A pair of medium size guardians, nio. The one on the right with his mouth closed wards off evil with one hand and holding a now lost object in the other. The Nio on the left, with his mouth wide open, holds a single pronged vajra in one hand while warding off evil with the other. Soft wood (kiri or sugi) with lots of traces of mineral colors (red, blue, green). Japan, Edo period, late 18th, early 19th century.
Height: circa 33.5 inches.
Some repairs, few cracks, basically in very good and stable condition.

A pair of nio figures, standing on a rock-shaped base. Wood with red, black ochre and green lacquer. The eyes inlaid in glass or crystal. Typical style of an unidentified studio that has been active at least since the 18th century and that often produced oni no nembutsu, ceremonial dagger holder in the shape of demons and other often witty subject matter. Japan, early 19th century.
Height: circa 20.5 inches and 21 inches.
A: wooden kegs in feet re-placed and refitted (with pegs). A and Um: Some restored and unrestored cracks, all in all excellent condition.

De-accessioned from the Denver Art Museum. Original label still on the bottom.

Study of an elephant holding a piece of wood with its trunk, his skin hanging loosely about him. Dark brown patinated, light weight wood, the eyes inlaid in buffalo horn, the tusks bone. Japan, 19th century.
Length: 15.5 inches (39.1 cm)
Pupil to one eye missing, otherwise fine condition.

The god of rice, called Inari in its Shinto manifestation, and Dakini-ten in its Buddhist manifestation, riding on the back of a fox, holding tow sheaves of rice over his right shoulder and a sickle in his left hand, now lost. The fox carved out a single piece of wood, the deity carved out of multiple pieces, pegged together. Soft, light wood with traces of gesso. Japan, Edo period, early 19th century?
Figure stripped bare, colors completely missing, repairs, pole that carries the rice is missing, some chips, nicks and dents, all in all good stable condition.

Height ca. 17 inches (ca. 44.5 cm) , length ca. 22 inches (ca. 56 cm).

The messenger of the Dragon King of the Sea, holding up a tide ruling jewel. Very rare tagayasan (cassia wood) carved base in the shape of a three-clawed dragon, surrounded by waves that carry the tide ruling jewel, a virtually clear rock crystal ball. Tagayasan base carved and composed in yosegi saiku technique, which is commonly applied in Buddhist sculpture. The base covered in nashiji lacquer. Japan, Edo period, around 1800. Unsigned.
Total height: Circa 8.5 inches . Diameter of ball: 4 inches (10 cm).
Few burned spots, several breaks and losses in the base, due to the nature of the wood. The crystal is virtually clear with very few inclusions (two kinds) and with a few blemishes to surface.

Tagayasan is extremely difficult to carve, as the structure of the wood makes it very brittle, even though tagayasan is considered a hardwood. But the play of the dark and light lines make it extremely beautiful. Tagayasan is usually used for smaller carvings as netsuke, very rarely for larger sculptures.

Study of a human skull in a soft metal alloy, most likely lead, perhaps pewter. Heavy. Along the temples slightly raised striation. The piece has been handled a lot and used and paper weight, which accounts for the abrasions and dents. Signature in raised technique, imitating an inlaid plaque. Japan, 19th century.
Height: 1 ¾ inches; length: 2 ½ inches.
Abrasions and nicks, due to the softness of the material. All in all excellent condition.

Rare sculpture of a bronze elephant, reclining holding up his head and throwing his trunk up in the air. Traces of former gilding. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Length: 7 ½ inches; height: 6 ¾ inches.
Few scratches on bottom, excellent condition.

Large pair of cranes, standing. One has its neck and beak stretched upwards, the other has its neck curved down. Cast bronze. Japan, latter half Meiji period.
Height: ca. 49 and 39.5 inches (124.5 and 100.5 cm).
Small repair at one of the legs, some paint spatter, little oxidation, excellent condition.

Small figure of a tiger, sitting on a rocky base, tail curled around his haunches, his head up as if picking up a scent. Cast in two pieces, but securely mounted. Signed on bottom: Shohoken. Japan, Nagasaki?, Edo period.
Height: ca. 3.1 inches (7.8 cm).
Fine condition. Some scratches on the bottom.

Wooden sculpture of the bodhisattva Jizo, hands folded together in prayer, standing on a lotus base. His face very serene and beautiful. Surface darkened by soot, some lighter color still visible, crystal eyes. Head loose, inside piece of paper rolled onto a wooden stick. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Height 14.75 inches (37.5 cm).
Fine crackle in face, otherwise good condition.

Small sculpture in wood of a well dressed man, probably a reciting priest, his hands folded in his lap. Excellent carving with fine detail, pupil in the eyes inlaid in black. Japan, Edo period.
H 3.25 inches (8.2 cm).
Few very thin stress cracks in bottom, one restored corner in a sleeve.

Small wooden carving of excellent quality: tiger with flaming groin, looking back and fiercely growling, standing on a rock between stalks of bamboo. Beautiful piece of hard wood, some red color around the mouth, eyes inlaid in brass. Although carved in three dimensions, it is meant to be seen frontally only. Japan, Meiji period, 19th century.
L 18.5 inches (47 cm), H 4.6 inches (11.8 cm).
Few tension cracks without consequences, excellent condition.