An antique Japanese Nagoya Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original bronze hardware. 2 section set. Upper section features 2 sets of sliding doors and four side by side drawers below. Bottom section has a pair of sliding doors and 3 side by side drawers. Originally used as a kitchen chest to store large jars of water, dishes, cooking utensils and serving ware...

An antique Japanese Haribako (traditional tall neck sewing box) made of Kuwa (Mulberry), Kuri (Chestnut), and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original finish and hand made bronze hardware. The two upper drawers and the small drawer on the upper neck all have wooden sliding covers to protect the contents within. The hinged cover on the upper neck opens to a small recess where a pin cushion was kept. The center of the neck has a hole where originally a ruler called Shaku used to be held...

A brass wired green and brick red dragon writhes about the brown goldstone surface of this early Meiji 14" charger.

Condition: Good, with pitting usual to pieces of the period and a couple of slight nicks to the brass rim. No chips, hairlines or repairs.

Antique Japanese chobako (small merchant's box) made with Sugi wood (cedar). Original condition. With squared iron handles on flared backplates. Two drawers are fitted with round iron locks.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 25" L x 15" D x 10.25" H

Cast iron teapot. Very deep decoration. Nice quality of cast iron. Unusual interesting decoration, meticulous details (fineness of the dragon ties of the handle). Signed in relief on the back and under the lid. Difficult to date. Meiji or Edo ? only the translation of the signature could tell us the artist and the period. The handle inlaid with plants in silver. Good condition. Height without the handle: 15,5 cm with the handle 25 cm

Antique Japanese Ko Tansu made from a deep red chestnut wood (Kuri), with a black lacquered front frame, three large drawers with iron hirute handles mounted on carved backplates and a large center iron lockplate with pierced heart designs, and two small side drawers with kan (ring) pulls on flower shaped backplates.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 21" height 24.5" width 14.5" depth

Small shrine with the sculpture of Kishimojin, the hands folded in prayer. Plain wood with nice patina, the pupils painted black. On the back inscription in black ink. On the right door of the case inscription in black ink: Angyo Kishimosonjin, the name of the temple and the donor. The inscription on the back of the sculpture is partly the same, indicating that sculpture and case came together. Japan, early 19th century.
Height case: 7 in. (17.9 cm)...

Antique Japanese 2 section 6ft Mizuya with dark red lacquer frame made of Hinoki (cypress) wood, with Sugi (cedar) sides, and Keyaki (elm) burl hardwood front panel drawers and sliders edged with black lacquer frame. From the Kanazawa region. Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, on Japan’s central Honshu Island...

An ivory netsuke depicting the samurai warrior Sato Tadanobu, who saved the life of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Tadanobu is depicted with the goban board under his feet and his right hand behind his head ready to throw the container of pieces, the goke. He signs engraved under the foot and himotoshi on the back. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century. Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm. State of conservation: Very good

A light raku chawan displaying a mitsuba-aoi family crest pressed into the side which has been shattered and repaired with black lacquer mellowed slightly brown, then broken again and repaired with gold. An amazing amount of work to save the fragments. The bowl is 12.5 cm (5 inches) diameter6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall and comes enclosed in an old Kiri-wood collectors’ box...

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel carved with lakeside scene of pagodas in a pine tree forest.

Dimensions: 73" L x 1" D x 13 1/2" Height

Considered an auspicious symbols of wealth, status, and good fortune, foo dogs—commonly referred to as shishi or komainu in Japan—are often seen in pairs guarding shrines, straddling the doorways of shops, and protecting public buildings. The yellow Seto-ware shishi featured here is an antique from the Momoyama period that displays a soft patina developed over many decades of use...

Rather unusual early Showa period (1910s) Japanese mingei (Arts and Crafts) copper box with chased and enameled decoration of a puff of cloud and a white racing pigeon with feather covered legs. Wonderful combination of uchidashi (hammered-out) and moriage (piled-up) techniques: metal was raised from the opposite side and raised surface was subsequently thickly enameled and fired...

Interior scene of a courtesan and attendants from the series “Junshoku Sanjuroku Kasen” issued 1881

Signed Toyohara Kunichika hitsu, dated Meiji 14 (1881), good impression and color, not backed.

Oban tate-e: 10 x 14 1/8 in. including margins

Antique Japanese Buddhist temple banner made of silk and woven with gold gilt paper weft (ginran or kinren) in a dynamic design of a pair of water dragons each facing the center where a burning pearl (woven with silver leaf) floats on a golden cloud. Dragons and pearls together in Buddhist art symbolize the endless cycle of transformation. The flaming pearl is one of the Eight Treasures and represents pure intentions as well as the sacred wish-granting pearl of the Buddhist faith...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (small personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware. Two sliding doors open to a spacious storage area with a split level shelf. 5 drawers provide additional storage and organization. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails. Makes a great side table or functional nightstand.

