A large, heavy Japanese bronze temple bell or bonsho, with a handle of dragon heads called a ryuzu, protrusions called chi chi or nyu to improve resonance of sound, the tsuki-za striking panels, and the mei-bun inscription of the bell's history...

A fine Late 19th Century (circa 1880) Meiji Period Gosho Ningyo of Momotaro the Peach Boy, based on a famous Japanese legend. This beautiful Gosho is elaborately detailed and fully armored, holding a banner with peach finial. The peach symbol appears several times on this magical Gosho. His wonderful face expresses his nobility. Carved entirely of wood and covered with highly burnished Gofun. 13 inches (33cm) height.

Fine Late 19th Century Bunraku Puppet of a Sambaso Dancer. This rare Bunraku puppet is operated by three Puppet Masters, who make it come to life to present a magical theatrical experience. He is carved of wood and covered with Gofun. He wears a beautiful Robin egg blue and Saffron orange robes. His head is adorned with a silver and black hat featuring a rising sun. He is holding bells and a fan. 24.5 inches, 62cm.

A massive Japanese solid Keyaki (elm) hardwood Kannon Biraki merchant's chest. Decorated with hand-forged iron plating, the motifs seen throughout the piece's hardware include the image of Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune, proudly holding up a freshly caught fish, a large Mokko (melon) shaped lock on the front pair of doors, with flowers and pine trees adorning the drawer below in the form of its lock and handle plates...

Japanese gusoku bitsu (carrying box for samurai armor). Made of kiri (paulownia) wood and lacquered red and black. Iron hardware and side handles for carrying. Top lifts off. Decorated with the mon (family crest) of the Asano Clan.

Dimensions: 15 1/2" w x 21" h

A rare Musha Ningyo three piece set featuring Ojin, Kato Kiyomasa and Attendant, from the Late Edo Period of the 19th Century. It is very unusual to find a set like this in a complete state with all its accessories and original display stand. They all have great faces and sumptuous brocades. The way they work together is very special. Overall height with stand is 17 inches (43cm). Excellent Condition.

Fireman's hanten made of thick cotton and hand-stitched sashiko (quilting). It has hand painted "Edo Machi Hikeshi" (town fireman) with "Matoi" which was hold by fireman to show his own "Kumi", brigade. It also has hand painted birds and waves design inside. 19th century. In good condition. W:118cm, L:91cm

Late Edo Period Musha Ningyo of Ushiwaka- maru, a brave boy who grew up to be the great warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune. This is a Ningyo of the finest quality. He has a wonderfully carved face and hands and sports a fantastic hair style and has a beautiful costume of sumptuous brocades. 8h x 6.75w inches, 20.5 x 17 cm.

Meiji Period (circa 1890) Japanese Hago-ita (Battledore or Badminton) Paddle in its original display case. It is very rare to find one from this time period, especially with its original case. A deluxe example that is enhanced with three dimensional objects. We have never seen such a wonderful and elaborate Hago-ita. 26 inches 66 cm) tall with case. From a widely renowned and published collection that has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and Japan Society.

Roof tile with a "tomoe-mon", a crest of circular repeating commas in a whirlpool pattern. Fired clay, 19th century. Diameter: 4", Width: 3/4". The round tiles such as this line the bottom roof line, above the eaves. Commonly, the crest of the family or temple was depicted on these tiles. Historically, a center of roof tile production was the town of Ogi, in west-central Japan.

An antique Japanese Buddhist temple ranma (transom) carved from Hinoki (Cypress) wood featuring symbols of Dharmachakra. Dharmachakra sometimes symbolizes Gautama Buddha himself. There are three wheels of life each framed with 8 spokes, representing the noble eightfold path with lotus blossoms in the center . Accentuated by kumo karakusa (arabesque clouds). Minor losses.

