Late 19th century/early Taisho period Japanese Buddhist ceremony gilt bronze bell. The body of the bell is cast with 3 tennin (female Buddhist angels) in flight among swirling clouds. Dense dark rosewood handle with gilt bronze finial in a shape of 5-pronged vajra issuing from a lotus flower with open petals. Superb quality work - see the veining on the lotus petals, beautiful patina both on metal and wood. The bell swivels on a peg attaching it to the handle, so it can be shaken, produces very ...click for details
Late 19th century/early Taisho period Japanese bronze and wood kakhara - a Buddhist rattle to scare off small creatures like snakes and insects, and thus prevent the carrier from stepping on them. Was used by a wandering monk or pilgrim. White bronze top with 2 pairs of loose rings that produce the sound, nicely cast, very pleasant patina. Dense fruitwood handle with beautiful patina. Total length 11 1/2 inches.
Very unusual 19th century Japanese cloisonne Buddhist alms bowl. Simple elegant shape, unusual use of cloisonne technique on both inside and outside. Inside is decorated with images of 5 children’s toys (a drum, a mouse with a push rod, a spin top, a balancing scarecrow, and a cloth Daruma doll) among scattered flowers on black background with stylized clouds. Outside has 4 different flower roundels alternating with butterflies. The bowl has superb presence, very strong design, beautiful matte f ...click for details
Very unusual 19th century Japanese nyoi - a Buddhist scepter, with its head resembling Reishi (the fungus of Immortality). Like any dark object does not photograph well. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship, or transmission of knowledge. The material of the object is carved and polished branch of umimatsu - in Japanese it literally means SEA PINE, and describes species of black coral with dense texture, concentric growth rings, and amber colored inclusions in the black ma ...click for details
19th century Japanese wooden nyoi - a Buddhist scepter carved as a length of a reishi fungus with two fungus heads. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge, and reishi fungus represents the fabled Fungus of Immortality. Carved out of dense fruitwood with beautiful play of brown and black (probably the material is kurogaki - black persimmon). Very elegant carving, great depiction of fungus texture, wonderful patina and fantastic sheen to the surf ...click for details
19th century Chinese wooden Buddhist scepter. Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship in Chinese culture, as well as of transmission of knowledge in Buddhist monastery environment. Superb warm patina and sheen from generations of people touching it. The head of the scepter is a natural growth on the stem (handle) with its surface resembling swirling clouds. Inscribed in ink on the stem (rather worn, can be seen on Enlargements 2 and 4). Simple elegant shape, practically no carving, o ...click for details
Japanese wooden nyoi made in 1918 - a Buddhist scepter carved in simple elegant shape with stylized fungus head. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge, and reishi fungus represents the fabled Fungus of Immortality. Superb quality red sandalwood with beautiful play of red and brown, hole for a cord is lined with ivory, old silk cord. Wonderful patina and fantastic sheen to the surface from being handled, very pleasant to the touch. Beautifully ...click for details
Late 19th century Japanese bronze vase of a kind used on top of an altar for holding incense sticks. Elegant shape with broad shoulders and splayed mouth and foot. Pleasantly heavy, wonderful patina on the metal. Beautiful devotional object. Height 4 3/4 inches. See the companion vase in my catalog.
Late 19th century Japanese bronze vase of a kind used on top of an altar for holding incense sticks. Elegant shape with broad shoulders and splayed mouth and foot. Pleasantly heavy, wonderful patina on the metal. Beautiful devotional object. Height 4 3/4 inches. See the companion vase in my catalog.
Late Meiji period (1890s - 1912) Japanese copper Buddhist alms bowl with sides of modified flower petal shape and beautifully patterned outside surface. Simple elegant object with incredibly strong design, excellent patina, pleasantly heavy. Four characters on the bottom read KICHISAKU JOSHU, which can be translated as “This ordinary utensil is made with good luck”. Great subtle piece in excellent condition. Diameter at the widest 4 1/8 inches.
