4 lacquered wood panels inlaid with metals and mother-of-pearl. Very old Japanese work. Decoration of rocks boldly drawn with power but elegance, decorated with plants. Whoever has painted such a high quality drawing is an excellent artist, certainly one of the best of his time...

Set of Six Japanese Meiji Dynasty Imperial Portraits. Each painting is 59h x 24w inches, 150h x 61w cm.

Japanese iron helmet inlaid with silver and gold. Made by 6 riveted iron plates. The dragon and cloud inlay is damascened (nunome zogan), the water drops in silver are in strong relief. At the front is riveted a circular steel plate representing a dragon. Signed by Shige Katsu. At the beginning of the 17th century, a Myochin Shige Katsu was working for the Date clan in Sandaï, it is certainly him...

Rare bronze ewer Japan Muromachi period, cast in one part. Signature of the artist incised under the base. This type of ewer is very rare, we know only one other similar example, smaller and less elaborate which is housed at the Minneapolis institute (usa). Excellent state of conservation, beautiful original patina. H:290mm

Edo Picture Hanabusa-Itcho Very rare screen Kano group. This is ground strewn with gold dust coloration Two Panel Screen drawn by Hanabusa-Itcho.� This is placed in "Gakusou" No. 10 of the Kyoto National Museum publication in March, 1988.� "Gakuso" is a very specialized book...

This is Sugido-e used in Kyoto Imperial Palace for Edo period. This was one of the collection of very famous kimono collector Shoujiro Nomura of Kyoto for the Meiji period. It is thought that this was drawn by Kano Eigaku of Edo period. He revived by a picture of the early period of Edo era in history. As for this, both sides reproduce design of the early period of Edo era together. Generally, Sugido-e has bad state. However, this is very good condition...

A rare pair of original Japanese six panel screens depicting the four seasons of Ginza. The panels are painted in the traditional Kano school. Using exceptional technique, the images are hand painted with natural rimpa paint and ink and gold leaf ground on gofun paper. The six panels depict the seasonal landscape of a Ginza garden. Excellent overall condition.

Date: Edo Period (Early 19th Century)

Dimensions:41 1/2” high X 110 1/2” wide (Each screen)

Namban style chest with a semi-cylindrical lid made of black lacquered wood (urushi) with gold lacquer (maki-e) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl (raden).
Decorated with three main bands of floral motifs, middle surrounded by vertical bands of mother-of-pearl inlaid lozenges and framed by the hanashippô pattern (overlapping circles forming petals).
On the lied, acer (momiji) and plum tree flowers (ume)...

Of Hon-kozane Ni-mai-do type composed of thin bands with multicolored silk lacing. A 62-plates Akoda-nari suji-kabuto in brown iron, signed Myochin Yoshihiza. A finely chiseled bronze and gilt brass tehen with 5 levels. The golden brass kuwagata dai is carved with a floral decoration. The fukigaeshi are covered with leather and 6 rivets. The mabizashi is also covered with leather and silk strap, riveted and fukurin. The shikoro is imposing with 4 blades...

A truly stunning Japanese six panel screen hand painted with raised rimpa paint on gold ground leaf gofun paper. The subject matter is a view of a natural overgrowth of hollyhock, sweat peas, and morning glories cascading and creeping over the bamboo fence.

The Hollyhock flower in Japan represents is fertility and fruitfulness...

Fantastic 18th Century Edo Period Saga Ningyo of a young boy holding a bird. His head bobs while his tongue goes in and out. Carved entirely of wood, his gorgeous robes are built up with pigments in a technique called 'moriage'. He has an outer robe decorated with a foliate scroll with other beautiful designs and geometric patterns raised in relief. This rarest of all Ningyo forms almost never comes up for sale and are almost never seen except in museums or important private collections...

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...

Ginbari and Musen enamelled silver vase Fish decor. Japan Meiji late 19th century.The lower part enamelled in celestial blue, decorated with fish in ginbari (incisions on the base metal) and musen (enameling without wires of much more complex realization). A dragon wraps around the collar. In the middle a finely damascened gold ring. Artist's mark below, signed with 2 characters incised in a gold cartridge. We have not found which artist it was, however, in the Khalili collection, there is a vas...

Ni-Mai do complete armour, (tosei gussoku), the helmet (kabuto) of the hoshi suji bachi type (visible rivets) with 62 lames. Signed inside the bowl but illegible. Tehen in gilded and chiseled copper. Maedate with demon head (oni) and gilt lacquered wakidate. The mabizashi and the 5-lame shikoro are made of black lacquered iron. The menpo in brown lacquered iron and mustache is of the ressei type. The teeth are silver lacquered. The gorget (yodarekake) of 4-lame. The cuirass (do) is in 2 parts en...

