This is a finely carved Netsuke of a Group of Seals. The seals are arranged next to a tiered box. The knobs of the seals are carved as a Shishi, a reishi group, and a rock. One of the seals has a loose ring. One seals has been placed on top of the tiered box. All seals are engraved with red-stained characters. Netsuke measures 1.35 X 1.23 inches (3.4cm X 3.1cm), and 0.62 inches (1.6cm) tall. Unsigned. Netsuke is in excellent preserved contdition.

Antique Japanese Tansu from the Meiji Age in Japan. Made from beautifully cut Chestnut to showoff the striking grain. Small Locking hinged door with two hidden drawers located behind. Dimensions: 33 3/4" High X 40" Long X 15 1/2" Deep

Museum quality Japanese kimono - uchikake wedding gown. The condition of this kimono is excellent, amazingly well preserved without damage or repair. The black area has different shades with a muddy black color, particularly on the sleeves and the middle section of kimono where the black gradually changes to white. The gown is thinly padded (silk wadding) throughout and feather light with very soft silk. The dimension: 50 1/2 inches sleeve to sleeve, 59 inches long...

Japanese Needle Work Rozashi Technique Embroidery of the Interior of Asakusa Temple. Rozashi is embroidery using silk canvas and silk thread. A picture is created and outlined on the canvas and comes alive with the thread and stitching. The difference between Rozashi and other forms of embroidery is the use of the silk canvas called "Ro"...

A rare antique Japanese Sado Funa Tansu (captain's chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron fittings including the case reinforced iron strappings, the autumn bellflower family crest, and the Warabite style handles. Large front door opens to 3 drawers and a faux drawer front behind which is a money box...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Removable hinged door opens to two large compartments where merchant books and store records were kept. Below are two drawers for additional storage. Side handles allow for easy placement of the chest in a room.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 25 3/4" Wide by 41 1/8" High by 17 1/4" Deep

Suzuribako orned with a kakemono in glod and silver lacquer, cerned by plum blossoms in gold hira maki-e lacquer, green, silver and white, on a black lacquer background.
The inside of the lid is orned by a cloud sky in gold and silver lacque, on a hiramei-ji lacquer background (more or less dense gold flakes on a black background).
The inside of suzuribako presents a tray with a suteki (water bucket) with water melon decors, and a suzuri, (inkstone), the all laid on a hiramei-ji ...

Antique Japanese large carved wooden tray, natural form and curled edges reminiscent of a lotus leaf, beautifully sculptured, late Meiji/early Taisho Period. Size: 24 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" wide x 1" deep.

Antique Japanese drum with handle. Lacquered black on sides and wooden handle. Decorated with Tachibana mon (Mandarin-orange flower) in red lacquer on one side and black lacquer on the other. Red characters on one side.

Edo Period (early 19th century)

Dimensions: 16" long x 8 1/2" wide diameter x 2 1/2" deep

Antique Japanese Bizen ware ceramic figure of Daikoku, the god of wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin). Daikoku is seen here seated on top of three large bags of rice. With his right hand he holds his wish-granting mallet over his head. With his left hand he holds a bag of precious things. Bizen ware pottery is made of the reddish brown clay with high iron content that is found in the area around the village of Imbe in Bizen province...

Fireman's hat from the Edo period. The outer fabric is dyed with vegetable indigo and has sashiko stitching. A dragon holding a jewel is hand-painted on the cotton lining. There are some small stains and holes, but nothing noticeable. Condition is good.Size:: Length: 62cm, hem width 85cm

Antique ukiyo-e woodblock print of a samurai warrior in a crouched pose, one sword on his hip and one in his hands. He wears a blue and red kimono and he has a traditional chonmage hairstyle. Framed behind glass. The back of the frame lists artist Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864). Size: (entire frame) 21.75" height, 17.25" width (artwork only) 14.25" height, 9" width

Early 19th century ebony netsuke of two monkeys in a sumo wrestling match. Excellent carving perfectly capturing dynamic postures, great faces, superb patina, very pleasant to hold. Height 1 13/16 inches.

