Japanese Sadao Watanabe print of pouring water (1913 - 1996). Striking red background with four characters pouring water. Numbered 16/70 printed in 1971. Great condition, with no rips or condition issues. 1971 Dimensions: 27 1/2" High X 23" Wide

Japanese 32 Sword Scabbards Tray, set in Wood Frame-top and shaped bottom Tray, Meiji period, 13 1/4" x 8" wide, 1 1/2" high, and Scabbard-1" high, 1 3/8" wide for each Scabbard, include Shark's skin, various techniques Lacquered design, none of them are same, all different lacquered Scabbard, tray has rounded corners on top and short rounded bracket feet on the bottom. All the Scabbards are in good condition but wood on the bottom shows two(2) cracks between 5" to 9" long.

DESCRIPTION: A large and delightful carved wood figure of one of the seven Japanese gods of good fortune, Daikoku, the deity of prosperity. Here he is seen in his traditional pose, standing on two bales of rice with his wish-granting mallet in his right hand, and a bag of riches slung over his left shoulder. Daikoku is also venerated as the deity of the kitchen where such carvings were traditionally displayed, sometimes in the ceiling rafters for good luck...

Quite unusual bronze elephant koro or incense burner. The lid is a pagoda and the relief work is very good. The pagoda has a few corners damaged but all in all very good condition. C.1920 Taisho Period. H:17cm x w:16cm. ask for shipping quote.

Antique Japanese hand-carved wooden theatre mask for the traditional Kyogen performance. The particular mask has the face of a fox, with coarse horse hair eyebrows and whiskers. The fearsome teeth and scowling eyes are lacquered in gold and it has red lacquered lips and veining in its ears. The jaw is hinged so that it jiggles open and closed with the dancers' movements. The inside of the mask has a special hand-carved signature by the original artist...

Pair Japanese carved solid Wood Shrine Guardian Lions, 10 1/2" high, 6" wide, 11" deep each, wonderfully aged, bleached and weathered being outside above Shrine or Temple heavy door frames. These Guardians also called Protector, or Shishi Dog, one mouth open and another mouth closed, always as a pair, placed on the top of the door hinges or under the eave in front of the Shrine doors to protect and stand Guard outside before entering the Shrine...

DESCRIPTION: In Japanese lore, there are countless tales about the mischievous Tanuki, a real animal native to Japan. Masked like a raccoon but big and stocky like a badger, they are said to have supernatural powers to transform into any living or inanimate shape. Often they assume the form of a monk, as our Tanuki does here. This Tanuki okimono is hand crafted from a single piece of wood in the best of Mingei traditions...

Japanese Kiri wood square shape Hibachi with Copper lining, 9 1/2" high, 12" square, with inserted oval shape wood handles on two(2) sides, some separation in wood joint.

Antique Japanese fireman's pick axe (tobiguchi), made with a hardwood handle with iron bars and ring, an iron axehead and secondary tool at the bottom of the handle with a nice, aged patina. Edo period (1615-1867) Size: 23.5" length, 4" axehead

Japanese large Wood square Hibachi with original Copper Lining, 7" high-outside and 5 1/2" inside, 17 1/2" square-outside and 16 1/2" square top rim, 11 1/2" square inside copper lining, with cut out handle on both side, original blue cotton fabric on the bottom. The beautiful bold looking grain of wood is noticeable and all original condition, no major damage except old copper lining is somewhat stained.

Japanese carved bone three(3) monkey design Fan Holder, Meiji period, 1 1/8" high, 2 1/4" wide, 1/2" deep, with opening on the bottom and wider opening on the top, carved serious money faces with black enameled wide eyes. There are some stains and wears on the surface.

Japanese carved and stained bone Brown Bear Cane/Walking Stick Handle, Meiji period, 1 1/4" high, 1 1/8" wide, 1 1/2" deep, long hair and long tail curved under copper band 3/8" high, 7/8" diameter on the bottom outside the hole. No damage on Brown Bear, some wears showing on copper band.

