Rather unusual 19th century Japanese bronze ewer with cover, elegant spout and dragon handle. Superb quality relief decoration of a dragon in flight among clouds and above waves with Mount Fuji on the background on one side, and pine trees on a misty river bank on the other. Excellent design, brilliant detailing - see the cresting waves and scales on the body of the dragon. Very nice brown patina - like any dark object does not photograph well. Marked MASAHARU followed by kakihan (carved monogra ...click for details
Rather unusual 1910s Japanese Komai small iron plate with inlaid landscape of reeds, a boat with several figures wearing rain hats and coats, a sailing boat, thatched huts among trees, and snow covered Mount Fuji on the background. Photographs came out too harsh. Three low beautifully shaped feet, excellent black patina, silver (tarnished, can be cleaned if desired) and gold inlays. Superb level of detail - the texture of hats, rain coats and thatched roofs actually shows. Crisply inlaid with go ...click for details
Rather unusual 19th century Japanese bronze box for use in the incense game, when the player was blindfolded and given an incense to identify. Three cutouts on the top are made in a shape of paulownia crest used bu the Tokugawa Shogun family. The paulownia crest was Imperial and represented the Emperor, but it could be bestowed on someone whose service to the throne was most important. Shoguns Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi were using it before Tokugawa. Beautifully shaped sides both of the ...click for details
Unusually large and well made 19th century Japanese bronze letter opener/page turner. Medium relief handle decoration shows standing Shoki (Demon Queller) on one side, and a fierce dragon with its mouth wide open, and a sitting man wearing Mongolian robe and hat. The blade is engraved with a dragon wrapped around a temple sword among clouds on the front, and thunderbolts issuing from the clouds on the the back. Wonderful work with superb crisp detailing - see the textile patterns, face of Shoki ...click for details
Late 19th century Japanese choshi - covered sake kettle with beaten copper body gilded on the inside and silvered on the outside. Choshi are traditionally used for ceremonial purposes such as weddings at temples and shrines. Wonderful object combining functionality and elegant and clever design. Beaten copper is actually very difficult technique with extremely high skills required from a craftsman. Classic shape with textured surface, swinging handle and 4 short feet, some wear to silvering on t ...click for details
Unusual 19th century Japanese page turner with engraved blade and handle with decoration of various sea creatures, including (on the handle) a fugu fish, and (on the blade) 3 different shells and a lobster. Unusual material of the handle: paktong is an alloy made of copper, nickel and zinc used in China and Japan in the 18th and 19th centuries. Brilliant work both in terms of design and quality with wonderful detailing (see the lobster and texture of shells), superb patina. Overall in excellent ...click for details
19th century good size Japanese bronze portable candlestick on 3 feet. All the surfaces facing outward are delicately engraved with scrolling leaves. Very clever design, absolutely sturdy, pleasantly heavy, excellent quality engraving, wonderful patina on the metal, traces of solder on the bottom of the dish. Total length 10 inches, total height 4 7/8 inches.
19th century Japanese bronze / brass match safe with similar decoration on both sides of a falcon on a branch observing 2 plovers in flight against the sun. Crisp metalwork, excellent detailing of birds (see their differentiated feathers), pleasant patina. Ribbed match striker on the bottom, the springed cover opens and closes very well. Height 2 5/8 inches.
19th century Japanese bronze vase with handles and integral base on 4 feet for use in tea ceremony flower arrangement. Two wider sides of the vase are carved with a dragon in flight among clouds and above waves, and makatsugyo (mythical creature - half fish, half dragon). According to a Chinese legend, a carp that can swim up the waterfall turns into a dragon, and thus serves as a paragon of perseverance, especially in scholarly pursuits. Details of clouds and waves are inlaid with silver wires, ...click for details
Late 19th century Japanese bronze / brass box with multiple copper overlays depicting various birds in flight and perched on rocks and flowers, as well as a shrew on grapes. The surface of the box is perfectly imitating the wood texture. Very nice and well made piece, all of the overlays are different, hinges work perfectly. Diameter 2 11/16 inches, height 1 1/8 inches.
