Japanese hand scroll painting, late Edo – Meiji period, 19th - early 20th century. This 11 meter long fantastic painting comically depicts a group of well-endowed men measuring the strength each other and humorously showing off their thingies. This painting is called "toba-e", which is comical scroll pictures considered as the oldest form of manga (cartoon) in Japanese history...

Japanese hanging scroll, Muromachi period, circa 16th century. This large antique Buddhist painting features Gundari Myōō (Skt. Kundali), one of the five major Wisdom Kings in Buddhism, steps on white lotus pedestals on a high rock, suggesting the 'Great Womb Mandala', the central image of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. Gundari is a wrathful emanation of Hosho nyorai (Skt...

Superb Kenzan ware decorated with designs of overlapping fans depicting an early winter scene with a house gate by pine trees covered with a rice straw mat as well as Japanese old poems on the interior and with stylized Japanese pampas grass design on the four sides. Edo period. In the interior decoration dated "gen-bun ni-sai" means 1737...

Fudo Myo-o appears from a cloud. Clouds are also depicted as an embodiment of the energy or vital force of the cosmos. Fudō Myō-ō is the central deity in all Myō-ō deities, who are Five Wisdom kings of Womb Realm. Fudo literary means immovable and is the destroyer of delusion and a principal protector of Buddhism. His immovability refers to that aspect of mind (Buddha-Nature or True self), which is forever unmoved - perfectly stable and unchanging...

Bamboo leaves swaying in the wind, depicted with fine ink wash on silk.　This simple painting would have been selected to hang in summer or tea scene. The painting has an old mounting consistent with age. Both　painting and mounting are in excellent condition. This fine work attributed to Yanagisawa Kien from studying seals, who was one of the foremost artists of Japanese literati painting (Nanga or Bunjinga) active during mid Edo period, 18th century...

Fine decorative fan featuring two white rabbits under the gleam of the moon. The sumptuous gold background is producing a shimmering effect. Rabbit is often appeared in East Asian folklore as a messenger from the moon, where it is seen pounding in a mortar and pestle...

A night in the summer when fireflies wink their light. The exquisite moment at dusk is finely depicted on the decorative gold leaf background. It is in excellent condition. This piece is a pair with another fan item# 1118796.

H 9 1/2” x W 9 3/4” (H 24cm x W 24.5cm)

Japanese vintage shakuhachi bamboo flute. It is in good condition with patina. This item has been tested and plays well.

21 1/2” x 7/8” (54.5cm x 2.2cm)

This scene may have been depicted from a national treasure “Hikone Byobu six panel folding screen”. The screen has been collected by the Hikone castle museum located in Shiga prefecture in Japan. The screen has been very well known for not only the quality but also as a representative masterpiece depicting the custom of the early Edo period showing early-modern Japanese history. In this painting depicts a young robust courtesan with her western puppy...

Oni (ogres) in a kimono dancing in front of the Yama, the ruler of Hell. Yama is the son of Hindu god Sun. He is the presiding deity and also known as Dharma. In Japan Yama is known as Enma. Later adopted in Buddhism, Yama was understood by Buddhists as a god of the dead, supervising the various Buddhist "hells". A line of souls leads to his office where he decides whether a soul goes to Heaven or Hell. Oni are considered as a servant under the Enma there...

A winter scene featuring a bush warbler in a snow covered heavenly bamboo. Showa period, mid 20th century. Nandina or heavenly bamboo is widely grown in gardens as an ornamental plant...

The painting features a courtesan mounted on a white elephant. She is an incarnation of Fugen Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The story of the subject comes from a Japanese Buddhist folklore: On the way to Tennoji temple, a Buddhist monk stopped a village called Eguchi, which was well known as one of the most flourished entertainment area. As he was caught by a sudden rain, he asked a courtesan for a night's lodging in the village. However she refused his request. He grumbled and intoned...