Richly elegant buddhist temple lamp from the Taisho Period C.1920. The lamp has carved lacquered dragons on all sides of the middle and buddhist clouds and on top handle and base in gold lacquer. Sloping mesh cloth creates a soft lovely effect. Stunning. Comes in origial cedar wood box. Ask for shippig quote from California warehouse.

Rich patina jizaikagi hearth fish from the Taisho Period C.1920. The pot stabalizers had an iron rod through the fish that went up into a long bamboo pole that had an iron hook on the bottom to hold the iron pot over the hearth fire in old japanese farm houses. Length: 11" x 7" tall. Ask for shipping quote.

Attention-getting Japanese paper mache demon face mask. Has a devious grin, large bulbous nose, with fanged gold teeth. Face is black with red and gold highlights, making features stand out and gives an amusing yet intriguing look. Contains holes in ears of mask with cloth netting running behind face. Paper inscription on back is a description of this unique character. Taisho Period-Circa 1900 Dimensions: 17" High X 13.5" Across

Fabulous almost art deco old Japanese medicine shop kanban or shop sign. Meiji Period C.1900.This sign was made for the Tayama Yakuho Medicine shop in Awakuni the Meiji Period name for present day Awajishima island near Shikoku. The Medicine, Keishintan, was for the stomach. We can translate all the writing on the sign by request. H:16" x W:34" Ask for shipping quote.

Antique Japanese carved wooden mask of an okina, or old man, used in the theatrical art form of Noh. Every Noh mask represents a specific character, and when the shite (performer) puts on their mask, the term for putting on clothing (kaburu) is not used. Rather, it is called kakeru or tsukeru (to hang/to attach), as this symbolizes the transformation into the character. The mask shows traces of the facial hair it once had, which has been lost due to age...

Beautifully hand-carved Japanese Bugaku theatre mask, meant to be worn whilst performing the solo, rejoiceful Genjoraku dance. This dance references the practice of snake-eating for medicinal purposes in central Asia and would often be performed as celebration of the return of an emperor to the palace. The mask has movable eyes, jaw, and eyebrows, stringy hair, bulging veins on its forehead, and an upturned nose of a tengu demon...

Antique Japanese Noh mask of the O-beshimi fierce deity, or mythical tengu. "Beshimi" means "mouth clamped shut". This mask is hand-carved from kiri wood, and inside you can see the chisel marks left behind by the artist. There are visible traces of white gesso in the crevices of the face, which was used as a filler to cover the wood grain. Edo period, 19th century Size: 9.5" tall, 7" wide

Charming rustic Japanese antique jizai hook for heating water over a fire, made of keyaki (elm) wood and carved in the shape of a fish, beautiful wood grain with a deep patina from years of use, an iron hook is attached to the tail, a rope or chain would have threaded through a vertical hole from head to mouth, Edo Period (early to mid 19th century). Total size: 15" long x 6 1/2" high (fish is 4" high)

Exceptional Taisho Period C.1920 bronze tea ceremony ikebana flower arrangement boat. hanging on tripod hand forged bronze link chain, the boat would welcome visitors to the tea ceremony hut. Perfect condition. W: 12" x W:5". ask for shipping quote.

Unbelievable, rare Edo Period C.1860 large shop sign 'kanban' for liver medicine. It was believed if a little boy cried too much his liver needed some help. Fantastic thick hinoki wood carving ornamentation with layers of black lacquer. Stout legs and finely detailed buddhist clouds in bronze around the frame. Great condition. Great entrance way museum piece. H:140cm x W:90cm Ask for shipping quote from california warehouse. Piece disassembles.

Spectacular Toyokuni Tryptich c.1850 of 3 samurai guards of an imperial palanquin. Colors and facial expressions of these Kabuki actors superb. Excellent condition and framed. No urauchi. Publishers and all info. available. In our US warehouse. Ask for shipping quote.

