An antique Japanese Bo Tansu (locking bar chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Warabite style handles. Three full width drawers and bottom partial width drawer with hinged security door hiding 3 small drawers. Underneath bottom small drawer lies a secret area where important flat documents or valuables were hidden from plain sight...

Hanging bronze (銅掛斜生, dô kakenanaike) depicting a hawk, placed on a branch. The inside is hollow so a bouquet a flowers can be put inside and thus, serve as a vase.

The eagle is considered the king of birds. Its tail feathers are said to be the best feathers for an arrow...

They are carved from a single piece of wood. They are hollowed out on the back to probably receive a column. They had to be at the entrance of a temple and supported the portico. The wood is cracked and blackened by time. I think they are Edo period Japanese, but they may be earlier. They are two magnificent creatures with a powerful and fierce appearance. The fact that the wood is excessively weathered makes me think they were outside the temple, at the front door...

This is Fukusa of beautiful hand embroidery made in Kyoto in the Edo era.(1800-1867) As for the embroidery, the thread which gold leaf was rolled round is used and is made all by hand. The surface does not have a stain and the damage. And there are a few stains to the lining. It does not stand out. This is embroidery of a lucky bird. Size:Length:71cm(27.9inch ) / Width: 67cm( 26.3inch)

It is a Japanese antique natural indigo dye old silk katazome kimono. It is a Excellent condition.It does not have a stain and the damage.It is a pine and a pattern of igeta. size:Length: 140cm (55.1") sleeve to sleeve 120cm (47.2")

Large octagonal bowl made of porcelain, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue. In the center of the bowl a prancing tiger before a roaring stream, looking up towards the sky. Behind him bamboo and rocks. Left of the tiger there is a three-line poem about the tiger and the third moon (May or June).

The sides are decorated with four peonies and leaves draped in arabesques; the rim decorated with a border of key-fret motif...

An antique Japanese Nihonmatsu Kasane Tansu (stacking 2 section chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware featuring Warabite style handles and hints of aged red lacquer. Very spacious storage with a hinged door that secures 3 small drawers. Constructed using Japanese joinery techniques and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 48 1/2" Wide by 48" High by 18 1/4" Deep

An antique Getabako Tansu (shoe cabinet) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Removable shelf. Single section chest that would make a wonderful buffet or shoe storage cabinet. Top has been reinforced.

Age: Meiji period (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 53 1/8" Wide by 27 1/2" High by 15 3/8" Deep

19th century Japanese copper and brass keman in a shape of a rounded fan (uchiwa) with pierced low relief decoration of two phoenixes confronting each other in flight above lotus flowers, buds and leaves rising from a pond, and an elaborate knot in the center. Hanging pendants representing the Wheel of the Buddhist Law and lotus flowers, old glass beads...

Early 19th century netsuke of two crabs crawling about a woven basket containing hamaguri (clams) with more shells thrown around it. Subtle elegant piece in Japanese taste of implied shunga character - clam shells customarily carry erotic connotations, and crabs seem to be aware of it. Beautifully carved, excellent detailing (see the legs and pincers of the crabs as well as clam and woven basket textures), great patina turning darker yellow on the bottom. Length 1 1/4 inches.

19th century marine material netsuke with engraved decoration of a crane taking off by pine saplings and mist. Very nice quality work, beautiful patina, characteristic marine sheen to the surface. Central peg with a horizontal hole in its back part serves as himotoshi. Length 2 3/16 inches.

An antique Japanese Choba Kuruma Tansu (wheeled merchant chest) made fo Keyaki (Zelkova), Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Drawers were made using Kakute handles. Lock bar added additional security for the 2 full width center drawers. Sliding doors open to a spacious storage area and the hinged door secure 2 small drawers behind. Side slats add strength and support...

Edo Era, circa 1850s-1860s, Japanese red lacquer over wood Japanese Bento Box in 5 sections. The exterior features Shibayama style of inlay on a red lacquer ground with the interior and underside being black lacquer. The Shibayama design has several types of stone inlays including MOP with branching, cherry blossoms, leaves, buds and rockery all done in raised work. The workmanship is very good...