Age: Late Edo Period circa 1850s

Dimensions: 15 1/4" High x 60 3/4" Wide x 2 1/4" Deep

Japanese hand-forged iron jizai, used for suspending a tea kettle over a fire pit within the home. Made with a charming iron fish with incised details of scales, face, and separately attached fins.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 8" w x 48" - 53" long

Early Meiji Period (circa 1870) Japanese Musha Ningyô (Boys Day Doll) of Emperor Ojin, Japan's first historically verified emperor. He has been deified as Hachiman Daimyojin, regarded as the guardian of warriors. This boys day figure is gorgeous in every way. The brocades are so sumptuous and the face is magnificent. He is wearing a Kabuto (court hat) and holding a long battle baton complete with a sword. The figure is 14 inches (35.5 cm) tall, and the overall height is 24.5 inches (62cm)...

Japanese two section clothing tansu, constructed with natural finish Kiri (paulownia) wood. Original condition. The four drawers with classic design of round iron hand-forged locks and pair of warabite drawer pulls, iron corner hardware and side handles.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 3/4" L x 16 1/2" D x 40 1/2" H

A very large and elaborate Meiji Period Takeda Ningyo of a Kabuki actor in the role of the great warrior Akechi Mitsuhide, who rose from a lowly farmer to become one of history's greatest samurai. This Ningyo is in Excellent Condition and is complete, which is amazing considering its complex construction. It was made in northern Japan, giving him him a unique look, as most Takeda Ningyo were made in Kyoto. Total dimensions: h31.5 x w16 x d11 inches, h80 x w40.5 x d28 cm...

Antique Japanese choba tansu from the Matsumoto area. Made of keyaki (elm) wood with dramatic grain. The top portion of the tansu has two drawers. Below this is a compartment on the left opened by two sliding panels with horizontal slats. On the right hand side of the chest and continuing on to the bottom portion of the tansu, is a series of various sized drawers, the lowest of which spans the width of the tansu...

Shima-cho, a sample book of cotton stripes. It has more than 600 fragments, mostly hand-spun and vegetable dye but some warps are chemical dye and also some fragments have silk threads. The second half of the 19th century. In good condition but some fragments are mildewy. 38 pages. 18.5cm x 13cm x 2cm

A Japanese Samurai doll (ningyo) with the look of a Daimyo: feudal lord in the Edo period (1603-1868). The Kamishimo with long hakama trousers were only worn for special occasions in the Edo castle. The samurai's blue top kimono is made out of a wash paper (a liner to his original kimono). There is a beautiful patina on his face which is covered with a gofun mixture from the time...

Antique Japanese tall cha tansu with an open shelf for the display of seasonal and personal decor. The 2 sets of Keyaki (Zelkova)) burl wood front sliding panels and the beautiful wood grained Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria from Akita prefecture) sliding panels below highlight this attractive chest with Hinoki (Cypress) wood making up the frame and balance.

Most likely custom built and commissioned by a wealthy family making this an unusual and unique chest...

Oshi-e, litterally "pressed picture" which is made of fragments of antique European prints and the motif is a young woman in Edo period. The history of Oshi-e date back to Heian period, found in Shosoin Treasures (around 10th century) It was very popular toy in Edo period with motif of Kabuki Theatre actors. The ground paper is "Itame-gami" which is ten layers of washi and has thin cotton lining so that it looks like a shallow relief...

A Japanese Butsudan, or Buddhist shrine for in-home use. The exterior of the shrine is lacquered in red with black lacquer and gold gilt pigments. The gilt hardware of the butsudan are highly ornate with motifs of chrysanthemums, lotuses, vines, and dharmachakra wheels. The lower area of the shrine features two pull-out platforms and hidden drawers...

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...

Charming antique Chinese roof tile of horseman in colorful glazed costume riding a galloping horse. Harmonious glazed colors of turquoise, blues, green, mustard yellow, and browns used on the creamy body of rider and horse. Hollow body and mounted on a metal stand.

Circa late 19th century

Size: 10" H x 15 3/4" W x 3" D

Maeda Toshinaga was a Japanese daimyo, who was the second head of the Kasa Domain...

