Japanese pair of round fish plates. The raised details of the fish is painted in blue glaze. Along the edges, an impressed pattern makes up the fish's dorsal and pectoral fins. On the bottom, the maker's mark is a tiny blue floret.

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 10 3/4" wide (mouth to tail)

Unusual Japanese Buddhist Zushi with dark, lacquered wood exterior and gilt interior. Enshrined in this portable altar is the statue of Buddha seated on a lotus. His two attendants are sitting on a dragon and fox. The double doors and roof top are decorated with scrolling gilt metal work.

Buddhist traveling altars and shrines create a sacred space of spiritual magnetism and are the product of dedicated craftsmanship...

Japanese porcelain Kakiemon dish, of a lotus form with lobed petals and scalloped edges, with an enamel image of a blue dragon in the center of the well, its body coiled and playing with a ball of fire. The dish stands on a wide, short foot outlined in red enamel.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 9 1/2" w x 2 1/8" h

Smashing pair of zen temple buddhist cloud carvings form the late Edo Period/early Meiji Period c. 1870. Carved out of cypress wood and with gold gilt. Slight wear due to age on a couple of spots but adds character (see photos). Condition very good. One is 10" tall by 12" wide the other slightly smaller. Ask for shipping quote.

This is Tsutsugaki Furosiki manufactured in Iwate Prefecture during the Meiji period. Hemp is very thick and spun by hand. This is dyed with natural glaze. This is the Noshi pattern drawn in the center. The letter is the name of the owner. It has slight amber and slight holes, but does not stand out.　condition is good. Size Length 142 cm (55.9 inches) Width 132 cm (51.9 inches)　　Box.B

Antique Japanese pair of silver shokudai or candlesticks Made of repousse silver with motifs of scrolling vines and chrysanthemums. The base and top of each candle stick is lobed in a lotus pod form with scalloped edges.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 1/4" W x 21 1/2" H

Japanese apothecary tansu made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood in original red lacquer finish, with an iron carrying handle on its top for transportation. The chest holds 35 deep drawers with small ring pulls, each drawer bears an interior calligraphy inscription in sumi ink to indicate which medicine belongs in which drawer...

Japanese Arita porcelain square sake bottle with Dutch Kakiemon decoration. The bottle is square with a short waisted neck and everted lip. Each side is painted with unique images of birds, flowers and plants. The color scheme is iron-red, turquoise, blue and green with some gold. Minor wear consistent with age. Provenance: San Francisco collection.

Date: circa 19th Century

Dimensions: 8.5" X 4"

Rare Antique Japanese Negoro red lacquer tiered stand. Five arched cabriole legs below the hand carved apron, the feet ending at a floral step base. Overall condition is very good and consistent with age.

Edo Period (circa mid 1800's)

Dimensions: 12" w x 14 3/4" h

Japanese iron teapot, or tetsubin, all hand-cast iron in the shape of a Japanese house. The teapot is adorned with leaves and gourds on a thatched roof.

Dates Taisho Period c1920

Dimensions: 8" X 7.5" X 10" (with handle)

Japanese dish or bowl, Ko-Kutani revival from the Meiji period, late 19th century. Enameled in purple, yellow and green with a wave-line border surrounding a motif of poets (?) and a weeping willow in a mountainous seascape. Dark brown rim, the back with Kutani mark in green. Diameter "8 ½ / 21.5 cm. Condition: the back with some rubbing marks and a glaze bubble (cf. pics).

This is the Tsutsugaki curtain used in the Edo period. This was made in the Kyushu region. It is made of fine cotton that is hand spun. This is a person expressing a wooden raft that flows through the river in the season when the cherry blossoms fall. This pattern is a pattern called flower raft. This is a very idyllic depiction of the boatman's expression. The design of the boatman on the raft to go down the river where the cherry blossoms are falling is very elegant and beautiful...

19th century netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape carved with an image of Fukurokuju (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune) pulling a fox costume mask onto his head and holding a 9-tailed whip in his hand. Whip design continues on the back showing an attendant boy, one hand raised in amazement, the other holding a fan. Very unusual subject of a Lucky God as an actor, the whip is a clear reference to a mythical nine-tailed fox...

