In our opinion this is the best Iga Vase, we have ever seen. Massive and intentionally distorted Vase of wonderful native Iga clay. The vase is 3300 g heavy and has a height of 8,1'' and a width of 7,1'', which is very tall for an antique Iga vase.

The vase was made between 1800 - 1850 during the later Edo Period and is in good antique condition. No repairs. Only an untimportant chip on the bottom caused during the process of firing. The vase comes with an old wooden box...

An antique flask much like a tokkuri used for transporting sake, the "abura" (oil) "dokkuri" (flask) was used to transport oil products. H.27cm (10.5"), Body Dia.16cm (6.25".) This one is from the old Echigo (present-day Niigata Prefecture) which had stores of oil used for heating and lighting that were shipped up the Japan Sea coast north to Hokkaido. This example is wonderfully pitted with oil over a white glaze, produced at one of the no longer existent folk kilns of the Echigo region...

Antique Japanese beautiful pair of Kacho (bird and flower) 6-panel screen paintings, painted with scenes of pairs of different birds by a stream; depicted are herons, pheasants, mandarin ducks, and others; growing near river are cherry trees, peonies and pines; painted in mineral colors and gofun on paper with gold leaf mist, early 19th century (Edo Period)

Provenance: from the collection of the Honolulu Museum of Art.

Early 19th Century

Size: Each...

Beautiful Japanese scroll painting depicting farm women with large baskets on their backs making their way up a steep mountain path, the snowy slopes of Mt. Fuji rise out of the trees in the distance, a beautiful rural scene, painting in light mineral colors and ink on silk, after Hokusai, Meiji Period. Size of painting: 38" high x 16 3/8" wide Total size of scroll: 71" high x 21 1/4" wide (23 1/2" wide including ends)

This is Late 19th Century, wondefully carved Four-case Lacquered Inro carved to a cinnabar background depicting figural scenes on both sides. It comes with a beautiful lacquered Manju Netsuke that show in a rainbow fashion its various layers of red and green lacquer...

Antique Japanese wood carving of a pair of celestial maidens. From the group of heavenly beings known as Tennin in Japan, these beautiful female figures, Tennyo, or Apsaras, are similar counter parts to the western angel. These crowned women, floating in intricately carved swirling clouds, represent heavenly attendants of the Buddhist realm...

19-20cc Karatsu Guinomi (sake cup) With Gold Decoration Antique Sake Ware
Skillfully decorated with gold however it is not a repair but a decoration of unglazed areas.

Karatsu ware is one of most desired pottery type in Japan based in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture since 15th century.

Size
Width 7cm
Height 4.6cm

Condition
No cracks, no chips

19th Century, Boxwood Netsuke finely hand-carved and engraved boxwood netsuke depicting a squatting Karako (Chinese Boy), wearing the customary Chinese garb, hiding an Okame mask behind his back. He is doing the Bekkanko gesture, which tells us that he is playing a game with his friends where the objective is for other people to guess what he is hiding. Nice compact form; great expression and form details; nice mellow patina...

This 19th century Japanese wood netsuke of KIKORI (woodcutter) is 1 3/8 inches tall, 1 ½ inches wide and 1 1/8 inches thick. It depicts a sitting woodcutter, his left hand holds an ax; his right hand holds a double gourd wine container. A bundle of tree branches leans on his side. It is carved from an unknown hard wood and is not signed. It is in great condition.

This poetry and artwork, done by one of the most renowned and loved waka poets of the 19th century—Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875), tells the story of a personal moment of joy and contemplation upon returning home one autumn evening accompanied by the brilliant moon above...

A rare large vase by Kanzan Denshichi decorated with a hermitage in the hills and a poem extolling the beauty of summers first rain by Kanzan Denshichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box bearing the Shountei seal, dating it between 1871 and 1890. It is 34 cm (13-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kanzan Denshichi (1821-1890) was born in the ceramic-producing area of Seto...

A rare antique Japanese temple carving of a mythical sea turtle swimming among the rough ocean waves. Hand carved from one solid piece of Kuwanoki (Mulberry) wood, its three dimensional deep relief was carved on both sides. With large wisps of sea algae trailing on the back of its shell, the Kame (turtle) is a Japanese symbol of longevity signifying 10,000 years of long life. Fine detail and craftsmanship are evident especially in the claws, the scales and its head...

Here in Kyoto our gallery is located along the Kamo River in a district known as Shobu-en Machi, which roughly translates as “Iris Town.” As you can imagine, the scene depicted in this painting of irises and cranes is one that can be commonly witnessed in our neighborhood in the spring (May) when these flowers are in full bloom...

This is 19th century, hand-0carved netsuke depicting two Karakos with typical costume who are holding a large Daruma Doll. Netsuke measures 1.24 inches (3.1cm) wide, and 2.12 inches (5.4cm) tall. Netsuke is in excellent condition, as may seen in the posted photos.

An exquisite Edo period incense burner, the fine red clay covered in running bamboo glaze from the kilns of Takatori on the southern Island of Kyushu wrapped in a silk pouch and enclosed in a period Kiri-wood box. The lid is solid silver pierced with roiling fronds. It is 7.5 cm diameter, 7 cm tall excluding the silver lid, and in excellent condition.
Takatori-yaki, is a traditional style of Japanese pottery that originated in the early 17th century...

An antique pair of architectural corbels of mythological elephant baku’s are commonly placed under the eaves of Japanese Buddhist temple and Shinto Shrines to ward off evil spirits. The baku devour dreams and nightmares and protector against evil. The baku cannot be summoned without caution, however as ancient legions say that if the baku is not satisfied after consuming the nightmares, he may devour ones hopes and dreams...

Antique Japanese painted ceramic figure of seated Daruma. Made from a mold and painted, this is an unusually expressive and detailed depiction of Bodhidharma, the monk founder of Zen Buddhism. He has his traditionally intense expression and, in this case, his robes are decorated with flowers. Daruma is a popular good luck symbol for prosperity and perseverance.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10" high x 7 1/2" wide x 7" deep.

This poem, inscribed with Rengetsu’s unmistakeable flowing calligraphic script, is set on a backdrop of colored washi paper decorated with gold flecks and intricate renderings of magical forest spirits. The spirits are drawn using “gofun”—a calcium carbonate powder obtained by heating and grinding oyster shells collected around the Inland Sea coast. Due to the luminiferous properties of gofun, the spirits seem to appear and disappear depending on the light and the angle of viewing—add...