19th century Japanese bronze / brass page turner with engraved blade and low relief handle depicting front and back views of an owl catching a frog in its talons. Very clever design, brilliant work with wonderful detailing - see the faces of the characters, finely worked feathers and warty skin. The blade is engraved with a bird in flight above different flowers. Wonderful object for writing desk. Length 10 3/4 inches.
Japanese sterling silver cigarette case with inlaid and engraved scene of sail boats in a bay, with pine covered hill on the foreground and snow covered Mount Fuji in the background, design continuing on the back of the case. Inlays are cut all the way through, so the image on the inside of the case is the mirror image of the one on the outside. Excellent quality carving (see the waves and detailing of the pines and Mt. Fuji). Signed KANEUJI KOKU (engraved by Kaneuji) on the back, marked SILVER ...click for details
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 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.
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.
19c Japanese bronze altar VASE
19th century Japanese bronze vase of mimikuchi shape with classic spiral design on the body. Bronze mimikuchi (“handle-mouth” - vase with 2 large hadles starting from the mouth) derives its shape and decoration from ancient ceramics, and were made in Japan starting from at least 17th century. Beautifully made, very pleasing shape, nice patina. Height 3 7/8 inches.
19th century Japanese bronze / brass page turner with engraved blade and multimetal handle. The front on the handle depicts a man with an open umbrella and a lantern walking under a tree with 2 birds perched on its branches. The back of the handle shows blooming chrysanthemums supported by bamboo poles, and a dragonfly seated on the top of one pole. Brilliant work with wonderful detailing (see the features of the robe, tree bark and birds’ feathers), differently colored patinas. The blade is eng ...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
Pair of 19th century Japanese sword menuki depicting two branches - one with a perched owl, the other a crow with young. Superb quality work to the last detail - see their feathers and inlaid eyes. Shakudo with silver and gold, in excellent condition. Signed with single characters NAO and MASA on the sides. The best piece of Japanese metalwork that I have ever had. Length 1 11/16 inches.
19th century Japanese iron kanemono (tobacco pouch clasp) depicting a scene of a samurai procession performed by six rats in different attitudes. Iron is notoriously difficult to work with. Excellent design, funny topic, superb crisp detailing, gilding to the eyes. Length 2 1/8 inches.
