Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) from the Gifu area. Made with all kuri (chestnut) wood front, hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood on the sides and top. The upper portion of the chest has a full width drawer over a compartment covered by two sliding panels with horizontal slats. The lower portion of the chest has a series of 4 drawers of various sizes on the left and a hinged safe box door on the right hand side. The safe box door opens to reveal 2 small interior drawers...

Antique Japanese mizuya (kitchen tansu) in two sections. The frame is made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with a very smooth grain. Sliding panels and drawer fronts are made of keyaki (elm) wood with dramatic grain. The top section has a large compartment that runs the width of the chest and is covered by 4 sliding panels with keyaki burl wood. The next compartment down is larger and is covered by 2 large sliding panels with decorative cut outs backed with keyaki wood...

Kappa (cape) which was called "hikimawashi" or "maru-gappa" in old days. It is made of cotton with warp kasuri checker board pattern on one side and cotton stripes on the other side. It was worn on the occasion of travel over kimono. It has wool collar, probably imported. The word "kappa" came from Portuguese "capa". The Portuguese first came to Japan in 17th century. This collar also shows the influence of the western fashion design. The second half of the 19th century. Partly sewn by machine...

An antique Japanese Mizuya (kitchen) Tansu single section made of keyaki wood. The top section has four sliding panels. The mid section has 5 medium sized drawers. The lower section has two large sliding panels. Adjacent to the panels is a small drawer and hinged door with a large compartment.

Date: early Meiji (19th Century)

Dimensions: 67" tall X 76" wide X 21" deep.

An antique pair of architectural corbels of mythological elephant baku’s are commonly placed under the eaves of Japanese Buddhist temple and Shinto Shrines to ward off evil spirits. The baku devour dreams and nightmares and protector against evil. The baku cannot be summoned without caution, however as ancient legions say that if the baku is not satisfied after consuming the nightmares, he may devour ones hopes and dreams...

Pilgrim's sodenashi made of hand-spun cotton with writhings which are the name of the pilgrim, the year (Meiji 5, 1871) etc. The places of pilgrimage is Saigoku Sanju-Sansho (33 holy places in the west) which are for worship of Kannon and the oldest places of pilgrimage. Those are located in Kyoto, Osaka, Gifu, Hyogo, Nara, Shiga and Wakayama. The cloth in the back is also hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. In excellent condition. 45cm x 57cm

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant's chest) from the Mikuni area with a keyaki wood front. The top section is two sliding panels of natural urushe lacquer finish. The bottom section consists of two medium sized drawers with a small door adjacent and a hinged door. The hinged door has two interior drawers behind it. The hardware is an ornate lock plate and square handles (kakute)...

An antique Korean Vase with a fluted rim and medium long neck. The cream color glossy transparent glaze has small pittings and stains.

Date: 18th/19th Century

Dimensions: 8.5" tall X 6.5" wide

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood on the front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood sides and top, and kiri (paulownia) wood drawer interiors. The top portion has a full width drawer below which is a compartment covered by two large sliding panels.
The lower portion has 7 drawers of various size and a safe box in the lower right hand corner with two interior drawers...

An antique Japanese two sectional Tansu of kiri wood (paulownia) with four large drawers used for clothing. The original iron hardware has four locks. The drawers have warabite curved handles.

Date: Taisho (1910-1920)

Dimensions: 40" tall X 37" wide X 16.5" deep

An antique Gyosho Bako (peddlar's chest) with the original dark brown lacquer. The chest has 4 drawers in the top section. Three of the drawers have iron hardware locks. The bottom section has one hinged locked door with 3 small drawers hidden behind it. Two of the drawers have iron locks. The original loops on both sides are for the rope the peddlar uses to carry the chest.

Date: Early Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 35" tall X 11" wide X 16" deep

A real piece of art: Shino-Oribe Tea Bowl from the early Edo Period (around 1620, early 17th century). It is a shoe shaped Kutsugata Chawan covered with a whitish Shino-Oribe glaze over an iron oxide engobe in two quarter sections, where a triangle has been scratched into the dark engobe. The other two opposite quarters show a decoration of two squares in the style of mimasu - three squares.

