$800.00
Over brownish beige very fine stoneware a layer of mottled brown glaze has been applied, over which a blue-green finely crackled flambé dripping glaze. The inside covered with brown mottled glaze, the outside bottom left unglazed.
Impressed mark in the bottom: Kato Shuntai.
Japan, 19th century.
Height: 3.25 in.; diameter: 6 in. (8.3; 15.2 cm)
Excellent condition.
The jug comes with the original storage box. The inside of its cover is inscribed with authentication of the piece as a mizusashi in the shape of a karako in ao-Oribe, made by Kato Shuntai from Seto. Authentication written and signed by Matsumori An.....
Kato Shuntai (1802-1877) worked in many ceramic styles. The splashes of flambé crackled glaze are very typical for his works (Shuntai-yaki). His works and the works of his ancestors can be found in museums around Japan and the US.
$750.00
Bishamon stands on a demon that is lying on a rock. In his left hand he holds a pagoda and in the right a short staff or stick. Behind his head a gilt metal flaming mandorla. The garment of Bishamonten is decorated in gold paint, the crown and mandorla made of gilt copper.
The inside of the doors decorated with waribishi (diamond) pattern. The back of case inscribed in red lacquer: Fu-kan-jo, which together could mean a ‘wish for wealth’.
Japan, 19th century
Height zushi 4.5 inches.
Tip of pagoda in his right hand is missing. Case: cracks in black lacquer, lacquer chips at the bottom, partially restored around bottom, short crack in lower right side door.
Bishamonten is a deity of treasure, wealth and warriors. The wish for wealth, as written on the back of the case, refers to this capacity. He is one of the seven gods of good fortune, shichifukujin.
$800.00
Inscription incised in the rim on the back/inside. It mentions the dedication of this gong at the Zenshoji temple in Meiji 40 (1907).
Diam. 12.5 in.; H ca. 3.5 inches.
There are several temples in Japan with that name. One in Tottori Prefecture, one on Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, one on Kyushu, one in Hyogo Prefecture, etc. Further determination based on the inscription is not possible.
Some mild traces of usage (scratches and small dents on the surface outside, one edge dented unobtrusively. Inside white circles from playing it. Good sound.
Kane are musical instruments that are used in the Japanese folk music or Min'yo. The instrument can be hung or held with one hand, and the player hits the instrument with a mallet from the inside. The kane can produce two distinct sounds: chi and chon. Chi is the sound of hitting the bell on the interior sides. Chon is the sound of hitting the flat round inner face of the bell. A third sound, ki, is produced by reversing the stroke.
This instrument is used s well in Buddhist and Shinto ceremonies like a gong, usually to tell time or to invite/alert people to a certain event, but also as a prayer gong.
$3,500.00
In the front two red colored Nio are guarding the deities.
Inscription on the central base reads: Ichijoten (name of the temple hall), junsan koichi hongu.
The inscription on the bottom reads: Kazusa Shibayama Tenozan Kanon kyoji.
Rollers cut off and framed in mounting.
Black ink and colors on paper.
Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Painted area: 22 7/8 x 10 9/16 inches
Frame: 29 ½ x 12¼ inches.
Paper slightly creased and rubbed at places, some pigment loss on creases, otherwise good condition.
This painting was sold at the Kannon kyoji temple on Tenno Mountain in Shibayama (Chiba Prefecture). It shows the main hall’s statues of worship, the 11-headed Kannon, Bishamonten and Fudo Myoo, and the famous nio at the gate. Printed versions of this image were also sold.
$800.00
His shoes and a ewer stand underneath his chair.
Ink, mineral colors and gold on silk.
Japan, 19th century.
Painted area: ca. 34.7 x 15.95 inches (93.1 x 40.4 cm); total length 65.2 inches (165.5 cm)
Scratch through upper part, few horizontal dull creases, basically good condition. Mounting with damage.
Kobo daishi is the posthumus name of Kukai. Kukai was a Buddhist monk, a civil servant, engineer, scholar, a poet, artist and calligrapher. As part of a government sponsored expedition to China in 804, Kukai was allowed to study Chinese Buddhism in Ximing Temple in Chang’an (today’s Xi’an). In 805 he met Master Huiguo (746–805) who initiated him into Chinese Esoteric Buddhism.
$1,600.00
Mounted on an black base with Velcro
Japan, Edo period, 18th century
H 19 in.
Some small, old chips, most lacquer and gesso missing.
Please enquire
Polychromed wood with some gold details. The roof of the shrine is a separate piece and can be detached, which allows for taking apart the zushi.
Japan, Meiji period, 19th century.
Height of zushi ca. 7.8 inches (19.5 cm).
Frontal golden curtain dislodged due to warping, but still with the zushi; one door lost its hinge-functions (top and bottom pin broken off, triangular splinter on right door on last photo), paint on brocade cover of horse chipping and fragile.
This piece needs to be seen as a form of ema, which were offered to temples and shrines as a calling to the deity. In the Shinto religion, horses are intermediaries between this world and the gods. The horse is seen to be used by various deities, for example Benzaiten.
$450.00
Japan, Edo period, early 19th century. Very rare pieces.
L stick 1: 15 in.; depth saucer 3.5 in. L stick 2: 16 in.; depth saucer 3.5 in.
Iron corroded and connections a bit loose (not disconnected, though!), one bamboo with very thin crack the does not impact the stability or beauty of the piece. Traces of usage.
$525.00
All light wood, wooden joints (ears on sticks for manipulation by hand).
Japan, 19th century.
H 6.5; D 9.5 inches.