An antique Satsuma figural group of a prone bull with a guardian. The bull with crackled cream ground, gilt noseguard and retaining rope and with polychrome painted and gilt backcover. The young man in a gilt and multicolor painted traditional Japanese garment resting on the animal while holding a book in his hand. 11.5" long, 6" high. An exceptional piece.

Condition: Flawless, ex-Christie's

Pair of Spectacular Masterpiece Japanese Paintings of an Imperial Couple. 59h x 24w inches, 150 x 61 cm. Signed: Nakayama Sanji. Original frames. Male figure wears robes with the Tokugawa crest. The female wears a gold phoenix crown with a gorgeous royal kimono. This one-of-a-kind pair of portraits was possibly inspired by the American painter, John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), considered the leading portrait painter of his generation. His portraits have a elongated format, similar to this p...

A large, rarest of rare Japanese 18th century Bijin Saga Ningyo, depicting a standing female holding her flowing kimono. Saga Ningyo are the most sought after of all Japanese Ningyo. They are almost never seen on the market, and only rarely enter Western collections, public or private. This is a once-in-a -lifetime opportunity for the serious connoisseur of Japanese art. This finely carved and sculpted figure is a masterpiece from all angles. The rich pigmentation of the robes are built u...

Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku-ware and especially in works produced by the Tamamizu kiln, such as the 300+ year old ceremonial tea bowl seen here. The first in this line of potters was Yahē (1662 - 1722), an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (1615 - 1768) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho). Though he is the first potter of this branch, he is sometimes referred to as Tamam...

Pair of 6-panel screens; ink, colors, gofun (crushed calcified crustacean shell) and gold on paper framed by a double silk brocade border. The screen on the right represents numerous geese (14), some flying down in front of a black moon, others in search of food or resting among the grass at the edge of a body of water with a background of a mountain. The left screen depicts egrets (7), three of which are perched on the trunk of a majestic weeping willow, covered in a white pigment represent...

A very rare Momoyama Period masterpiece Japanese two-panel screen with chrysanthemum and other flowers and foliage. Exquisitely painted on gold leaf, with original sumptuous silk brocade. 72w x 21h inches, 183w x 53h cm.

Late 19th Century Japanese Kazari-Uma (Battle Horse). This deluxe extraordinary example is attributed to Marurei, one of the most important Ningyô artists. He now has Japanese National Treasure status. This handsomely adorned military horse is displayed on a Boys Day stand. The body hair is done by a technique called Ke-Ue-Saiku "fine work of fur planting" in which silk hairs are pasted on. It has gorgeous silk and lacquer trappings. It is positioned on a fine lacquered stand. This wonder...

Porcelain ewer from the Kyushu Arita oven second part of the 17th century. We only know a few identical models, one, with its lid, is kept in the British museum, another is housed in Tokyo at the Idemitsu Museum and happens to be one of the major pieces of the collection, finally a last one, damaged and without a lid, was sold by Sothebys London on June 1, 1981. To our knowledge there are no others. Curiously the porcelain of these ewers is atypical and could be confused with soft porcelain but ...

Massive Pair of Japanese Cloisonne enamel baluster vases, Meiji Period, each decorated in brightly colored enamels with butterflies hovering above various types of flowering chrysanthemum bushes, all silhouetted against a mirror black ground, stylized floral bands encircling the shoulder, waisted at the neck and above the flaring foot, and wide abstract foliate bands at the rim and foot (slight damage to the foot). Provenance: Former collection of Mettie C Jones, Long Beach, CA; items repu...

A rare late Edo Period four-panel silverized Japanese Screen. A fine scholar's composition of bamboo, rocks, and a swallow in flight. A beautifully painted sumi, with a fine oxidized silverized patina. It appears to have the original brocade frame. The screen is in extraordinary condition for its age. A superb, museum quality screen and an important find. Height: 40 inches, 101.5 cm; Width: 72 inches, 183 cm.

Rare Japanese 6 panel-screen in ink, color pigments and gold leaf. On the second screen, on the last panel on the left, one can distinguish many Tartar warriors hunting as well as falconers on horseback. On the rightmost three panels, a lake and rice paddies, a variety of wild birds, all against a backdrop of mountains, waterfalls and trees in the style of the Kano school interspersed with clouds of gold and gold flecks. These Tartars (or Tatars) are identifiable by their dashing equestrian p...

