This peach-shaped suiteki (water dropper for calligraphy) is made of fine kinuta celadon from one of the great masters of the Meiji era—Suwa Sozan. A classic design, the peach is said to represent long-life for mortals and immortality for the gods in asian folklore. According to legend, the moon goddess—a powerful alchemist—can make an elixir from peaches that grow in the garden of the western paradise with miraculous revitalizing properties...

Antique Japanese Buddhist abbot's oxbow arm folding chair. Made of red and gilt lacquer hardwood, with seat made of leather. The backrest has gilt lacquered panels with geometric motif carvings and pierced lingzhi carving, the reverse of the backrest marked with a triple mokko-mon (family crest). The edges of the chair are decorated in metal plating incised with motifs of chrysanthemums.

Edo Age 19th century Dimensions: 32" L x 20" D x 37" H

Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi—often described as the beauty found in the imperfection and transience of the world—cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history and importance of a ceramic object. Practitioners of tea in particular are fond of reminding us that works repaired with lacquer and gold such as the one featured here become more resilient and beautiful for having been damaged...

A bronze vase finely cast in archaic Chinese style with twin elephant head handles and very unusually decorated with 16th Century Turkish Iznik/ Kutahya style 'Saza' leaves in red, blue, green and black enamels...

Thick shima-cho, a sample book of cortton shima (stripes) with about 870 fragments. The age is written on the cover "Meiji 3 (1870), however the age of the fragments range from very late Edo (mid 19th century) to Taisho (1920s). The first 770 fragments are late Edo and Meiji (the second half of the 19th century) and the second 101 fragments are woven in Taisho period (1912~1925). In excellent condition. 16cm x 21cm x 5cm

A small bag made of deer skin with shibori (tie-dye) pattern. The brown color is dyed with the technique called "fusube-gawa". The deer skin is smoked with burning rice straws and gets brown color. Fusube-gawa is used for armors or wallets in Edo period. It has silk cords and lining. In excellent condition. Late 19th to early 20th century. 15cm x 18cm

An Imari miniature condiment set of hexagonal baluster form decorated with trailing foliage in underglaze blue, iron red and gilding. Consisting of four small ewers, three marked with A for azin, vinegar, one marked with “S” for syrup; three with plain covers, one with a perforated cover. A complete pepper pot with perforated cover, 7cm high, and a pillar form salt, 6.2cm high...

Antique Japanese unusually small kannon biraki (hinged doors) tansu chest made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top portion of the chest opens to reveal a compartment with a single shelf. The bottom portion has two exterior drawers. Elaborate iron hardware is like that of a larger kannon biraki chest and includes heavy hinges and cross bracing on the doors with an ivy leaf mon (crest).

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 16 1/4" high x 19 1/4" wide x 10" deep.

19th Century, excellently hand-carved in rare Persimmon Wood Netsuke depicting a realistic version of a Cicada that is laying upon a half Walnut shell. This netsuke is carved in intricate detail; faithful in form and image to the subject in nature that it represents. It is attributed to the Iwami School, because it presents all the characteristics of netsuke made by carvers of the region in Japan (See partial illustration - photo #10 - of the book 'Iwami Netsuke from the R. S...

This is a finely carved boxwood netsuke depicting the Skeleton of the Buddhist Priest Danka beating oa a Mokugyo, or Buddhist Temple Drum. Very nice detail and wonderful symmetry all throughout, rich patina. Signed Tomoyuki, a disciple of Tomochika, in an irregular oval reserve, on the bottom of the netsuke. Netsuke measures 0.92 inches (2.3cm) wide, 1.40 inches (3.5cm) long, and 1.27 inches (3.2cm) tall...

This is an excellently and intricately carved boxwood netsuke depicting a Boat full of passengers (11 of them) dressed in various garb, carrying different articles and set in different poses. One of them, in the rear of the boat, seems to be either sunbathing or nurturing an ailment; another is wearing a large Amigasa Kasa hat; there is woman carrying a baby in her arms. It is full of great form and expressions. Unsigned. Netsuke has a rich patina...

This is a finely hand carved, 19th Century Kurokaki Wood Netsuke depicting Tenaga "Long Arms" being carried on the back of Ashinaga "Long Legs"...

