Antique Japanese pair of three-section kiri (paulownia) wood tansu, with metal hirute shaped handles and fan-shaped locks on multi-sized drawers. The top section of each tansu has two large sliding doors, with inner shelving carved in an attractive alter style and two small drawers. One tansu has a middle section with two large doors on attractive hinges incised with a motif of kiri leaves, and a round pierced metal decoration with kiri leaves and flowers...

This Edo-period bronze quail incense burner is a stunning piece of Japanese craftsmanship. The lifelike form of the quail, intricately detailed and gracefully curved, showcases the artistry of the era...

An antique Japanese Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand made iron drawer pulls in the shape of a full moon with bow style back plates. Sliding doors feature Kakinoki (Persimmon) wood inlaid handles. Constructed using mortise and tenon joinery with horizontal side ribs for strength and durability. Abundant storage space behind both sets of sliding doors with additional space available in the four drawers...

Antique Japanese lacquer suzuribako (calligraphy box) decorated with young pine shoots and a fruiting tachibana (wild orange) tree near a small stream. Gold maki-e lacquer on a dense gold nishiji ground. The underside of the lid has a continuing scene of the stream winding through rocks with sprouting bamboo in gold maki-e lacquer on a spars nishiji on black lacquer ground...

This playful image of a Japanese raccoon dog (tanuki) enjoying a flask of saké was done by one of the most renowned and loved waka poets of the 19th century, Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875).

Born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki family, from the age of seven to sixteen Rengetsu was a lady in waiting at Kameoka castle where she was trained in the arts and courtly graces...

An antique Japanese Kansai Daiku Tansu (carpenter chest for tools and hardware) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. 14 drawers of various sizes used to store tools and hardware used by a Japanese wood craftsman. Japanese woodworking techniques used in making this chest include through mortise and tenon joinery and hardened wood nails. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles. Originates from the Kansai region of Japan...

Antique Japanese large single section mizuya (kitchen chest) with 8 wide drawers. Made with all fine-grain hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood on the front and frame. Each drawer has iron corner brackets, hirute shaped drawer pulls and square lock plates.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 37 1/2" high x 74" wide x 21" deep

This is really an exquisite piece of Japanese Satsuma. It is signed by Seikozan who was one of the finest satsuma artists. The pot is not overly large being 6 inches tall and 6 1/2 across including the spout/handle. The Condition is fabulous. This is a great piece of Satsuma especially at this price.

This is a beautiful wire and wireless Japanese cloisonne vase. Though it is not signed, it was made by Gonda Hirosuke during the Meiji Era, circa 1910. Other identical pieces exist that are signed Gonda. Very few of these wireless fish vases were made by Gonda. The vase is in excellent condition and has silver rims. It was created before Japan began stamping rims with the "jun gin' silver mark in the early 1900's. It stands 7 inches tall and is 7 inches wide.

Fan-shaped kobako, decorated with clouds and wisterias in gold lacquer and kirigane on a silver background. The sides are decorated with a checked pattern in gold lacquer. The background and the inside are in nashi-ji lacquer.

Kobako (“little boxes”) are often adorned with harmonious decors and sceneries inspired by Japanese fauna and flora...

Fantastic Japanese choba tansu, or merchant's chest, made from keyaki wood with a gorgeous original semi-matte red finish. It has many drawers for storage with simple iron hardware of a squared form (besides the handles, whose shape is called 'warabite') and two sets of sliding door panels with a middle lock. Meiji period circa 1900 Size:40.5" height, 36" width, 17" depth

Antique Japanese single section mizuya (kichten chest). Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood frame with Sugi (cedar) sides. The upper section have two pairs of sliding panels. The top panels are all wood while the lower panels have inset frosted glass. The bottom section of the chest has two large sliding panels with decorative cut outs . There are fourteen drawers of varying size surrounding the larger compartment of the bottom piece, opened by iron pulls...

