama".

Me...

Deluxe impression Edo period Japanese woodblock print depicting an actor portraying a man carrying a bucket in a scene from kabuki theater by Yoshitaki (1841-1899). Circa 1860. Exceptional color with lacquer highlights to the collar of the outer kimono. The background at the left side of the print contains fine calligraphy executed in silver. Chuban-sized print with margins evident on the top and right sides. Paper size: 9 7/8" x 7 1/8" (image measures 9 5/8" x 7"). Excellent overall cond...

Man's han-gappa which was worn over kimono when he went out and made of hand-spun cotton, both outside and the lining. It is in very dark green, dyed with natural indigo and vegetable yellow. It has beautiful two kinds of katazome (stencil-resist dye) for lining which is natural indigo dyed. The collar is made of imported wool. The fasteners made of spiral cord show it was made in Tenpo in late Edo period (1831~1845) according to the "Kinsei Fuzoku-shi" written by Kitagawa Morisada beginning fro...

A Japanese Arita deep dish, early 19th century. The dish is decorated with Ho-o birds and branches of flowering paulownia. The back with clouds and bats and a single spur mark. The Dutch refer to this palette of red and gold on white porcelain as ‘Milk & Blood’.

There is the remains of a collectors mark on the back

Approximately 20 cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

For new customers resident in China sadly I have to state that...

A Japanese Arita deep dish, early 19th century. The dish is decorated with Ho-o birds and branches of flowering paulownia. The back with clouds and bats and a single spur mark. The Dutch refer to this palette of red and gold on white porcelain as ‘Milk & Blood’.

There is the remains of a collectors mark on the back

Approximately 20 cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

For new customers resident in China sadly I have to state that...

A saucer form dish decorated in a full five colour Ko Imari “wucai”, gosai palette. The design arranged in fuyo-de Kraak style with a border of six sectional compartments each containing a panels of “Persian flowers”, precious objects, and Chinese figures standing upon a bridge in a stylised landscape. The central mikomi painted with rocks, viewing stones, and foliage and Banana plantain, basho, flanking a pair of small “Deshima style” figures, standing on a podium. The design appe...

A fine so-called “Deshima”, or more likely a scene of Scheveningen in the Netherlands or an imaginary composition based upon it, after an unknown original by Frederik van Frytom. Although this is the most reproduced version in the literature the design is actually a sinofication of the original Dutch landscape. It reproduces the four elements that appear in No 1 and No 2, but the two figures are transposed into a Chinese Scholar and acolyte, probably meant to represent the Chinese poet, Lin ...

A fine so-called “Deshima”, or more likely a scene of Scheveningen in the Netherlands or an imaginary composition based upon it, after an unknown original by Frederik van Frytom. The bowl is decorated with four elements of the pattern, two figures in a field, a female figure with cow held upon a leash, a rider in a landscape, and a “light-house”, beacon upon a hill. There is an Arita dish in the Groingen Museum with three of the elements, clearly copying very closely a Delft original of ...

A fine Arita blue & white porcelain flower vase to be mounted on a wall, kakehana. 18th century.

The flower vase is heavily moulded with a leaping Chinese Lion or karashishi in a landscape of rocks and Tree Peonies, a classic subject in Japanese art known as “Botan-ni-Shishi”, an auspicious subject.

This old kakehana was manufactured in Arita in the mid Edo period, probably for the home market.

Approximately 16.7 cm high. A tiny glaze chip on the mouth-rim,...

Asa (hemp) baby's kimono with hand-painted pine tree motif whose wefts as well as warps are hand-plied. It has se-mamori in the back which is a charm with silk threads and this one is boy's kimono as they are in the left as well as in the center (girl's one is in the right). Evils are believed to come from back in old days and it protects a baby from diseases. The second half of the 19th century. In good condition but some stains in front and holes in two belts made of thin raw silk. 76cm x 90cm...

An Arita cup possibly for noodles, Soba Choko, from the end of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th. Shibata illustrates this mark as 1790~1810.

Approximately 7.2 cm high. Flea bite to one point, otherwise perfect.

Please study the photographs.

For new customers resident in China sadly I have to state that I am no longer prepared to accept payment by PayPal. I will accept payment only by bank to bank transfer in British Pounds Sterling (GBP), fees to b...

