19th Century Japanese Porcelain figure of Kintaro in court attire in the style of a Gosho Ningyo (Palace Doll) holding a Crane. Kintaro loved all birds and animals. This rare porcelain figure is signed by Makuzu, a well recognized porcelain artist who is collected by museums and collectors in Japan. He uses glazes in his own recognizable style. 4 inches, 10 cm tall. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

19th century ebony mask netsuke of a man with a wrinkled face, probably representing the character O-Guchi. Well carved, beautiful patina with characteristic sheen. Height 1 5/8 inches.

Antique Japanese cho bako made of keyaki (elm) wood with beautiful grain and original translucent lacquer finish, iron hardware including edge bracing, lock plates, hirute shaped drawer pulls on the front, warabite shaped handles on the sides. Five drawers with one drop in panel and hidden compartment. Comes with one key. From the Sakata area of Japan. Edo Period. Size: 17 1/2" high x 21 3/4" wide x 16 1/2" deep.

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Aka Matsu (Red Pine) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Unusual counter Ryo Biraki design with door hinges in the center of the piece opens to a configuration of drawers and open cavities where store records and books were held. It has a low profile that was custom designed for the merchant for his specific needs...

Hand-forged iron Jizai Okimono articulated spiny lobster. Each iron plate is carefully repousse hammered, creating a natural realism. The lobster is fully splayed on steel plates and armature wire. All ten legs and long antenna and articulated with multiple joints on each leg. Exquisitely crafted, showing off a very high skill of the metal worker. With artist signature underneath the lobster.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 13" x 7" x 5" (8 1/2" on stand)

Antique Japanese tall merchant's box. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with iron hardware. The box has a total of 9 small drawers: upper drawers most likely held writing implements, tools or documents while the ink stains on the inside of the lower drawers reveal they once held ink, seals and ink stone...

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant storage box) made of Kusunoki (Camphor) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hikute handles. Beautifully constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. The hinged front door opens to five interior doors where merchant papers, records and small valuables were kept.

Age: Late Edo Period (1800-1850)Dimensions: 13 1/2" Wide by 15" High by 19 3/4" Deep

A whimsical Japanese boxwood carving of a toad, with inlaid eyes, crawling atop a functioning cylindrical box carved of bone. The box is hand-carved with flying insects and leaping frogs in a lily pond, the base carved with a floral band. Signed by the artist.

Dimensions: 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 6 3/4" H

19th century Japanese Asakusa school staghorn kiseruzutsu - tobacco pipe case - carved with a scholarly landscape with a temple among hills and rocks by a pine tree, and a village in the distance. Clever carving incorporating porous texture of its center as element of design, nicely chunky. Beautiful wear and patina, in great condition. Length 8 inches.

Early to mid- 19th century netsuke representing nio (one of the Buddhist Guardian Kings) sitting on a huge old straw sandal and mending it with a rope. Excellent carving, beautifully stained, wonderful wear and patina. Signed TOMOCHIKA in oval reserve on the bottom - the artist is Tomochika the First as discussed on p. 1148 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1.2 inches.

Bronze incense burner representing an old man, riding a carp hands joined, in a tumultuous sea.

The man could also remind the deity of fishermen and prosperity, Ebisu, which is often represented with a carp. However, it is usually represented with a large hat called kazaori eboshi.

The carp is a fish symbolizing perseverance, courage and wisdom, as it swims up rivers and waterfalls against the current...

Bronze vase with a dark brown patina in the shape of a trunk.
It bears a three characters signature underneath : 京翁斎 « made by an old man in Kyôto”.

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Height : 22 cm-Diameter : 14 cm

lacquer sake cup, silver kinji lacquer background decorated with a procession in hira and taka maki-e. Red lacquered back. Signature. Edo or meiji period. D: 112mm H: 27mm. Good condition, a tiny chip on the foot visible on an enlarged photo.

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

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of O-Beshimi. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, 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 1.07 inches.

19th century Japanese ceramic wall vase for use during tea ceremony as a flower container. Bizen ware made in Okayama Prefecture - one of the 6 oldest kiln centers in Japan. Wonderful free potting, beautifully indented by potter’s thumb on the front, subtle glaze ranging in color from gray to olive to brown. Excellent piece in Japanese taste, very pleasant warm patina, overall in excellent shape. Iron ring for hanging, inscribed with potters’s mark on the bottom. Height 4 3/4 inches.

Black and gold lacquer sageju-baco (picnic box) decorated with floral motifs in hiramaki-e. It includes a sake bottle, a four-compartment box with nashi-ji lacquer inside, a simple tray and a hollow tray. At the top, there is a bronze handle for transport.

The sageju-bako is divided into four superimposed boxes for food on the left; a simple tray, a sake bottle and a hollow tray on the right. They are in the shape of a plum blossom.
On the top, on both sides a phoenix...

Japanese pair of heavy pure silver vases decorated with incised chrysanthemums, copper overlay on leaves, raised chrysanthemum mon on neck of each vase with gold overlay, Meiji Period (1868-1912), signed: Migen Yoshihiku Koku. Size: 12" high each.