19th century wooden mask netsuke of an oni. Covered with gesso and painted with layers of red and black paint. Nice presence, obvious wear to paint. Height 1 1/2 inches.

An antique Japanese Ko Choba Tansu (small merchant chest) made of Sakuranoki (Cherry Wood) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria). All original Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. The front hinged door hides 7 drawers of varying sizes.

Originally used by a merchant to keep valuables and store records and documents...

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.

An antique Japanese Kaidan Tansu (stair chest) in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress), Aka Matsu (Red Pine) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Hirute handles. 7 steps with an added riser at the top. Each step is a short 5" long with a 10 1/4" riser and a left to right incline. 4 drawers with a hinged door for spacious storage...

A Japanese Porcelain food bowl and cover, 19th century.

The delicate porcelain bowl decorated with breaking waves, autumnal maple leaves and chrysanthemum flowers. Within the foot-rim is a coloured ‘clove’ mark. The lid, of similar design, sports a splendid flowerhead knop.

Approximately 15.2 cm diameter. Generally in good state but with some stained crazing. The rim of the bowl has small flakes filled with white...

19th century stag antler mask netsuke representing BESHIMI. Excellent expressive face, beautiful staining. Height 1 1/2 inches.

19th century lacquer on wood mask netsuke of an oni. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing, and then wood, thus adding yet another color to the piece. Signed SHUSEN on the back - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1012. Height 1 11/16 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke representing a theatrical mask of a shojo. Shojo are mythical creatures living near the sea, and are particularly fond of sake. Wonderful smiling face with benevolent expression of slight inebriation, finely carved, beautiful patina. Signed SUKETOSHI on the back bar - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1051. Height 1 3/4 inches.

Buddhist shrine containing the deity Uga Benzaiten surrounded by Fifteen Children (Jugodoji), all sitting and standing on a rock formation. In the foreground are the ox and the horse, a boat laden with rice bales and the snake god Ugajin. Hidden between the jugodoji is the tiny figure of Amida Buddha.

In this shrine Benten appears in her eight-armed martial form holding various weapons (wheel, bow, spear, sword, club, lock, and arrow) and the wish granting jewel (all of them missing)...

Height: 20 cm (8 in)
Width: 5.8 cm (2.4 in)
Depth: 5 cm (2 in)

Fine Japanese carved okimono of Gamma Sennin, the Sage Liu Hai supporting a toad on his back; excellent carving throughout; natural material; signed on the base; good condition

Antique Japanese cylindrical hibachi made of bent suginoki (cryptomeria) and decorated with a maki-e lacquer scene of a family of chickens in a bamboo grove. The mother hen and two chicks look for food on the ground while their father rooster looks back at his third little chick. Bamboo details are made of inlaid shell and the background is flecked in gold. With a copper insert.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 7 5/8" high x 10 1/4" wide

Height: 3.1 cm (1.2 in)
Length: 3.7 cm (1.7 in)
Depth: 2.4 cm (0.9 in)

Fine Japanese netsuke of a calligrapher; leaning back and looking pleased with his work, his legs extended under his worktable; stained natural material; minor age related wear; signed

Height: 3.3 cm (1.4 in)
Width: 3.5 cm (1.5 in)
Depth: 2.7 cm (1.1 in)

Japanese carved shishi dog seal block; inlaid eyes; natural material; minor wear; good condition

An antique Japanese tall Kyushu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress), Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles and the double bar lock plates. With 2 pairs of sliding doors and 8 drawers, it has plenty of room for organizing and storage. Side ribs add strength and support as well as visual design to the chest...

An antique Japanese Sakata Bo Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original natural Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware. Locking bar secures three Kimono drawers. The main lock features a stylized Chrysanthemum with leaves design. A hinged security door hides two small drawers where valuables were kept. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and wooden nails...

An unusual Arita porcelain tea pot styled after a cast-iron example. The textured surface is described as “nail head” when it appears on an iron tetsubin. Late 18th ~ early 19th century.

The Shibata Museum compendium has a pot of similar shape and cartouche, no nail head texture or iron dressing  but with additional cobalt decoration, item#3782.  1780~1820.

This example is approximately 17.5 cm high. The handle has a very obvious stress crack but no other problem...

A pair of Japanese Export porcelain models of Karashishi, the fabled Buddhist lion-dogs of Japan. Arita, early 18th century. White porcelain with iron-red enamel decoration.

Each is approximately 6.5cm high, 6cm long. The first is in fine condition with some firing lines as issued...

Pair of Japanese sliding door handles. They are made of a copper alloy finely chiseled with scrolls and stylized flowers on a nanako background, alternately there are shakudo plates (an alloy of copper and gold, shibuichi or silvered sentoku...