18th century wooden netsuke of sumitori - a woven basket holding charcoal during tea ceremony - containing sumi (charcoal), and with haboki (feather brush for ashes) and hibashi (fire tongues) on top. The wood is kurogaki (black persimmon). Excellent strong early carving elegant in its simplicity, clever design in Japanese taste, beautiful patina. Signed SANSHA on the bottom - this rare artist is listed on page 913 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick...

19th century netsuke in of a boy wearing a short jacket and reading a book as he sits on the back of a resting buffalo. The subject seems to be a variation of bokudo - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood. Wonderful carving perfectly capturing the tranquil mood of the scene, beautiful thoughtful face of the boy, excellent detailing - see the woven mat spread on the back of the beast, its tether with rope and dense hairwork...

A rare antique Japanese Kyushu Choba Tansu (merchant chest from Kyushu island) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The frame of the chest was made using Suginoki wood measuring a very thick 1 1/ 8". Constructed with straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. It has 5 drawers and a pair of hinged doors that open to a spacious storage area with a split level shelf. All original hand forged iron hardware...

A very rare example of an Antique Japanese iron samurai chest armor (dou) with Fudo Myo-o. Made in the five plate, four hinge go-mai chest armor sendai or yukinoshita style. On the breastplate, Fudo Myo-o, one of the five myo-o or Lords of Light stands with sword in hands, the flames of his nimbus swirling around him as he stands on churning waves. Fudo is a fitting subject for samurai armor as his name means "the unmovable or unshakable one"...

Antique Japanese scroll painting depicting a dragon in clouds. In his left-hand claws, he holds the flaming hoju, the wish-granting pearl. Storm clouds billow below him. Painted in sumi ink on silk with details in white and gold ink.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: total size of scroll 75" high x 10 3/4" wide (12 1/4" wide including rollers). Size of art: 45 1/4" high x 9 3/8" wide

The size of Koro: 5 7/8" Long x 4 3/16" Wide x 7 3/4" High. This is beautiful Japanese Shaku (Jue) Koro by Shou. Koro was made by same type fine quality crackle glaze earthen ware as Kyoto Awata Yaki or Kyoto Satsuma pieces. The Koro has intricately made with work around the body. The condition of Koro excellent, no chip, no crack and no hairline except noting one repaired spot on one of leg as two close up photo showing. The leg was snapped off cleanly at the side way...

1900's Japanese Lavender Amethyst Crystal Carved Kogo Box with Butterfly

It is 1.01 inches (2.58 cm) tall by 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) wide. The box is It is 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) tall by 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) wide by 2.4 inches (6 cm) in length. It is 34.8 gram. Total weight with box is 52.4 gram.

It has inclusion, flea bite chips and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell...

Old (1900's) Japanese Shakudo Gold & Silver Mixed Metal Box with Flower & Grasshopper

It is 1.25 inches (4.2 cm) tall by 3 inches (10.6 cm) wide. It is 505 gram.

It is tarnished and has rust, stains, rubbing of gilding, oxidation, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell...

Very rare small silk holder in black and gold lacquered wood. Similar models but of normal size to carry kimono are not frequent but of this small size it is quite exceptional. I am not sure about the function, but as the object can be dismantled easily, I think it is a travel silk stand, probably for towels. The decoration of gold powder tendrils on a black lacquer background surrounds the Mon of 2 families which leads me to believe that this silk holder was a wedding gift...

Bucket used to collect the sap of the Rhus Vernicifluum tree, first step in the process of lacquer elaboration. Nice traces of use and time. Meiji period. Birch bark. High : 24 cm, diam. : 16 cm.

An antique Japanese Kanazawa Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. In 2 sections with sliding doors and drawers, the bottom doors open to a spacious storage area with a removable shelf. The upper left sliding door pair reveal a permanent split level shelf while the right side doors and the top doors open to more storage space. Original Urushi lacquer and hand forged Hirute handles complete this elegant tansu...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zekova) wood. The body and drawer fronts use this highly prized and rare wood while the drawer backs and interior were made using Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with beautiful lock plates that feature the lucky treasure bag (Fukubukuro), Mokko style handles and drawer corners with fine stimple work. The safe door hides two small drawers that were used for the storage of valuables. ...

Nice little teapot in satzuma earthenware. Decorated with a landscape of madarin ducks, symbol of marital happiness. Original handle in woven bamboo fibre. Signature of the artist, I did not look for it but I can do it on request. Perfect condition. Width about: 11cm

Height: 3 cm (1.3 in)
Width: 3.1 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 2.4 cm (0.9 in)

Rare quality wooden netsuke of a girl holding down a large fish; expression and detail is first class; this netsuke is rare and is a work by Itchiku; his mark is on the base; good condition

Antique Japanese iron tsuba (sword hand guard) decorated with mixed metal gold and silver inlay. One side show a scene of a small dog playing with a grass hopper amidst grasses and flowers. In the distance are mountains topped with gold. The reverse side is signed by the maker and shows a scene of a small sleeping dog curled up in the bamboo by a stream.

Age: Late Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: 3" long x 2 7/8" wide

An antique Japanese large rare Ema (votive prayer board) hand painted in Makie gold over a black lacquer background. A hand forged iron pin mounted to the top center of the frame was used to securely hang this dedication sacred object at a Japanese shrine.

Back in the day, live horses were donated and dedicated to a shrine. As the times changed, prayer boards were donated instead with painted horses replacing the live ones. More recently, all forms of subject matter are shown on the J...

Antique Japanese framed scroll painting by the artist Mori Sosen (1747-1821), Japanese painter of the Shijō school during the Edo period. Although he did paint other animals and birds, Sosen is most famous for his paintings monkeys. In this painting, a mother monkey grooms her young one. Her expression is one of intent concentration while her little monkey protests. Sosen was a master at painting monkeys, delineating every hair and creating a soft effect. Painted in sumi ink and light col...