Age: Late Meiji-Taisho (1910-1920)

Dimensions: 24" Wide by 21 1/2" High by 13" Deep

Japanese sodenashi (work vest), made of indigo and other neutral colored sakiori (rag woven) cotton, edged with indigo cotton, beautifully worn, late 19th century. Size: 26" high x 21 1/2" wide

Ivory netsuke depicting four painter's seals, linked together, of which the most important has a karashishi as a handle, a symbolic figure representing protection and courage. Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 2.2 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm. Conservation status: Excellent condition

Antique Japanese small lacquer safe box with hinged door and 3 small interior drawers. Decorated on all sides including the drawer fronts with detailed harakusa (octopus vine) design in fine maki-e lacquer on a dense nashiji ground. The drawers are covered on all sides in fine nashiji gold flakes. Hardware is made of silver and incised with a similar scrolling vine motif.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 3 1/4" high x 3" wide x 5 3/4" deep

Katsugi or Kazuki which is worn over the head down and fully covers the body, which is made of hemp, whose wefts and warps are hand-plied. Originally, the kazuki was worn by a noble woman when she went out from Heian to Kamakura period (about 9th to 13th century) over kimono. The collar is lowered to cover a head. This one is probably made in early Meiji period (the latter half of the 19th century) in Shonai region in Yamagata Prefecture and worn at the wedding...

This is a small but very beautiful little vase from the Meiji Era. It is highly detailed and except for the leaves and branches, it was done in the basse-taille styl. The glowing cobalt color is even more intense in person. best in the last image. This vase stands just 2 1/2 inches tall and is 1 3/4 inches wide. It has silver rims and is signed on the bottom Kawaguchi Bunzaeoman.

19th century Japanese Satsuma belt buckle decorated with birds among blooming chrysanthemums and a raised bamboo garden aqueduct with water running along it. Excellent quality painting, numerous colors and gold enamels, in excellent condition. Metal backs are stamped with a single character GIN (silver). Size assembled 3.05 x 2.22 inches.

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (Merchant Chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute style handles and the decorative front drawer corners. Double side by side drawers above with sliding doors and three drawers below made this a functional chest for a merchant to store his business books and records as well as store valuables...

Suzuribako (writing box) in lacquer decorated with clematises and kakis trees in black and gold lacquer and kirigane lacquer on a nashi-ji background. This suzuribako is composed of an ink rock, a small water pot and two side compartments in nashi-ji lacquer. Several mon in shape of fans are also present.

Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)

Depth: 2” - 5cm
Length: 9.4” - 24 cm
Width: 8.6” - 22 cm

19th century Satsuma vase of classic shape with painted enamel decoration of the Buddha surrounded by 7 rakan (original disciples), several female disciples and a boy attendant, with buildings, clouds and lotus flowers in the background. The Buddha is protected by a relief gold enameled dragon encircling the vase in its upper part. Excellent quality detailed painting - see fine depiction of their faces and supremely fine rich clothes with numerous patterns. Raised gold decoration, finely scatter...

Long scroll showing coloured paintings of many birds with titles in script on paper. 290 x 30 cm. Wooden end rollers. Patterned silk end, with binding cord. Undated, estimated to be mid to late 19th century or earlier. Can be viewed in central London by appointment or sent worldwide.

A Japanese priest's silk ouhi (Buddhist priest's ritual arm - shoulder covering), the green/gray/black brocade silk with an overall design of cranes, pine, stylized shells, verlaid with white line divisions and asymetric gold thread kikyo (Chinese bell flower) designs, pale pink silk liner. Late Edo period. Dimensions - 11 1/8" x 54".

Edo period (1603-1868) White Glaze Kyo Ware Tea Bowl for tea ceremony

This is rare Kyomizu work from the late Edo period. A white glaze tea bowl inspired by the white Nanjing ceramics of the Qing dynasty in China.

It is a tea bowl with a unique taste which combines the hard body fired at a high temperature and the beautiful white glaze.
Size
Height 7.6cm
Diameter 10.5cm 　

Condition
Good without any damage.
Supplied with the old ...

Japanese woodblock print of two beautiful ladies at the ocean, with a basket full of shells they've collected. With calligraphy in right margin.

Size: 7.25" W x 9.5" H (artwork only)

19th century Asakusa school staghorn sashi type netsuke carved in a shape of a stem of Immortality Fungus with 3 heads. Elegant carving, beautiful rendition of fungus head textures, very pleasant staining typical for the Asakusa School pieces. Very clever design, himotoshi is formed by natural opening between stems, excellent wear and patina on the surface. Length 6 1/8 inches (155 mm).

