Japanese hand-forged iron tsuba, used to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The front depicts two joyful festival performers, one holding a drum and the other holding a fan, the figures in relief with gilt accenting throughout. The backside of the tsuba shows a large mallet and mortar traditionally used for pounding rice into mochi.

Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 3"

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...

Antique Japanese 4-panel small screen painting of landscape. Mountain landscape with rocky outcroppings, huts and trees on the edge of a wide expanse of water. A group of scholars contemplate a water fall. More figures sit outside waterside huts. A lone figure fishes from a boat. Painted in ink and light colors on paper. Signed Unkoku Toeki (1591-1644).
Unkoku Toeki was the second son of Unkoku Tōgan...

A unusual example of an antique Japanese three section Tansu chest called Ishodansu made of Toneriko (Japanese Ash) and Katsura woods. Original bronze hardware including the Warabite handles and the kissing duck handle backplates. This one-of-a-kind Tansu highlights Yosegi (Marquetry) incorporated into the beautiful Japanese Ash burl. Upper section has two horizontal rolling siding doors hiding a split level display shelf with three side by side drawers below...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Two hinged doors each hiding five drawers storing inventory for the peddler. Bottom rings used to rope the tansu for carrying it about. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 13 1/4" Wide by 40 1/2" High by 23 3/4" Deep

Antique Japanese painting on silk, of a pair of black birds pierced on the branch of a tree. With calligraphy and red chop signature.

Size: 12.5" W x 52" H (entire scroll) 7.75" W x 18.75" H (painting only)

Rare Japanese gyosho bako (peddler's chest traveling backpack) made with 100% Kiri wood (paulownia). With raised lacquer Ichi mon on its hinged front door with red lacquer backside. The door opens to a shallow front compartment with red lacquer frame interior. The top of the chest has a hinged lid with hand-forged iron plating and lock, opening to a deep inner compartment. The bottom area of the peddler's box holds a long sliding drawer with iron ring pulls on either side and red lacquer sides...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant's chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The sides of the chest feature horizontal cross ribs for added strength and durability. Constructed using mortise & tenon, through mortise & tenon, and double through mortise & tenon joinery. Use of hardened wood nails...

Antique Japanese Satsuma pottery group of three fu-dogs wrestling. Each of the three seems to be attacking another in this playful scene. A medium sized fu-dog lays with it's back on the ground, fending off the largest of the group who, in turn, has a smaller fu-dog biting his ear. The overall modeling gives off a feeling of whimsical turmoil and one can almost hear the playful snarls as they bite at each other's ears and toes...

Antique Japanese unusual choba tansu (merchant's chest) with original red lacquer finish hardwood. A single long drawers runs along the top, with four small drawers along the righthand side, and two large, hinged doors on the left, with an interior storage area. Simplistic decorative iron plating of round locks, squared (kakute) handles, and scalloped corner hardware decorative the front and frame of the piece.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 32.75" L x 13.5" W x 26.5" H

Buddhist shrine containing a sculpture of Shichimen Daimyojin in sitting pose, one leg crossed over the other. She sits on the summit of mount Shichimen, one of her shoes by her side, holding a (golden) jewel in her left hand. In the right hand she hold another object, likely a key that is now missing.
Wood decorated with gold and mineral colors. Gilt metal mandorla behind her head, decorated with flaming jewels...

The poem accompanying the artwork on this antique scroll reads: Fishing little trout—Precious drops of dew glisten—Flowing with the blossoms—The mountains and rivers of spring ( Rengetsu, age 78 )...

Extremely Rare 18th Century Edo Period (circa 1780) Musha Ningyô (Japanese Boys Day Figures) representing the famed brave warrior, Kato Kiyomasa (1562-1611), who accompanied Hideyoshi on his campaign against Korea. He is gloriously represented here, along with his attendant holding a banner. Kato is wearing sumptuous brocades, a black velvet trim robe with gold trim and is holding a spear with a sword at his side...

Japanese Jubako, traditional stacked lacquerware food boxes, represent not only culinary refinement but also an important aspect of Japanese food culture. These elegantly tiered containers, often adorned with intricate designs and vibrant colors, are integral to the presentation of special occasion meals such as New Year’s celebrations and formal picnics. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, Jubako boxes like the one featured here showcase the artistry of Japanese lacquerwa...

Antique Japanese pair of paintings depicting two dragons in a dense mist. Gold flashes light up the clouds. Symbolizing the ultimate yang, or masculine energy, the dragon is the controller of both winds and water. Painted in sumi and gold ink on silk and signed by the artist. Both panels are loose (unmounted). Dates from 1834 or later by painter Kanō Seisen'in Osanobu (1796-1846) Some biographical information here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG4764 Here he's...

Japanese Satsuma ware vase in the form of a water bucket, elaborately decorated in raised gold and colorful over glaze with scenes of beautiful maidens and children enjoying a stroll around a lake, beautiful detail, Meiji Period, signed Tanimoto Ryozan. Size: 7 1/4" high

Japanese bronze incenser in the form of Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune. Hotei is clothed with open robes, holding a gunbai fan, seated on top of his large sack. Hotei's name literally means "Cloth Sack", for he can be attributed by the large cloth sack he carries with him during his travels. He is also known as the Laughing Buddha due to his carefree happy nature despite being a wanderer with few material possessions.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions:...

Japanese lacquered gold and silver hira maki-e biwa shape box (kobako).

Japan, Edo period

Length 7,67 in – Width 3,14 in – Heigth 0,7 in

The biwa is a japanese short-necked fretted luth, often used in narrative storrytelling. The biwa is chosen instrument of Benten, goddess of music, eloquence and poetry.