19th century decent size Japanese champleve vase with high shoulders and two black and white enamel registers consisting of repeating characters FUKU (happiness), ROKU (wealth) and JU (longevity), and two registers of intricate scrolls, pendant leaves on the shoulder. Essentially the vase is a wish for happiness, prosperity and long life. Very powerful design, awesome presence, in excellent condition...

Original Japanese woodblock print by Kitao Masanobu (1761 – 1816) from the “Eastern Tune Koyka by Fifty Poets”, date 1786. The color woodblock print depicts an image of a seated warrior with a poem above. Print has toning, spots, and marks throughout, fading to inks, loss of red ink stripes on face, abrasions to lower right corner. Not examined out of frame.
Measures:
Sight size: 8.5” high x 6” wide
Framed size: 10.75" high x 8" wide x 1" deep

Late 19th century game counter with rosewood body and 8 marine material tabs, each carved with a monkey in a different attitude. Excellent quality carving - see their fine hairwork, expressive faces and dynamic postures. Counters like this one were used to keep score in the game of whist and became a popular export item to the West in the late 19th century. In excellent condition, tabs lift and go back down perfectly, no cracks, losses or repairs. Counter size 3 5/8 x 2 x 3/8 inches.

A Japanese cast iron tetsubin or water kettle with an undulating rim. The sides are cast in relief with a temple compound amid pines in a generic landscape, the reverse with sparrows in flight, all above a key-fret band. The kettle has a typical stubby "S" spout, wrought iron overhead swing handle, and is fitted with a bronze lid having "garlic clove" knop...

19th Century Japanese Satsuma Earthenware Vase

It is 8.3 inches (21.1 cm) tall by 5 inches (12.6 cm) wide. It is 1.4 Lb.

It has rubbing gold and paint, repairs at the feet, a small chip at the bottom rim, stains and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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Antique Japanese suzuki-bako, calligraphy box. Lacquered with a profusion of wildflowers in gold maki-e technique on black lacquer ground. The underside of the lid is beautifully preserved with more wild flowers growing near a swirling stream. This scene is also rendered in maki-e but includes some flashes of red leaves and a silvery moon on a black lacquer ground with clouds of nashiji. The inside of the box has more fine nashiji clouds on a black ground and contains an ink stone and a cop...

Antique Japanese mounted carving of a group of 6 flying bats. Sculpted with detail and lacquered gold, the group moves together through the air like a small cloud. Mounted and framed in a plexiglass shadow box. Bats are symbols of prosperity and good luck. This carving was most likely part of a larger temple decoration.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: Carving alone: 9" wide. In frame: 12 1/4" wide x 9 1/4" high x 5 1/2" deep.

Cotton cloth with tsutsugaki flower motifs which is hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye. Originally it might have been used as 'yutan' (cover for drawers or a chest) with crests, however this one is used for futon cover as it has cotton dusts in the back. In excellent condition except for a minor beige stain in the white part. The second half of the 19th century. 160cm x 65cm

Tenuki is depicted standing, his head covered by his huge scrotum. It is carved in a wood that seems to me to be cherry. The sculpture is simple and vigorous. The netsuké is ideally compact in shape. The patina of the wood is very old and beautiful. There is a 2 characters signature which I have not translated but can do on request. It is probably a well-known artist. I think beginning of 19°, but maybe before. Height: 55mm Very worn.

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles and the full moon lock plates. Handle back plates feature a stylized Shimizu clan family crest. 4 drawers for spacious kimono storage and a hinged door behind which are 2 small drawers where valuable fashion accessories were stored. Constructed using Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-...

19th century netsuke of a baying stag with its head turned back, its upper front teeth bared. Elegant carving with pure clean lines, excellent hairwork, wonderful depiction of volume of the deer body and his antlers, eyes inlaid in black horn, beautiful patina. Himotoshi is formed by its feet. Wonderful sculpture. Height 1 3/4 inches.

18th century netsuke of a dog sitting on a tied bag. Strong early piece with nice patina, of characteristic 18th century triangular section, differently sized himotoshi consistent with age, wear to its muzzle, old age lines. Height 1 7/8 inches.