Beni-itajime-zome (board-clamped dyeing with safflower) han-juban (short under kimono). The body part is hand-spun cotton and the sleeves are figured silk and the wrist parts are wool muslin. In good condition but the dirty line in the neck, rips in the front sleeve and some moth holes in the wrists. Late 19th to early 20th century. 125cm x 66cm

Bronze incense burner with brown patina with shibuishi inlays. Composed of an enormous wave or a dragon also in shibuishi emerging from the waves holds the sacred pearl in its claws. The sphere cover grip represents a tengu also holding a sacred pearl in one paw. The base of the wave is decorated with small crabs and octopuses. Period: Meiji (1868-1912). Height: 51 cm.

A boxwood netsuke depicting a monkey trying to catch a turtle, which retracts its head and legs inside the carapace. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century. Dimensions: 3.4 x 3 x 2.5 cm. State of conservation: Very good

A Japanese Samurai doll (ningyo) with the look of a Daimyo: feudal lord in the Edo period (1603-1868). The Kamishimo with long hakama trousers were only worn for special occasions in the Edo castle. The samurai's blue top kimono is made out of a wash paper (a liner to his original kimono). There is a beautiful patina on his face which is covered with a gofun mixture from the time. In the old time, doll makers used to let oyster shells sit outside for years before they could ground th...

Unusual late 19th century Japanese multimetal pendant in a shape of portable scales. The cover can be moved to the side to reveal gilded inside. Very good crisp work, in excellent condition. Length 1.42 inches.

1910s (late Meiji to early Taisho) Japanese wooden netsuke carved as a bean pod, its stem forming himotoshi (cord opening. Judging by the material ichii (Japanese yew wood) and clean realistic treatment of the subject, the netsuke was carved by a Hida school carver. Beautifully done, clever use of wood color and structure to add to the charm of the piece, wonderful patina. Simple elegant piece in Japanese taste. Length 2.21 inches.

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)

Dating from the 17th century, Kutani-ware is a type of fine porcelain that takes its name from the region from which it originates—the name literally means “nine valleys.” In sharp contrast to many other styles of Japanese ceramics which tend towards more modest color palettes, Kutani-ware are known for their vibrant red enameles, gold trimming, and complementary greens, yellows, and blues. This set of tokkuri is painted with a common hanging-lantern ornamental pattern known as youraku. Th...

Dramatic antique Japanese 2-section mizuya tansu (kitchen chest), made of beautifully grained keyaki (elm) wood, top section has sliding panels that open to one large compartment with one shelf, an opening door on the upper right has a very unusual wooden handle and also opens to a compartment with one self, below that are three small drawers of different sizes, along the middle of the piece are 4 larger drawers with iron warabite shaped drawer pulls, the bottom section is one large compar...

A pair of 19th century signed Japanese porcelain Imari bowls with covers. Each of rounded form decorated under glaze with blue, iron red enamels, panels of stylized bamboo and leaves on red ground and gilded.
MEASUREMENTS: 5 1/8 inches (13cm) in diameter. Height: 3 ½ inches (9cm).
CONDITION: in good condition except for one hairline crack in the interior of one bowl. No repairs or restoration.

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19th century netsuke of a standing Chinese female Immortal holding a fan in one hand and a branch of the Fungus of Immortality in the other. Very nicely carved, great face, elaborate hair arrangement, polychrome decoration with expected wear, beautiful patina. Height 2 9/16 inches.

Japanese Stone Jizo Bosatsu Sculpture, Edo period before 1800, 17" high, 8" wide, 5 1/2" deep, weather worn and peaceful Statue.

This open hanging letter box is covered with beautifully detailed scenes painted in shades of gold on black lacquer. Late 1800's ...small chip at edge of scallop top right side ( last pic)

19th century wooden netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape carved on the front in low relief with a woman holding in her mouth an object that looks like a hammer striker for a musical instrument, a cloth wrapped top of a biwa (Japanese lute) in her hand and a scaly body of a dragon on her right. The woman is Benten - the Goddess of learning, speech and music - and one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, and the netsuke can be interpreted as a wish for scholarly achievements. The back is incised with ...

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. Beautiful p...

Late 18th to early 19th century bronze suigaraake (ashtray) netsuke in a modified hexagonal drum shape, its outside cast with a sinuous water dragon chasing a Precious Gem. Very well designed piece, good detailing, functional netsuke shape. Nice old piece with very pleasant patina on metal. Maximum diameter 1 3/4 inches.

Late Edo Period Japanese Bronze Turtle. A fascinating, finely casted bronze turtle, it has a wonderful attitude. The beautifully rendered form shares the feelings of the turtle with the viewer. 14.5 inches (37cm) long, 7.5 inches (19cm) across, and 5.5 inches (14cm) high.