Japanese antique large musha ningyo (samurai warrior doll) of the great epic hero, Minamoto no Yoshitsune. His handsome face is set in a determined expression, he is seated with sword and saihai (command baton). He wears a spiked helmut, armor and silk robe woven with dragons. Edo Period. Size: 26" high (to very tip of helmet)

Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi—often described as the beauty found in the imperfection and transience of the world—cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history and importance of a ceramic object. Practitioners of tea in particular are fond of reminding us that works repaired with lacquer and gold such as the one featured here become more resilient and beautiful for having been damaged. In this case, the gold repairs undoubtedly enhance the bea...

This is indigo dyeing cotton Tsutsugaki Futon- cover used in a rich merchant's family for the Meiji period. As for this, cotton is spun by hand precisely. As for this, a pattern is Tabanenosi and a family coat of arms. As for this, Tabanenosi is expressed like Kuwagata Maedate of Samurai Kabuto. And Kuwagata Maedate of Samurai surrounds a family coat of arms. This seems to express a family in succession to a pride of Samurai. This is very rare Tabanenosi pattern in a merchant's family after the ...

Unusual Japanese gyosho bako tansu (merchant's chest). With original red lacquer finish, this large piece holds three very deep drawers, each with squared kakute iron pulls on stylized pine tree mounts. The top drawer features a large central lock with flying crane motif, while the lower drawers feature chrysanthemum locks. The sides of the tansu also have two handles for traveling.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 22" W x 27" D x 39" H

Incense burner in chiseled bronze with brown patina in the shape of a rounded gourd, decorated with long branched stems fitted with carved branch tendrils, gourd leaves, flowers and shoots.
The calabash is a plant native to the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is cultivated for its gourd-shaped fruit, which once dried is used for the manufacture of various traditional objects such as kitchen utensils, containers or lamps.
The use of incense is introduced in Japan at the sa...

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel is carved with a landscape scene of a bridge with pine trees and rock formations.

Dimensions: 73" L x 1" D x 13 1/2" Height

Antique Japanese small zushi (traveling shrine). Red lacquer case opens to reveal the Buddha in the moment in which he attains parinirvana, dies and is released from the cycle of rebirth. Here he is recumbent on his side on an elongated lotus bed on a two tiered stand carved with blossoming branches and waves. The whole interior of the zushi is lacquered gold as is the Buddha while the lotus petals are delicately painted in colors with gold details.

Edo Period (1603-1867)

...

This is a large and early Buddhist applique textile, dating to no later than the mid-19th century. The design consists of a double-dorje centering a "yin-yang" emblem, representing the masculine and feminine principles of the universe. The piece is complete and intact with minimal wear as one would expect. It measures just over 30" in diameter. Textiles such as this one are exceedingly rare and seldom found.

Japanese hirado ware porcelain figure of a tiger. With fully hand-carved fur pattern, whiskers, a wide grin with front fangs exposed. The tiger is glazed in white with the pupils of the eyes left buff. The four paws of the tiger have been hand-sculpted with the toes and claws on the bottom of the figure. The bottom and nostrils of the tiger are pierced through for air to escape during firing.

Published in:
"Hirado Ware, by C. Philip Cardeiro, pg. 75, published by Art Asia Muse...

This is a superior Takeda ningyo (doll), an old Japanese theater doll which was most likely modeled after the character, Teiseiko from “Kokusenya-ya-Gassen.” It was a popular theater play in 18th to 19th century Japan. The setting of the play is during mid 17th century China towards the end of the Ming Dynasty. Teiseiko (also known as Watonai) was fighting the battle for the old dynasty. The play is based on a true story of "Teiseiko" who was born from a Chinese sea merchant and a Japanese...

A fine Japanese hirado porcelain okimono of a recumbent horse. The horse has a whimsical expression. Its eyes are left unglazed with blackened pupils, its unglazed teeth exposed in a wide grin, the corners of the mouth and nostrils pierced through. Touches of cobalt blue underglaze accent the hooves and snout of the horse. The base is impressed with maker's cartouche.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 1/2" L x 4" W x 6" H

Antique Japanese Samurai meadate (samurai helmet decoration) of a gilt dragon made of hand carved wood with lacquer, and metal. Details of whimsical flowing hair and long eye lashes. Mounted on a custom antiqued bronze metal stand for presentation.

Late Edo period

Dimensions: 17 3/4" x 4 1/2" x 6"