A rare and unusual Japanese Keyaki burl choba tansu with original dark red translucent lacquer finish. The front of the chest has two hinged doors with hand forged iron fan lock plate, with two drawers below. When the chest is opened, it reveals a spacious interior with a large open compartment, a long top drawer and three smaller all burl wood drawers along the side.

Early Meiji period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 25 1/2 x 15 x 25 3/4 h

19th century netsuke of a fresh tangerine on top of a dried persimmon containing a minute landscape with houses and trees. Superbly carved elegant piece in Japanese taste, wonderful mellow patina and beautiful wear consistent with age. Great depiction of skin textures. Signed MASAYOSHI on the bottom - Sato Masayoshi was a brilliant artist, listed on p. 742 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Elegant old piece in excellent condition...

19th century boxwood netsuke depicting a sitting man who is about to sneeze. The scene represents a street entertainer, in this case a man who tickles himself with a stick and sneezes for the delight of the audience. Excellent carving with unusual absurdly long and narrow head, perfectly captured facial expression, beautifully stained, wonderful patina. Height 1 3/8 inches.

A very nice Japanese, Meiji Period (1868-1911) drum form Satsuma lidded box with two faux molded handles to the sides. The exterior and interior of box and lid each are decorated with scenes. Signed on bottom, it measures 5.5 inches diameter, 3" high.

Japanese satsuma Earthenware Vase, signed "Kinzan" on the bottom in gold in the black background, Ca. Meiji period, 1880's, 6 1/4" high, 3 1/8" wide-widest part, with brilliant gold accent on finely overglaze hand painted figures under the Pink Flowering trees around the entire vase. Gold diaper design in black on the neck and repeated wide leaf pattern border in overglaze enamel on the bottom, signed "Kinzan" in gold on the bottom. The condition is good.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a standing blind masseur with a staff in his hands and a habitual bump on his head. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and then wood starts showing, thus adding yet another color to the piece. Wonderful elegant carving with fantastic sour face and clean lines of his robe, rich warm patina. Height 2 1/8 inches.

Antique Japanese solid Keyaki (Zelkova) hardwood Funa Tansu or ship safe chest. The front of the box has heavy iron plating with the number one (ichi) within a circle, motifs of reishi mushrooms, pine trees and flowers with heavy lock plate. The chest's interior hold two medium drawers over three small drawers, with squared and round iron pulls, and red lacquer fronts. Original finish.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 15 1/2" x 19" x 18"

Japanese iron tsuba, or hand guard for a samurai's sword, with cast motifs of waves inlaid with gold and silver, the patina indicates age and wear from use.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 3"

Japanese porcelain vase of a tapered cylindrical form, with flatted top, and small fluted mouth. The piece depicts three herons in white against a navy blue enamel ground. The foot is signed by Nishiura Enji with two character signature in cobalt blue. Nishiura's studio was famous for it's 'spraying technique' which was unique at the time.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3 1/2" w x 7 1/2" h

An unusual Japanese circular wooden stand with black and red lacquer finish, the edges of the stand are inlaid with shell, standing on slight cabriole tripod feet.

Early 19th century Edo Period

Dimensions: 19" W x 5" H

Early 19th century wooden netsuke of sitting man with a folded fan in his lap. The figure probably represents a traveling street entertainer - a storyteller. Superbly expressive face left unlacquered to allow for detailed carving, the rest of the netsuke is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and then wood starts showing, thus adding yet another color to the piece...

19th century Satsuma ceramic vase with tear drop body and narrow neck with painted enamel decoration of a seated rakan (one of the 18 original disciples of the Buddha), his raised hand holding a bowl, Benten - the only female among the 7 Gods of Good Fortune - seated next to him, and an attendant boy with box of offerings kneeling between them. Extraordinary high quality detailed painting - see fine depiction of their faces and supremely fine rich clothes with numerous patterns...

Circular jingasa with a gradual domed top. The composition is of bamboo, paper, layers of lacquer work with intricate shell inlay. The jingasa is decorated to the edge of three gilt lacquer circular crests (mon) The interior is finished in red with its original cotton gear straps and cushion...

