Japanese Edo period woodblock print titled "Four" (yon/shi) depicting the actors Onoe Kikugoro IV and Ichikawa Kodanji IV in the roles of Oiwa and Izaemon from a series titled "After The Seven Iroha" by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) dated 8/1856. This series was published the same year as "Seven Variations of the Iroha." The title cartouches of the prints in this series feature ciphers written seven different ways. "Iroha" refers to a distinct form of Japanese poetry...

Two paintings of a abbots or patriarch sitting on a small pedestal. One of them holds a vajra in the right hand and a tip of his garment in the left hand. His sandals are underneath the pedestal as well as a ewer. The other priest holds a flat device in his right hand and a tip of his garment in his left hand. Underneath the pedestal are his sandals. Very detailed painting. Black ink, mineral colors, gofun and gold on loosely woven silk (ca. 30 over 14 threads)...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), made of keyaki (elm) wood with beautiful strong grain and burl wood on especially on the sliding panels and the drawer panels, sliders open to compartment with one shelf, right side has 3 small drawers, 2 medium sized drawers on bottom and one large drawer on top, heavy iron hardware and original reddish orange translucent lacquer finish, from the Shinshu area of Nagano Prefecture, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 38" high x 36" wide x 14 1...

Antique Japanese Funa Tansu (merchant's ship safe), made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood, heavy iron hardware including raised Chrysanthemum buds in corners and on hinges, large iron Chrysanthemum locks, sliding panel opens to 2 interior drawers, hinged door opens to 3 interior drawers, comes with 2 keys.

Mid Edo Period

Dimensions: 19" high x 21 1/4" wide x 17" deep.

Antique Japanese Sakata Funa Tansu (safe chest), made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with reddish orange translucent Urushi lacquer finish, single locking panel can be removed to reveal 5 interior drawers of different sizes, iron hardware including bamboo shaped exterior lock and Chrysanthemum shaped interior lock, bronze interior drawer pulls, Sakata area, late Edo Period (c. 1850). Size: 13" high x 21 1/2" wide x 14 1/4" deep.

Incredible highly detailed hand carved Japanese temple ranma (transom carving). Carved of a solid thick slab of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. Depicting a pair of beautiful musical apsaras (celestial beings), floating in a elaborate swirling clouds. Each figure is adorned with a head dress and whimsical flowing dress. The celestial beings are shown holding a drum and the other a flute. The transom is carved in high relief with great detail...

Antique Japanese tansu with locking bar over three drawers, one large bottom drawer with chrysanthemum lock, safe compartment with two small interior drawers and one secret compartment, opaque black lacquer finish on front, sides and top are a deep red translucent lacquer finish, iron hardware with scrolling design and mon on locking bar, Sakata area, early Meiji Period (late 19th century). Size: 36" high x 35" wide x 17 1/2" deep.

Beautiful Japanese mizuya (kitchen tansu), all keyaki front with very dramatic grain and original red-orange tranlslucent lacquer finish, 2 sections with an unusually tall top section including 4 separate compartments covered by sliders and a series of 5 small drawers; bottom section has a large compartment with 4 sliding panels and a row of 9 drawers.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 68 1/2" high x 65 1/2" wide x 17" deep

A set of 10 Hirado porcelain lidded bowls decorated in underglaze blue with mountain landscape on one half and prunus on the other. The interior has a central floral roundel and wave design on the rim. Each marked Hirado, Kasho. The original wood box, tomobako, inscribed "Hizen Hirado yaki", Kodai (ancient), Prunus, Sansui ga (oriental style painting of mountains and water). One bowl is damaged - 9 sets plus a lid. Late Meiji/Taisho period...

A Japanese earthenware hot water pourer (yuzamashi), decorated with shaped panels depicting landscapes and flowers and roundels, all on a gilt red ground, the base marked Kutani, Shoza. Dimensions: 3/ 3/16" (8cm) x 4 1/8" (10.5cm) across(from tip to tip) x 1 7/8" (4.5 cm) high. Meiji period.

