19th century Japanese chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in a shape of a storage jar with narrow waist and wider shoulders, and 2 mock ring handles. Old Bizen ware with characteristic dark brown clay bearing the marks of potter’s fingers as he was turning the piece on a wheel. Typical Japanese elliptical lines on the bottom left by a string used to cut the item off the turning wheel. Possibly marked by the bottom - see the detail on Enlargement 1...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in a shape of a storage jar with 4 mock lug handles. Buff colored stoneware body with free bulbous body bearing the marks of potter’s fingers as he was turning the piece on a wheel. Beautiful glaze turning from brown to off-white towards the bottom of the piece. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Old bone lid lined with gold leaf paper on the inside...

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) ceramic chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in bunrin (apple) shape with a single small handle. Unusual Kyoto piece made in neriage (agateware) technique that is achieved by laminating different colored clays together and throwing them on a wheel to develop a swirling and spiraling effect. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag).Old turned bone lid lined with gold leaf paper on the inside...

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese burlwood stand with live edge and two sides with wave shaped edges, to be used for placing small objects during tea ceremony or display of okimono. Wonderful dense wood with supremely beautiful texture resembling swirling clouds, in excellent condition. Size 6 x 5 inches, 0.35 inches thick.

Early 19th century Japanese wooden devotional carving of Kannon (Chinese Guanyin, or Avalokiteshvara) - the Boddhisattva of Compassion - enveloped in her robe and cape. Kannon grants deliverance from suffering to anyone who calls upon her name. Wonderful quality work, beautiful tranquil face, graceful flow of her robe. Old small losses to nose and feet as can be see on photos. Marked on the bottom in ink with one character followed by kakihan (monogram of the carver)...

Late Meiji (1890s - 1910s) Japanese bamboo wrist rest used by painters and calligraphers, with low relief carving of an iris flower about to bloom and cursively written poem. Beautiful subtle piece, superb quality carving, rich warm patina, in excellent condition. Wonderful object for a scholar’s desk. Size 6 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches.

19th century or earlier Japanese magatama bead made out of lapis lazuli. Magatama are curved beads which first appeared in Japan during the Jomon period (circa 1000 BCE), and in Korea during the Prehistoric period, mainly in the Bronze Age and Neolithic. They are found in mounded tumulus graves as offerings to deities, and continued to be popular with the ruling elite throughout the Kofun Period, and are often romanticized as indicative of the Yamato Dynasty of Japan...

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke, the top being Chinese carving adopted as netsuke, with scene of 5 scholars among various trees and pavilions. Excellent quality work with deep undercarving, beautiful wear and patina, in great condition, dark hardwood bowl with old natural stable lines, peg at the back for the cord. Bowl diameter 1.76 inches.

Late Meiji (1890s to 1910s) bone obidome (sash ornament) carved as a pair of swimming carp. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Clever design, good quality carving, nice finish and patina, two metal fittings on the back for an obi cord. Length 2.95 inches.

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese pottery Kyoto ware chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in double gourd shape with enamel decoration of brocade pattern with leaves, branches and flowers. Beautiful finely crackled glaze, wonderful slightly crooked upper part of the gourd giving the piece extra character. The foot shows stoneware body with concentric lines. Old turned lid lined with gold foil paper on the inside...

A Japanese wood netsuke depicting a group of mushrooms with a caterpillar on the dome of the highest. Himotoshi is under the base. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 3,5 x 3,8 x 3,7 cm. Condition report: Good condition

A Japanese boxwood netsuke of a coiled snake around a lotus. The pistils are completely articulated pistils. The himotoshi is formed by the stem of the lotus. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 5 x 3,5 x 3,6 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Hard porcelain dish, painted in cobalt blue under glassure. Decor typical of the second half of the 18th century. Japanese work, Arita kilns. Below are drawn 6 Chinese characters, apocryphal mark of Emperor Ming Tchenghoa. The shibata collection of the Porcelain Museum in Arita hosts a dish with a similar decoration. Good condition. Diameter: 215mm

Arita fine porcelain tea bowl, decorated with dragons and stylized flowers, painted in underglaze cobalt blue. Japanese work from the early 18th century, perhaps a little earlier. Good enamel quality, pretty deep blue, excellent firing. Well drawn. This type of bowl is rare. Below are 6 Chinese characters that we have not translated.The top edge is coated with brown iron oxide pigment. Good condition. Height: 95mm. We have a second.

Large Imari style hard porcelain dish. Landscape and flower decoration in underglaze grand feu cobalt blue and low-fired irond red enamels, gold details. Japanese work from the end of the 17th century, Arita kiln. Below are traces of typical porcelain shards marks. Good condition, no restoration. Some wear from use visible on photos. Diameter: 36cm.

STATUE OF BUDDHA

Buddhist wood carving image, Edo-Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. H 23 x W 8.5 x D 5cm (9.05 x 3.34 x 1.96in). Been more aesthetic and attractive with such defective but refined withered condition...

Box and its tray in black lacquered wood decorated with bindweed in gold and silver powdered lacquer. Details of gold squares. Black interior. Nice finish. No signature. Japanese work from the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century, Meiji or Showa period. Good condition except for some wear on the corners visible in the photos. No catering.

A Japanese fascinating embroidered silk hanging tapestry depicting a flying Phoenix 鳳凰 and a Kirin 麒麟, the two most powerful and sacred beasts of all Japanese within a silk frame finely decorated with a dense pattern of stylized motifs. The central scene is very unusual and it represents a Phoenix in flight in the upper part and a Kirin looking at each other. Even the back is finely embroidered with a dense decoration of stylized motifs on a blue background. The kirin and the ph...

