Antique Japanese hand-carved wooden theatre mask for the traditional Kyogen performance. The particular mask has the face of a fox, with coarse horse hair eyebrows and whiskers. The fearsome teeth and scowling eyes are lacquered in gold and it has red lacquered lips and veining in its ears. The jaw is hinged so that it jiggles open and closed with the dancers' movements. The inside of the mask has a special hand-carved signature by the original artist...

A nice pair of authentic antiques, Imperial Nippon Japanese porcelain vases, which were made between 1891 and 1921. They are entirely hand-painted and highlighted in gold, depicting a continuous scenic landscape with two birds. The top of the vases is adorned with a raised jewel pattern.

The vases are marked underneath with "Imperial Nippon, Hand Painted." Please note that the picture of the two vases showing them slightly crooked is an error caused by the camera lenses...

This is an Early 19th Century Netsuke depicting a Monkey sitting astride on a bamboo tree while hungrily eating one of its branches. Large uneven himotoshi, common of netsuke made during the Edo period of Japan. Netsuke measures 1.28 inches (3.2cm) wide, and 2.55 inches (6.5cm) tall. It is in excellent condition as shown in the posted photos.

This is an Early 19th Century Stag Antler Netsuke depicting a curious Monkey sitting on top of a large barrel. He appears to be curiously looking out. The openings on the barrel are used naturally as himotoshi. Netsuke measures 0.84 inches (2.2cm) wide; 1.91 inches (4.8cm) long, and 2.24 inches (5.6cm) tall. It is in excellent condition as shown in the posted photos.

Set for carrying lunch. Bamboo and rattan basketry box lined with green brocade, the outside with an intricate diamond pattern woven in two colors, the corners fortified with leather. Dangling from one of the brass handles is a natural gourd with silver stopper and a lacquer sake cup, imitating Tamba stoneware. Japan, Meiji era, early 20th century.

Basket: H 3; L 6; D 4 ¼ inches (7,5 x 15,2 x 10,6 cm). Gourd: L 7 ½ inches (18,5 cm). Sake cup: diam. 2 inches (5,2 cm)...

Mid-size stoneware jar for storing tea leaves or other.
Brown stoneware with white inclusions and a green splash of natural ash glaze. Slightly widening from bottom to shoulder, with a short more or less straight neck with everting lip.

Japan, Momoyama – Edo period, 16/17th century.

Height 12 ½ inches.

Excellent condition.

Very Charming and fortunate Large antique Japanese Hotei. Hotei, The god of contentment and happiness, guardian of children, and patron of bartenders. Hotei 布袋 has a cheerful face and a big belly. He is supposedly based on an actual person, and is widely recognized outside of Japan as the Fat, Laughing Buddha. Hotei is most likely based on the itinerant 10th-century Chinese Buddhist monk and hermit Budaishi (d...

Antique Japanese Funa Tansu (ship safe chest) made from beautiful Kuri (Chestnut) wood. It has two front sliding panels with an iron lock in its center, and two handles incised auspicious designs. The interior is shelved with a side locking drawer, accented with red lacquer. Three drawers run along the bottom of the chest with squared kakute style iron handles. Size: 22 3/4" high x 26 1/2" wide x 17 3/4" deep.

Pair Japanese carved solid Wood Shrine Guardian Lions, 10 1/2" high, 6" wide, 11" deep each, wonderfully aged, bleached and weathered being outside above Shrine or Temple heavy door frames. These Guardians also called Protector, or Shishi Dog, one mouth open and another mouth closed, always as a pair, placed on the top of the door hinges or under the eave in front of the Shrine doors to protect and stand Guard outside before entering the Shrine...

Hanging scroll. Portrait of Minamoto no Tsunemoto, sitting on a tiger skin before his sword, dressed in a white garment over his armor. Ink, colors, gofun and gold sprinkle on silk. Dated mizunoe ne (1852), early summer. Signed Gyokurei Omoto and two seals...

Hanging scroll. Summer scene. Fireflies flying over fast streaming water and resting on a rock and overhanging leaves.
Black ink, light mineral colors and gold wash on silk.
Signed Bunrin; seal Bunrin and seal Shion.

Japan, Meiji era, 1870s.

Image H 49 x W 19.5 in.; total height 76.25 in.

Gold slightly oxidized, otherwise fine condition.

Comes with wooden storage box, inscribed Bunrin hitsu hotaru no zu Shiokawa ...

Shiokawa Bunrin (1808-1877)...

Hanging scroll. Cropped image of a fierce looking tiger. Black ink on paper. Signed Shusen Genyu sha. Seal Wata-in Shusen and seal .. Genyu.
Japan, late 18th or early 19th century. Collector’s (?) seal in lower right corner.

Image H 49 ¾ x 10 ¾ in.; total height 74 in.

Professionally restored damages; now in excellent condition.

Comes with fitting kiri-wood storage box, inscribed.

Watanabe Shusen (1736-1824) – Nagasaki painter...

A row of begging monks with bowls, hossu and ruyi scepters, emaciated into skeletons. At the end walks a cat skeleton. Black ink and some color on paper. Signed and sealed. Unidentified artist. Japan, early 20th century.
Image 50 ¾ x 19 in. Total length 75 ½ in.
Excellent condition.

Comes with wooden storage box (not inscribed).

DESCRIPTION: In Japanese lore, there are countless tales about the mischievous Tanuki, a real animal native to Japan. Masked like a raccoon but big and stocky like a badger, they are said to have supernatural powers to transform into any living or inanimate shape. Often they assume the form of a monk, as our Tanuki does here. This Tanuki okimono is hand crafted from a single piece of wood in the best of Mingei traditions. Dressed as a monk in a long robe, this charming Tanuki stands at an a...

Antique Japanese long gyosho bako (merchant's box) with iron warabite handles on its back and front hinged door with flower-shaped lockpin. The inside holds four long drawers with ring pulls.

Mid Edo age (1615-1867)

Size: 11.75" height, 26" length, 8.25" width

Height: 12.4 cm (4.9 in)
Width: 4.8 cm (1.9 in)

Quality pair of Japanese miniature mixed metal vases; depicts cranes foraging in water with bamboo; cranes are of inlaid silver with their beaks and legs being gold; inlaid lappet border on the shoulder; inlaid stringing at the base; signed on the side and the base

DESCRIPTION: A rare and quite old Japanese lute, or sanshin, originating from the island of Okinawa. The sanshin (literally meaning "three strings") is an Okinawan musical instrument, and the precursor of the Japanese shamisen. Often likened to a banjo, it consisted of a snakeskin-covered body, neck and three strings, and was known for its calming tune. This sanshin, dating from the late 18th C. to early 19th C, Edo Period, has a rounded wooden body covered with the original snakeskin on both...

A good, large murashido patinated bronze vase. Raised geese and irises decoration including some katakiribori details. The bottom may have been reversed when reattaching it at some later time. From inside the vase can be seen on the bottom a 16 petal chrysanthemum overlaid by Kashiwa (oak leaf) mon and on a bed of same - all in relief. We illustrate the interior bottom in one of our enlargement views (pardon the uncleaned state.) Reasonably good condition with light rubbing and minor, acceptable...