Japanese antique living room in Victorian style, circa 1880, possibly exhibited at a world's fair. It is a rare, fascinating creation set in a silk brocade fabric box, with inlaid shibiyama style mother of pearl teak furniture. There are many miniature works of art featured, including a wonderful Gosho Ningyo, two flower containers, an ivory book, a three panel iris screen, ivory bird in a cage, etc. All objects in perfect proportion. 10h x 15.5w x 6d inches, 25.5h x 39.25w x 15.25d cm.

The shape of this oval Japanese Arita dish derives from European forms. The combination of colors (Celadon and blue & white) is known to be produced from 1780 – 1820, a late Edo example. The dimensions: 7 1/2" x 6"

Namban chest in lacquer with inlayed mother-of-pearl in a floral pattern. The metalwork is in engraved copper.

The word "Namban" comes from namban-jinou "southern barbarians", used by the Japanese to refer to the Europeans, especially the Portuguese. Namban art came about between 1500 and 1600. The Portuguese reached Japan in 1543 and forged a very intricate commercial relationship.
Initially, the Japanese weren't overly fond of the Portuguese. They found them to be crude and ...

Antique Japanese rectangular box decorated with gold and silver dragonflies on a black lacquer ground. The lid is fastened on by a green chord. Inside is a removable tray lacquered with gold and silver crickets in wisps of golden grass. This box comes in a cedar tomobako.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 5 1/8" high x 7 3/4" long x 5 1/2" wide

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese wooden kushi (hair comb) with brown and gold lacquer decoration of numerous rice stalks, design continuing onto the back. Inlaid with silver studs (some missing). Beautifully made out of dense wood allowing for fine teeth, superb lacquering, wonderful work in Japanese taste. Length 3.05 inches.

Antique cotton woven futon cover, dyed indigo and then dyed again with a paste resist technique with the image of the ho-oh or fenghuang, a mythological bird in Asian culture, about to touch down upon a kiri wood branch with budding flowers, representing Japan. Minor damage due to age. Meiji period (1868-1912) Size: (with board) 84" height, 72" length, (futon only) 67.5" height, 50" length

A small cast iron Japanese tetsubin of slightly flared cylindrical form, decorated in relief to one side with maple leaves floating on a stream against a textured ground. The backside is plain save for the textured ground and the foundry mark for Kinshudo. The cover is flat with a pine cone finial and the handle can be moved to either side. In excellent condition, it measures 2.5 inches high excluding the handle, diameter about 3" at widest. Dates late 19th Century.

A four-case lacquer inro in iroe, togidashi, hirame and kirigane lacquer, on a nashiji lacquer background, decorated with a boat, sailing on the flow, carrying numerous passengers, there are some mountains in the background.
Nashi-ji lacquer interior.
The ornamentation probably depicts the Sumida river in Tôkyô. A similar inro is represented in the book Inrô, japanese belt ornaments the Trumpf collection, Uta Werlich/Susanne Germann, Linden-Museum Stuttgart, arnolsche art publ...

Meiji (1868-1912) Japanese Dark Green Satsuma Bowl with Chicken Group & Geisha (Unmarked)

It is 2.75 inches (7 cm) tall by 3.75 inches (9.7 cm) wide. It is 0.5 Lb.

It has minor rubbing of gold and stains, glaze crazing, and surface wears (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item from us and are unhappy with it for any reason, return it for a 100% refund of the amount you originally ...

Beautiful Japanese inro with a swimming highly detailed koi fish on each side. Each koi is delicately carved out of tortoise shell with glass eyes and details in gold lacquer. The body of the info is original lacquer in gold with with gold details and raised tendrils of water. 4 individual pieces (3 compartments), signed on bottom "Kyushi", Edo Period Early 18th century. Original condition. Size: 2 3/4" high x 2 5/8" wide 3/4" thick

A fine quality early Eighteenth century export saucer dish decorated with a central kikkumon and sprays of Chrysanthemums and Prunus branches in a five colour palette sans aubergine enamel. The reverse decorated with three prunus sprays. The dish has elements of slightly raised moulded decoration in the form of three plum flowers and three chrysanthemum blooms. The dish measures 23cm in diameter and stands 3.5cm high at the rim and is in good condition, no cracks, chips or restoration, some we...

An album page in woodblock print technique probably from the "Ehon Matsu no Shirabe", showing a young beautiful lady standing near a small river. Condition: faded, creased, thin area, one worm hole, reverse with tapes. Dimension: 23.6 cm x 17.1 cm.

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Shikami - a demon whose overriding purpose is to do evil to man. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, great patina. some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.18 inches.