Japanese Arita vase of ovoid shape decorated in underglaze blue with a continuous design of a small boat on a tranquil lake beside a large rocky outcrop, the base marked Arita kiln, with illegible artist's signature, Taisho period. Height 13"

Large Lidded Imari Bowl and cover decorated in underglazed blue with a scrolling design of leafy camellia, Meiji period. Dimensions: 9 3/4" X 5 1/2".

Wonderful large Japanese Gosho-ningyo baby doll, standing with arms outstretched, charming expression and stance, baby tunic made of silk with gold embroidery, 19th century. Size: 14 1/2" high x 16" wide

The mother of all daruma wood carvings. On the back of this Edo Period c.1700 masterpiece is engraved 'Genroku 13' (c.1700) ,'Saigenshin Tsukuri' carved by Saigenshin, a famous zen monk of the time. Also 'Kyosagaju' meaning he was from a temple in the Saga District of Western Kyoto. The Carving is a magnificent flow of lines and expression. Definitely a museum quality piece. A few minor areas where the lacquer has worn away but in astonishingly great shape. $2400. (w:30cm x h:43cm)...

A Late 18th Century Japanese suit of armor. This suit is an example of blue laced HON KOZANE NIMAI-DO GUSOKU. Seated height of 79" to tip of feather, 18" wide at the chest an 13" deep. Comes with storage box which is also used as seat.

Japanese Early 20th Century wooden carving of adult monkey holding fruit with juvenile monkey playing below. Carved by artist, SUIUN. 18" height by 16" width by 9" depth.

Japanese antique Satsuma ware incensor in the form of a fudog with a child on top of a drum on his back, very charming, drum is painted with images of children, Meiji Period. Size: 5 3/4" high x 5" long.

Japanese antique kuruma from the Noto Peninsula area, very unusual configuration: large drawer on top with chrysanthemum lock, 4 drawers with ring pulls and locking bar on left side of chest, to the right is an open compartment with sliders with vertical slats, below that is a medium size drawer, on the bottom left is another open compartment covered by sliders with horizontal slats, on the bottom right is a safe box with small interior drawers, comes with 2 keys, has a removable carved w...

Original woodblock print by Helen Hyde entitled "Baby Talk". One of her most famous prints. The print has "Copyright 1908 by Helen Hyde" printed within the lower left hand oval border. Fine impression and color. The title, "Baby Talk" and the print number - 178, are written in pencil. There is also the number and 64281 written in pencil below the lower middle border. The paper measures 21" wide and 13 1/2" tall. The print measures 18 3/4" wide by 12" tall.

Japanese Meiji Period bronze USUBATA vase. The vase sits on a tripod base and has the design in silver inlays of a small rocky island with pine trees under the moonlight and with the ocean with waves around it. Stamped KAMETANI on the bottom. The vase measures 11 1/2" tall, 12 3/4" diameter at top and 7 1/2" diameter at base.

A set of 10 lidded Hirado Japanese porcelain bowls decorated in underglaze blue with mountain landscape on one half and prunus on the other. The interior has a central floral roundel and wave design on the rim. Each marked Hirado, Kasho. The tomobako (original box), inscribed "Hizen Hirado yaki", Kodai (ancient), Prunus, Sansui ga (oriental style painting of mountains and water). Late Meiji/Taisho period, early 1900s...

Japanese Meiji Period pair of bronze chickens. Unsigned. The cock is laying down and grooming its feathers while the standing hen look on. The hen measures 4" tall, 6" long and 2 1/4" wide. The cock is 2 3/8" tall, 5" long and 2 1/2" wide.

Japanese Late Edo - Early Meiji Period TAKEDA actor doll. The doll has GOFUN (powder made from oyster shells) head and hands, painted eyes, cloth and paper clothing, armor and weapons. Great facial and body expression. The doll measures 12 1/2" tall and 9" wide. The stand measures 9 1/2" wide, 2 1/4" tall and 6 3/4" deep.

Japanese Imari charger finely enameled with panels of two phoenixes on stylized floral scrolling grounds - all in green, red, blue and purple enamel with gilding. The reverse side is decorated in underglaze blue with karakusa scroll pattern and with fork shaped factory mark...

