Superb Meiji Period c. 1900 zen buddhist temple ramma featuring chrysanthemum and leaves carved in fabulous relief. Carved out of cypress wood with gold gilt lacquer, the piece is large at 49" wide and 12" tall. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote.

An early pair of Japanese Kutani Porcelain Shishi (Foo Dogs). These unique porcelains have a rich brown glaze with black and white under glaze. They have a wonderful mythological presence. 7 x 4.5 inches, 18 x 11.5 cm each. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

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.

An amazing small wooden figure covered in with glass eyes made in the hyper-real likeness of a Rakugo-shi Comic storyteller, dressed I traditional Hakama trousers and seated on a large cushion clutching a fan in his right hand. It is 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) tall, while the cushion upon which he sits is 19.5 x 15.5 cm (just under 8 x 6 inches) and the figure is in excellent condition. There is what appears to be a signature on the bottom; Ta?Saku...

Beautiful large Japanese standing Amida Buddha, finely carved wood with red, black and gold lacquer, flowing drapery. Standing on base carved to look like rock and lotus and painted with a gold lacquer, inlaid glass eyes. Early Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Size: 42" high x 19 1/4" wide x 14 1/2" deep.

Sculpture of a long-nosed tanuki, walking with a hat on its back and a flask in its left paw. The piece is built around a large piece of root wood that comprises the torso, legs, the enlarged scrotum and tail. The head is a separate piece of root wood, the ears inserted. The sake flask is a small piece of root wood, and the hat is carved from a slab of a different wood species...

Very unusual pair of komainu or guardian dogs to a Shinto or Buddhist shrine. The lef one has its mouth open and has drooping ears, the right one keeps its mouth closed and has the ears perked up. Very fine and smooth bronze cast with rich brown patination.
Makers mark chiseled into the bottom of each lion dog. The name consists of a single character that can be read in a variety of ways: Yasushi, but also Hiroshi, Yutaka, Toru or Akira; followed by "saku" or "made by"...

A “wood-grain carving” figure of a minogame, a turtle with a long tail of algae growing from its carapace. Carved out of Jindai-sugi (Japanese cedar wood) in such a way that the wood grain accentuates the skin on the legs and head, the protrusions of the carapace and the algae.

Unsigned...

17th Century Japanese Standing Buddha. A rare and fine example from the early Edo Period. Carved of Poloma wood with a rich dark patina. Complete with Stand and Mandala. It has a spiritual presence and a beautiful face to contemplate. 15 inches, 38 cm tall. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

Next to the Kabuto (Helmet), one of the most expressive parts of the Samurai's Armor is the Face Mask. This Middle Edo Period metal "armor for the face" is known by many names: mengu, menpo, mempo, men yoroi, katchu men. Menpo means "face and cheek" and is generally used for masks with nose pieces. This menpo is covered with a high quality gold lacquer. The inside is a negoro-like finish of red lacquer. Sporting a fantastic horse hair mustache...

A Beautifully Carved Late 19th Century Japanese Noh Theater Mask of Okame, the Goddess of Mirth, in Exceptional Condition. 7.5 x 5.5 inches, 19 x 14 cm.

Japanese bronze bird and bamboo.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, 20th Century
Size: Height 18.8 C.M. / Width 8.8 C.M. / Length 20.5 C.M.
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.

15th Century Japanese Gilt Wood Amida Nyorai Buddha. His hands are held in the vitarka mudra, the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching. Amida is captured here in his welcoming descent from Heaven to greet the soul of a faithful devotee at death. Images of his descent to earth illustrate the nineteenth of forty-eight vows made by Amida in a previous life, in which he promises to appear at the moment of death to all beings who devoutly desire rebirth in his paradise...

Japanese pair of very large gold lacquer on carved wood Lotus Flowers, 11 flowers in each pair for 22 all together, of them fully bloomed Lotus Flowers. Edo Period, Early 19th Century. They were likely used on the altar of a Buddhist temple, representing the full cycle of life. They have a rich gold patina. This size and condition are extremely rare and almost never found. Height of the tallest: 41.5 inches, 105.5 cm. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection...

Rare Kamakura Period Sculpture of a of a Nio Guardian King exhibiting power and fierceness. According to Japanese tradition, they traveled with the historical Buddha to protect him. Within the generally pacifist traditions of Buddhism, stories of Niō guardians like Kongōrikishi justified the use of physical force to protect cherished values and beliefs against evil. It is rare to find such an early example...

Antique Japanese pair of wonderful Koma Inu shrine guardian fu-dogs, carved from keyaki (elm) wood. Traces of painted details in green, white and brown. Expressively carved with great curling manes and tails. One of the fu-dogs has a single horn on top of it's head. Edo Period. Size of taller fu-dog: 19" high x 9" wide x 16" deep. Size of fu-dog without horn: 17 1/2" high x 9" wide x 16" deep.

Japanese bronze peacock with artist sign.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, 20th Century
Size: Height 21.7 C.M. / Width 9.1 C.M. / Length 42 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.

Jizo is one of the most beloved Buddhist Boddhisatva in Japan as a guardian of children and travellers. Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture was once ringed with Jizo statues, and its granite quarries made it a center of religious statue production and sales. This Jizo holds his hands in front of his chest in prayer, or in the traditional Indian greeting of "namaste." His face is well worn from the elements and time, but a faint smile seems to grace his lips. H.25cm(10") x W.13cm(5").

Twelve Shinsho are guardian Buddhas of Yakushi Nyorai and they are 12 worriors and armoured. They have 12 animal symbols on the head. This one looks "Sarugami", monkey judging from the apprearance. Early 18th century. In good condition but some parts are lost. Height:29cm Width:12cm

Very rare Japanese comic demon Buaku Kyogen mask dating from the Edo Period, the golden age of Noh Drama...