Japanese Late Edo Period 19th Century Silver Rimpa Flower Screen, a fine masterpiece. Rimpa School represents the highest standard of decorative painting of all schools of Japanese painting. The flowers and other elements are raised by the use of Gofun (oyster shell lacquer). The flowers seem to jump from the silver field. This finely painted masterpiece features wonderful color on silver leaf. Each Panel: 51h x 24.25w inches, 129.5h x 61.5w cm; Total Dimensions: 51h x 97w inches, 129.5h x 246w...

Large, impressive and rare describe this beautifully painted late 19th century Imari hexagonal lantern. 46" in height.

Condition: Excellent

An unusual Japanese six panel screen of Ducks, Egrets, and Pheasants. Painted with rimpa paint on an unique mix of gold and silver leaf gofun paper, which gives the screen an incredible look and balance of cold and warm tones, depending on lighting. The painting composition shows influences of natural history and the importance of empty space.

Date: Meiji Period (early 19th Century)

Dimensions: 67” high X 147 1/2” wide

Screen of 2 panels, watercolor on paper. The background is glued with gold leaf square . The scene represents young women in the garden, one of them capturing fireflies. The charming subject is quite unusual for this type of screens which are usually decorated with warriors, animals, plants or landscapes. The uprights are in red lacquered wood, they are reinforced and decorated with gilded copper plates and chiselled with scrolls on a nanako background, these frames are thick and of the best qua...

Rare Japanese Iki Ningyo (Living Doll) depicting a man clothed only in a loincloth, showing his perfect physique, with left arm raised and right hand gesturing his strength. Superbly crafted in the latter part of the 19th century for the export market, fulfilling the demand for Japanese “exotica”, following Japan’s opening to the West in the mid-19th century. Fashioned of wood and covered in naturally pigmented gofun, with inset glass eyes, and featuring individually inserted human hair ...

Copper alloy vase inlaid with precious metals, shakudo (gold and copper) shibuichi (silver, gold and copper) silver and gold. Some designs are gilded, others are solid gold. The inlays are all made of the same dovetail technique. Decorated with Phoenixes in flight, Buddhist Lions, birds and stylized flowers. The style of the absolutely Japanese and compartmentalized decor, the distribution of colors, the stylized subjects, the meticulousness of the carvings and the excellent quality make us rank...

Black and gold lacquer suzuribako (writing set) in takamaki-e on a nashi-ji background representing two tigers near rocks, bamboos and plum blossoms in a night landscape. Inside of the lid with a lake landscape.

The interior of the suzuribako is composed with an inkstone, topped by a copper water bucket in the shape of a chrysanthemum on the left side, with a brush and a small knife. It includes in the right part a storage compartment.
Inscription under the inkstone "Inkstone ...

A beautifully painted Meiji Period Japanese Namban screen depicting a Portuguese Caravel ship. Japanese screens featuring Portuguese are rare. 60h x 56w inches, 152h x 142w cm.

Two big eight-sided kaioke boxes in black lacquer, decorated with mon and maple leaves in golden lacquer.

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Height: 17,6 in (44,7 cm) -Width : 14,9 in (38 cm)

An amazing and rare Daki Ningyo of the Imperial class, with a specatularly carved face, wearing the finest silk textiles of brocades, featuring a highly prized shibori collar, wearing tobi socks and a wonderful hat, all original. Height: 30 inches, 76 cm.

With a height of 32 inches, this is a rare and impressive example of early 19th century Imari ware. Both the vase and stand are finely decorated in shades of blue, gold and orange.

Condition is excellent.

The theme of this very rare screen traces the story of the great battle of Yashima, in the 12th century, between the Taira and Minamoto clans. It owes its name to the contraction of Minamoto Gen (Chinese reading) and the Taira Hei clan, hence the name Heike. Also called Heike Monogotari. This is a naval battle, the Battle of Yashima (ichi no tani) in 1184, where the Taira clan retreated to an island off Shikoku in the inland sea. The Minamoto were victorious but much of the Taira fleet managed t...

Japanese antique Funa Tansu (merchant's safe), all made of very heavy quarter sawn Keyaki (Zelkova) wood. The door opens to 3 interior drawers also with Keyaki wood fronts (interior of each drawer made with Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood, wooden bracing on the bottom, heavy iron hardware including double locks on the outer doors and each of the three interior drawers has a large lock as well, two handles on top of safe, 2 iron reinforced holes at the bottom of each side to allow the safe to be...

