Original wooden sign board for an optician (Nakatani). The central image is a pince-nez with real convex lenses set in the wood. The sign is advertising all kinds of eye glasses, concave, convex and flat lenses. Japan, Meiji period. Original piece, from the period, no reproduction.
Measurements of wood: H 13 x W 18 x T 1 inches (ca. 33 x 45.75 x 2.5 cm); height with hanging loops: 14 3/8 inches (36.5 cm).
Weathering, paint losses, usual chips and dents, some warping, all in all very good condition.

Canister of sorts, perhaps for tea, perhaps for candy, made of molded and lacquered papier-mache, in the shape of the lucky dwarf Fukusuke, wrapped in a black overcoat, over red pants, decorated with snow covered pine branches. His large head above his knees. He wears an oddly shaped hat that functions as the cover of the container. Glass eyes inlaid in his face, a metal edge inserted on the top. The material used indicates that the container was made for export. Japan, Meiji period.
Height: 5 ½ inches.
Material around metal edge retracting, some restoration, very good condition.

Kanban or shop sign. The sign indicates that the store would sell or manufacture ornamental pin holders (ireko ningyo) for the oar pin to fall into. The pin holders are decorated as a male and a female face in court style, their mouths wide open. The words ireko ningyo branded into the wooden board. On the back of the board paper label with a flying plover and the words ireko ningyo; another paper label shows the proper use of the ireko ningyo on the oar of a Japanese rowing boat. Japan, early 19th century.
Measurements: 19 in. (47.5 cm) wide, height 10.75 (26.8 cm) and 8 inches (20 cm).
Painting virtually completely worn off, upper side missing, old repairs with iron nails.

Shop sign or advertisement for cooking oil (abura). Front incised with characters and hiragana with advertisement for a Tokyo based company selling the oil. On the back in katakana in black inky lacquer: Meriyasu. Two iron eyes in the top for hanging. Traces of white pigment in calligraphy. Japan, early 20th century.
H 32.25 in. (81.9 cm); W 10 in. (25.4 cm).
Few stress cracks of no consequence, very good condition.

Very plain carpenter’s tool to draw straight lines. Dark wood. Japan, 19/20th century.
Length 8 1/8 inches (20.5 cm)
Needle missing, handle loose. Otherwise traces of usage, beautiful patina.

Carpenter’s tool to draw straight lines. The shape of the piece is a wheel floating on a wave. On the edge of the ink drenched cotton wool compartment sits a minogame. Middle brown wood. Japan, early 20th century.
Length 9 ¾ inches (ca. 25 cm)
Needle missing, handle missing. Wheel is a lovingly copied replacement. Body with fine detail and very nice patina.

Crosspiece for a kettle hook in the shape of a closed fan. Very elegant piece with simple engraved details. Keyaki (zelkova) wood with bronze hardware. Japan, 19th century.
Length 13 7/8 in. (35.4 cm), depth at widest point 3 1/8 in. (7.8 cm), height 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm).
One side exposed to sunlight, some dent and chips, but otherwise excellent condition.

Painting of the Wisteria Maiden (Fujihime or Fujimusume), wearing a wide rimmed black hat and holding a branch of flowering wisteria over her shoulder. In the group of Otsu-e figures, she is a fairly late addition. Images of her were sold as charms for good marriages. Painted on paper in black and white and bright orange, blue and green. Japan, early 19th century.
16 ¼ x 11 ½ in. (40.9 x 29.2 cm).
Paper browned, esp. at margins, somewhat rubbed and creased, some water damage at right margin, green color flaking, tape residue and tape at upper corners verso, stamped in lower right corner verso: JAPAN. Condition as to be expected.

Pair of small trunks for transportation. The trunks are being carried on a pole, over the shoulders. Relatively deep trunk with hinged cover. Wood covered in red lacquer with some black, simulating negoro. On the covers a family crest in black lacquer. Forged iron hardware (handles, locks, hinges, corner straps, etc.). Japan, Meiji period.
Height 11 ¾ in. (30.8 cm), width 12 ¾ in. (32.6 cm), depth 7 1/8 in. (18.5 cm).
Traces of usage (dents, scratches, splinters), one cover cracked in 2 places. Stable and good condition.

Large size horse eye plate. The grayish white stoneware covered in yellowish white glaze with fine crackle. The edge and a design of seven horse eyes painted in iron brown underglaze. The eyes unusually round, more referring to the snake eyes (janome). Seto ware, Edo period, early 19th century
Diameter: 13 ¾ inches (35 cm); height: 2 ½ inches (6.5 cm).
Some chips on the outer rim and two old thin cracks.
Horse eye plates usually have ovoid concentric circles painted on them. The eyes on the piece here have a more rounded shape. These type of plates were common house hold plates. Damage is usual.

Elegant container for transporting food. Cylindrical bentwood container with round fitting cover. The handle has the same shape as the handles for buckets etc. Soft wood with reddish clear finish. Japan, Meiji period. Folk art.
Diameter 9 7/8 in. (25.3 cm), height 11 1/8 in. (28.4 cm).
Crack through the bottom of the container, repaired crack in cover, otherwise minor traces of usage. Nice and stable condition.

Shishi mask with movable lower jaw, of a fairly small size. Kiri wood, cleverly carved to use the grain to accentuate the curves in the face and stained with a reddish color. The bushy eyebrows, nose and mane and lines in the forehead stained black, the ears held together by cotton rope. Holes in the back of the head show where the cloth was attached. Beautiful piece of folk art. Japan, 19th century.
Height 5 3/8 in. (13.9 cm), width 8 ½ in. (22.6 cm), depth 7 3/8 in. (18.8 cm).
Bottom of lower jaw slightly rubbed, some stress cracks in upper lip, between front teeth and at back of head, black stain rubbed, one ear repaired. All in all good and stable condition.