Japanese two(2) section Tansu, chest on chest, Ca. Meiji period, late 1800's, 41" high, 41" wide, 17" deep, Black Iron round Back Plate with floral Mon design, beautiful shaped heavy black iron handles. Two(2) small drawers behind black iron mounted small blind door on lower right side. Two(2) small drawers are "as is", one(1) missing small round ring and damaged wooden area in front.

Unusual Japanese hardwood low shop desk tansu. Original red lacquer finish with heavy iron plates and mounts. The table surface is hinged with three doors that open to interior compartments for papers and other merchant's effects. The middle door has a lady's portrait with calligraphy inscriptions detailing the piece is from a merchant business in "Ume-yashiki, Tokyo" with the merchant name "Shimbashi Kotatsu" and dated 25th year Meiji 1893...

A White porcelain ware figurine of a Japanese puppy. The puppy has a small hole in its' neck, and an open mouth, and functions as a water dropper. Water droppers were used by a scholar to add water to the ink stone when mixing ink. The puppy is very attractive with Hirado style pierced eyes, large ears, modeled toe nails and a raised left foot. The puppy measures about 4" high x 5" long x 3 1/2" wide and dates to the late 19th, early 20th Centuries. The condition is excellent/perfect...

Japanese Erotic Shunga Prints. 8 double-page book illustrations in colours from a shunga book (6 with erotic motifs). Extremely good details of the interiors and clothing. Also part of the lot are 3 pages with poetic inscriptions. Probably by Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865). Japan, late Edo, c. 1850. H 18.5 cm, L 26.5 cm. Condition: Good colours, general fine state of preservation with minor worming (repaired) on a few of the leaves.

Japanese heavy Brocade silk Shrine Uchishiki, or altar cover, Meiji period, 1868-1912, 26" x 26" square, Gold and Silver brocaded double Phoenix birds in the gold metallic background and narrow bands of egg plant color background between. Water stain in one corner on the silk backing, not in front, otherwise the condition is good, still retain the thread to keep the edges flat. There are some writings in the back, but not able to read.

Small shunga book (vol. 1) with indistinct title in oblong format. 14 colour prints with erotic motifs and texts, five scenes in black ink and other pages with text only. Japan, late Edo, early 19th century. H 8 cm, L 18 cm. Condition: Good impressions and bright colours. Some wear to paper.

Japanese tenmoku ware ceramic vessel with ribbed handle, short front spout, and wide open top. The thick oil slick glaze stops just short above the foot left in buff. Tenmoku glaze is made with feldspar, limestone, and iron oxide. The more quickly a piece is cooled, the blacker the glaze will be. Tenmokus are known for their variability. During their heating and cooling, several factors influence the formation of iron crystals within the glaze. A long firing process and a clay body which is...

An elaborately decorated Japanese porcelain elephant with applied beads of enamel and large areas of gold trim. There is a large five point gold leaf centered on its' back. The elephant measures about 9" long x 6" high x 4 1/4" wide, and dates to the early 20th Century. There is a badly worn "Made Japan" mark on the bottom of one foot. The condition is excellent, except for minor wear to some of the gold high points, like the forehead and ear edges. The asking price includes shipping within ...

A large figure of 24 armed seated Kannon, gold gilt over wood carving of the bodhisattva of compassion, seated in meditation atop a lotus pedestal, two of her arms clasped in prayer, the other pair of front hands with palms pointed upwards and thumbs touching, in a meditation mudra.
Kannon Boudhisattva, known as Kannon Bousatsu Lord of Compassion, Goddess of Mercy. Kannon worship began in India around the 1st or 2nd century AD and then spread to Southeast Asia, including Japan, China, a...

Rare Japanese gyosho bako or peddler's chest, constructed with Kiri (paulownia) wood in original dark brown/black lacquer finish. The tall, narrow box is two sections stacked held in place by iron latches on the sides. Each drawer front has square pulls and floral lock plates with brass accent hardware. The top drawer of the bottommost section has a secret hidden compartment for storing precious treasures. Unusual finish in wonderful original condition.

Edo period (1603-1868)