Japanese hirado ware porcelain figure of a tiger. With fully hand-carved fur pattern, whiskers, a wide grin with front fangs exposed. The tiger is glazed in white with the pupils of the eyes left buff. The four paws of the tiger have been hand-sculpted with the toes and claws on the bottom of the figure. The bottom and nostrils of the tiger are pierced through for air to escape during firing.

Published in:
"Hirado Ware, by C. Philip Cardeiro, pg...

Antique Japanese hikeshi banten, fireman's coat. Made of layers of cotton fabric and stitched in the sashiko quilting technique. Fires were common in Japanese urban areas due to the dense population as well as construction material (primarily wood and paper). Fire brigades were made up of samurai class (buke hikeshi) as well as common class (machi hikeshi). Their primary goal in containing a fire was to tear down the surrounding buildings so the fire had no more fuel...

Pair of silver vase cloisonné of enamels. Gold lacquer cartouches inlaid with mother-of-pearl shibayama, buffalo horn, stained bone. Signature of the artist in a gold cartouche. Japanese work from the end of the 19th century. Good condition. No restoration, some missing inlays (see pictures) the silver parts are in good condition, not dented or scratched...

This is a rare and large, top quality Satsuma Jar or vase by Yabu Meizan. We are not sure because the top is both gilded and glazed on the inside edge. The beautiful Meiji era lid is not original to the piece. The gold detail and landscape painting are beautiful. It is stoutly potted and measures 9 inches tall by 8 1/2 inches wide. This piece is not signed but at one time it was signed by Yabu Meizan. The original signature has been covered up by an excellent restoration to a drill hole...

This is very rare Shibori Kimono produced in Akita Asamai area for Edo period. This is dyed with a natural indigo plant carefully. As for this, a pattern is Eba-gara. Three carps swim in the water like a brick. In the Hanada-colored ground, three bold carps and waterweeds with the force are expressed in indigo dyeing Shibori. This cotton is spun by hand...

Antique Japanese matching Katana (long) and Wakazashi (short) swords, from the Shinto Period (1579-1763). Both swords have a beautiful dark brown patina on the tang with visible laminar construction on the blades. The blades have been fully polished and have paper work from the NBRHK in Japan. Each sword comes with a matching bag for protection. Wonderful details including side knives and menuki. The tsuba on the Wakizashi is shakudo...

Pair of rare hanging apsaras, also known in Japanese as Kuyo Bosatsu or Hiten. The style of the face, the soft appearance of the hands, and the flowing robes are fine examples of the highest quality in Edo Period Buddhist sculpture. One apsara may have been holding an object to offer the Buddhas, while the other is carrying drumsticks and appears to be hitting the drum the apsara is carrying. The pair may have been part of a set long ago, but even so, it is rare to see this set...

Antique Japanese choba tansu from the Matsumoto area. Made of keyaki (elm) wood with dramatic grain. The top portion of the tansu has two drawers...

Antique Japanese Red Lacquer Dragon Altar Table with Floating top cover and raised ends. Wonderfully elegant and dramatic. Top inset panel Gilt carved dragon clutching his flaming ball over clouds. Glass eyes on dragon. Lower inset panel with birds flying over waves in gilt. Done with lovely lively quality. Lower shelf on four carved curving legs. Gilt bronze hardware of floral design. Overall good condition for age. Meiji Period (1868-1912) Size: 60" L x 19" D x overall 37"H

A rare and exquisite piece by the 12th Kichizaemon (1857-1932) of the Raku lineage, now in its 16th generation. Not only with excellent documentation including a certification and endorsement by famed tea-master Sei-sai and a record from its sale at the Tokyo Art Club in 1938, there are many facets of this work that make it a must-have for serious collectors. The color is quite unique among Raku tea bowls with a distinctive yellow glaze that you rarely find on works such as this. Next, the gold ...

The forked arrowhead (karimata) was named after its resemblance to the V-formation flight of wild geese. Such arrows of different sizes were highly prized on the battlefield and for hunting large game. The Japanese arrowheads, many resembling miniature spears, were made in hundreds of varied shapes of folded, tempered steel.
They were attached to the bamboo shafts by means of long, thin tangs (Nakago). The most common were narrow, roughly-filed, pointed arrowheads used to penetrate armor...

Absolutely incredible Japanese antique bronze figure of a monkey sitting and inspecting a small wasp's nest. He is delicately modeled with great care given to his expression and details. The monkey figure wears a little coat with incised decoration of more monkeys playing with crabs, a scene which highlights the theme of the main figure which seems to be the inquisitive nature of monkeys. Early Meiji Period (1868-1912), signed by the artist "Shunben" Size: 12" high x 8" wide x 14" deep.

A fine Japanese hirado porcelain okimono of a recumbent horse. The horse has a whimsical expression. Its eyes are left unglazed with blackened pupils, its unglazed teeth exposed in a wide grin, the corners of the mouth and nostrils pierced through. Touches of cobalt blue underglaze accent the hooves and snout of the horse. The base is impressed with maker's cartouche.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 1/2" L x 4" W x 6" H

A pair of Chinese antique monochrome Clair de Lune glaze porcelain vases set on a decorative hardwood stands. A small gold leaf repair is done to the lip of the vases in the Kintsugi style. The vases are a pale blue with tall rounded shoulders and the unglazed bases and recessed footing with Kangxi inscription.

Provenance: NY Collection Bradley

Date: Kangxi 1661-1722

Dimensions: 9" tall w/stand, 7.25" w/o stand X 2.73 wide

Japanese Buddhist scroll painting of Eight Armed Kannon , the bodhisattva of compassion, seated in a lotus position. In her other seven arms she holds a staff, a trident, a bow and arrows, a Dharma wheel, and other attributes with symbolic meaning.

Standing figures are arranged below the seated Kannon, each holding various offerings for the bodhisattva such as rice, sake, dumplings, silk fabrics, and other material objects. Among the figures is the immortal Lucky God Daikoku, wiel...

A hirado ware porcelain figure of the mythical creature baku, the dream eater. This beast is a chimera with the features of an elephant, an ox, a rhinoceros and a tiger. The expert artist hand-carved every detail of the figure with fine lines, the flames and spines along its back carved in high relief. The glaring eyes are left bare with black pupils while the rest of its body is glazed white.

A similar Baku is in the Lawrence Collection, Published in:
"Hirado: Prince of Porc...

Unusual Japanese single section isho tansu from the Sendai region, made of solid Keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with burl front panels. The iron hardware and mounts have floral motifs throughout. The corner plates have scalloped edges, the drawer pulls are mokko (melon) shaped with chrysanthemums mounts, the round lock plates are incised with Kiri leaf mon and two are outlined with scrolling vine motifs. The safe door opens to reveal three inner drawers for small valuables.

Meiji peri...

Exquisite Antique Japanese pair of large garden lanterns. Each is made of cast iron in 10 sections. The roof of each has raised writing, the lantern portions are decorated with kiri blossoms. The pedestals are coiled around with dragons in low relief, the base of each has high relief fu-dogs. Very difficult to collect. Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) All original iron Size of each: 62 1/2" high x 24" wide at widest part. (Each base is approx 20" wide)