Lectern (Kendai) from Japanese Puppet (Bunraku) Theater

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1910: item #772546
7K-NNX4

This kendai, or lectern was used by the narrator, or chanter of the Bunraku puppet theater. The lectern was an important possesion of the chanter who dramatically narrated the story and provided voices for the puppets in a tradition dating from the Edo period. The calligraphy on the sides of the base is beautifully applied. The kendai breaks down, fitting into the drawer in its base. It's made with dovetailed joints which slip into slots and slide forward or back, locking into place. There's... Click for details

Kanban, cooking oil, wood, Japan, early 20th century

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1900: item #772258
10500

Shop sign or advertisement for cooking oil (abura). Front incised with characters and hiragana with advertisement for a Tokyo based company selling the oil. On the back in katakana in black inky lacquer: Meriyasu. Two iron eyes in the top for hanging. Traces of white pigment in calligraphy. Japan, early 20th century.
H 32.25 in. (81.9 cm); W 10 in. (25.4 cm). ... Click for details

Two boxwood sculptures, oni, Japan, 19th century

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1900: item #772148
10498

Two demons standing, left foot slightly before right foot, legs a bit bent. One of them has both hands up, holding now missing objects. The other one holds a notebook in his right hand and a now missing object on his left shoulder. Probably these demons were assistants in one of the Buddhist hells. Boxwood. Horns inlaid in stag antler. Folk art. Feet with small hole that must have placed the figures onto a base of some sort. Japan, Meiji period, 19th century. ... Click for details

Wooden sculpture or netsuke, Ashinaga, Tenaga, Japan

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #771779
10494

Small, folky figure of Ashinaga and Tenaga on a fishing expedition. Tenaga holds a fish and put his hand on Ashinaga’s shoulder, while Ashinaga holds a basket. Boxwood with stag horn inlaid eyes. The piece can be used as a netsuke with ‘natural’ himotoshi. Japan, 19th or 20th century.
H 9.5 inches (24 cm).
NRight foot missing, short crack... Click for details

Large Japanese Carved Wood Daikoku Mingei Figure, Meiji

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #769770
FIG58

DESCRIPTION: A delightful and large carved wood figure of one of the seven Japanese gods of good fortune, Daikoku, the deity of prosperity. Here he is seen in his traditional pose, standing on two bales of rice with his wish-granting mallet in his right hand, and a bag of riches slung over his left shoulder. He is also venerated as the deity of the kitchen where such carvings were traditionally displayed, sometimes in the ceiling rafters for good luck. A wonderful mingei piece, his happy exp... Click for details

Comical Japanese Mingei Wood Censer, Edo/Meiji

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1900: item #769381
FIG82

DESCRIPTION: A very special Japanese wood censer, carved in the form of a comical shi shi or foo dog, standing upright on four straight legs with knobby toes, and ending in a round hollowed body. The shi shi’s face has a priceless comical expression with pink lips and protruding tongue around an open, grinning mouth, and is attached to the body by a wooden hinge and can be positioned open or closed. When closed, the smoke from the burning incense wafts through his pierced eyes and mouth. This... Click for details

Antique Japanese Folk Mask - Whistling Man

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #766784

Antique Japanese folk mask depicting a whistling man. Ca. 1900. Mask is composition or papier mache. Nice old patina with faint traces of red throughout. Measures 8.5" in height. Condition is good.

Takatsuki (Lacquer Footed Tray); Wood, Japan

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #765723
K-55

Takatsuki; footed tray. Wood with black lacquer, ca. 1900. H.1.75"(4.5cm) x Dia.6"(15cm). Such trays were used for food service or offerings. Suitable for a sweets dish in tea ceremony.

China Antique Folk Art 1 Drum 1 Frog Toggles 19th C.

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1910: item #762023
0845a

Category says this is Japanese, it is Chinese and I cannot change. drum is rosewood, probably not zitan; frog is stone -- serpentine? These are two very well done toggles. The ball inside the drum moves, the lotus seeds on the top and bottom move. They make the sound of a drum being hit during a Chinese opera or somesuch. Well carved, excellent condition. The stone frog is also very nice, a sleek frog, not a jumping one.

17th Cty. Ema from the Tensho Shrine Dated Oct. 7, 1695

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1700: item #760990
0163

Very Fine and Beautifully Rendered Hono Ema from the Tensho Shrine, dated October 7, 1695. The inscription reads Mikawa Province (modern day eastern Aichi Prefecture), Tomifuku-gun ('county'), Oshiro Mountain. While the wealthy would often give a horse as a gift to a Shinto shrine, the common person would give a Hono Ema (literally 'gift horse picture'). These plaques are then left hanging up at the shrine for the gods to see. This is a rare and museum quality work of Japanese Folk Art. 23.5 x 1... Click for details