Vase of exceptional size in Satsuma earthenware. It is extremely difficult to make such a large and above heavy earthenware because the audacious shape carries a risk of subsidence during firing. It is certain that the artist must have used supports during the firing. It is a technical feat of a master potter. The enamels and gilding are of high quality as can be seen on the best satsuma creations. The decoration is also atypical with a beautiful decorative effect and a surprising aesthetic. At ...

Japanese porcelain soup tureen whose shape is inspired by European goldsmith pieces. On the sides two heads of modeled Buddhist lions and on the lid a crown. Simple decor of phoenixes, flowers, plants and waves in the color palette of the Imari style. An old collector's label indicated that this tureen was part of the service of Augustus the Strong. Probably verifiable statement for motivated collectors. From memory, a Japanese porcelain sauce boat whose shape was also inspired by European gold...

An antique Japanese 4-panel screen painting. Each of the flowers shown has a meaning known as the Language of Flowers, depicting Love, Loyalty and Family. Painted with mineral pigments and raised gofun on gold leafed paper.

Date: Taisho Period

Dimensions: 67 1/2” high X 96” wide

An extremely rare and very large 19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Iki Ningyo (living figure) of a young Bijin. An exquisite Ningyo representing idealized feminine Japanese beauty. She is posing as if for a photograph or for an artist. Every aspect is hyper realistic: the hair, eye lashes, accessories, and the painted kimono. She is holding a silver mirror and hair ornament as part of a collection of hair ornaments featuring a lacquered comb. Her beautiful face changes from different angles. ...

Japanese Two Panel Screen of Snow Cranes on a Willow Tree. This great masterpiece is one of the most amazing screen paintings we have seen. Each Snow Crane is painted with its own personality and attitude, using the finest pigments and Gofun (Oyster Shell Lacquer). All of the elements of this painting are just magical. Brocade borders in a black lacquered frame make this two panel screen complete this work of art. 66 inches (167.5 cm)w x 62 inches (157.5 cm)h. Excellent Condition. From a prom...

A very important find and a great day for the serious Satsuma collector who acquires this exceedingly rare pair of plates of breathtaking beauty, detail and color by the renowned Satsuma Master, Ryozan, depicting the two Goddesses of the Seven Lucky Gods, Benzai-ten and Kichijo-ten (Kichijo-ten sometimes replaces Fukurokuju in portrayals of the Seven Lucky Gods). These Goddesses of Good Luck, Happiness, and Learning are patrons of geisha and artists and are venerated by speculators, entrepreneur...

Japanese Late Meiji Period Two Panel Owl Screen featuring a solitary owl perched on a wind blown bamboo, entwined by vines with clusters of red berries. Signed by Kouro. Nihonga School - ink and color on paper painting in tarashikomi, a technique that achieves shading through pooling successive layers of partially dried pigment. 68.5 inches (174 cm)h x 67 inches (170 cm)w. Very Good Condition. Minor Repairs. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

Fine Edo Period Sho Bosatsu Kannon in Rare Excellent Condition, gilded wood sculpture seated on a lotus and holding a lotus in the left hand. The Bodhisattva of Compassion has never been more beautifully rendered. Height: 27 inches (68.5 cm), Width: 14 inches (35.5 cm).

Perfume fountain in porcelain Imari kinrandé mounted in gilt bronze from the same set of porcelain. The cup and the bowl form the base, the pot covers the perfume container.
Blue under-cover decoration with gold highlights of interlacing lotus flowers. On each of the ceramic pieces, two four-lobed spaces and sides with floral motifs (pine, yellow and red lycoris, carnation, phlox moss, bamboo) and two foxes. Top of the pot with a chrysanthemum pattern. The inside of the fountain has a ban...

This exceptional tanto is very original, unique in its kind, it represents a bundle of lotus flowers wrapped in a canvas. The mount is in silver, embossed for the leaves of the sheath and cast for the flower buds at both ends. The seppa are in shakudo and gold. Some elements in gilded bronze. The design of the sheath is unique, it is a perfect imitation of a fabric canvas. It is made of woven bamboo fibers covered with lacquer. The effect is striking, the impression of a real fabric is real, we ...

Antique Japanese Art Deco bronze and silver figure of a parrot sitting on a holly branch. Elegant simplified lines and form with swooping tail and copper color eyes. In two sections. Signed by the artist, Tanshо̄ Inoue. He was famous for his Art Deco bronze work during the Taisho Period and a member of Tokyo Chukinkai (Tokyo Cast Bronze Craftman's Association).

探勝作 Tanshо̄ saku "Made by Tanshо̄"

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 15 3/4" hi...