The roughly cut foot ring and its surrounding show the typical little refined Mino clay...

We continue our presentation of Ohi chawan (Ohi tea bowls) with yet another sublime vessel, a true eye-catcher made at the end of the Meiji Period around 1910. It's a unique Ohi Chawan which seems to be a kuro Raku bowl, but it isn't. With its sophisticated shape and its mesmerizing play of predator pattern inside its outstanding.

Ohi ware is indeed closely related to Raku; the first Ohi potter was the son of Raku III, Donyu, and apprenticed to the fourth Raku master, Ichinyu...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu made of Kiri wood (paulownia). Charming round lock design, overall with 6 drawers and safe door compartment with two drawers behind. Good condition overall.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Measures: 19.25"H x 21.5"W x 12"D

An antique Japanese two section tansu with lovely fan lock made of Kiri and Sugi. Mokko hardware with raised tea leaf corners. The chest's top portion has two large drawers with an adjacent small drawer and locked door with two interior drawers. The bottom section has two large drawers. Good condition overall.

Date: mid Meiji (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36" tall X 40 " wide X 17" deep

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) from the Niigata region of Japan. The front section is made of burled keyaki (Zelkova) and the sides are sugi (Crytomeria). The tansu has a pair of burled wood sliding doors over two burled drawers with heavy iron locks. Exceptional burled Keyaki wood.

Date: Early Meiji - 1870's

Dimensions: 34" tall X 32" wide X 20" deep

An antique small tansu of kiri wood from the Taisho period...

An antique Japanese cane made from bamboo with a carved image of an Oni fishing. Oni are a kind of yōkai, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. They are typically portrayed as hulking figures with one or more horns growing out of their heads. They are conceived of as red, blue or green-colored wearing loincloths of tiger pelt and carrying iron kanabō clubs. The cane is signed.

Date:

Dimensions: 36" tall X 1"

An antique Japanese Hibachi with Maki-E gilt lacquer and inlay in a melon shape made of kiri wood. The gilt lacquer designs are of a bird in peonies and ivy trailing around the edge. Gilt nashiji flakes and inlay add depth to the nature scene. Interior has an old patina.

Date: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 11" diameter X 8.5" tall

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century, Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for. With crackled glazing and beautiful gold repairs of several types and from several generations, this antique tea bowl is quite attractive, a pleasure to use, and absolutely one of a kind.

In fine antiq...

Japanese antique carved wood relief of cranes. Beautifully carved and in excellent condition.

Date: Meiji age c1900

Dimensions: 17" long X 5.5 " wide

An antique Japanese small Ko Tansu for personal storage made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. The tansu has one large drawer and four medium drawers. The right hand lower corner has a hinged door behind which are two drawers with secret compartments behind each drawer. Iron hardware includes semi-round lock plates, drawer pulls, and corner bracing.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 29 1/2" Wide x 23 3/8" High x 14 1/4" Deep

This is a Japanese anrique natural Dyed with vegetable dye beautiful hand embroidery kakesita obi of Mid-Edo period(1780-1800). There are a lot of thin stains over time. There is no damage. They are not disturbing, and as a whole it is in very good condition. Size:Length:348cm / 137inch Width:: 55cm / 21.6inch

An antique Meiji Period two sectional tansu made from kiri wood with iron hardware. The top section has two large drawers. The bottom section has two medium size drawers and on the right side a door with lock. Behind the door are two smaller drawers. And below one small drawer.

It originates from the Yamagata tansu district of Japan in the Tohoku northern Japan region.

Date: Meiji (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 38"tall X 48"long X 18"deep

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu is made of kiri with iron hardware. The tansu has an upper large drawer. Below the drawer there is a sliding panel with one interior shelf. On the right side is 3 small drawers. The bottom section has two medium sized drawers and on the right side a door with lock. Behind the door are two small drawers with locks.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 30" long X 15.5 " deep X 30.5" tall

An antique Japanese Kannon Biraki Tansu (wedding kimono chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. The top section has two doors with a special lock from the inside that secures the doors. When open the doors reveal one large drawer and two smaller drawers on the right hand corner. The lower drawer has a secret compartment for documents. The bottom section has two large drawers. Both drawers have opposing hand holds cut into the interior sides for easy carrying. The hardware is made of blackened iron...