Antique Japanese triptych print of a landscape with a port scene and mountains by Hiroshige Utagawa. Three individual woodblock prints compose this tranquil port scene at the base of a mountain range. Original condition. Each measures 16.5" tall by 9.75" wide, overall 16.5" by 29.5" wide. They are in very good condition with few signs of age. The first print bears seals in the upper and lower left corners. The second print bears seals in the upper and lower right corners...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of a rare Keyaki root burl (Zelkova Tamo), Kirinoki (Paulownia), and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hardware including Gumbai drawer pulls and sliding door handles featuring a gold inlay flying dragon amongst the sea and clouds...

Large and only slightly distorted full cylinder shaped Tsutsu (hight is bigger than diameter) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of reddish, unrefined Mino clay with clearly visible finger marks on the wall.

The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife around the regular food ring. In the style of Seto-Kuro bowls this bowl was covered with a black glaze.

On three sides a round space was spared from black glaze. The unglazed areas were decorated with the aoi-m...

Beautiful gold lacquer bottle decorated with pine, wisteria and bamboo. Mon (family crest) of Makino and Shinjo families.

Height 6.89 in – Diameter 3.94 in

Japan – EDO (1603-1868)

Japanese antique apothecary (medicine) chest for a merchant of herbs. Made of 100% hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with 35 drawers of various sizes. Hand forged Iron hardware includes hirute and ring shaped drawer pulls. From the Kansai Area.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 28 1/2" high x 35 3/4" wide x 11 1/4" deep

A rare antique Japanese Choba Kotansu (merchant small chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Removable hinge doors behind which hides a removable horizontal bar that securely latches the left door in place. Spacious storage behind the doors where the merchant kept his store books and records. Two upper drawers were used to keep money and valuables. Beautiful original calligraphy on the sides and back of the tansu. Side swive...

Antique Japanese round table, carved all over with irises, curving legs are in especially high relief with large iris blossoms, dark finish, table top has reddish brown finish, beautifully carved and very dramatic, made for export, circa 1910. Size: 29 1/2" high x 39" wide (at widest point) Table top is 28 1/2" wide diameter.

Antique Japanese fubako, box for holding letters. Made of lacquered wood with a design of young pine and blossoming plum branches. Both box and lid are decorated in maki-e gold and silver lacquer over a delicate nashiji on a black lacquer ground. The interior has clouds of dense gold nashiji and two mon on the underside of the lid.

Age: Edo Period (18th/19th century)

Dimensions: 10 1/4" long x 3 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" deep

From our collection of Japanese Chawan with Christian Cross design: highly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part around the foot ring.

In the style of Seto kuro bowls this Chawan was covered with a light brown glaze. On one side the sign of a Christian (Maltese) cross was left unglazed and was covered with a transparent ash glaze.

...

Antique Japanese tanegashima short rifle (gun) with working original matchlock mechanism. Not original barrel, this one has been replaced with a shorter forged barrel onto the rifle wood stock.
Made of hardwood with lacquer finish. Silver inlay on the iron barrel includes an rare arrow motif. Elaborate brass work includes little florets and frolicking fu-dogs. Comes with custom iron stand to aid in display. (This tanagashima is the front gun in the group picture.)

Age: Edo P...

Antique Japanese wedding kimono Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made heavy gauge iron fittings and thick wood construction for strength and durability including straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Specially commissioned chest for use as part of a bride's dowry to store her formal wedding kimono, her formal after wedding kimono and her informal wedding celebration kimono. The two small bottom drawers were used to store her wedding a...

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant's chest) from the Mikuni area with a keyaki wood front. The top section is two sliding panels of natural urushe lacquer finish. The bottom section consists of two medium sized drawers with a small door adjacent and a hinged door. The hinged door has two interior drawers behind it. The hardware is an ornate lock plate and square handles (kakute). The back and framework are cryptomeria (kiri) wood.

Date: Edo age (1850's)

Dimensions: 36" ta...

Antique Japanese Ishidoro - stone temple garden lantern hand carved out of granite in 6 sections. The lotus base is carved so that it is still connected to the hexagonal stone. The lantern section is similar in style to a hanging lantern with its curling warabite corner roof and pointed finial over a hollow hexagonal light box. This style of Ishidoro originates from the Kasuga Shinto shrine which give it the nickname Kasuga-doro. Age: Edo/Meiji period

Dimensions: 60 1/2" High by 20" Di...