A Japanese gold lacquer Inro with five compartments. A relief of a pair of silver horses dominates the landscape scene of a seaside village with drying racks of fish and pines and clouds in the background. The horses are galloping over a creek with foliage. The reverse side shows a lone horse under a fruit tree and thatched cottage. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). The cord has an agate ojime. Inro (seal basket) are small decorative containers ...

Rare box with 3 compartments in lacquered wood from the beginning of the Edo period, end of the 17th century, beginning of the 18th. Decor of chrysanthemums in a landscape. Some flowers are encrusted in solid gold. The decoration is in lacquer in light relief powdered with gold and silver on a nashiji background. Details in Kirikane. The silver is strongly oxidized and has turned greyish-black as on all very old lacquers of this period. In the bottom of the box on the base compartment we can dis...

A rare wonderful Daki Ningyo with the most artistic style and a beautiful hypnotic face, wearing a gorgeous painted silk kimono of Imperial purple. Made for the Imperial class. Late 19th Century. 27 inches, 68.5 cm.

Small namban style chest with a semi-cylindrical lid made of black lacquered wood (urushi) with gold lacquer (maki-e) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl (raden).
Mon style decoration (family emblem) of ginkos and chrysanthemums framed by friezes alternating three grooves and mother-of-pearl inlays. Copper fittings and black lacquer interior.

The Namban art of the 16th and 17th centuries was influenced by the contacts with the West and in particular the Portuguese who arrived in ...

Bronze sculpture representing an owl on a tree stump covered with ivy. The owl, detachable from its base, has shakudo eyes. It is certainly an Ryûkyû scops owl (Otus elegans), present in the south of Japan in Ryûkyû Islands.
Red fabric glued to the base of the trunk to protect the base and the pedestal (not original).

The owl (fukurô, 梟) symbolizes good luck and protection from hardship. By homonymy, fukuro mean « good fortune coming » (福来郎) or « without diffi...

Remarkable and exceedingly rare bronze life-size kannon statue. From a buddhist temple, c. 1920. Holding a lotus about to blossom. Had a halo but had damage so we are selling without it. We feel the proportion of the halo was too big for the piece regardless. In excellent condition. Shipping from CA warehouse. 5ft. tall by 23" wide.

18th Century Japanese Edo Period pair of Kyoho-Bina Ningyo, an exceedingly rare early 18th century. An exceptional example of this early style. The finest quality in all aspects, featuring rich silk matching brocades in an elegant floral pattern with auspicious treasures on multilayered robes creating a classical form. All accessories and stands are original, very rare for such an early piece. Fine faces of gofun (oyster shell lacquer) aged to a burnished tone, with painted details. They have a...

A one of a kind, very large early example of this Musha-Ningyo (Boys' Day Figure). This legendary figure first appeared for Boys Day in the late 19th Century. He is the Japanese equivalent to Hercules. He is always shown with a ruddy complexion, as seen in Japanese woodblock prints, scrolls and screens. He is a magnificent sculpture, Iki and Gosho in style. He holds an Axe and wears a sumptuous embroidery brocade featuring a mythical Turtle. 19th Century (circa 1880). 29 inches (74cm) height. ...

Japanese Late Edo Period very large rare pair of Musha Ningyo representing Empress Jingū (Jingū Kōgō) and the old minister Takenouchi no Sukune. He is holding the baby Ōjin (a son of the Empress Jingū who later became Emperor Ōjin) and is seated on a camp stool. These are among the largest examples and are of the highest quality and artistic workmanship. The heads and hands are carved of wood, covered with many layers of tinted gofun (oyster shell lacquer),...

Rare and exceptional tanto of the Koto period with a polishing perfectly revealing the metallurgical qualities of the blade accompanied by a completely extraordinary lacquer and inlays sheath. The blade is in hira zukuri with a forge (hada) itame, a quenching in suguha. The tip (boshi) is chu maru. On the nakago in ubu keitai there are 2 mekugi ana. Length of the nagasa blade 28.8 cm. The scabbard (koshirae) in dark brown lacquer and ro-iro black lacquer for the decoration of gourds and folia...

An Extraordinary and Scarce, Museum Quality Find. Early 16th Century Muromachi Period Saga Ningyo of the Goddess Kannon, in a rare and elegant standing form. Carved entirely of wood, her costume is built up with pigments in a technique called 'moriage'. Her gorgeous robes are decorated with foliate scroll slightly raised in relief. This rarest of all Ningyo forms almost never comes up for sale and are never seen except in museums or important private collections. Saga Ningyo are considered t...