A gosu blue Satsuma sculpture depicting Jurōjin 寿老人, one of the seven lucky God (shichifukujin 七福神) holding a fan with his right hand and finely decorated with red, turquoise and blue polychrome enamels enriched with gold motifs. The Kimono is finely decorated with floral and phoenix motifs. The sculpture is signed Satsuma Senjudō’ 薩摩宣壽堂 on the back within a rectangular gold reserve with Shimazu Mon (Emblem of the Shimazu family). God of Wisdom...

Heavily distorted shoe shaped (kutsu) Kuro Oribe Chawan from the mid 19th century (late Edo) with a strongly flaring mouth made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potters knife in its lower part and covered with a very deep black iron oxide glaze inside and outside.

A window has been left unglazed and shows a typical Momoyama era design...

A rare and beautiful Japanese KOZUKA KNIFE HANDLE of a by-knife that is part of a sword mounting. It is kept in a slot on the reverse side of a Kattana Scabbard, often with a matching Kogai. It depicts the Gatekeepers arm-wrestling, EDO PERIOD (1603-1868). Shakudo alloy with GOLD decorated appliqué of the Guardian Kings AGYO and UNGYO. Size: 9.5 cm x 1.4 cm.

Rare 19th century Japanese ceramic Kuro Oribe chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) with two mock handles. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Beautiful free potting, typical elliptical lines on the foot left by a string used to cut off the piece from potter’s wheel. Characteristic kuro (black) Oribe beautiful rich glaze enveloping most of the sides with one open areas painted with underglaze brown flowers, extraordinary patina...

1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) ceramic chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony). Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag)...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese ceramic Oribe ware chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) with two mock handles. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Characteristic rich green glaze on the top, beautiful underglaze brown painting of fern sprigs on one side and plant shoots and brocade patterns on the other, wonderful finely crackled glaze. Oribe ware (named after Furuta Oribe - a famous 16th century tea master) was produced in Mino and...

Very unusual 19th century Asakusa school Japanese staghorn kanzashi - a hair pin - carved on one end as a lotus with folded leaf, stems and a bud. Superbly clever piece, excellent execution, probably carved by Kokusai himself - this superb and original carver, the founder of Asakusa school of netsuke carving is listed on p. 648 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Outstanding object, warm yellowish patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn, ...

18th century boxwood netsuke of minogame (turtle with dragon head and bushy tail, usually associated with longevity) sitting on water lily leaf. Strong early carving, great detailing of the turtle, its carapace, tail and head. Length 2.1 inches.

19th century wooden sashi netsuke made out of natural length of root wood. Elegant simple piece in Japanese taste, himotoshi by the top for hanging, extraordinary beautiful patina, great feel of age, excellent piece for a scholar’s desk. Length 6.25 inches.

Unusual late Taisho (1920s) netsuke of kagamibuta (mirror lid) type with wooden bowl, rotating himotoshi peg and cloisonné top decorated with numerous flowers. Very well made, beautiful enamel colors, in superb condition. Bowl diameter 1.72 inches.

A pair of hexagonal deep cups, choko, or mukuzuke each decorated with two Tojin figures in gilt set against an underglaze blue ground, with panels of brocade patterns alternating with cylindrical rolls of silk brocade (orimono) bound with auspicious kara kusa. The rim decorated with lappets containing partially obscured brocades, rolls of brocade (orimono), and hat of invisibility (kakuregasa), representing the eight precious objects, takara-mono. The interior of the bowl decorated with a Ta...

A set of Japanese bronze monkey with artist sign.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, 20th Century
Size: Height 6.2 - 12.8 C.M. / Width 5 - 10.2 C.M. (size excluding stand)
Condition: Nice condition overall. Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the shipping fee.

Unusual 19th century lacquer ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) of seed shape with faceted surface showing variously colored layers of lacquer from which the piece was built. Wonderful design piece, metal liner, in great condition. Height 0.67 inches.

19th century cypress wood small okimono representing standing Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in his monastic robe dramatically billowing in the wind. The sculpture is skillfully carved out of Japanese cypress branch in ittobori (one cut) style characteristic of Hida Province with clever use of natural wood shape, structure and texture as elements of design. Excellently conveyed expression of extreme concentration on Daruma’s face, beautiful patina. Lengthy inscription in ink on t...

Wabi - sabi Japanese Ryokan entrance way wood lamp from the end of the Taisho Period ca. 1930. Each side with fine shoji lattice work. H: 17"; W: 15"; depth:14". Ask for shipping quote.

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke in manju shape with openwork carving of a winged water dragon in flight among clouds. Superb design and excellent quality sharp carving, beautiful warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Loss to the part of the inner ring (not visible when manju is put together, photo #5, lower right image) not affecting integrity of the piece. Diameter 1.6 inches.

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1900-1920) okimono size wooden mask of the old man Okina with its typical smiling expression. Actual size masks are used in Sambaso dance. Wonderfully captured facial expression, good representation of its hanging lower jaw, great quality carving typical for the Hida school. The material is ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece. Signed ICHISADA on the back - the artist must have been a Hida school carver and worked o...

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1900-1920) okimono size wooden mask of smiling Okame. Wonderfully captured facial expression, cleverly exaggerated cheeks sticking out, great quality carving typical for the Hida school. The material is ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece. Signed SUKEZUMI on the back - the artist must have been a Hida school carver and worked on netsuke as well. Height 5 inches.