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...

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...

Elegantly shaped Ki-Seto Chawan from the Edo Period, early 19th century with a rarely seen gold rim. Precious metal rings were added when the chawan was made for the aristocracy and for the high nobility.

The beautiful and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has a fantastic crazing. The bowl has also a decoration with vivid tanpan marks ( copper green marks ).

This Ki-Seto tea bowl is in very good condition, very unusual for a chawan of this age...

Japanese bronze vase with a wide, flattened body shape, the tall cylindrical neck rendered with bamboo stalk texture. The handles of the vase are a pair of leaping rabbits over low relief waves. The foot of the vase is imprinted with the artist cartouche.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 7 1/2" x 7" x 6"

Japanese single section clothing tansu, with Kuri burl hardwood front drawers, iron lock plates with foliate edges, warabite pulls, fan-shaped iron corner hardware. The bottom corner has a safe door with round lock plate and ring pull. Inside are the two smallest drawers in the chest.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 34 1/4" x 15" x 18 3/4" H

Antique Japanese two section Kiri (paulownia) wood clothing tansu. The piece holds 4 drawers, with heavy, square iron pulls, and large round lock plates incised with 3 circle mon. Original, natural finish wood.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35.5" L x 16.5" D x 47.5" H

A very interesting chawan (tea bowl) dating from the Korean Joseon period (Richo in Japanese; 1392-1897). This particular piece appears to date from the 17th or 18th century and comes with a box that looks to have been furnished within the last 100 years. Over the long history of tea practice in Japan, at varying times, Korean-ware came into high fashion and ships full of the finest ceramics were brought over to Japan...

Japanese temple carving depicting a dragon (Ryu) and a tiger (Tora), with background of bamboo forest and blossoming plum branches. The dragon is a sacred creature representing great power, strength, and good luck for people that are worthy. The imagery of the dragon fighting the tiger is symbolic of the opposing forces of yin and yang.

19th Century Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 26" H x 16" x 2 1/2"

A charming pair of Japanese porcelain satsuma vases. The panels on each vase tell a story of ghosts and demons escaping from a woven basket. One vase shows a scene of court performers in a traditional lion dance, used to repel evil spirits. In another panel is a scene of kneeling courtesans with worrisome expression and a shrine maiden attempting to purify the area. The final panel shows a golden box, with a large clawed oni forcing the lid shut to trap the evil spirits within...

There are only few opportunities to find antique Chosen Karatsu chawans - collectors know of what I'm talking about. Here is the second one of our collection:

Chosen Karatsu chawan from the Edo Period. The grandiose embellishment of color creates a sublime sense of tension between the dark glazed and color infusion...

Slightly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part around the foot ring.

In the style of Ao-Kuro bowls this bowl was covered with a green copper oxide glaze...

Large and only slightly distorted full cylinder shaped Tsutsu (hight is bigger than diameter) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of reddish, unrefined Mino clay with clearly visible finger marks on the wall.

The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife around the regular food ring. In the style of Seto-Kuro bowls this bowl was covered with a black glaze.

On three sides a round space was spared from black glaze...

During the Meiji period there were only five potters ever to be awarded the prestigious designation of Imperial Court Artist: Ito Tozan, Seifu Yohei III, Miyagawa Kozan, Itaya Hazan, and the artist whose work is featured here, Suwa Sozan. This mizusashi for tea ceremony is made of the finest “kinuta” celadon that Sozan was well known for—having recreated and perfected the technique used by the Chinese Song Dynasty potters...

Long Japanese half section Mizuya or buffet cabinet, constructed with Hinoki and Sugi wood. The piece holds a large upper and lower storage compartment with four sliding door panels.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 57 1/2" x 16" x 29" H

Long Japanese half section Mizuya or buffet cabinet, constructed with Hinoki and Sugi wood.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 57 1/2" x 16" x 30 1/2" H

Japanese small choba tansu, constructed of Kiri (paulownia) and Sugi (cypress) natural finish wood. With hand-forged iron hardware and plates. The choba has hirute handles, with foliate edge motif lock plates, small pair of sliding middle doors with slats, and a corner bottom safe box with two small drawers inside.

Late Edo / Early Meiji Period (circa 1850's)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" x 14" x 24" H

Japanese pair of 2 panel byobu screens, with hand-painted scenes of small flying birds, a pond with foliage, a blossoming plum tree branch with gold flecks.Applied gold clouds and pigment on silk. enclosed in a black lacquered frame dating circa 1930.
Yamashita Chikusai (1885-1973) was born in Kyoto and studied under the important turn of the century master Yamamoto Shunkyo (1871-1933) from the age of fifteen, becoming one of his highest ranking pupils...

An unusual Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) constructed of Kiri (paulownia) wood with natural finish...

Japanese two section clothing tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) wood. Decorated with classic round iron locks and handles. The lower section holds a corner safe box.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 37" x 16 1/2" x 43 1/4" H

Japanese two section tansu made with Kiri (paulownia) wood. The chest's four front drawers feature large, round Kiri wood mon (family crest) motif lock plates , while the Warabite style drawer pulls have small pierced plates below them in the style of a crane mon. The bottom section holds a small corner safe door with two small drawers inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 40 1/2" x 17 1/4" x 42" H

Japanese zenibako (money safe box) made with Keyaki (zelkova) burl wood in original red lacquer finish. The zenibako is fitted with brass hardware including side handles in a mokko (melon) motif. The hinged lid has a large front lock plate with matching key, and a calligraphy inscription on the underside. The interior of the zenibako holds two open compartments.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 20 1/2" x 12" x 7 3/4" H

One of a kind, a treasure with a special cultural and historical significance.: Kuro Raku Chawan, named 'Departing Geese', by legendary Tamamizu Ichigen (Ichigen I) with perfect kintsugi.