19th Century, Japanese nicely hand-carved boxwood Netsuke depicting a character of a Japanese folk tale 'The story of the old man who made withered trees blossom': Hanasaca Jiisan. Here, Hanasaca is shown in one of the scenes of the folk tale where he is chopping down a tree to make a mortar. Hanasaca's dog who appeared to him in a dream is showing him the location of the tree...

19th century finely hand-carved Japanese boxwood netsuke of Shogun Yoritomo (General Minamoto no Yoritomo 1147-99) sitting in his court; ready to begin audiences with his advisers and subjects. Netsuke measures 1.35 inches (3.4cm) wide, and 1.35 inches (3.4cm) tall...

1800's, excellently hand-carved Japanese mix-materials netsuke depicting Okame performing the Japanese custom of Mamemaki (bean scattering) during Setsubun (the day before the beginning of Spring) to cleanse away all the evil (demons) of the former year, and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come...

This is a rare, seldom seen, Snuff Bottle made from Shagreen (Stingray Skin), of a flattened rectangular form, with a flat footing, and a rounded neck. It shows the natural bumps of the stingray skin which have been shortened, and now have a back background with hundreds of gray dots. It is very light in weight...

Special offer: A 100 year old impressive large Seto-Yaki Chawan, hand shaped pottery tea bowl of wonderful Seto clay. It fits perfect into the palm of the hand. The seal of the potter is stamped on the bottom.

No chips or cracks. The Chawan comes with its original wooden box.

Size: 7,9 cm height x 13,6 cm in diameter.

Free shipping.

What an atmosphere, this is what the Japanese call wabi-sabi. Full cylinder shaped (Tsutsu) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, very coarse, unrefined Hagi clay. The expertly thrown body was roughly trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part. The rather high foot is traditionally cut in one place (so called 'wari kodai').

Our chawan was covered with an opaque glaze, which is a mixture of ash and feldspat...

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu (clothing chest of drawers). Made with Kiri (paulownia) and Sugi (cedar) woods with original finish. The chest holds 5 long drawers and 3 smaller side drawers, with hirute drawer pulls and rectangular iron locks.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 44.5" L x 16.75" D x 30.25" H

Antique Japanese small chest with drawers, called a dibukuro. Traditional Japanese homes hold a tea ceremony room with a tokonama, or a recessed closet/alcove in which pieces of artistic appeal would be displayed such as hanging scrolls, pottery, okimono and ikebana floral arrangements. The dibukuro would be seated on the floor of the tokonama. (shown in detail photos). The piece is constructed with Keyaki (elm/zelkova) burl wood, with its 4 book-matched sliding front panels and rustic natural w...

Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi—often described as the beauty found in the imperfection and transience of the world—cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history and importance of a ceramic object. Practitioners of tea in particular are fond of reminding us that works repaired with lacquer and gold such as the one featured here become more resilient and beautiful for having been damaged. In this case, the gold repairs undoubtedly enhance the bea...

With a slender balanced foot firmly grounded, the skillful lacquer repairs on this bowl highlight the age and importance of this work which likely dates from the Edo period. Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi or, beauty in the imperfect, cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history of the object and are thus celebrated as such. Practitioners of tea in particular are fond of reminding us that works repaired in this way become more resilient and more be...

Important Kuro Raku Chawan by 4th-generation master Ichinyû Kichizaemon (1640-1696). The chawan was named Kou Un (parting clouds). It comes with an authentication box with Raku seal. It has a Urasenke hakogaki by Sen Soshitsu and a certificate of its provenance.

Born the eldest son of Dônyû. His work varies from those made in his youth influenced by his father Dônyû to later work stylistically closer to that of Chôjirô. In particular, his invention of a new type of glaze, s...

Considered auspicious symbols of wealth, status, and good fortune; foo dogs—commonly referred to as shishi or koma-inu in Japan—are often seen in pairs guarding shrines, straddling the doorways of shops, and protecting public buildings. This fierce guardian appears to be made from bronze, has very detailed and skillful etching, and a wonderful patina that would place it sometime before the turn of the last century.

Guardian lions are commonly seen in pairs. The male is almost al...

What a wonderful glaze. Slightly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl from the early Edo period 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 Kuro-Oribe bowls this bowl was covered with a brown iron oxide glaze. A window on the side was left unglazed and split in two halves - one was decorated with iron oxide engobe which was decorated with inc...

