18th century netsuke of an emaciated Gama sennin wearing old monk’s robe with his ribs visible sitting on rockery as his constant companion - a toad - affectionately puts its paws on the man’s knees. Somehow netsuke manages to convey the relationship between two characters...

Pair of 18th Century Japanese Carved Stone Sculptures of the Female Buddha Sattva with beautifully polychromed colors. Inscribed on the back. These rare figures are important artifacts of Buddhism and they transmit a wonderful spiritual presence. Heights: 10.5 and 10 inches, 27 and 25.5 cm.

A Late 18th Century Japanese suit of armor. This suit is an example of blue laced HON KOZANE NIMAI-DO GUSOKU. Seated height of 79" to tip of feather, 18" wide at the chest an 13" deep. Comes with storage box which is also used as seat.

Rare antique Japanese Biraki Choba (merchant chest with hinged doors). The doors open to reveal 9 drawers of various sizes over a single large exterior drawer. Heavy iron hardware includes extensive cross bracing, large hinges, warabite drawer-pulls, a large round lock plate, a lock and 3 keys.
The lock plate has a large Minamoto Clan family crest-likely that of the Seiwa Genji clan...

Large shrine board (known as an ema) of Bishamonten chasing after a demon. Polychrome pigments, gold, and sumi ink on wood.Dated Second year of Enki, year of the wooden bull (kinotoushi):1745, November (Shimotsuki). Board was donated by Omiya Souhachiro, who was living in the Kudara-cho district of Osaka City (near the vicinity of Shinsaibashi area). The board was painted by Hanai Bunsen Tsunemine (active early 18th century)...

Late 18th to early 19th century Kyoto school netsuke of a dog wearing a collar with its head turned back while resting the front of its body on a ball. Strong piece, superb carving to the last detail, fantastic hairwork, beautiful flow to its tail and bumpy spine, large eyes inlaid with dark horn. Wonderful wear and patina consistent with age, great classic netsuke. Height 1 13/16 inches.

A very unusual plate decorated with a central motif of a a late 17th century style “Kakiemon Dragon” framed by a segmented border with floral roundels each with fifteen petals set against a stylised wave and scroll ground, that seems to reference some of the wave patterns popular during the Transitional period...

A rare pair of Antique Japanese of matching matchlock hand guns. Iron barrels with hand inlaid with silver and gold dragons. The dai stock is of a hardwood and brass jiita arquebus's firing mechanism, sakura ramrod intact. With custom antiqued bronze stands for display.

Age: 18th century

Dimensions: 21" long each

Rather unusual 18th century stag antler netsuke carved as young Yoshitsune holding naginata (a machete on a wooden shaft) as he performs a high jump over the hand of warrior monk Benkei on the Gojo Bridge. For an account of the historical encounter of Yoshitsune and Benkei at the Gojo bridge in Kyoto see H. Joly LEGEND IN JAPANESE ART, p. 82. Unusual treatment of the subject, supremely clever use of the natural shape of available carving material...

Good size 18th century netsuke of a standing sennin (Chinese sage) in a long robe and a leaf cape, carrying on his shoulder a Chinese boy who plays a short trumpet. The netsuke is probably a joke on the subject of bokudo, which is typically depicted as a boy seated on the back of a buffalo and playing a flute - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood....

A rare oval und convex shaped Japanese iron sword guard with two amaryu in gold nunome. Condition: good. Dimensions: 6,9 cm high x 6,1 cm wide.

A koro of rounded barrel shaped profile decorated with a repeating pattern of underglaze dragons, chilong, framed by rectangular shaped reserves constructed from c form scrolls set against a pine scale ground painted in aubergine, green and yellow enamels. The lip of the rim painted in blue and the interior of the rim painted with a diaper band...

Antique Japanese round porcelain plate decorated with blue underglaze scene of two fish and underwater plants. The plate stands on a round foot and the underside is decorated with rings and scrolling flora in blue underglaze. A small gold kintsugi repair and kiri tomobako are evidence that this was a valuable and prized part of someone's collection years ago.

Age: 17th century

Dimensions: 6 1/4" wide x 1 1/8" high

18th century netsuke of a seated mother monkey patiently suffering the indignity of her young grabbing her ear as it climbs onto her head. Fantastic expression of existential contemplation on her face, excellent incised and etched coat, beautiful wear. Netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, superb honey colored patina. Height 2 inches.

Small framed painting of hawk perching on a rock underneath a flowering plum tree branch. The hawk beholds the beholder with one eye, holding its head and body at an angle. Unsigned. Kano style. Black ink on paper in brocade mounting. 18th century. Scroll ends cut off and framed.
Frame: 40 ¼ x 15 ¾ in. (105.8 x 40.2 cm). Painted area: 30 5/8 x 11 ½ in. (78.5 x 29.4 cm).
Toned, some cracks (former folds due to rolling), slightly rubbed at places, few missing areas. It is what it is...

Hard porcelain dish, painted in cobalt blue under glassure. Decor typical of the second half of the 18th century. Japanese work, Arita kilns. Below are drawn 6 Chinese characters, apocryphal mark of Emperor Ming Tchenghoa. The shibata collection of the Porcelain Museum in Arita hosts a dish with a similar decoration. Good condition. Diameter: 215mm

A Japanese porcelain steep-sided dish depicting a traditional zashiki room or perhaps a temple interior. The plants seen through the windows are banana and cycad, both common in warmer climates as experienced in Kyushu or Okinawa. Arita 1730 - 1750. Two plates with similar central designs are found in ‘The Story of Imari’, Goro Shimura. ‘The Story of Imari, The Symbols and Mysteries of Antique Japanese Porcelain’, Ten Speed Press, Toronto. 2008...

18th century netsuke of a dog sitting on a tied bag. Strong early piece with nice patina, of characteristic 18th century triangular section, differently sized himotoshi consistent with age, wear to its muzzle, old age lines. Height 1 7/8 inches.