Pure Kuro-Raku Chawan by the 11th generation Keinyu Kichizaemon (1817-1902) enclosed in its originally signed and sealed wooden box and made around the end of 19th century about 120-130 years ago.

This Raku chawan is particularly endowed with a structural power deriving from simple composition of features of a bowl - another reminiscence of the earlier generations of this unique family of artists.

Apart from being expertly formed, this piece has the added distinction of be...

Rare antique Japanese 2-Section Mizuya (kitchen tansu) made from Keyaki wood (elm). The top section contains 2 roomy e compartments behind sliding door panels with floral motif pulls and 3 drawers along the bottom. The lowermost section holds another compartment with sliding doors, 3 small and two larger drawers along the bottom. The sides of the piece are reinforced with horizontal panels.

Dates from the Meiji Period c 1900 Dimensions: 44" L x 17" D x 63" H

Japanese lacquer suzuribako or calligraphy writing box. The box is wood with lacquer, gold gilt sprinkled lacquer, and inlaid shell on the lid, adorned with scrolling leaves, floral medallions and motifs of sparrows. The box interior is red lacquer with gold lacquer patterns. The inside box contains an attached inkstone, a brush, and a small brass water dropper. Underneath is a shallow compartment for the storage of calligraphy papers.

18th-19th century Edo Age

Dimens...

Beautiful Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), keyaki (elm) wood frame and front with nice hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood side bracing, nice keyaki wood grain, two compartments with sliding panels, 5 drawers, a safe box with 3 small interior drawers, iron hardware with hirute shaped drawer pulls, sliders pulls are made of bronze, Meiji Period (1868-1912) Size: 30" high x 25 3/4" wide x 13" deep.

An antique pair of Japanese bronze garden temple lanterns with reticulated sides. Hinged door on each lantern allows access to the interior. Four feet allows placement on a stand or pedestal while a top loop allows each lantern to be hung.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions of each: 16" High by 14 1/2" Square

Were one to describe THE piece which epitomizes the vase aesthetic of Suwa Sozan I, it would be this epochal Red Fish design flaring celadon bottle. This is a superlative example, exquisite detail and come enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 29.5 cm (11-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Suwa Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875. Over the next 25 years he would...

A charming pair of Japanese porcelain satsuma vases. The panels on each vase tell a story of ghosts and demons escaping from a woven basket. One vase shows a scene of court performers in a traditional lion dance, used to repel evil spirits. In another panel is a scene of kneeling courtesans with worrisome expression and a shrine maiden attempting to purify the area. The final panel shows a golden box, with a large clawed oni forcing the lid shut to trap the evil spirits within. Each vase is sign...

Red ivy clings to the pale crackled glaze of this tsubo by Miyagawa (Makuzu) Kozen enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Below glistening black glaze covers the bottom, in a style well known for this artist. It is 24.5 (just less than 10 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
The name Kozan was granted by Prince Yasui-no-Miya in 1851 in honor of the tea ware produced during the later Edo for the imperial Court by the tenth generation head of the Kyoto pottery family Miyagawa Ch...

New Arrival

Japanese antique small and charming scroll painting and poem by Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875). The image is of a small hut with a thatched roof. The poem translates as follows:
春鳥 春寒み 榾火にねぶる 山賤の 夢おどろかす うぐひすの声

cold spring day, a worker naps, by an outdoor fire,
his dreams i...

A two section large antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) with front and sides made entirely of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with Sugi (Cryptomeria) interior and Kiri (Paulownia) interior drawer sides. It features mitered through mortise and tenon joinery and side horizontal support ribs for additional strength, durability and visual elegance. Behind the two sets of large sliding doors are areas for spacious storage while the small sliding doors hide two small side by side drawers.

O...

Wonderful Japanese hirado ware porcelain figure of a dragon fish jumping out of waves, a traditional symbol of transformation, white glazed porcelain with tinge of brown along edges on one side and blue underglazed eyes, Meiji Period (19th century). Size: 12 3/4" high x 9 1/2" wide x 10" deep.

Pair of Japanese damascene candlesticks, the body of each with dramatic imagery of serpentine dragons and fireballs. The foliate petal rims decorated with chrysanthemums and coiling vines, and the tripod feet with auspicious objects and flowers. Both candlesticks are signed "Kuma" in gilt pigment on the base.

