An antique Japanese Sendai Bo Tansu (Kimono chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and lacquered finish. Main drawer lockplate features Chrysanthemums with the lock bar featuring Pine trees and the bottom lock-late depicting a Paulownia leaf. 2 small drawers reside behind the hinged security door.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 42 1/2" Wide by 35" High by 17" Deep

A rare, large architectural Buddhist temple carving of a Dragon (Ryu), with reverse glass painted eye. The high relief carvings show the dragon's body coiled behind clouds of smoke and waves. Its serpentine body reveals his 3 appendages with classic three claw anatomy. The relief is solid keyaki "zelkova serrata" wood with the original red patina. The dragon which symbolizes the heavenly realm has control of rain, fire, and earth...

In the world of Japanese ceramics, Tamamizu-ware has an almost mythical standing. A branch of the main Raku line, at one time the two kilns held equal prominence, both being endorsed by the major tea schools of Kyoto and both being favored by the Imperial household. The first in the line was an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (Yahē) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho)...

Antique Japanese pair of rare black lacquer dowery tansu for clothing. These fine lacquer cabinets would have held folded clothing and been carried to a brides home containing her dowery of fine textiles. Hinged doors open to reveal 4 shelves inside. Hardware includes 5 hinges on each door, corner bracing, handles for carrying by hand and by pole, and large lock plates all of which are incised with scrolling floral details and made of bronze...

Jûbako picnic box made of paulownia wood and shaped like a paulownia flower. It is composed of three compartments with the interior in red lacquer.

With its original box with several inscriptions, included the datation "- 2nd year of Kaei era", namely 1848

Paulownia (kiri) is considered as a symbol of nobility, honor and longevity...

This exceptional tea bowl was crafted by one of the great masters of Japanese pottery and given the poetic name “Nami” (wave) by a famous tea master of the Ura-senke school of tea. The Chinese character is not the standard writing for wave but rather one with more nuance, suggesting longevity—as in the image of a long enduring cresting wave...

An antique Japanese 2 section Gifu Choba (Merchant ) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Quarter Sawn Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and a beautiful age acquired patina. Unique and rare visual striations in the frame intentionally produced by the quarter sawn cut of the wood. Upper section has a pair of sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area with two side by side drawers below...

This beautiful processional Satsuma Jar or koro is a treasure from he Meiji era. It is signed by both Sozan and Kinkozan. This stoutly made jar is 4 1/2 inches tall and 5 inches wide. The mixed metal lid is a replacement from the Meiji era, that fits perfect and is possibly more attractive than the original. We also have the original lid. It was broken in half and glued back together. The replacement lid has a gold wash in between the raised flowers. The piece has virtually no wear to the gold...

Polychrome celadon ceramic four-lobed tray with two fish yôkai dressed in yukata, a light kimono worn in summer. The yôkai are supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. Most of the ceramic is glazed, except for the brown skin of yôkai which has a matte finish.
Unidentified mark.

Japan - Taishô era (1912-1926)
Height: 1.2 in. (3.4 cm) - diameter: 6.3 in. (16.3 cm)

A rare antique Japanese Sado Kasane (stacking chest on chest) Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Original natural Urushi lacquer finish. Hand forged and hand made iron hardware featuring two Phoenix birds representing immortality on the upper large drawer lock plates, two sea turtles symbolizing 10,000 years of longevity and a crane meaning 1,000 years of long life on the lower drawers...

An dramatic pair of large Japanese golden gilt lotus flowers. Gold gilt in excellent original condition over hand carved wooden lotus flowers. Originally these would have been exhibited at a large temple. Rare to find such a large pair. Typically when found these are much smaller. Each is mounted to a matching base.

Meiji Period (1868 -1912)

26" wide X 53" High

A very finely painted Nabeshima Okawachi porcelain bowl on a high footrim of Mokuhaigata form decorated in under-glaze blue with a pattern of five Hydrangea's in Bloom painted in “Korin Style”. The reverse decorated with three Peony motifs, botan karakusa, and the foot-ring with finely painted kushide comb pattern to the outside of the footring. The dish dates to the late Edo period circa 1800-1840...

An antique Japanese Kasane Kimono Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Gumbai drawer handles and the stylized Chrysanthemum lock plates. Each section has two full width drawers for abundant storage and each section has side handles for carrying the tansu...

Antique Japanese Seto Ware stoneware ishizara (food plate). Covered with a cream colored slip and painted with a pair of crayfish in gosu blue glaze. Produced in or around the city of Seto in Aichi Prefecture. Seto is considered one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan.