Ichigen was an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (Ichinyu IV). He was raised in the Raku family until he was in late teens. Later he moved to Tamamizu village (present Idecho, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto), the hometown of his mother, and beside his studies with Raku ware he started Tamamizu ware main...

A Japanese Butsudan, or Buddhist shrine for in-home use. The exterior of the shrine is lacquered in red with black lacquer and gold gilt pigments. The gilt hardware of the butsudan are highly ornate with motifs of chrysanthemums, lotuses, vines, and dharmachakra wheels. The lower area of the shrine features two pull-out platforms and hidden drawers. Above are several black lacquered platforms with gold gilt nashiji lacquer panels, carved gilt panels of floral motifs, with miniature temple ranma ...

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a flying goose, sumi ink on paper. With calligraphy signature and red chop. This scroll has the original two tomobako (storage boxes).

Early Edo Period Circa 1600's

Dimensions: 22" x 48 1/2" H (entire scroll) 15 1/4" x 11 1/2" H (artwork only)

24" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/4" (red lacquer tomobako)

A collection of samurai arrows, or yajiri, mounted on a custom built museum display stand.

Dimensions: 5 1/4" x 1 1/4" x 9 3/4" H (overall)

A collection of twelve samurai arrows, or yajiri, mounted on a custom built museum display stand.

Dimensions: 8 3/4" x 3" x 16" H (overall)

Japanese pair of Fukugawa Imari ware porcelain bottle neck vases. With imagery of blue and gilt enamel phoenixes against a ground of red cherry blossoms, blue waves, floral medallions and gilt outlines. The long slightly fluted neck with medallions on a gilt design ground and gilt rim, tapered to a rounded body with short tapered foot, blue lotus petals and double ring above the foot, each vase signed with a Fukugawa mark signifying the pieces date from 1900 - 1920.

Dimensions: 5" x ...

Japanese Imari ware porcelain charger with the image of a large koi fish in blue cobalt underglaze, with red and blue ground of scrolls, plum blossoms, the plate with fluted foliate petal edges, the underside with blue floral motifs and bands. The underside has a blue marking.

Circa 1800s

Dimensions: 14" x 2 3/4" H

Height: 9.2 cm (3.7 in)
Width: 4 cm (1.7 in)

High quality Satsuma vase by Kozan; features figural and floral panels with birds in rural settings; panels surrounded by the finest gilt borders and raised diaper work; signed Kozan; excellent condition

Japanese two section tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) wood with natural finish front drawers, and original black lacquered frame. The piece has pine tree shaped hand-forged iron lock plates, with warabite iron pulls. The locks are incised chrysanthemums and the corner hardware is fan iron plating. The piece holds a side lock box with a large decorative iron chrysanthemum plating and keyhole. Inside the box are two small drawers with triangular plates and round pulls. From the Sakata region.
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Unusual Japanese gyosho bako tansu (merchant's chest). With original red lacquer finish, this large piece holds three very deep drawers, each with squared kakute iron pulls on stylized pine tree mounts. The top drawer features a large central lock with flying crane motif, while the lower drawers feature chrysanthemum locks. The sides of the tansu also have two handles for traveling.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 22" W x 27" D x 39" H

Kaji-banten worn by a fireman (fire-fighter) with all hand-stitched sashiko. It has katazome (stencil-resist-dye) "gissha", wheels of a cow carriage motif. It has rather rare green lining. In excellent condition except for some wear and rips in the lower front. 19th century. 126cm x 122cm

Charming Japanese kanban (shop sign) hand carved from solid carved Keyaki hardwood with gold gilt lettering. Carved with the image of a snarling bulldog in red lacquer and beige pigments. Shop sign for Bulldog sauce shop.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36" L x 1" D x 23" H

This is an outstanding Japanese cloisonne enamel Teapot or Sake Pot. The workmanship, quality, gilded wires and glow to the enamel show very much like the work from Namikawa Yasuyuki. The enamels and gilding are fabulous. It has a unique fine shape and measures 6" across to the spout. body is a high gloss black ground as well as the lid. These are decorated with various colorful gold wire kites and scrolls. Delicate gilded leaves are scattered about. Beautifully decorated wide metal handle with...

This is a beautifully decorated satsuma plate by Shizan. As you can see in the images, this rare Meiji Era piece is in excellent condition. The plate measures 4 3/4 inches across.

A namasu or serving dish of unusual quadrilobed form with scalloped suhama style rim; a stylization of a wave washed beach. An auspicious form referencing Horai-san, the isle of the Immortals and therefore a wish for a long life. The bowl is decorated with a central mon of a stylised Lotus motif, perhaps also containing elements of the aoi-mon, and karakusa. Surrounded by four panels containing an unusual four toed Water dragon emerging from stylised waves. Each panel separated by columns of pe...