19th Century Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/4" x 9" 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 bar tansu with dramatic natural Keyaki burl front hardwood. The locking bar has hand-forged iron bamboo motif plating; Its handle is a 16 petal chrysanthemum Imperial seal mon. The piece has 4 large drawers and a safe box containing 2 smaller drawers. Original condition lacquer finish.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" x 12" x 24.5" H

Antique Japanese single section mizuya (kitchen tansu). Made with sugi (cryptomeria) wood and hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood refinished to reveal the beauty of the natural wood grain. Iron hardware with round lock plates and warabite shaped drawer pulls. The tansu has three large drawers on the right and a compartment with sliding panels over two smaller drawers on the left.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 33 1/4" high x 65" long x 18 1/2" deep

An antique Japanese Todana Tansu (cabinet chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron handles including the Warabite handles. Two sliding doors behind which lies a large storage area, a lift-out door where additional storage was used and 6 drawers of varying sizes used to organize ones belongings. Side slates added strength and support. Constructed using both single and double through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery.

Age: Meiji Peri...

Antique Japanese lacquer tebako (accessories box), made of lacquered wood with dense gold nishiji and a gold maki-e lacquer design of flowers, possibly clematis, on a vine. The rim is made of pewter and the interior is lacquered with a spars nishiji on a black lacquer ground. Comes with kiri wood tomobako.

Age: Tokogawa Era, early 18th century

Dimensions: 2" high x 2 7/8" wide x 2 7/8" wide

Antique Japanese Kiri (paulownia) wood tansu with a rare and unusual design of two large front hinged doors with flower incised iron bracing. Opening up to a multi shelved interior reminiscent of a cha tansu (tea chest). Two locking drawers sit beneath it. Beautiful original finish. Edo Period (Circa 1800's) Very charming size. Size: 22.75" H x 25" L x 12.5" D

Antique Japanese Shinto mask in the likeness of a fox (kitsune). Carved of wood and lacquered dark brown, this mask is made with a movable lower jaw operated by a wooden mouthpiece. Most likely used during ceremonial dance associated with Shinto religion.

Japanese folk lore tell of many variations of the role of the fox including those closely related to guardians of Shinto Shrines. The goddess of agriculture and fertility, Inari-san herself at times takes on the form of a white ...

Antique Japanese Sendai region clothing tansu made with beautiful Keyaki wood in original red lacquer finish, the front frame edged in black lacquer, with large floral motif iron hardware, and a side lockbox with two drawers inside. Dates from the Meiji period 1868-1912. Size: 34.5" H x 46.5" W x 17" D

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cyrptomeria) woods. The finish is an original natural Urushi lacquer. Unusual lock plates each featuring auspicious symbols with the upper design showing a lucky crane (for 1,000 years of longevity) and the lower design showing a lucky sea turtle (for 10,000 years of long life). The three central symbols represent Sho Chiku Bai (Pine, Bamboo & Plum Blossom). These are the three felic...

This is a great example of Japanese Satsuma artistry. This bowl was made and signed by Hankinzan. The bowl measures 5 inches across. It is an exceptional piece with extremely fine work. There are hundreds of detailed birds all with overglaze enamels. I also believe it was made with the thicker mercury fired gold. While this bowl looks nearly perfect, it has about a 1 inch line that goes part way down one side that is very hard to see without magnification. May also have a tiny fill or factory re...

Important and extremely rare Mid Edo Period Narumi Oribe Mizusashi (fresh water container) in perfect antique condition with no cracks or repairs and with its original lid. It is almost impossible to find such an old and valuable Oribe Mizusashi - so take your chance. It comes with a very good Japanese wooden box.

Narumi Oribe ware is comprised of white and red (reddish brown) clays. The white clays are glazed with green glaze. The red (reddish brown) clays are decorated with white...

