A delightful Japanese wood tray in the shape of a lotus leaf. Chiseled Katabori with raised veins and stem and stippled leaf rolled back on sides. The back of the tray is as detailed as the top with an intricate pattern of veins and curved stem. The tray is used in the tea ceremony.

Date: Meiji Period circa 1890

Dimensions:12" X 9" X 1"

Nagoro banana leaf tray lacquer over wood. The black lacquer shines through the red to reveal the ribs and veins of the leaf. In the literati tradition, banana leaves were used by scholar recluses as paper to write calligraphy. Later, this motif was incorporated into other forms of art making the image one of the symbols of the literati aesthetics.

Date: Tiasho circa 1920

Dimensions: 16" x 6" X 3/4"

Japanese indigo cotton fireman's coat, with sashiko stitching and freehand paste resist decoration (tsutsugaki) of a cherry blossom, overlapping rings and striations. The front of the coat has four kanji characters on the lapel, and the inside of the coat is resist dyed with geometric designs and a round central emblem.

Late Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 47" w x 37" h

Japanese iron tsuba, an important fitting on a samurai's sword to protect their hands from the blade and provide balance. Decorated with relief gold lacquer image of a gourd and opposing catfish. The backside of the tsuba is gold plated, with commemorative inscription "Bill - Christmas, 1972". The plating is signed with 14k and 18k gold marks, and stamped Potter Mellen. With custom base.

Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 3" x 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" (w/ stand)

Japanese pair of round fish plates. The raised details of the fish is painted in blue glaze. Along the edges, an impressed pattern makes up the fish's dorsal and pectoral fins. On the bottom, the maker's mark is a tiny blue floret.

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 10 3/4" wide (mouth to tail)

Unusual Japanese Buddhist Zushi with dark, lacquered wood exterior and gilt interior. Enshrined in this portable altar is the statue of Buddha seated on a lotus. His two attendants are sitting on a dragon and fox. The double doors and roof top are decorated with scrolling gilt metal work.

Buddhist traveling altars and shrines create a sacred space of spiritual magnetism and are the product of dedicated craftsmanship...

Japanese porcelain Kakiemon dish, of a lotus form with lobed petals and scalloped edges, with an enamel image of a blue dragon in the center of the well, its body coiled and playing with a ball of fire. The dish stands on a wide, short foot outlined in red enamel.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 9 1/2" w x 2 1/8" h

Smashing pair of zen temple buddhist cloud carvings form the late Edo Period/early Meiji Period c. 1870. Carved out of cypress wood and with gold gilt. Slight wear due to age on a couple of spots but adds character (see photos). Condition very good. One is 10" tall by 12" wide the other slightly smaller. Ask for shipping quote.

This is Tsutsugaki Furosiki manufactured in Iwate Prefecture during the Meiji period. Hemp is very thick and spun by hand. This is dyed with natural glaze. This is the Noshi pattern drawn in the center. The letter is the name of the owner. It has slight amber and slight holes, but does not stand out.　condition is good. Size Length 142 cm (55.9 inches) Width 132 cm (51.9 inches)　　Box.B

Antique Japanese pair of silver shokudai or candlesticks Made of repousse silver with motifs of scrolling vines and chrysanthemums. The base and top of each candle stick is lobed in a lotus pod form with scalloped edges.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 1/4" W x 21 1/2" H

Japanese apothecary tansu made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood in original red lacquer finish, with an iron carrying handle on its top for transportation. The chest holds 35 deep drawers with small ring pulls, each drawer bears an interior calligraphy inscription in sumi ink to indicate which medicine belongs in which drawer...

Japanese Arita porcelain square sake bottle with Dutch Kakiemon decoration. The bottle is square with a short waisted neck and everted lip. Each side is painted with unique images of birds, flowers and plants. The color scheme is iron-red, turquoise, blue and green with some gold. Minor wear consistent with age. Provenance: San Francisco collection.

Date: circa 19th Century

Dimensions: 8.5" X 4"

Rare Antique Japanese Negoro red lacquer tiered stand. Five arched cabriole legs below the hand carved apron, the feet ending at a floral step base. Overall condition is very good and consistent with age.

Edo Period (circa mid 1800's)

Dimensions: 12" w x 14 3/4" h

Japanese iron teapot, or tetsubin, all hand-cast iron in the shape of a Japanese house. The teapot is adorned with leaves and gourds on a thatched roof.

Dates Taisho Period c1920

Dimensions: 8" X 7.5" X 10" (with handle)

Japanese dish or bowl, Ko-Kutani revival from the Meiji period, late 19th century. Enameled in purple, yellow and green with a wave-line border surrounding a motif of poets (?) and a weeping willow in a mountainous seascape. Dark brown rim, the back with Kutani mark in green. Diameter "8 ½ / 21.5 cm. Condition: the back with some rubbing marks and a glaze bubble (cf. pics).

This is the Tsutsugaki curtain used in the Edo period. This was made in the Kyushu region. It is made of fine cotton that is hand spun. This is a person expressing a wooden raft that flows through the river in the season when the cherry blossoms fall. This pattern is a pattern called flower raft. This is a very idyllic depiction of the boatman's expression. The design of the boatman on the raft to go down the river where the cherry blossoms are falling is very elegant and beautiful...

19th century netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape carved with an image of Fukurokuju (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune) pulling a fox costume mask onto his head and holding a 9-tailed whip in his hand. Whip design continues on the back showing an attendant boy, one hand raised in amazement, the other holding a fan. Very unusual subject of a Lucky God as an actor, the whip is a clear reference to a mythical nine-tailed fox...

A rare and unusual Japanese Keyaki burl choba tansu with original dark red translucent lacquer finish. The front of the chest has two hinged doors with hand forged iron fan lock plate, with two drawers below. When the chest is opened, it reveals a spacious interior with a large open compartment, a long top drawer and three smaller all burl wood drawers along the side.

Early Meiji period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 25 1/2 x 15 x 25 3/4 h