Age: Tokugawa Shogunate, Edo Period (late 18th/early 19th century).

Dimensions: 8 3/4" wide x 1 3/4" high

A Chinese style celadon incense burner by one of the 5 Imperial Court Artists of Meiji. Sozan spent his life perfecting techniques for celadon production first used in the Souther Song Dynasty as evidenced here with his powdery blue “kinuta” glaze. The bottom of the vessel is unglazed showing the fine porcelain clay and the adjacent glazed foot bears his Imperial Court Artist seal. While several of Sozan’s better known motifs appear on the market with a fair degree of regularity, this is t...

Very beautiful Japanese table with four legs in gold, black and brown lacquer with two richly decorated tops. The upper tray presents a decoration of bats, kumori (蝙蝠), in flight in gold hiramaki-e lacquer on a brown lacquer background. The openwork side panels feature the same motif. The lower tray and the legs display a decoration of moving or lying sika deer (鹿), also in hiramaki-e gold lacquer on a black lacquer background.

This small piece of fur...

Antique Japanese 2 section isho tansu (clothing chest) constructed of Kiri (paulownia) and Sugi (cedar) wood. With hand-forged iron lock plates, hardware, and handles. The upper section of the piece holds two open compartments side by side, and five shallow drawers of various size. One side of the chest has a lift-away door and the other with pair of sliding door panels framed with shou sugi ban panels. The lower section of the tansu holds five drawers for clothing and three drawers for small t...

First we hear the clang of the hammer striking the bell, then the steadily approaching clop of his wooden shoes before the horrifying creature dressed in the robes of an itinerant priest appears; a ledger in one hand noting our sins. This is a very rare ceramic figurine by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nenbutsu Oni and bearing the seal of the imperial Art Academy. It is 30 cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition. He would have originally held a hammer, ...

A stunning Japanese two-section choba tansu (merchant's chest), made from solid Keyaki (elm) wood, originating from the Mikuni region. The upper section holds a roomy, shelved interior with two bold Keyaki grain sliding door panels. The bottom section holds a long top drawer, with elongated lock plate typical to Mikuni tansu. Below are two small drawers with iron Warabite handles, with old labels in Japanese on the fronts, and a smaller set of sliding Keyaki panel doors. The very bottom of the ...

During the Meiji period there were only five potters ever to be awarded the prestigious designation of Imperial Court Artist: Ito Tozan, Seifu Yohei III, Miyagawa Kozan, Itaya Hazan, and the artist whose work is featured here, Suwa Sozan. Several years prior to receiving this designation, Sozan spent a period of time in Korea where he undertook the formidable task of excavating and restoring ancient Korean kilns in an attempt to replicate traditional techniques used in centuries past. The vase f...

From a large collection of Edo period Nabeshima and Hirado-ware, this intricately crafted vase features two serpentine dragons intertwined across the face of the round porcelain vessel. In addition to the carved dragons, the body displays a painted third dragon, much fiercer than the two in relief. Overall in very good condition, there appear to be fine repairs made to the horns of one dragon.

Hirado wares—alternately known as Mikawachi wares in some contexts—are known throughou...

A collection of twelve samurai arrows, or yajiri, mounted on a custom built museum display stand.

Dimensions: 8 3/4" x 3" x 16" H (overall)

Japanese rare antique 3-panel screen painting of Raigo Zu: Amida Buddha in Raigo pose. The screen has three panels with the two outer panels half the width of the central panel so they open like shrine doors. A bronze butsudan latch keeps the doors closed. The screen opens to reveal a central panel with a large image of Amida Buddha painted in mineral colors and gold on silk and framed with silk brocade of golden clouds. The outer frame is lacquered red.

Age: Muromachi/Momoyama Per...

Japanese scroll painting of 3 skeletons celebrating Obon. One skeleton dances with a fan while two others pay a drum and a shamisen. The Obon festival happens in summer and is a time to honor the dead with music, dance, parades and other events. It is believed that ancestors' spirits return to the world of the living during Obon. Painted in ink and light colors on silk. Signed and with seal of Takeuchi Seiho (1864 - 1942) Seiho traveled and studied in Europe was being strongly influenced ...

Rare large Japanese locking bar tansu made of solid gorgeous quartered sawn Keyaki (elm) hardwood. Finished in its original translucent lacquer finish with a black lacquer frame and dark red lacquer front, top, and sides. The unusual configuration of the chest has not one but two symmetrical hinged safe doors on the left and right sides, two recessed drawers in the center with a locking bar running vertically in front of them, ornate hand-forged iron plates and mounts with Kiri leaf mon, and var...

