18th century good size iron Japanese sword tsuba with decoration of paulownia leaves and flowers. Paulownia (kiri) is considered to be a Princess tree in Japan and was featured in the crest of the Toyotomi clan, led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Wonderful design, gold highlights, in great condition. Height 3.4 inches.
18th century or earlier iron sukashi Japanese sword tsuba with pierced decoration of bamboo and plum flowers. They represent two out of the Three Friends of Winter (pine, bamboo and plum) celebrated for the fact that they do not wither as the cold days deepen into the winter season unlike many other plants. Wonderful design, in great condition. Height 2.73 inches.
18th century or earlier iron sukashi Japanese sword tsuba with pierced decoration of gnarled pine trunk and needle clusters - Japanese symbol of good luck and longevity. Powerful design, overall in great condition. Height 3.18 inches.
19th century boxwood netsuke of Fukurokuju with his characteristic elongated head wearing a long sleeved robe and holding a fan in his hand. He is one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, his name consisting of Japanese words fuku (happiness), roku (wealth) and ju (longevity). Great face, wonderful flow to the lines of his robe, beautiful patina. Signed SHUZAN for Nagamachi Shuzan in irregular reserve on the back - this very distinct artist is listed on p...
Sometime around the year 1600 the first Takatori kiln was constructed at the foot of Mt Takatori in Fukuoka. This tradition was based on styles created by Korean potters brought to the shores of Japan during its colonial expansionism of the late 16th century. A favorite of the Kuroda lords of the time, its production and use was closely guarded until later in the 19th century when the domain system was abolished, freeing it up to be more widely used...
A fine Japanese cloisonne charger featuring a central medallion with a beautiful ho-ho bird, Japanese phoenix, on a goldstone ground. It is in excellent condition and dates late Meiji period, circa 1910. Measures 12 inches diameter.
Length: 4.2 cm (1.7 in)
Height: 2.1 cm (0.8 in)
Depth: 3 cm (1.2 in)
Quality Japanese wooden netsuke of a group of three chestnuts; naturalistically modelled with two grubs present, one is articulated; one himatoshi is lined with natural material; good condition
Japanese scroll painting of a group of scholarly skeletons. At the top of the image, three skeletons drink tea while viewing scrolls. One skeleton displays a scroll on which the artist has signed his name. Other skeletons enjoy music played on a koto while others play go, paint scrolls and make tea. Painted in sumi-e ink and light colors on paper.
Dimensions: Total size: 78 1/2" high x 26" wide (28 1/4" wide including ends). Size of art: 52" high x 20" wide
Japanese scroll painting of two skeletons hard at work counting money. The calligraphy verse up top appears to be influenced by the Confucian scholar, Kameda Bosai and is sealed Gakubutsu. Below, the skeletons pour over accounting ledgers next to a large scale. This painted portion of the scroll is sealed Nisekisai. Painted in sumi-e ink on paper.
Dimensions: 81 1/2" high x 30 3/4" wide (33" wide including rollers). Size of art: 53" high x 26 3/4" wide
Japanese scroll painting of skeletons, one dancing and one playing a shamisen. Strewn over the ground are skulls and a giant gourd filled with drink. The calligraphy on the top of the scroll states that even the great sage Boddhidaruma and the beautiful Onna no Komachi are Doitsu Byodo (the same as the rest of us) when their flesh is stripped away...
Scroll painting of a female ghost appearing out of the mist near a waterfall. Painted after the famous image by Maruyama Okyo, the ghost of Oyuki, a lovely woman who died young. Her hair hangs loose over her face and shoulders. She hovers near the roaring water with one hand tucked into her kimono. Oyuki is a subject in Nihok Sandai Kaidan (Japan's "Three Great Ghost Stories")...
Original Japanese woodblock print by Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) of a Japanese captive insulting the King of Ancient Korea. From the series Kyodo Risshiki (Instructive Biographies) and published by Matsuki Heikichi, it is dated 1885. In excellent condition, it measures 14.75 inches high, 10" across.
A beautiful set of 6 Antique JAPANESE SIGNED Wooden Stack Boxes that fit perfectly into one another! They show the exquisite natural lines of the wood and were finished with transparent lacquer varnish. Nice color of the wood, like mahagony. Overall in good condition, with very minor inconsequential small marks of age/use. Size:
A total of 6 boxes, the largest: length 15" x depth 12 1/2" x height 5". The smallest box measures: length 10" x depth 7" x height 3 3/4"
19th century boxwood netsuke depicting the head of himono (gutted dried fish). Initially food taken along on a journey, dried fish came to symbolize good luck and health. Beautiful realistic carving (appears to be a head of salmon), wonderful sharp detailing, clever use of one eye as himotoshi. Superb patina on wood, in excellent condition, very pleasant to hold. Length 2.35 inches (60 mm).
Early 19th century suigaraake (ashtray) netsuke with round silvered bronze body, cloisonne outside and a swinging loop for hanging. Excellent early work in terms of Japanese cloisonne, functional netsuke shape, design of flowers among scrolling vines, matte finish, beautiful wear and patina, original pitting typical for the period, some filled areas along the rim as can be seen on photos. Diameter 1 1 5/8 inches.
Height: 18 cm (7.3 in)
Width: 8.7 cm (3.5 in)
Fine Japanese porcelain vase; features underglaze blue floral work with a scrolled floral border above the base; hanging lappets below the rim with two beast-head handles adjoining; good condition
Clay doll figurine of a standing Shiba puppy dog, dressed up with a multi-layered collar with bells.
Very soft clay modeled in a mold and fired at low heat. Painted with gofun (ground eggshell producing the white color), natural/mineral pigments and gold, applied after the figure has cooled...
Dark brown patina bronze figure of a standing kappa with its right leg leaning on a cucumber. The figure is put on four-legged rattan-like bronze stand.
The kappa (河童) is a aquatic creature taken from Japanese folklore having the appearance of an anthropomorphic turtle.
His skull is either slightly hollowed out to accommodate water, from which it derives its power, or hidden with a water lily leaf hiding this sag...