An antique Japanese two section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing) made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top and bottom section has two large drawers. Hardware is made of iron and includes round lock plates and square drawer pulls.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 44" tall X 34.5" long X 16.5" wide

This is a spectacular and rare cloisonne enamel vase. Condition is outstanding and it stands 14 inches tall.

Antique Japanese Red Lacquer Dragon Altar Table with Floating top cover and raised ends. Wonderfully elegant and dramatic. Top inset panel Gilt carved dragon clutching his flaming ball over clouds. Glass eyes on dragon. Lower inset panel with birds flying over waves in gilt. Done with lovely lively quality. Lower shelf on four carved curving legs. Gilt bronze hardware of floral design. Overall good condition for age. Meiji Period (1868-1912) Size: 60" L x 19" D x overall 37"H

An Imari dish decorated with a central motif of bronze vase or censer with elaborate foliate handles containing Peonies, Maple branches and other flowers, flanked by low balustrade fences and sitting on board floor. The rim decorated with an unusual Aoi-mon (Tokugawa-mon) vine arabesque Karakusa border. The dish dates to the early 18th century circa 1700-1730. The reverse decorated with three branches of Peach blossom. A single ring to the interior of the footring. Four spurs in a triangular ...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu with the original finish. The tansu has 6 drawers. Three top drawers, 2 middle drawers with iron locks and a large bottom drawer.

Date: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 19"tall X 32" long X 15" deep

This is a Japanese antique edo era silk tsutsugaki natural indigo dye yuzendye fukusa textile of (iseebi)Lobster and wave pattern. Ise Lobster was drawn very precisely. It is a tsutsugaki dye and Yuzen dyeing of hand-drawn dyeing There is a slight pale discoloration. There is a small hole in the lining safflower-dyed silk. They are not disturbing, and as a whole it is in very good condition. Size:Length:47.5cm / 18.7inch Width:: 47.5cm / 18.7inch

This is a beautiful Japanese cloisonne Vase from the 1920's. It was created with a profusion skilled of work. It was made by Hayashi or Ando. It stands 9 3/4 inches tall and is 4 3/4 wide. Rims are silver and stamped. Bottom rim a tiny indentation in the silver but this vase is in outstanding condition.

This is a beautiful old style Plique A Jour vase signed fr Kumeno. Rims are silver. It stands 3 1/2 inches tall and is more attractive than the images show. There is a hard to notice line shown in the last image.

A pair of choku with mesh design which can be used for either sake or tea. One is in ecxcellent condition and the other has two minor hair line but no problem for use. 19th century. Diameter:6cm H:6cm

Cotton Kurume kasuri futonji with a castle motif. Kurume in Fukuoka Pref. in Kyushu has been one of the main product places of indigo dyed cotton kasuri since late Edo period (early 19th century). It is made of hand-spun cotton that means probably it was made before Meiji 15 (1882) and vegetable indigo dyed. In excellent condition except for minor brown stains only in the back. It has white cotton belt for hanging in the back. The second half of th 19th century. 129cm x 158cm

A Nihon Matsu tansu with beautiful reddish brown lacquered keyaki wood front face with hinoki (cypress) wood drawers. The round lock plates on each drawer feature a crane and turtle motif, signifying a wish for happiness and long life. There are 4 large drawers with spacious interiors and on the right lower side is a safe box door with two interior drawers. Traditionally used for storing folded kimonos.

Date: Meiji Period circa 1900

Dimensions: 47.75”L" X 17.25"D X 45...

This is a rare and large, top quality Satsuma Jar or vase by Yabu Meizan. We are not sure because the top is both gilded and glazed on the inside edge. The beautiful Meiji era lid is not original to the piece. The gold detail and landscape painting are beautiful. It is stoutly potted and measures 9 inches tall by 8 1/2 inches wide. This piece is not signed but at one time it was signed by Yabu Meizan. The original signature has been covered up by an excellent restoration to a drill hole. The pri...