Antique Japanese burl root wood formation. Collected for it's unusual, gnarled beauty. Mounted on a square stand of iron and cherry wood. Exhibited at the San Francisco Fall Art and Antiques Show.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 16 1/2" high x 16 3/4" wide x 12 1/4" deep

Japanese antique transom made of keyaki (elm) wood and carved with a scene of Ushiwaka and Benkei battling on Gojo Bridge in Kyoto. The young samurai, Yoshitsune (also known as Ushiwaka-maru) is depicted in an acrobatic pose, leaping over Benkei, the giant wild-man who was intent on stealing Ushiwaka's sword. Another samurai is carved below them, his much smaller form suggesting he is far below the action. On the right hand side of the carving, another samurai stands among the pine tree...

A very rare late Edo Period Iki Noh mask of Hannya, the jealous, revengeful demon who was once a beautiful woman. Carved of Poloma wood with many layers of lacquer. Glass eyes and horse hair. 8h x 5w x 3d inches, 20.25h x 12.75w x 7.5 cm.

Japanese bronze rooster with artist sign.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, 20th Century
Size: Height 17 C.M. / Width 6.3 C.M. / Length 12.5 C.M.
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.

A pair of wood sculpture of Ebisu and Daikoku which are two of seven gods. Ebis is for good business and Daikoku is for luck with money. They are put on the ouse shrine. In good condition but some parts are missed in Ebis (left). Late 19th to early 20th century. Base:15cm x 5cm, Height:12cm

溶けた恵比寿 / MELTED EBISU

Wood carving Ebisu god image scorched and half-melted by conflagration, which turned to more fascinating abstract sculpture as the result. Edo period (1603-1868), Japan. approx. H 28 x W 22 x D 15.5cm (11.02 x 8.66 x 6.10in). Stained with its soot when touch, though depends on the part. Insertion joint is unstable and shaky back and forth, but it will be no problem when just leave it alone.


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Wooden figure of a lion, companion to Fugen bosatsu. On his back he carries a lotus base, on which Fugen used to sit (figure missing). The lion stands on high and slightly stiff legs, each foot positioned on a small lotus base.
The figure has been carved out of several blocks of wood that were subsequently assembled into the final figure. This technique is called yosegi saiku and was widely used for complex sculptures like these. The tail is stuck into the back, remaining loose. The lotus ...

Fine and rare early example of a Jomon Period Dogu Clay Figure, the earliest known Japanese figures. The Dogu acted as effigies of people. They manifested some kind of sympathetic magic. For example, it may have been believed that illnesses could be transferred into the Dogu, and then destroyed, clearing the illness, or any other misfortune. Because of the ritual destruction of Dogu, they are quite rare. This primitive abstract fertility figure has a futuristic look. There are fun theories...

Very Charming and fortunate Large antique Japanese Hotei. Hotei, The god of contentment and happiness, guardian of children, and patron of bartenders. Hotei 布袋 has a cheerful face and a big belly. He is supposedly based on an actual person, and is widely recognized outside of Japan as the Fat, Laughing Buddha. Hotei is most likely based on the itinerant 10th-century Chinese Buddhist monk and hermit Budaishi (d. 917), who is said to be an incarnation of Miroku Bodhisattva (Maitreya...

Japanese Bronze Sculpture of a Mermaid in a Whirlpool. An exquisite example by the important artist Isihara of the type of Japanese art that was having a major influence on Art Nouveau. A rare example of this artist's work. 9.5 inches (24 cm) long. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

Dark brown patina bronze figure of a standing kappa with its right leg leaning on a cucumber. The figure is put on four-legged rattan-like bronze stand.

The kappa (河童) is a aquatic creature taken from Japanese folklore having the appearance of an anthropomorphic turtle.
His skull is either slightly hollowed out to accommodate water, from which it derives its power, or hidden with a water lily leaf hiding this sag. Naturally polite, it is advisable to bow to him in order th...

Japanese bronze bull with signature by famous artist.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, Early 20th Century
Size: Height 11.2 C.M. / Width 7.5 C.M. / Length 18.3 C.M.
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.

A very rare and fine example of a Jomon Period (13,000-300BC) Terracotta Plaque of a Dogu, the earliest known Japanese figure. This figure was purchased from the H. Taneguchi Gallery of Kyoto in 1985 by a renowned author on and collector of Asian art. The Dogu acted as effigies of people. They manifested some kind of sympathetic magic. For example, it may have been believed that illnesses could be transferred into the Dogu, then destroyed, clearing the illness, or any other misfortune. Because o...

Late 19th century Japanese ceramic statue of standing Daruma - the founder of Zen Buddhism - enveloped in monastic robe, and holding a hossu (fly whisk) in his hand. Superb sculpting - see the beautiful flow of his robe and well defined facial features. Absolutely fascinating painting of his face - staring fierce eyes with white enamel, wonderful depiction of his facial hair and excellently conveyed expression of thoughtful concentration. Bottom shows ceramic body, some expected wear to enamel. ...

Very Rare Early Edo Period (early 17th Century) Japanese Lion Mask for the Gion Festival. It would have been part of a two man costume, one man holding the mask and the other at the back covered by fabric to perform the traditional Lion Dance. To find this mask from such an early period is really quite an important find for the serious mingei collector. 12 inches (30.5 cm)h x 10.5 inches (27 cm)w x 11 inches (28 cm)d. From a widely renowned and published collection that has been exhibited at t...

Wonderful large Japanese carved wooden figure of Diakuku, one of the Lucky Gods, he stands on two bales of rice and he holds a large sack on his back, lacquered wood, sweet expression, lacquered wood, this piece is 17th century. Size: 36" high x 21" wide x 19" deep.