An antique Japanese Katana Tansu (sword chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. Beautiful naturally acquired patina over its long history. Long drawer for Katana storage, short drawer for Tanto storage and a small drawer for Katana parts and polishing supplies.

Age: Early Meiji Period (1870-1880)

Dimensions: 45 3/4" Wide by 12" High by 12" Deep

Netsuke - A finely carved ivory netsuke of a cluster of various shells, some of them with an inner life reminiscent of the famous clam’s dream story. The himotoshi underneath is formed by one of the trumpet shells. Beautiful and glossy patina. LENGTH 4.4 cm. beautiful patina. Provenance: German private collection.

Large Japanese Early Meiji Period (circa 1880) Okimono of a Kirin, one of the most magnificent and admired creatures in Japanese mythology. The Kirin is a Japanese unicorn, an animal-god who punishes the wicked with its single horn. It protects the just and grants them good luck. Seeing a kirin is considered an omen of extreme good luck - if one is a virtuous person. This spectacular carving is a masterpiece. It truly captures this fantastical creature in every detail...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made from Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with full moon lock plates and curved Kakute handles. Side carrying handles features the rare locking pins used to connect the two sections together. Beautiful Japanese straight dovetail joinery is a testament to the expert craftsmanship used in making this chest...

An ivory okimono, carved from a single block, depicting a hunter accompanied by an onagadori rooster and a child with a net in his hand. Yukiharu 之晴 signature in relief seal under the base within a rectangular reserve in red lacquer. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 29 x 7.5 x 6 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Antique Japanese fireman's hood. Made of layers of indigo cotton sashiko and decorated on the inside with a scene of a tiger and lightening storm.
Fires were common in Japanese urban areas due to the dense population as well as construction material (primarily wood and paper). Fire brigades were made up of samurai class (buke hikeshi) as well as common class (machi hikeshi). Their primary goal in containing a fire was to tear down the surrounding buildings so the fire had no more fuel...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Full width top drawer over a compartment with sliding panels and one interior shelf. Two medium sized drawer on the bottom left. On the right hand side of the chest are 3 small drawers over a safebox. The safe door opens to reveal two small interior drawers. Hardware is made of iron and includes rounded lock plates, warabite shaped drawers pulls, corner bracing and two keys...

Antique Japanese 2-section mizuya tansu (chest on chest for kitchen storage) from the Kyoto area. Made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood frame and sugi (cryptomeria) wood interior. The top section has two compartments; the upper most with four sliding panels of beautiful burl wood; below this is a compartment for food storage with sliders made of pierced carved hinoki wood and wire mesh for ventilation...

A spectacular and intricately detailed painted Japanese Satsuma Koro. The painted features display Buddhist monks surrounded by an encircling phoenix on either side, beautifully gilted and accented with flowers and four legs that sport foo dog faces. A large gold gilted foo dog adorns the lid and is one of the most unusual renditions that i have ever encountered, I have not seen another like it...

A pair of superb cloisonne vases with fine decorations of cranes flying in the evening sky. Cranes are an auspicious motif in East Asia, often a symbol of longevity and fortune. Has original box. Age: early 20th century Size: Diameter: 2.5" Height: 7.25"

Japanese noh theater mask of a woman, carved with pierced eyes, mouth, and nostrils for the wearer, as well as two pierced holes at the temples to be secured against one's head. Lacquered in flesh tone, black hair and blackened teeth and eyes, red lips, and black lacquer interior. With kiri (paulownia) tomobako, inscribed with the name "Zouonna".

Size: 5.5" L x 3" D x 8" H

A Japanese erotic ebony netsuke of Okame with ivory-eyed holding a large mushroom. Engraved Tomotsugu signature on the mushroom. Edo period 18-19th century Sizes: 4,5 x 3 x 2 cm Condition report: Good condition

Large Japanese boxwood netsuke of a walking scholar carrying a scroll. With fine hand carved detail and charming expression.

Meiji period (1868-1912), 19th Century

Size: 1.75" x 1.5" x 4.25" H

Worn gilt over thick copper pair of Buddhist ritual vessels, one with a single spout and movable handle, the other with double spouts and a long footed handle bisecting the middle opening of the container, the design has etched bamboo, pine, cranes and turtle on body, the handle has scrolling vines done with impressed dots, the traditional stylized crane of the Nichiren sect is on the medallion. Edo Period, (1604-1868). Size A: 8.5"H 5.75"D 8.5"L Size B: 4.5"H 10.5"D 18"L

Unusual Japanese hardwood low shop desk tansu. Original red lacquer finish with heavy iron plates and mounts. The table surface is hinged with three doors that open to interior compartments for papers and other merchant's effects. The middle door has a lady's portrait with calligraphy inscriptions detailing the piece is from a merchant business in "Ume-yashiki, Tokyo" with the merchant name "Shimbashi Kotatsu" and dated 25th year Meiji 1893...

A patinated bronze okimono depicting an elephant defending itself from the attack of two tigers: one on its back and the other under its paw. Very well worked in the details of the elephant's skin, in contrast with that of the two double patina tigers with a different shine. The okimono is signed under the elephant's belly within the square reserve Genryusai Seiya zo 誠谷作. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 20 x 30 x 15 cm...

Antique Japanese 2-section, 3ft. Mizuya. Constructed of Hinoki (cedar) and Sugi (cypress) hardwoods. Both the upper and lower section hold large storage compartments, one behind mesh sliding panels and two with Keyaki (elm) burl front panels. Its Keyaki front drawers open with hand forged iron pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36" x 16 1/2" x 66 1/2" H

Width: 3.7 cm (1.5 in)
Height: 1.5 cm (0.6 in)
Weight: 60 gms

Rare Japanese Komai box; depicts buildings within a landscape surrounded by leafy borders; 24 kt inlay throughout; internal engraved depictions of birds and butterflies; engraved and signed on the base with the Komai Otojiro dragonfly; very good condition