A rather unusual export dish decorated with a Kraak style border of six larger panels containing respectively a pair of Peaches, symbols of Longevity, and a scroll and whisk, representative of the Eight precious objects, Baxia, with the smaller intermediate panels decorated with a combined clove and jewelled Rhinoceros horn motif. The centre is decorated with a wreath of Pomegrantes and Pomegranate leaves in iron red, green and blue enamels, partially disguising an unglazed circle, enabling stac...

A large plate decorated in the three colour sancai palette with a central Peony motif with three reserves one with Peonies, emblematic of Spring, a pair of Quails beneath Millet and another with Chrysanthemums, emblematic of the months of Autumn. The partially ogee form reserves set against a blue brocade ground with stylised Chrysanthemums. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs. A three spur marks in a triangular arrangement to the base. Dating Kyoho era, c1710-40. The plate measures a...

A large plate decorated in the three colour sancai palette with a central Peony motif with three reserves one with Peonies, emblematic of Spring, a pair of Quails beneath Millet and another with Chrysanthemums, emblematic of the months of Autumn. The partially ogee form reserves set against a blue brocade ground with stylised Chrysanthemums. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs. A three spur marks in a triangular arrangement to the base. Dating Kyoho era, c1710-40. The plate measures a...

A large plate decorated in the three colour sancai palette with a central Peony motif with three reserves one with Peonies, emblematic of Spring, a pair of Quails beneath Millet and another with Chrysanthemums, emblematic of the months of Autumn. The partially ogee form reserves set against a blue brocade ground with stylised Chrysanthemums. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs. A single spur to the base. Dating Kyoho era, c1710-40. The plate measures approximately 24.5cm in diameter (...

Considered an auspicious symbols of wealth, status, and good fortune, foo dogs—commonly referred to as shishi or komainu in Japan—are often seen in pairs guarding shrines, straddling the doorways of shops, and protecting public buildings. The yellow Seto-ware shishi featured here is an antique from the Momoyama period that displays a soft patina developed over many decades of use.

Seto-ware is a pottery tradition established in the 12th century with the aim of reproducing fine ...

This captivating bin-kake, or traditional brazier for tea ceremony, is crafted from fine celadon porcelain using methods first perfected in the southern Song Dynasty. The outside is decorated with low-relief Peony flowers which display a vivid sheen, owing mainly to the expert craftsmanship of the Meiji period Imperial Court artist Suwa Sozan who created this wonderful masterpiece. This represents one of Sozan’s finer works from late in his career when he had attained mastery over the ceramic ...

Antique Japanese tansu from the Nigata area of Japan. Most likely used by a merchant for storage. The 9 drawers are in three rows with the shallowest drawers along the top and gradually getting deeper toward the bottom of the chest. The hardware is all of iron and includes elegant hirute shaped drawer pulls, fan shaped lock plates and corner bracing. The wood is paulownia (kiri) wood.

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 19 1/2" high x 31" wide x 19" deep.

Antique Japanese small Kiri (paulownia) wood bar tansu, with five front drawers opened by squared iron handles. Its three mid front drawers are kept secure by a locking bar with decorative iron plates. The side of the chest has a safe door, with pierced iron hardware. The safe door opens to reveal three more small drawers inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 23" L x 12" x 24" H

An elaborately inlaid three drawer marquetry cabinet, unusually, with tambour doors. This item was made in Japan, for export, during the late 19th or early 20th century. In very good used condition; there is one small piece of veneer missing from the top back corner of the right side; no further losses, no restoration and no alterations. 23 cm (9 inches) high; 24.5 cm (9.5 inches) high.

Antique Japanese kannon biraki (opening door) isho tansu (clothing chest) in 2 sections. Made with kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood top and sides. The top section has a pair of hinged doors which open to reveal two large drawers. The bottom section has two large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side. The hinged safe box door opens to reveal two small interior drawers, one of which has a hidden compartment. The hardware is all iron and includes warabite...

Antique Japanese 2-section kaidan tansu, or step/stair chest of drawers. Made of solid Keyaki (elm) hardwood, the bold woodgrain is well-complimented by the original deep red lacquer finish and heavy iron hardware. With original set of keys.
Exhibited at the Prestigious SF Fall Art and Antique show, 2017.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 55" L x 26 1/8" D x 80" H