Antique two-section Keyaki wood tansu from the Fukushima region of Japan. It has a beautiful, warm woodgrain, iron warabite handles, with cherry blossom and leaf iron decorations above and below each handle, and a corner lockbox with a flower-shaped lock handle and ring pull with flower backing. 19th century Meiji Period. Size: 45" height, 41.75" width, 17.5" depth

A wonderful modelled Kuro Raku tea bowl covered with a beautiful black glaze - made by legendary 12th generation Kichizaemon Kônyû (1857-1932). His childhood name was Kozaburo, later became Kicho (or, Yoshinaga). He was the eldest son of Keinyu, the eleventh generation master. In 1871, he succeeded the family business and became the generation master. In 1919 he retired and took the name as Kônyû. He enjoyed his retirement in practicing tea ceremony and writing haiku.

His Kuro ...

Japanese 2 section Mizuya or kitchen tansu, the front frame with original dark lacquer Hinoki (cypress) wood, Sugi (cedar) sides, and door panels of Keyaki (elm) burl with original reddish orange lacquer finish. The top section holds a long and narrow upper compartment behind four sliding Keyaki front panels, with two mesh and wood panels below opening to another larger compartment, four drawers beneath, a small drawer and a pull away panel to the right side. The lower section holds the largest...

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a flying goose, sumi ink on paper. With calligraphy signature and red chop. This scroll has the original two tomobako (storage boxes).

Early Edo Period Circa 1600's

Dimensions: 22" x 48 1/2" H (entire scroll) 15 1/4" x 11 1/2" H (artwork only)

24" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/4" (red lacquer tomobako)

Antique Japanese choba tansu made of keyaki (elm) wood. The top portion has two small drawers. The middle portion has a compartment opened by sliding panels with horizontal slats. The slats are made of quarter sawn keyaki wood which dramatically accents the striped quality of the wood grain. Below this is a single large drawer. The hardware is made of iron and includes round lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 31" high x 24" wide x 14 3/4" deep.

This is a beautiful rare vase exported from Japan to a family in the states. Vases shaped like and similar to this are almost always 5 inches tall. This one at 7 1/4 by 7 1/4 inches is much larger and is covered with far more beautiful detailing. This vase is excellent condition. Inside the vase 3 old images of Japan were found from those that sent this a gift. These images have writing on the back and make reference to this vase being a gift. They stay with this vase.

Reaching for his hat, the boatman leans out arms extended toward the prow, protected from the elements under a woven reed roof. This beautiful incense burner comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 24 x 8 x 10 cm (9-1/2 x 3-1/4 x 4 inches) and is in excellent condition.
The name Kozan was granted by Prince Yasui-no-Miya in 1851 in honor of the tea ware produced during the later Edo for the imperial Court by the tenth-generation head of the Kyoto pottery family Miyagawa C...

Wonderful Minpei/Awaji ware tea bowl made by the legendary 1st Minpei Kashu during the Edo Period, with deep glaze cracks and soft cobalt blue pictures. It comes with a signed wooden box and a signed and sealed attestation of Hasshu Uewashi, issue number 256. Hasshu Uewashi was a famous judge of Japanese pottery who worked during the Meiji and Taisho Era.

Awaji ware was founded in the early 1830s by Minpei Kashu (1796-1871) from Iga village.

He was born in 1796 into a we...

Antique Japanese large single section todana tansu. Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. This piece 4 horizontal rows with 4 drawers in each row for a total of 16 drawers. All of them are the same size. The hardware is made of iron and each drawer has a warabite shaped drawer pull.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 29" high x 65 1/2" wide x 17 1/8" deep.

An antique Japanese Sakata Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulowani) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. Main lock plates feature stylized Chrysanthemums and their leaves. Five drawers for spacious storage and a hinged security door that hides two small drawers where valuables were kept. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

26 3/4" Wide by 24 3/4...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) with interesting features such as semi circle corner hardware, cross plating over sliding doors, squared locks, and mokko (melon) style handles. Several areas of the tansu feature the same symbol burned into the wood. Very attractive, Meiji period piece. (1868-1912) Size: 34" H, 32.25" W, 15.5" D

This is a profusely decorated ultra fine Japanese cloisonne vase. It is in perfect condition and panel vases like this one do not come any better. The quality matches many early Hayashi vases. he rims are silver. It stands 6 inches tall and is signed Ota Kichisaburo. A few years ago we had a similar pair signed by Shibata that were of the same quality. See the last image.