Fine Japanese Arita Imari Wucai Dish c.1700. # 2 An attractively decorated dish styled after late Ming wucai enamelled wares, noted for their bold and vivid colouring. A meandering vine with various flowers surround a central kotobuki or good luck character. The back is decorated with various lingzhi motifs and within the foot-rim is a apocryphal Chinese Ming reign mark for Jiajing.

For a similar dish see pp 282-3 No 157 of the complete catalogue of the Kurita Museum where it is des...

Fine Japanese Arita Imari Wucai Dish c.1700. # 1 An attractively decorated dish styled after late Ming wucai enamelled wares, noted for their bold and vivid colouring. A meandering vine with various flowers surround a central kotobuki or good luck character. The back is decorated with various lingzhi motifs and within the foot-rim is a apocryphal Chinese Ming reign mark for Jiajing.

For a similar dish see pp 282-3 No 157 of the complete catalogue of the Kurita Museum where it is des...

19th century finely hand-carved Japanese boxwood netsuke depicting Three Monkeys that are squatting on top of Daikoku's Hammer. Very fine detail and harmonius form characterizes this superb miniature carving. Signed Koryu on an irregular red tablet inlaid of the barrel-like mallet. It measures 1.15 inches (2.9cm) wide, 1.94 inches (4.9cm) long, and 1.20 inches (3.1cm) tall. It is in outstanding preserved condition, as may be seen in the posted photos. Note: A reference to Koryu and hi...

A decorative pair of Imari Beaker Vases made for export to the West brightly enamelled with traditional Japanese motifs. The main part of the vase is painted with a Crane symbolising longevity with the three friends of Winter, the shochikubai, the Pine, Bamboo and the Japanese Apricot (Prunus tree). Whilst the upper part of the vase is decorated with a two part frieze, the first a Garden room with tied Curtain, and the second part a stream, ruisuimon, and Maple leaves, momiji, an allusion to a...

1800's, finely hand-carved Japanese mix-materials netsuke depicting an Entertainer or Dancer, who is standing on one leg, in the middle of a theatrical performance. He is wearing an Usobuki mask and a dancer's robe. Excellent detail and patination; he grimaces as he attempts to lift the large stone. Signed Hozan on his Obi, near the ribbon that ties it on his back. Netsuke measures 1.04 inches (2.6cm) wide, and 1.56 inches (4.0cm) tall. It is in outstanding preserved condition, as ...

This is a superbly Hand-carved EDO Period Boxwood Netsuke depicting a Mother, holding a trumpet in her right hand, and carrying a child on her back. The artist, on this netsuke, seems to have wanted to be unique by having the woman adopt a pose and portray a character that is normally associated with a male foreigner, such as her holding of a trumpet, which is uncharacteristic of a common Japanese woman . It is an outstanding piece representative of Tametaka, whose work, according to G...

An Arita moulded dish of shuronogata, Hemp Palm, form decorated in underglaze blue with gilt outlined enamels, somenishikide, dating to the late Mid Edo period. The dish decorated with a kachoga design evoking an image of late Winter or early Spring incorporating the Shochikubai, the Three Friends of Winter. The under-glaze blue portion of the design a Bamboo “Tree” with shattered trunk and a pair of enlarged yukiwa, snow flake roundels, to suggest seki, viewing stones. Further details a...

A Japanese Arita lobed dish decorated with a dragon descending from clouds, grasping the pearl of wisdom. The back with a fuku mark. The dish dates from 1750~1790. A similar design to Chinese examples of the Yongzheng period.

Approximately 14 cm diameter. Perfect condition. A little kiln dross in the cloud.

Please study the photographs.

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A small lobed Arita porcelain bowl decorated with scrolling karakusa. The interior with the shochikubai, the three friends of winter. The base has a four-character Fuki Choshun, "good fortune and long life" mark. Late 18th or early 19th century.

Approximately 10.8 cm. Diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

For new customers resident in China sadly I have to state that I am no longer prepared to accept payment by PayPal. I will accept payment ...

A small lobed Arita porcelain bowl decorated with scrolling karakusa. The interior with the shochikubai, the three friends of winter. The base has a four-character Fuki Choshun, "good fortune and long life" mark. Late 18th or early 19th century.

Approximately 10.8 cm. Diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

For new customers resident in China sadly I have to state that I am no longer prepared to accept payment by PayPal. I will accept payment ...