The immortal is powerfully carved in wood, probably cherry. Gama Sennin holds his stick in his hand and his toad on his shoulder. He is unusually tall. The sculpture is powerful, the folds of the dress are elegant and the expression is serene. Although Gama-Sennin is attested male there are rare examples of its female representation. The softness of the features make me think that this would be a woman. Although anonymous, it is the work of a good sculptor. Big size 105mm. Normal wear for a ce...

Late 18th to early 19th century Kyoto school netsuke of a puppy wearing a cloth collar, playing with an abalone shell. Strong early piece with amazingly lifelike facial expression and wonderful fur texture worn on protruding parts. Pleasantly chunky, eyes are inlaid with black horn, old stable age lines, wonderful wear and patina turning honey color on the bottom. Deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Excellent strong netsuke. Length 2 1/16 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke carved as a Japanese martial arts MEN (kendo helmet) resting on a DŌ (breast protector) surrounded by a pile of seashells. Unique subject, a bit of a zen puzzle waiting for an answer. The helmet with a metal grill (men-gane) is used to protect the face and has a series of hard leather and fabric flaps to protect the throat and sides of the neck and shoulders. Wonderful use of anabori (cavern carving) - the inside of the grill is hollowed and the folds of the flaps ca...

Unusual 19th century netsuke of a cloth Daruma doll with wonderful inquisitive face and a shaped opening on the back with anabori (cavern carving) of a palace with a procession of scholars crossing a bridge and pavilions in the back. The cavern is carved unusually deep, and pavilions in the back are very well defined, almost impossible to photograph properly. Excellent face with horn inlaid convex eyes, beautiful stippling defining the texture of its cloth body, wonderful functional shape. Great...

19th century netsuke of a Buddhist priest and famous 14th century poet Ikkyu seated next to a human skull and pointing at it as a reminder that all living things must ultimately die. Uncommon subject, wonderful smiling face, great depiction of the scull, nicely detailed (see the short Buddhist rosary around his right hand), beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 7/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of poet Hitomaro wearing his official coat and ritual hat, leaning on a low table thoughtfully contemplating the world as if seeking inspiration for one of his poems. Kakinomoto no Hitomaro was a famous poet and aristocrat of the late Asuka Period (7th/8th centuries), and is considered one of the Thirty Six Poetry Immortals of Japan. Wonderful carving with great intense face, excellent staining, wear and patina. Signed RYOKOSAI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 893 ...

18th century netsuke of an emaciated sennin seated on a base wearing a tattered robe and a leaf cape and holding a staff with a bundle of his possessions tied to its top, and with a dog affectionately leaning onto the man. The subject is Sennin Izenshun (Chinese Wei Shan-Chun), who took good care of a black dog that had come to his hermitage, and one day the dog turned into a dragon and took the sennin to heaven. Rare subject, wonderful quality early carving - see his face with a wide grin and d...

Height: 3 cm (1.2 in)
Width: 3.4 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 2.2 cm (0.8 in)

Japanese wooden netsuke of a seated mask maker; shows a critical expression observing his work; excellent workmanship and form; signed Ryuraku, good condition

Height: 3.3 cm (1.3 cm)
Width: 3.3 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 1.9 cm (0.7 in)

Japanese wooden netsuke of a seated nobleman holding his fan; excellent workmanship, patina and form; signed Masayuki; good condition

Tall slender vase, slightly narrowed in the waist, with a square shoulder and short wide neck and mouth.
The finely ribbed body of middle brown coarse clay is covered with two elongated patches of thin, translucent reddish-brown glaze. The lip with splashes of greenish glaze, on the inside gray glaze.

Karatsu ware. Japan, late Edo period, mid-19th century

Height: 12.25 inches (30.5 cm).

Firing crack in bottom, NOT through and through (does not leak), otherwise mint condi...

Good size 18th century netsuke of a standing sennin (Chinese sage) in a long robe and a leaf cape, carrying on his shoulder a Chinese boy who plays a short trumpet. The netsuke is probably a joke on the subject of bokudo, which is typically depicted as a boy seated on the back of a buffalo and playing a flute - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood.. Unusual subject, wonderful quality carving of their faces, beautiful flowing lines of the robe...