Catalog (266)

Gorgeous signed Bizen pottery sake tokkuri and 2 guinomi sake cups by the famed Bizen ceramic master Konishi Toko. Loved wood fired kiln markings. Tokkuri: 12cm tall x 8cm diameter. Sake cups: 5cm tall x 6cm diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

Wonderful Ca. 1930 Kyoto-yaki ceramic bowl signed by Nishigawa in a signed original box. Inscripted on the box is the word Nishiki-ga meaning patterned after the obis woven in the Nishiki weaving area of Kyoto. 13cm tall x 28cm in diameter. Great condition.

Very unusual large "Tai" fish mold for a sweets shop. The sweets shop stamp "Shiohama-ya" is on the back. Made of cypress wood. Excellent condition. 17" long by 9" wide. Ask for shipping quote.

A one of a kind huge bronze lotus temple basin with a dragon wrapped around the base and coming over the top as a water fountain. The base has bronze shishi in relief. C.1880. Stands over 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide. We had the fountain installed. Comes in two pieces; the base and the basin. Excellent condition with a minor dent in the tail of the dragon. Video available for serious enquiries.

Magnificent set of Kamisugi Sake Brewery bronze doors from the Taisho Period, C.1920. One door has gold gilt wood letters reading 'Kamisugi' the other 'Shikishima', both sake brands. Kamisugi Sake Brewery was established in C.1805. 42" wide by 67" high. Great condition. Back with some wear. Ask for shipping quote.

Very rare Ca. 1910 bronze zen temple dragon spout used in front of the temple entrance. Water from the dragon's mouth would run into a stone tsukubai where vistors to the temple would purify mouth and hands before entering the sacred space. Very good condition. 14" tall; 9" wide; 11" deep. Ask for shipping quote from CA warehouse.

Rare large bronze temple dragon spout. Kurama Temple in Northern Kyoto has a very similar one at the entrance to the temple with water running from the dragon's mouth into a large granite water basin where people can purify mouth and hands before entering the temple. Ca. 1950. 30" wide; 3ft tall and 18" deep. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote from CA warehouse.

Masterpiece large bronze kannon bodhisattva buddhist deity. Standing 27" tall by 9" wide. This Ca.1925 bronze deity has a wonderful tranquil, calming expression. Holding the heart sutra scroll. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote rom CA warehouse.

This beautiful bronze zen temple gong was made by one of Japan's great bronze craftsman who lived from The Meiji Period (1868) through the Showa Period. Famous for the gold shachihoko bronze fish on the roof of Nagoya Castle. This gong is dated Taisho 3 (Ca.1915). The writing has the date, the maker's name and all the donors' names. Excellent condition. H:56cm; diameter 30cm.

55" tall by 30" in diameter. Dated Showa 25 ( 1950) . From Muneatsuji Temple in Gifu Prefecture. This Temple is connected to the Rinzai temple of Myoshinji in Kyoto. (Full translation of what is written on the bell is available). Made by Fujiwara Sadaatsu. Inscription says it was made for world peace.

If you have heard of Murakoshi Takuma, and his spectacular wood fired contemporary Shigaraki ware this would be the piece to have. Takuma's works have taken the japanese modern pottery world by storm and you can see why. Hand crushed feldspar glazes make it look like the gods and wind created this masterpiece. 40cm tall x 33cm in diameter. With signed box. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote.

Rare bronze mythical turtle koro or incense burner from the early Meiji Period Ca. 1880. In the form of one of Japan's most famous legends is this mythological giant turtle known as the 'Minogame' or straw raincoat turtle due to the tail resembling a farmers straw coat. The Minogame is regarded as a very auspicious creature in Japan representing long life and good fortune. Sitting on its back is a nest of bronze waves holding a Hoju sacred gem koro or incense burner. 43cm long x 25cm wide x 25cm tall. Ask for shipping quote.

Museum piece Edo Period Ca. 1880-1900 tea leaf storage jar 'tsubo' from Shigaraki, the famed pottery center outside of Kyoto. Natural wood fired glazes and straw cap. Excellent condition. Quite large. 25" tall and 13" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

A Shachihoko is a sea monster in Japanese folklore with the head of a dragon and the body of a carp. According to the tale, Shachihoko lives in the cold northern ocean. Its broad fin and tails always point up toward heaven, and its dorsal fins have numerous sharp spikes. It can swallow a massive amount of water and hold it in its belly, as well as summon clouds and control the rain. Shachihoko are often constructed in a male and female pair at each end of the roof ridge as protector spirits of the castles against fire and disaster. 31" long x 18" tall. Meiji Period Ca. 1890. Ask for shipping quote.

A museum piece. Dated Manji 2 (ca. 1659) April Auspicious Day. Large, heavy bronze shrine lantern with hoju embossed under the top petals. Beautiful diaper patterns on the panels. Originally used as an oil lamp. Very good condition. 15" wide x 22" tall. Ask for shipping quote.

Breathtaking antique Japanese cloissone vase from the Ando Factory. In the original signed box, the characters read 'shigyokuju yoran kabin' meaning purple jewel glaze orchid flower vase, and 'Ando ShippoTen Tsukuri' made by the Ando Cloissone Company. The purple is striking and the musen wireless orchids fantastic. What drew us to this piece is the wonderful shape of the vase itself. Has the Ando mark on the base. Excellent condition. c.1920. (9" x 9") (23cm x 23cm).

Lovely, very art deco 6 panel 'byobu' screen of fans with heian princesses, cranes . Late Meiji Period C.1910. Condition excellent. On gold leaf paper background. Ask for shipping quote from our california warehouse.

Museum piece with extraordinary history. This altar table was one of 4 pieces we acquired at auction from the private residence of the 14th and final Daimyo (Lord)of the Tokushima Han (clan) Hachisuka Mochiaki of Awa Province on Shikoku Island in central Japan in the Edo Period. He lived 1846-1918. Hachisuka Koroku, his great grandfather, was one of Hideyoshi's (the 2nd Shogun) top generals in early Edo Period and Hideyoshi awarded the Hachisuka the province of Tokushima in Awa (Shikoku) and they ruled it throughout the Edo Period until the Daimyo system was abolished in the Meiji Period in 1868. Quick to see the direction in which the wind was blowing, he pledged loyalty to the Imperial forces. In 1869, with the hanseki hokan (Abolition of the han system), he was appointed Governor of Tokushima Prefecture. In 1872, Hachisuka went to Great Britain and attended Oxford University. After returning to Japan, he was chief advisor to the Meiji Emperor. In 1882, Hachisuka was envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to France, and received the title of kōshaku (marquis) under the new kazoku peerage system. After returning to Japan, he served as a member of the House of Peers, Governor of Tokyo Prefecture, President of the House of Peers, Minister of Education, and Privy Councillor. He died in 1918, and his grave is located in Tokushima. The condition is excellent with minor lacquer wear on the top. The intricate carvings in gold gilt on wood are of: mythical kirin, turtle, cranes, peonies and vines all symbols of longevity and purity in Buddhism. H:51cm x W: 33cm. Ask for shipping quote.