A Japanese Kutani plate with flat base and short rim, finely painted with a pair of sparrows on a red leafed maple branch, the reverse marked "Kutani". Late Meiji/Taisho period, early 1900s.

Dimensions: Approx. 12" (30.4cm) in diameter, 3/4" (2cm) deep.

There is no visible image of God in the Japanese Shinto religion. For this reason, people naturally find the spirit of God in their surroundings. From the ancient times, God was said to dwell in pine trees and as a result, we find many Meiji fukusa today that are decorated with pine trees. Many of them have their roots in Noh play. Japanese Noh, which was patronized by Muromachi and Edo Shogun, and performed exclusively for the Samurai class, was actually developed from a dance that farmers...

Two very rare Ko-imari rice bowls from the Genroku period. C. 1690-1710. These are just gorgeous, the bottoms are painted in the chevron pattern, and various geometrical patterns of roundels with honey comb patterns throughout. Two dragons adorn either side of each cup and each surrounded with colors of iron red and green enamels with gold gilt accents. Each bowl and cover are in perfect condition with very little wear to the enamels, almost non-existant. They measure with lid on about 3 1/8" ...

Japanese late 19th century set of black and gold lacquered trays. The set consists of 5 trays with the exact same design. Made by lacquer artist, MUNEMITSU. Each tray measures 10" by 10" and is 1 3/8" tall.

Antique Japanese fukusa (gift cover), Yuzen-zome (paste regist dye) on silk kabe-ori (coarse crepe silk), early 1900s.

For a man to be a well balanced nobleman, there were requirements to be filled. 'Kin Ki Sho Ga', the four accomplishments of gentlemen, were chosen at an early time in China, practicing Kin (koto, music instrument), ki (go, Chinese chess), sho (calligraphy) and ga (painting). Here on this fukusa, with some variation (tea - sencha? was added), are the Six Immortals of the...

Antique Japanese yogi, thickly woven cotton, trimmed and lined with dark aizome (Japanese blue dye). There is a opening in the center of the liner where the cotton wadding was taken out. Excellent condition (old but new). The accent piece (dyed in Katazome, stencil dye) on the collar and shoulder area were added (remove and wash purpose) and slightly soiled. Late Meiji to early Showa. Dimensions: 63" x 68" L

A unique Edo Period Tengu (Devilish Imp) Mask with a handle in the back for use in parades. In fact, this was purchased in Japan in the 1960's directly from the parade participant who was using it, after the parade was over. A rare piece from a renowned collection. 8h x 5w x 5.75d inches, 20.5 x 12.5 x 14.5 cm. Wood with traces of pigment. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was ...

A Fukagawa Koransha Arita bottle vase, the glaze a very pale pink with decoration of grey leaves and three red cherries. Orchid (Koransha) mark in underglaze blue, early 20th century. Height "7/ 18 cm. Condition: slight wear to the gilt rim of the neck.

Four flat dishes with spur marks and so probably Japanese, Meiji c 1900, all with a matted powder blue glaze, also covering the back and the foot rim. Diameter "8/ 20 cm. Condition: minimal glaze frits to the rim of two plates, as seen on photos.

Very unique group of four old Japanese scholar's seal. Two of them are made of bamboo one made of stone the other one is made of wood. Tallest is 2" High with normal wear. $360

This old Japanese Noh theater mask has the expressive face of an old man. The mask is carved from paulownia wood and dates to middle Edo period, around 1750. The patina is wonderful.

Mask measures approx 8 inches high and 6 inches wide

From our Japanese Collection, a good kutani baluster-shaped jar and cover, Meiji Period (1868-1912), executed in traditional kutani palette of iron-red, green, yellow, and gilt highlights, depicting a continuous scene of figures gathered around the circumference of the piece. A small but charming example of genuine 19th century kutani.

Size and condition: 7 1/4 inches tall, 5 inches at the shoulder. Some very minor rubbing to the gilt commensurate with age, and an incidental hair line on ...