An incredible pair of Inari (Japanese fox's) made of pottery. Original patina consistent with age. No major damage.
No two Kitsune are exactly alike, and all of them are complex characters! Their high intelligence and boundless creativity make them hard to predict. Foxes and humans lived close together in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serve as its messengers. T...

Unusual Japanese 2-panel calligraphy screen with highly stylized brushstrokes, bordered with silver leaf and silk. The left character reads "Gi" (or Righteousness); On the right reads "Dao" (the path or way). The inscriptions appear to mean "Righteousness must always be pursued".

Signature of a monk or a priest in his late 70s named Kakuan, appearing to date Spring 1851 with a description of the studio in which the painting was made. It is also written that Kakuan was overcome by gr...

An antique Japanese 3 section Kimono Biraki Isho Tansu (stacking chest on chest with hinged doors) constructed entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hinged doors open to 3 removable kimono trays. Spacious storage behind the sliding doors in the top section with 3 additional side by side storage drawers. Bottom section has 2 large drawers for additional storage space. Each section can be separated for use in different rooms of the home. Retaining its original finish, it would both be funct...

A massive Japanese solid Keyaki (elm) hardwood Kannon Biraki merchant's chest. Decorated with hand-forged iron plating, the motifs seen throughout the piece's hardware include the image of Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune, proudly holding up a freshly caught fish, a large Mokko (melon) shaped lock on the front pair of doors, with flowers and pine trees adorning the drawer below in the form of its lock and handle plates. Inside the chest are six more drawers, with a secret compartmen...

Japanese small choba tansu, constructed of Kiri (paulownia) and Sugi (cypress) natural finish wood. With hand-forged iron hardware and plates. The choba has hirute handles, with foliate edge motif lock plates, small pair of sliding middle doors with slats, and a corner bottom safe box with two small drawers inside.

Late Edo / Early Meiji Period (circa 1850's)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" x 14" x 24" H

Antique Japanese 2-section kaidan tansu, or step/stair chest of drawers. Made of solid Keyaki (elm) hardwood, the bold woodgrain is well-complimented by the original deep red lacquer finish and heavy iron hardware. With original set of keys.
Exhibited at the Prestigious SF Fall Art and Antique show, 2017.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 55" L x 26 1/8" D x 80" H

Mounted on a black lacquered platform with wooden wheels. The horse is carved from Keyaki wood, which is covered in lacquered brown leather. The eyes are reverse painted glass. It has ears of leather, with real horse hair tail and mane. The horse is outfitted with iron bits and silk harness. The kura saddle is lacquered in red, with a leather cushion seat and silk straps. Cords are attached to the abumi stirrups and aori mats. The bagu tassel fringes and cords tuck under the tail. The horse stan...

18th century consecrated Japanese dragon (Ryu) temple carving. Its serpentine body reveals his 3 appendages with classic three claw anatomy. The high relief carving engulfs the dragon in flames. The rendering of the dragon's face exudes power and compassion.
The dragon carving was part of the architectural decoration of a Buddhist temple. It has been sanctified with sutras, located in the dragon's eye during the "Eye Opening Ceremony" (Kaigen-Kuyo). The ritual of venerating an image b...

A crow at rest upon a rock raises its head in a gruff cry by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Karasu Okimono. It is pierced in the back, allowing it to be an oki-koro incense burner. It is 34 cm (13-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. A nearly identical piece was published in the 1923 book Sozan Toko, attributed to his late period.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before mo...

Maeda Toshinaga was a Japanese daimyo, who was the second head of the Kasa Domain. He was the eldest son of Maeda Toshiie and married one of Oda Nobunaga's daughters, Ei-Hime. He supported Tokugawa Ieyasu and, after receiving his brother Toshimasa's lands (Noto, 215,000 Koku), controlled a total of 1,250,000 Koku, an amount exceeded only by the Shogunate. Toshinaga built and resided in the Kanazawa Castle. He had no children and adopted his brother Toshitsune as his heir.

2-panel s...

Round ivory kôgô box with shibayama technique, inlaid with gold and pewter or silver lacquer. Lake decoration in two cartouches on the side and the top of the kôgô, surrounded by rinceaux.

It could be the representation of views of Ômi, around Lake Biwa (present Shiga prefecture). The temple on the rocky mountain is probably the Ishiyama-dera, built around 762 A.D. in Ôtsu. It is part of the Kansai Kannon pilgrimage circuit. It is said that Murasaki Shikibu started to write Th...