Fine iron jizai of a butterfly with articulated wings.

The butterfly (choho) in Japan is perceived as "the soul of the living and the dead", the spirits of the dead taking the form of a butterfly on their journey to the other world. The butterfly spreading its wings is a symbol of femininity. It can also symbolize joy and longevity. This last motif is taken up by the samurai, seeing in its twirling figure a motive of good omen allowing them to reach immortality...

A ghost rises from the darkness pulling on her hair, a wry grin as she looks sideways at the viewer on this antique painting by Moriwaki Unkei. Ink on paper completely cleaned and remounted in vine patterned blue silk with dark wood rollers. There are old age stains on the paper, which appear much stronger in the photos than in life. It is 40 x 200 cm (15-3/4 x 78-3/4 inches) and in excellent condition...

Okimono in bronze of a frog.
Seal of the founder or of his factory on its belly, not identified.

The frog (kaeru) is associated with luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the frog to return each year to the pond of its birth. A gong in the shape of a frog can thus sometimes be used as a door hammer or to protect a house.

Japan - Meiji Era (1868-1912)
Height: 1.4 in...

This very well carved ivory okimono of a Chinese merchant is a late Meiji period product. It is 5” high, 2” wide and 1 ½” thick at the thickest part. It depicts a Chinese merchant with his hands in his sleeves, resting them in front of him. The artist did a great job on his facial expression and dress which includes a typical Chinese old fashioned two piece robe and hat. His goatee and long pigtail make this merchant more interesting and realistic...

Antique Japanese woodblock triptych print of a large samurai battle scene by the artist, Yoshitora Utagawa. Active during the late 19th century, Yoshitora Utagawa was best known for his dynamic battle scenes as well as prints of samurai, firemen, kabuki actors, beautiful women and foreigners. He was born in Edo but the exact year of his birth and death are unknown. He studied with the great print artist, Kuniyoshi Utagawa but later left his school and changed his name to Mosai...

Antique Japanese bronze hiten (Sanskrit, apsara), celestial musician. She sits on swirling clouds, her drum in her lap. Stylistically represented in the Indian or Southeast Asian traditional garb of bodhisattvas with high crown, elaborate pectoral jewelry and flowing drapery. The billowing clouds on which she sits have a green patina.

Age: Taisho period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 14 1/4" high x 9 1/2" wide x 6 1/2" deep

Seto Kuro Oribe (black oribe) kutsugata (shoe-shaped) chawan with a rounded brim, made in the late Edo Period around 1850. This rare type of tea bowl was made from light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay which contains some iron oxide and and a rich black glaze (made from ground up Kamagawa stones) which partially obscures the white designs on the side. The Chawan fits nicely in your hands and looks great filled with bright green matcha...

Absolutely rare and precious - ready to frame to a great collage of Japanese Kimono fashion history: 4 big sheets of hand painted Kimono designs, painted on ricepaper in the late Edo Period/early Meiji Period. Around 1850.

They all are signed by the same artist. Strong and vivid colours.

Great condition with traces of wear and book stiching.

Size of each sheet: ca...

An eye-catching combination of brown-black colors and old expertly applied gold repairs on a classic Japanese E-Karatsu tea bowl dating from the middle of the Edo-Period (1603-1868).

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for...

19th century netsuke of Benkei as yamabushi (a wandering priest) emerging out of a huge horagai (a war trumpet made out of a shell) and blowing into a smaller one, and holding a shakujo (Buddhist priest rattle) in his hand. The tokin (scull cap) on his head is the sign of the yamabushi, and horagai - (a trumpet shell - Charonia Tritonis) were often fitted with a mouthpiece on the thin end, and used as war trumpets...

An impressive magnifying glass with a carved ivory handle with 18 natural red coral beads. We believe the ivory handle to be a Meiji period Japanese parasol handle and sometime in its history converted to a magnifying glass. In very good antique condition with all beads intact, the handle measures 5 inches x 1 1/8". Magnifying glass with handle is 10.5 inches long.

Height: 8.6 cm (3.6 in)
Width: 2.8 cm (1.1 in)

Old wooden netsuke of a Sennin with a toad on his shoulder; excellent patina with deep himatoshi; good condition

A rare pair of Japanese double gourd shaped porcelain vases, decorated with a ho-o bird flying over "prunus mume" in overglaze blue, green, yellow, aubergine, iron red and gold. Standing on a broad footrim, the rim with "kuchibeni". Condition: fine, only one vase with a short hairline ending in a tiny rim frit on the rear side (please see photo no. 12). Dimension: 19.3 cm high.

Japanese bronze vase with nice form, used to decorate single flower arrangement in Japanese traditional tea ceremony.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, Early 20th Century
Size: Height 24 C.M. / Width 14 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.

This is indigo dye cotton tsutsugaki textile futon cover at the edo-Meiji era. Very auspicious, brave hawk and pine tree design. The material is thick indigo-dyed cotton. The technique of indigo dyeing Tsutsugaki is very good and beautiful. It is unused and has no stains or damage. The state is excellent. It is a very valuable gem. Please add it to the collection. Four panels are sewn together. Size: Length 168 cm (66.1 inches) / Width 126 cm (49.6 inches)

Exceedingly rare late Meiji Period C.1900 gold and black lacquered wood buddha stand with lotus leaves and buddhist clouds in carved relief. Negoro lacquer rim in back half with some wear, but otherwise in perfect nick. 20" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

Beautifully symmetrical granite stone buddhist stupa. Late Taisho Period Ca. 1920. excellent condition. Ask for shipping quote. H: 17" by W: 41/2".

A fine so-called “Deshima”, or more likely a scene of Scheveningen in the Netherlands or an imaginary composition based upon it, after an unknown original by Frederik van Frytom. Although this is the most reproduced version in the literature the design is actually a sinofication of the original Dutch landscape...