No two faces are the same on this incredible Toyoraku ceramic stacking box covered in gold and silver Maki-e lacquer dating from the 19th century. Inside is typical Oribe style green over crackled cream colored glaze with floral designs in iron. Outside lightning strikes in silver separate the multitude of intense lattice designs in fine gold lines on black lacquer. Stacked they are 15 x 13 x 17 cm, each vessel 15 x 13 x 4.5cm tall, and in excellent condition...

Dated: 1918

Heavy, pure silver box with gold, silver, and copper inlaid bronze plaque inset in lid. The bronze plaque depicts a scene of dragonflies amidst autumn grasses. The grass is both incised and raised. The seeds are all inlaid gold. The dragonflies are raised above the surface with silver wings and copper bodies and the smallest dragonfly is inlaid with silver and copper. The sides of the box are incised with floral medallions and the base is raised on four solid silver feet...

Antique Japanese biwa, a plucked string lute instrument. Made of hardwood with kiri (paulownia) wood front, inlaid with bone and bamboo details. The four strings (missing) are struck with a wooden plectrum. This instrument is often used in narrative story telling. The biwa is the chosen instrument of Benten, the goddess of music, eloquence, poetry and education.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 35 1/2" long x 12" wide

Japanese 4 panel byobu folding screen painting of a tall tree branch with ripe persimmons against a gold leaf ground. With artist's signature and red chop.

Dimensions: 72" L x 36" H

Antique Japanese 6-panel folding screen, or "byobu", with a wonderful painted ocean scene and pine trees over a gold leaf background. Mild damage is hardly noticeable and does not detract from the gorgeous paintings. 19th century SIze: 66.75" height, 145" length

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made with Keyaki (elm) burl front hardwood and hand-forged iron hardware and plating. The merchant's chest holds two drawers over a sliding pair of panel doors with open compartment inside. Below this are seven small and two large drawers, each with "warabite" shaped pulls and decorative iron corner hardware. The original finish compliments the dramatic, natural burl grain...

Beautifully hand carved jade pendant of the mystical fenghuang, or phoenix, with a blooming lotus beside it. The fenghuang symbolizes the union of yin and yang, and each part of its body represents a different word: its head is for virtue, wings are duty, back is propriety, abdomen for credibility, and chest for mercy. Carving has a small hole drilled through the top for wearing on a necklace. 20th century Size: 2.25" height, 1.75" height

Okutani Shuseki (1871-1936) was born in Osaka and lived in Kyoto for most of his life. His artistic lineage is among the very best. He, along with Yamamoto Shunkyo and others, studied under Mori Kansai, who was the pupil and adopted son-in-law of Mori Tetsuzan, who was one of Maruyama Okyo's best pupils. Like all painters of the Mori family school, Shuseki's nature paintings are remarkable for their unsentimental naturalism, showing his keen interest in the essence of nature...

Antique Japanese scroll painting on silk, of a lone black bird perched on a blossoming branch. Signed with seal of possible artist, Kano Tanen. The name is 淡淵 (alternate form for the 2nd character: 渕).

Size: (entire scroll) 72.5" H x 24" W (painting only) 44.5" H x 16" W

Unusual cloisonne vase in flattened geometric shape, with narrow base and neck, the background color a very soft yellow, with floral and scrolling elements in shades of green, blue, white, red and deep yellow, the bands at top and bottom in blue, red and mustard yellow with turquoise blue interior...

Chinese red clay yixing small teapot with incised mark at the base. 9,5cm wide.6,5cm body diameter.6cm high. conditions :Hairline at the spout and view small chipped at inside the lid.

Antique Chinese tasseled blue silk pouch, with embroidered flowers, a butterfly, and a rooster. The character below the embroidery butterfly is "Shou", for longevity while the butterfly is a symbol for love. A rooster symbolizes good luck and fortitude.

19th century

Size: 6" x 3.5" (total length with tassel 21")

Antique Japanese four-panel screen of a pine tree bearing flowers, overlooking an ocean cliffside, covered slightly in snow, with a gold leaf background. Size: 67" height, 101" width

Antique Japanese kuruma tansu, or wheeled chest, made of solid Keyaki (elm) wood. This chest features a large iron Phoenix lock plate with beautiful flowing tail feathers on the topmost drawer, as well as the bottom wheeled area. Themes of chrysanthemums, peonies, lotuses, and kiri leaves are incised into the decorative iron plating, with side locking box for small valuables.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: x 49" L x 24" D x 47" H

An unusual Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) constructed of Kiri (paulownia) wood with natural finish. This unusual piece contains a top compartment behind sliding panels as well as another below it, the lower compartment containing two shelves and a set of 3 small drawers with decorative locking plates, opened by kan (ring) pulls. The middle inner drawer contains a secret hidden compartment. All in original condition...

First we hear the clang of the hammer striking the bell, then the steadily approaching clop of his wooden shoes before the horrifying creature dressed in the robes of an itinerant priest appears; a ledger in one hand noting our sins. This is a very rare ceramic figurine by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nenbutsu Oni and bearing the seal of the imperial Art Academy. It is 30 cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Antique Chinese peking glass bowl in a of pale blue-green shade. Molded glass, cut / grinded, with a short carved foot.

Late 19th century

Size: 2.5" height, 4.5" width

A jewel-like miniature ‘Imperial’ Satsuma vase, of baluster form with elephant head handles. One side is decorated with flowering lotus, the other with a gourd vine. The base has the signature Hogetsu beneath a blue Shimizu mon.

Approximately 9.7cm high. Perfect condition...