A yamatoe painting depicted an aristocratic man is about to go out for a night out on horseback. It is attributed to Hoyama Yuinen(Hananosha)(1823-1894).

Hoyama Yuinen(Hananosha)(1823-1894) was a painter monk at the end of the Edo period and Meiji period. He was a chief priest of Shinshu Rinshuji Temple...

An Unusual Imari Teapot of compressed form with loop handle and upright spout, raised on three short legs. Decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gilt with a peony scroll. Japan 1700/20. Height; 3" (7.5 cm). Condition; shallow chips to end of spout, firing glaze flaw to side (image 3), cover with a 1.5 cm hairline

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant safe-keep box) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood with original hand forged iron hardware. Acquired a beautiful 200+ year old age patina. Hinged door secures 3 drawers behind which lies a secret box located behind the side by side drawers above.

Unusual side footing purposely made to provide air flow under the box...

Gargoyle or bat-like dragon-esque creatures spread their wings among tendrils of flame on the heavily decorated blue sides of this large pair of 19th century Sometsuke Japanese nesting bowls. Within boats ply the placid waters. The larger bowl is 24.5 cm (just less than 10 inches) diameter,10cm (4 inches) tall. The smaller is 21 cm diameter, 10cm tall and both are in excellent condition, dating from the 19th century.

Miniature shrine, or zushi, with figure of Bishamonten, carved in wood.
Bishamon stands on a demon that is lying on a rock. In his left hand he holds a pagoda and in the right a short staff or stick. Behind his head a gilt metal flaming mandorla. The garment of Bishamonten is decorated in gold paint, the crown and mandorla made of gilt copper.
The inside of the doors decorated with waribishi (diamond) pattern...

The bird-faced Kami (god) Doryo Daigongen strikes a powerful pose astride the back of a mischievous white fox. Doryo is purported to have been an ascetic monk who turned himself into a Tengu when he vowed on his deathbed to protect the Mountain Temple Complex of Daiyuzen in modern day Kanagawa prefecture. This legend inspired a cult which rose to great prominence in the Edo period. To this cult the figure was the ward of Budo (martial arts)...

Antique Japanese woven basket for fruit and ikebana. Wide and round form with low walls made of plated split bamboo. The gnarled and twisted bamboo branch handle makes this a wonderful example of the "wabi-sabi" philosophy which celebrates natural irregularities. Comes with a signed tomobako.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 12" high x 16 1/2" wide

Antique Japanese Todana Tansu made from Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originating in the Kansai region of Japan it features sliding doors covering a shelved storage area with 6 drawers...

The cigarette holder is made of iron decorated with a damascened dragon in gold, silver and sentoku (copper alloy). On the reverse is represented Mount Fuji damascened in silver, at the bottom right the mint mark as well as the "24 carat gold" guarantee. Japanese cigarette holders from this period are very numerous and of different quality, often simple with landscape decoration, sometimes mediocre, some are even vulgar copies in simply gilded metal, but here we have an absolutely exceptional ex...

A Japanese woodblock print from Ukiyo fuzoku Yamato nishiki-e (Japanese colour prints in Ukiyo style). The portrait is by Kabukido Enkyo, active 1796, of the Kabuki actor Ichikawa Yaozo III as Umeomaru.

This print is from the celebrated set of reproductions of the best of ukiyo-e art published in 12 large vols. 240 woodblock-printed reproductions of famous ukiyo-e prints. 1914. The project was overseen by Hashiguchi Goyo, 1880-1921, who also provided text and cover designs. ...

Please see Trocadero#38274 for details.

Dry lacquer Noh mask depicting the character of Kokushiki-Jo and designed to represent divine blessings. Inscription at the back of the mask. Japan, early 20th century, maybe earlier. Height: 20.4 cm. Some chips around the rim, partly flaked lacquer, otherwise good condition. NOTE: This mask is used exclusively in "Okina", an ancient dance ritual said to be close to the roots of Noh. Okina is viewed as sacred and therefore accorded a different status from other items in the Noh repertoire. Lack...

