A high quality crisply cast Japanese mirror. The reverse of the mirror decorated in high relief with a conventionalised representation of the utopian Isle of the Immortals typical of the Edo period integrating into the design the auspicious Takasago twin branched pine tree with a pair of flying cranes and a Minogame in the left hand corner. All set against a crisp granular ground. Probably late Edo period, or possibly slightly earlier...

A finely embroidered silk River or Lakeside Landscape made in Japan for export during the late 19th or early 20th Century. This item was framed in the UK by Boots the Chemist's, circa 1910 - 1925 Condition: excellent. Frame: 37cm (14.5 inches) wide;29.3cm (11.5 inches) high.

A bronze mirror, wakyo, decorated with a classic Autumn pattern that evolved in the Heian period which features a pair of birds, sparrows, water weeds, ashi, water, and a wave washed sandy beach, suhama. The design is cut by a single ring. The design of the inverted pistil boss and the density of the design, horror vacui, dates the mirror to the late Kamakura period 1275-1325. A great deal of the detail has been lost as a result of wear and over polishing...

A good quality mirror of comparatively small proportions decorated with a fine line drawn pattern of a double and single Chrysanthemum supported by a fence and a banded hedge set against a fine sand textured ground to the reverse of the mirror. Fine line drawing in this style first appears in the eighteenth century. The mirror is signed on the left hand side Fujiwara Mitsumasa...

A Japanese handled mirror, e-kagami, decorated with a Hoo Bird in flight, a harbinger of Peace, combined with Waka Matsu, Young Pine, a common motif associated with the celebration with the New Year. The design can therefore be seen as symbolising a wish for a Peaceful New Year. In the right hand portion of the mirror reverse is a set of four characters reading Fujiwara Mitsunaga...

A Japanese handled mirror, e-kagami, cast with a Hoo bird in flight, a symbol or harbinger of peace, and a Kiri tree to its right, auspicious symbols associated with the Empress of Japan, Kiri ni Hoo. Beneath which is pine tree set upon a rocky shoreline washed by seigaiha; a wave pattern symbolizing eternal peace and happiness. The design overall connoting a wish for Peace and Harmony. To the left of the pattern is a set of four characters reading Fujiwara Mitsunaga...

This peach-shaped suiteki (water dropper for calligraphy) is made of fine kinuta celadon from one of the great masters of the Meiji era—Suwa Sozan. A classic design, the peach is said to represent long-life for mortals and immortality for the gods in asian folklore. According to legend, the moon goddess—a powerful alchemist—can make an elixir from peaches that grow in the garden of the western paradise with miraculous revitalizing properties...

Antique Japanese Buddhist abbot's oxbow arm folding chair. Made of red and gilt lacquer hardwood, with seat made of leather. The backrest has gilt lacquered panels with geometric motif carvings and pierced lingzhi carving, the reverse of the backrest marked with a triple mokko-mon (family crest). The edges of the chair are decorated in metal plating incised with motifs of chrysanthemums.

Edo Age 19th century Dimensions: 32" L x 20" D x 37" H

Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi—often described as the beauty found in the imperfection and transience of the world—cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history and importance of a ceramic object. Practitioners of tea in particular are fond of reminding us that works repaired with lacquer and gold such as the one featured here become more resilient and beautiful for having been damaged...

A bronze vase finely cast in archaic Chinese style with twin elephant head handles and very unusually decorated with 16th Century Turkish Iznik/ Kutahya style 'Saza' leaves in red, blue, green and black enamels...

Thick shima-cho, a sample book of cortton shima (stripes) with about 870 fragments. The age is written on the cover "Meiji 3 (1870), however the age of the fragments range from very late Edo (mid 19th century) to Taisho (1920s). The first 770 fragments are late Edo and Meiji (the second half of the 19th century) and the second 101 fragments are woven in Taisho period (1912~1925). In excellent condition. 16cm x 21cm x 5cm

A small bag made of deer skin with shibori (tie-dye) pattern. The brown color is dyed with the technique called "fusube-gawa". The deer skin is smoked with burning rice straws and gets brown color. Fusube-gawa is used for armors or wallets in Edo period. It has silk cords and lining. In excellent condition. Late 19th to early 20th century. 15cm x 18cm

An Imari miniature condiment set of hexagonal baluster form decorated with trailing foliage in underglaze blue, iron red and gilding. Consisting of four small ewers, three marked with A for azin, vinegar, one marked with “S” for syrup; three with plain covers, one with a perforated cover. A complete pepper pot with perforated cover, 7cm high, and a pillar form salt, 6.2cm high...

Antique Japanese unusually small kannon biraki (hinged doors) tansu chest made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top portion of the chest opens to reveal a compartment with a single shelf. The bottom portion has two exterior drawers. Elaborate iron hardware is like that of a larger kannon biraki chest and includes heavy hinges and cross bracing on the doors with an ivy leaf mon (crest).

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 16 1/4" high x 19 1/4" wide x 10" deep.

19th Century, excellently hand-carved in rare Persimmon Wood Netsuke depicting a realistic version of a Cicada that is laying upon a half Walnut shell. This netsuke is carved in intricate detail; faithful in form and image to the subject in nature that it represents. It is attributed to the Iwami School, because it presents all the characteristics of netsuke made by carvers of the region in Japan (See partial illustration - photo #10 - of the book 'Iwami Netsuke from the R. S...

This is a finely carved boxwood netsuke depicting the Skeleton of the Buddhist Priest Danka beating oa a Mokugyo, or Buddhist Temple Drum. Very nice detail and wonderful symmetry all throughout, rich patina. Signed Tomoyuki, a disciple of Tomochika, in an irregular oval reserve, on the bottom of the netsuke. Netsuke measures 0.92 inches (2.3cm) wide, 1.40 inches (3.5cm) long, and 1.27 inches (3.2cm) tall...

This is an excellently and intricately carved boxwood netsuke depicting a Boat full of passengers (11 of them) dressed in various garb, carrying different articles and set in different poses. One of them, in the rear of the boat, seems to be either sunbathing or nurturing an ailment; another is wearing a large Amigasa Kasa hat; there is woman carrying a baby in her arms. It is full of great form and expressions. Unsigned. Netsuke has a rich patina...

This is a finely hand carved, 19th Century Kurokaki Wood Netsuke depicting Tenaga "Long Arms" being carried on the back of Ashinaga "Long Legs". Ashinaga is wearing a mugwort skirt, while Tenaga is wearing a rice straw skirt. According to "Pointers and Clues to the Subjects of Chinese and Japanese Art", by Will Edmunds, "Ashinaga and Tenaga are mythical people supposed to inhabit the islands Ashinaga-jima, and Tenaga-jima, east of the Shakasui or Water-ladle river, all imaginary place...