A pair of Chinese antique monochrome Clair de Lune glaze porcelain vases set on a decorative hardwood stands. A small gold leaf repair is done to the lip of the vases in the Kintsugi style. The vases are a pale blue with tall rounded shoulders and the unglazed bases and recessed footing with Kangxi inscription.

Provenance: NY Collection Bradley

Date: Kangxi 1661-1722

Dimensions: 9" tall w/stand, 7.25" w/o stand X 2.73 wide

An exquisite hand-crafted Japanese cinnabar lacquered Inro with five compartments and Manju. It has a meticulously carved scene with 2 scholars or sages on one side and the other with two sages. The scholars are on a bridge surrounded by fronds in a garden setting. The Inro shows a beautiful style, the entire surface of the lacquer Inro boasts fine incised patterns incorporating various plant decors and geometric shapes. The Inro has a cinnabar lacquered Manju incised with a dragon image in clou...

Antique Japanese small ko tansu for personal use. Made of kiri (paulownia) wood with iron hardware. Three large drawers and a small safe box in the lower right hand corner. Inside the safe box are two small drawers. Iron hardware includes round lock plates, warabite shaped drawer pulls, and corner bracing.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 23" high x 20 1/4' wide x 13 3/4" deep.

This exceptional tea bowl was crafted by one of the great masters of Japanese pottery and given the poetic name “Nami” (wave) by a famous tea master of the Ura-senke school of tea. The Chinese character is not the standard writing for wave but rather one with more nuance, suggesting longevity—as in the image of a long enduring cresting wave. The white hakeme brush strokes and the overall shape of the tea vessel fit perfectly with its poetic name, making this ceremonial tea bowl perfect for...

Here is magnificent example of the beauty of Raku ware, a pottery tradition born more than 400 years ago in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, from the collaboration between great tea master Sen Rikyu (1522-1591) and a potter named Chojiro ( - 1592), the forebear of the great Raku family of potters.

Sublime half cylinder shaped (Hanzutsu) tea bowl with a rounded brim, in the typical hand built style of the Raku family. The body is fully covered with a white engobe before the red...

A rare large Antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (wheeled chest) made of solid quartered sawn Keyaki (zelkova) wood with hand forged iron hardware and wooden wheels. The upper portion of the chest has a large compartment opened by sliding panels with horizontal slats and a heavy iron latch. The bottom portion has one large drawer and two smaller drawers side by side. Gorgeous original finish with beautiful patina.

Date: Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 62.5" wide X 24"de...

Surely an extraordinary confluence of circumstances must have come into alignment in order to bring this remarkable composition into existence. Done in the Korai style - referring to the heavy influence from Korean forms and glazing - this exquisite late Momoyama/early Edo period (1590-1620) Karatsu-ware tea bowl is really rare.

Regular formed wan shaped, showing fine finger marks from throwing. The iron bearing clay remained unglazed at the footring and its surrounding area, which ...

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant) Tansu made of solid keyaki (zalkova) wood with Burl keyaki sliding doors. The upper portion of the Tansu has a sliding door with interior shelf. The lower portion has 5 drawers with iron hardware locks. Matsumoto is a special city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Date: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 33" tall X 32.5" wide X 15.5" deep

Here is a really rare example of Ko-Agano-yaki from the early Edo Period (1600-1630) with a fine Kintsugi gold repair: regular wan shaped Ko-Agano tea bowl, showing very fine slightfinger marks from throwing.

The foot ring has been cut with a potters knife on a hand wheel. A glaze of rice straw ash has been poured with a laddle, while the potter held the bowl at the unglazed foot. Its unglazed finger marks show a fine, little iron bearing clay of a brownish color. The foot ring is ...

Cotton futonji with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) whose motif is paulownia flower but the design looks more western painting rather than traditionl katazome paulownia flower. Made of hand-spun cotton and dyed with vegetable indigo and partly sumi (ink) is used in the plant. Generally in good condition but has some mending patches and slightly indigo faded panels. Also, washed but still has some light stains. Late 19th to early 20th century. 124cm x 142cm

An antique Japanese tall Tansu with multiple drawers and bar lock. The interior of each drawer is configured differently with compartments for a diversity of items.