Nice patina, minor traces of usage: small chip at one of ears, short and unimportant crack in skull. All in all very good condition.
$600.00
Light colored stoneware with white glaze, over which iron red and some black (lobster) and thick, dripping green glaze.
Signature on the outside: Kenzan.
Ogata Kenzan-ware, Japan, Meiji-Taisho era, early 20th century.
H 3.9 x W 9.5 in.
Tiny, old chip on the rim in the green glaze, otherwise excellent condition
$2,000.00
Height 11.2 inches (29.2 cm).
Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Jizo’s right foot and left hand repaired (old), vertical crack from his left shoulder down and from his right armpit down, along the seams in the underlying woodblocks, insides of doors strongly, but smoothly rubbed (perhaps to rub out a dedication/identifying inscription, so that the zushi could be deaccessioned from the temple); the outside of the zushi with clear traces of usage (soot), and missing lacquer due to damp circumstances at the temple.
Please enquire
Almost abstracted wooden figure with dark patina. The mouth painted red, the eyes inlaid with glass or crystal painted with gold in reverse technique, the pomegranate made of a red kernel.
This is a very rare appearance, a kind of in-between form between the child robbing and devouring monster and the transformed and enlightened mother feeding on fruit and vegetables.
Japan, 19th century.
Height case: 13 inches (32.5 cm).
Figure in very good condition with one worm hole and tiny chip at seam at face. Base with repaired boulder. Case basically in fine condition with beautiful hardware on shrine.
Kishimojin, or Kishibojin, or Kariteimo, is a complex deity. Originally, she was a demon who stole and killed other people's children in order to feed her numerous own children. After Buddha Shakyamuni made her see how she made people suffer, she repented and devoted herself to protecting all children. Instead of the flesh of children, she fed her own children pomegranate henceforth.
Women pray to her for easy delivery, child rearing, for harmony between husband and wife, love, and for the well-being of the family. Childless women also pray to Kishimojin in the hope of becoming pregnant.
$4,000.00
Wood decorated with gold and mineral colors. Gilt metal mandorla behind her head, decorated with flaming jewels.
The baldachin above the figure is decorated with auspicious symbols in mineral colors. The pedestal is decorated with a few of the Treasures.
Japan, Edo period, late 18th century.
Height zushi: ca. 11 inches.
Some cracks in the wood, flaking lacquer at the base, some cracks in the lacquer on the figure, stabilized with clear finish, all in all in stable condition.
Shichimen Daimyojin is the protectress of Minobu, the site of temple Kuonji, general quarters of the Nichiren sect and burial place of the founder of the sect. Mount Shichimen is south of Minobu.
$3,700.00
Height case 10.5 inches.
Figure: Some minor rubbing and lacquer chips, two tips of lotus petals on dais broken and repaired, fringe of crown on right missing, few fingertips slightly chipped.
Case: minor traces of usage.
Overall condition very good.
$3,900.00
Makers mark chiseled into the bottom of each lion dog. The name consists of a single character that can be read in a variety of ways: Yasushi, but also Hiroshi, Yutaka, Toru or Akira; followed by "saku" or "made by".
Japan, late 19th century.
Height: left 9 inches, right 9.1 inches (22.8 and 23.2 cm).
Excellent condition.
They seem to be modeled after a pair of Kamakura period komainu, made of wood, in the Daiho shrine in Shiga prefecture, which are deemed Important Cultural Assets.
$600.00
On the outside bottom there is a paper label with inscription in ink, stating: An old Buddha from 150 -200 yrs. old that used to be carried by the Japanese who prayed to it for strength. 1922 (or 1932)
Japan, mid Edo period (around 1800).
Height case: 2.75 inches (6.9 cm).
Case with minor traces of usage, and all in all in very good condition.
Statue: Snout of one boar (second from right) chipped, some attributes damaged or missing, otherwise very good condition.
Marishiten is the deity of prosperity, venerated in the warrior class, and by entertainers.
$1,800.00
Wood with a polychrome lacquer layer on top of gesso.
Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Height 18.5 in., width 17.25 in., depth 12 in.
Beautiful patina. The lacquer rubbed in places, partly down to the bare wood, lacquer stabilized, some thin cracks in the lacquer surface, but basically in good and stable condition.
$2,000.00
Behind the door, there are two full width drawers, one half-width small drawer and two mid-size ones with iron locks.
The exterior of the chest is made of keyaki (Zelkova) wood, which is unusual. Drawers made of the softer, kiri wood with iron hardware. Wrought iron handle on the top of the chest. Door, corners and edges fitted with sturdy and very decorative ironwork, ornamental lock.
Bottom inscribed in black ink by carpenter.
Japan, 19th century
H 19 x W 16.25 x D 19.5 inches (48 x 41.4 x 49.5 cm)
Traces of usage (stains, dents, scratches), some of the iron hardware reattached or replaced or missing, 4 bottom slats re-attached or perhaps replaced at an earlier date. All damages acceptable as traces of usages. All replacements acceptable as necessary maintenance, while the chest was in practical use. All in all very good condition. NO KEYS.
Funa dansu are strong boxes used by sea men. They were used to carry business papers, money, writing supplies, seals and other personal things. They are small in comparison to chests that were used on land. The earlier ones are rather simple. The exterior of kakesuzuri-type ship’s chests was traditionally made of sugi (Cryptomeria) or kiri (Paulownia) wood. Kiri wood is fire resistant. Keyaki is much harder, and more expensive, and was more often used from the late Edo period on.
Due to the nature of their use, all funa dansu have traces of usage.