This Hagoita depicts the princess in the Kabuke play Musume Dojo-Ji. This paddle is a wonderful example of the folk art of Japanese folded fabric into deeply sculptured relief. Though rarely used now, the paddles today are valued as an ornament that is believed to bring good luck.

Unfortunately, though in otherwise excellant condition this Meiji period princess has lost some of the foil pedals from her headdress.

Early Japanese version of today's carpenters tool called a "chalk box". Carved from a block of wood, the well would hold cotton saturated with charcoal ash...this one has original wheel and string and shows that it has been well used....

Early Meiji Period c.1890 red negoro lacquered Shishi mythical lion head used in the festival dances. In pristine condition with horse hair and gold gilt eyes. Fabulous mingei folk art piece. H:18" x W:14". sk for shipping quote.

This old Japanese Noh theater mask has the expressive face of an old man. The mask is carved from paulownia wood and dates to middle Edo period, around 1750. The patina is wonderful.

Mask measures approx 8 inches high and 6 inches wide

Takatsuki; footed tray. Wood with black lacquer, ca. 1900. H.1.75"(4.5cm) x Dia.6"(15cm). Such trays were used for food service or offerings. Suitable for a sweets dish in tea ceremony.

This 8" high wooden figure of the sitting Tenjin was carved during the Edo period, the mid 19th century (1850). Tenjin is the Japanese "god" name name given to the Japanese statesman and scholar, Sugawarea Michizane, the 9th century poet and writer of Chinese prose and verse.

Possibly carved from cryptomera wood and darkened with age, this carved figure has both a simplicity and elegance which are, for me, the major characteristics of Japanese asthetics.

This wonderful Edo period antique Japanese tobacco box is made of wood and covered with lacquer which is now seriously aged. In the middle of the lid is small sculptured detail. The box has the original cord and horn tip toggle, and still contains tobacco. Circa 1860's this box is 4.5" x 2.5" x 3" high. It is truly a piece of old ethnographic folk art from Japan's Edo period.

Made of iron, this antique Japanese mobile candle stand, known as a teshoku, dates from the Edo period. So typical of the old Japanese ethnographic objects, the design of this single candle holder is totally simple and wonderfully functional. With a lighted candle, this candlestand could be easily carried about the house by use of long very gently curved handle. When set in down, the placement of the 3 legs makes it very stable to minimize chances of it being accidentally knocked over...

This homemade Japanese tool was used in rural areas for cutting the groove in the tree to release and collect the sap which was harvested for the lacquerware. The wood handle is smooth to touch and has years of patina. The cutting blade is heavily aged but is in good condition. The tool is about 9" long and at least 150 years old.

Antique Japanese Carpenter Reel, Sumi Tsubo, Ink Line. 9.25 x 3 inches, 23.5 x 8 cm. It is rare to see sumi tsubo (Japanese carpenter's reel or inkline used for layout) fully intact with all its parts, including line and original stick pin, like this one. The Japanese word for tools is Dogu, which was originally the word for an itinerant monk's belongings. It alludes to the spiritual value which craftsmen put on their tools...

Antique Japanese Carpenter Reel, Sumi Tsubo, Ink Line. 8.25 x 3.5 inches, 21 x 9 cm. It is rare to see sumi tsubo (Japanese carpenter's reel or inkline used for layout) fully intact with all its parts, including line and original stick pin, like this one. The Japanese word for tools is Dogu, which was originally the word for an itinerant monk's belongings. It alludes to the spiritual value which craftsmen put on their tools...

Kanban with identical inscription on both sides: goko (five scents), a general, government licensed medication against all kinds of ailments...

Kanban with the inscription Inari taiji goyo (great Inari shrine, your order). The sign may refer to a shop at the shrine grounds, selling things to be offered at the shrine or souvenirs, or to a shop that specifically make devotional objects to the order of this particular Inari shrine. Attached to a black patinated wooden board are a bell and rope and two small objects, covered in gold brocade. Forged iron handle at top.
Measurements: height at left 38 ½ in., height at right 38 ¼ in.; wi...