Date: Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 24" tall X 15.5" deep X 11" wide

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant) Tansu of hinoki wood and iron hardware. The top section has one large drawer with two handles. The middle section has two sliding doors with slats. The lower section has 5 drawers with a safe drawer with two interior drawers.

Date: Meiji (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 34.5"long X 35"tall X 14"wide

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant) Tansu, constructed of hinoki (cypress) natural finish wood. With hand-forged iron hardware and plates. The Choba has iron handles, lock plates, a pair of sliding doors and three drawers in the middle, a pair of sliding doors with slats at the bottom, and a corner bottom safe box with three drawers inside and a small secret drawer.

Date: Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 35" high x 15" deep x 33.5" wide

A nagazara or long dish dating to the late 18th or early 19th century with a central motif of a Chinese style landscape framed by a pattern of spirals and flower-heads, Asters or Chrysanthemums a deconstructed version of a contemporary Chinese Qing dynasty pattern (see Diana Cargo etc). a staple of the Chinese export trade to South East Asia, produced both at Jingdezhen and at provincial kilns in South China. A design originally based on the popular Kangxi period so-called “Aster pattern”. ...

Antique Japanese small box made all of sugi (cryptomeria) wood. 5 shallow drawers and one larger drawer on the bottom. Iron rings for drawer pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 17 1/4" high x 12" wide x 14 1/2" deep

Amazing boro cloth which is one side of body part of noragi (farm wear). The ground cloth as well as mending patches are hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed. Sashiko thread is also indigo dyed cotton. Asa (hemp) thread is seen in the side seam and that means it is rather old. The second half of the 19th century. 32cm x 184cm

A fine quality Kameyama-yaki auspicious Peach form, momogata, bowl delicately and painstakingly painted in the Chinese Literati style with Sansui scene for which the Kameyama kiln was renowned. The reverse decorated with auspicious Lotus motifs to the reverse and a small seal mark for the Kameyama kiln. A similar moulded dish with sprig decoration to the rim is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (Accession number 93.3.453 and there dated 1820). At this period the kiln was probably produc...

A nagazara of conventional rectangular form with compressed indented corners decorated in underglaze blue with a Chinese style landscape featuring a small viewing pavilion on a bridge. The reverse decorated with a stylised peony and a “classic” comb border to the footring, This dish was produced at the Nabeshima fief’s official kiln at Okawachi in Arita for the Shogun in the late Edo period c.1820-60. The dish measures 20.8cm long and is 11cm wide. It stands high 4cm at the rim and weighs...

A porcelain dish from the Nagasaki area, so not strictly “Ko Imari”, meticulously painted with an elaborate Leiwen border and a stylised Chinese style landscape in a light blue gosu. The reverse painted with three Lotus flowers with trailing Acanthus type scrolls in a contrasting dark blue gosu with a seal for the Kameyama kiln. The scroll motif to the reverse indicates a relatively early date of production and later examples do not exhibit the same degree of care or workmanship as the p...

An Arita foliate form dish decorated in underglaze blue with a band of auspicious shippo, cash, connoting a wish for wealth combined with mounds of evergreen Japanese Forrest grass, a symbol of longevity. Similar designs are to be found on Kakiemon porcelain of the Empo period where the same stylised motifs are used. The reverse painted with a sketchy small leaf arabesque combined with a spiral fuku in a double square. A very similar reverse appears on a dish in the Shibata collection, see Vol...

Antique Japanese ranma (architectural transom carving for over a door). Made all of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood, this carving is a rare beauty in it's detail. A cross section view of a gnarled plum branch in bloom along side a stand of bamboo. The straight leaves of the bamboo contrasts sharply with the curving tendrils and round blossoms of the plum tree. Carved in a 3 dimensional style so that the view is different on each side.

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dim...

Japanese antique small Ko Tansu (personal chest) made all of keyaki wood with black lacquered iron hardware. This small chest has 7 drawers of various sizes; 1 large drawer & 1 small drawer on the top portion, 2 medium drawers and sliding panels & 5 small drawers on the lower portion. The hardware is made of blackened iron and includes 3 round pulls and 2 scroll drawer pulls.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 19.5"long X 11"high X 11.75"wide