Antique Japanese inro, makie designs of phoenix (ho-o bird) on black lacquer. These large inro are sometimes referred to as sumo wrestler's inro, written "Kahei nuri". The last letter (kao like) is probably "nuri" which means painted or coated with. To roughly quote the Wrangham Index of Inro Artists – according to Soken Kisho, Kahei was a mysterious makie artist that lived in Kyoto during the 18th century. He was prominent enough to have his work called Kahei–nuri, after his name. ...

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1910s) netsuke of Daikoku seated next to his mallet, and a rat climbing onto his shoulder. Daikoku is one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune - that of abundance and of rice - and the rats are associated with him - where there is a lot of rice, there are rats. Very nicely carved, great smiling face, black ink highlights, beautifully depicted textile patterns, pleasant patina. Signed GYOKUZAN on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO ...

Japanese six panel byobu (folding screen painting). Hand-painted with imagery of realistic swimming fish and flowers with gold flecks. Signed in stylized calligraphy with 2 red chops.

Late Meiji/Early Taisho Period

Dimensions: 109" L x 53.75" H

Antique Japanese triptych print of a landscape with a port scene and mountains by Hiroshige Utagawa. Three individual woodblock prints compose this tranquil port scene at the base of a mountain range. Original condition. Each measures 16.5" tall by 9.75" wide, overall 16.5" by 29.5" wide. They are in very good condition with few signs of age. The first print bears seals in the upper and lower left corners. The second print bears seals in the upper and lower right corners. This is an Edo...

Antique Japanese woodblock print of a Kabuki actor with an ornately lacquered cart, scene from play. Signed Gototei Kunisada ga. From 1811-1844 Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) used the name Gototei Kunisada.

Kunisada was born to a family that owned a ferry boat service allowing him the time and money to devote to art. At an early age, he impressed the great master, Toyokuni I of the Utagawa school. He became his apprentice, officially adopting the name Kunisada around 1807. It...

This scroll is an excellent example of the early Showa era style of Shirakura Niho centering around 1930 enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Teishu Sotai. The painting features two persons in a boat contemplating a precipitous waterfall which extends up through the clouds. The phrase Teishu Sotai in old Japanese translates to "meeting of moored boats" in English. It is often used metaphorically to describe a chance encounter or a meeting between two people who happen to be in the...

Early 19th century netsuke in the manner of Tomotada of a recumbent cow with its head resting on a small calf as she cleans his coat with her tongue. Perfectly catches the mood of the scene, strong early carving, hooves bent beneath their bodies for compactness, beautiful wear consistent with age, superb yellowing on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono and picked up oil from the body of the owner. Variously sized very deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time, ...

Antique Japanese small ko tansu (personal chest) made of kiri (paulownia) wood. Thick kiri wood frames five drawers: three large drawers on the top and two smaller drawers side by side on the bottom. Hardware is made of bronze and includes simple warabite shaped drawer pulls and side handles.

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 25 1/4" high x 23 3/4" wide x 13 3/4" deep

Japanese Edo Period Musha Ningyo (Boys Day) Dolls, Samurai Set. Ningyo this early almost never appear for sale, much less with accessories, as we have here with this very fine quality pair. They have finely carved faces, and are lacquered with many coats of gofun (white oyster shell pigment). They are adorned with sumptuous silk brocades and silk armor, indicative of Edo Period Ningyo artistry. Tallest Ningyo: 19 inches (48.25cm).

Height: 17.8 cm (7.3 in)
Width: 7.7 cm (3.1 in)

Quality Japanese cloisonné vase; floral sprig; fine shading work; on a dark blue ground; good condition

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 of a Buddhist prayer, in this spectacular Ningyô. Kato is wearing sumptuous brocades, a black velvet trim robe with gold trim and is holding a spear with a sword at his side. He is seated on a military ...