A Japanese Mingei (folk art) Rootwood Carving of Daruma

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #715827

This is an excellent Mingei rendition of the Daruma carved from a piece of natural burl wood. The head is masterfully carved and finished while the rest of the wood is left in its natural state. From the looks of the slightly charred surface on parts of the face, it would appear possible that it was exposed to fire at some point or it might be weathering of a light lacquer glaze to the face. The piece measures 4 7/8” high by 1 ¾” wide and 1 ½” deep. The patina on the face and the uncarved body ... Click for details

Antique Japanese hand carved wooden hook Jizai Kagi

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1900: item #710393
J114

This old Japanese hook would have been suspended over the hearth and used to hang cooking pots over the fire. Obviously carved by the original owner/user, this pothook or jizai kagi is heavily grooved from many years of use. The attached rope is probably a replacement to the original rope. It has been knotted into place for some years and I decided not to attempt to remove it.

Large Antique Japanese Wooden Taiko Drum

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1900: item #703779
D99

Beautiful antique Japanese Taiko drum. This item dates to the late Meiji-Period (c.1900), and is in exceptional condition for its considerable vintage. This type of taiko is known as Byou-uchi Daiko. Typical of this style, the body is carved from a solid round of keyaki wood and the heads are nailed to the drum with large hob-nails. Because the heads are fixed, this type of taiko is not tunable. The heads are intact and retain much of their original tautness, though this drum is probably not... Click for details

Antique Japanese Kiri Hibachi Gold Makie Meiji Period

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #702926
D207

Beautiful antique "hibachi", a traditional Japanese hand/room warmer, dating to the late Meiji-Period (c.1900). This hibachi is carved from a solid piece of Kiri (paulownia) wood, prized among Japanese wood workers and craftsmen for its strength, light weight, and workability. It is richly decorated on the sides with Kin-Makie gold lacquer in a floral motif. There is a copper insert, which is in excellent condition and has developed a beautiful patina. The hibachi measures roughly 8 inches tall b... Click for details

Antique Japanese Kiri Hibachi Makie Meiji-Period

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #702827
D208

Beautiful antique "hibachi", a traditional Japanese hand/room warmer, dating to the Taisho-Period (1912-1926). This hibachi is carved from a bolt of Kiri (paulownia) wood, prized among Japanese wood workers and craftsmen for its strength, light weight, and workability. It is decorated on the sides with gold and silver makie lacquer in a floral motif. There is a copper insert, which is in excellent condition and has developed a beautiful patina. The hibachi measures roughly 9 1/2 inches tall by 1... Click for details

Vintage Japanese Bamboo Suzuri Bako Calligraphy Box

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #702807
D1006

Vintage suzuri-bako, a Japanese calligraphy box fashioned from wood and bamboo. This charming little box is fashioned using a bisected section of bamboo for the lid. A flat plank of lacquered wood serves as the base of the bako, with curved ends cut to fit the arc of the bamboo. The wooden bottom contains a suzuri, or ink stone, seated into a precise cut-out. Additional cut-outs are designed to hold fude (calligraphy brushes), and a tsuiteke (water dropper), although these components are not... Click for details

Rare Japanese Antique Carved Wood Yatate Ink Holder

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1900: item #702767
D1004

Unusual antique Japanese yatate, designed to function as an ink and brush holder. This beautiful piece is crafted from lacquered kiri (paulownia) wood, and features a rotating lid with a small working compass insert on the top. The lid is designed to close the inkwell, which no longer contains its original ink stained liner. The handle is designed to hold a fude, or calligraphy brush, and is decorated with kanji and what appears to be an artist's stamp. The handle is finished with a clear la... Click for details

Antique Japanese Burl Tabako Ire, Kiseru Pipe Set

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #702762
D310

Unusual Japanese antique smoking set, dating to the late Meiji-Period (c.1900). This set comes complete with a tabako-ire, used for storage of tobacco, carved from burl keyaki wood, or shizen boku. A kiseru (pipe) and kiseru-zutsu (pipe holder), are attached to the ire with string and an ojime of carved wood. The ojime also is used to secure the set to an obi, or kimono sash. The tabako-ire has a graceful free form shape, with gnarled figuring and a beautiful patina. It measures roughly 4 x... Click for details

Antique Japanese Carved Kiri Tabako Bon Smoking Set

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #700735
D271b

Antique kiri wood tabako-bon, a traditional Japanese smoking set. Similar to a small hibachi, this quaint little item is crafted from prized kiri(paulownia) wood, vertically carved on the side in a shape reminiscent of a chrysanthemum (kiku). It has two copper inserts, and a bamboo water holder used for dowsing spent ashes. This item dates to the late Taisho-Period (1912-1926), and is in excellent condition. The tabako bon measures roughly seven inches in diameter, and three and a half inches t... Click for details

Antique Japanese Kiri Tabako Bon Smoking Set Makie

Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Folk Art Pre 1920: item #700730
D271a

Antique kiri wood tabako-bon, a traditional Japanese smoking set. Similar to a small hibachi, this quaint little item is crafted from prized kiri, or paulownia, wood, highlighted by gold kin makie lacquer in a mixed floral motif. It has two copper inserts, and a bamboo water holder used for dowsing spent ashes. This item dates to the late Taisho-Period (1912-1926), and is in excellent condition. The tabako bon measures roughly six inches in diameter, and three inches tall. ... Click for details