This anonymous late 19th century hand-colored photograph is signed in plate “133 Yashamon Nikko.” This is also known as the “Yashamon Gate, Taiyuin Shrine, Nikko.” The Yashamon Gate enshrines four female devils. The color of each body expresses the East, the West, the South and the North.

CONDITION is good with some foxing and a small tear on right margin. Photograph is mounted on cardboard. DIMENSIONS: Image measures 7 7/8” (20 cm) high x 10” (25.4 cm wide...

This anonymous late 19th century hand-colored photograph shows Takahoko Island as seen from Tomachi at the mouth of Nagasaki Harbor. The land protruding from the left is Megami and from the right is Kanzaki. This was a popular angle to take photos of Takahoko Island.

CONDITION is good with some foxing. Print is mounted on cardboard. DIMENSIONS: Image measures 7 7/8” (20 cm) high x 10” (25.4 cm wide...

These two beautifully modeled Japanese stoneware hares have special slots cut from their back sides for the sole purpose of holding each end of a Japanese folding screen (“byobu”) to keep it weighted on the floor. Meiji period, ca. 1880. A two character signature mark “Koshun” is impressed into each of the unglazed bases. Both rabbits are finished in a rich creamy off white glaze with very fine overall crackling, and there is a firing hole in the slot...

This fascinating deck of Japanese karauta cards for a New Year’s card game comes in its original covered lacquered paper box and dates from the early to mid-20th century. Known as the “100 Poet Cards,” the 200 cards used in this game feature short Japanese compositions from “Ogura Hyaku-nin Isshu,” a classic anthology of 100 poems that was compiled in the 13th century. Each of the 100 poems, whose themes are love, the seasons and several other subjects, is by a different author...