An antique Japanese Kyodai Kesho Bako (mirror & make-up box) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Four drawers and a hinged cover that hides a mirror stand and a bronze hand mirror. The cover flips open to reveal a holding base to which the mirror stand is held in place...

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a shape of a die with dots highlighted in black ink. Nice quality work, beautiful warm patina, some wear. Cube side 0.42 inches.

Japanese lacquer tray with a mountain stream and cranes in a raised landscape scene. This small/medium tray is about the best as they come in displaying many types of lacquer techniques including Maki-e, Hiramaki-e, and Takamaki-e with superb colors and fine gold nashiji work having shaped corners with concave edges. The cranes, pine trees, and mountains are all done in raised relief with the cranes showing incredible details...

Antique Japanese gold lacquer inro with a scene of a waterfall on one side and a sage on the other. The water crashes around rocks where chrysanthemums blossom. On the reverse, a sage sits among the flowers at the base of the falls. The inro case has 4 compartments with interiors covered in a dense nashiji lacquer. The ojime is made of red lacquer and is carved with a dragon. The netsuke is made of boxwood and carved in the shape of a seed pod...

A small carved Zushi in the form of a cave housing a red stone in the shape of the Daruma, progenitor of Zen Buddhism in Japan. It is 6 x 4.2 x 8.3 cm (2-1/2 x 1-3/4 x 3-1/4 inches) and is in overall excellent condition, dating from the This would have been made as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. later Edo period.

A very interesting and well-carved figure-group (okimono) on a fitted base depicting the ox-herding boy and his ox loaded with fire wood in naturalistic style. The head, hands, feet of the body as well as the leash and the bundle of fire wood carried by the ox have been made from tinted ivory, as has the plaque with the artist’s name. The rest of the group has been made from a dense type and beautifully veined Oriental wood...

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of a bat with large ears and characteristic snout. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.1 inches.

19th Century Japanese Porcelain figure of Kintaro in court attire in the style of a Gosho Ningyo (Palace Doll) holding a Crane. Kintaro loved all birds and animals. This rare porcelain figure is signed by Makuzu, a well recognized porcelain artist who is collected by museums and collectors in Japan. He uses glazes in his own recognizable style. 4 inches, 10 cm tall. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of a ceramic sake jar with high shoulders and wide top, pierced and decorated with geometric designs. Clever elegant design in Japanese taste, beautiful staghorn texture, in great condition. Height 9/16 inches.

Antique Japanese 2-section shodana, display cabinet for heirlooms and works of art. It's rare, mostly open configuration gives a floating appearance to it's multi tiered shelves and compartments. It has intricate pierced carved details of phoenixes and curling flower vines. A rectangular compartment in the center portion has a hinged door that is decorated with blue lacquer and bone shibayama inlay of a bird in tall grasses stalking a bee...

19th century metal ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with pierced decoration of continuous open cherry flowers. Superb design, full liner to the central hole, bronze (may be tarnished silver) with beautifully worn gilding, excellent patina, wonderful feel of age. Height 13/16 inches.

19th century Japanese iron mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) in a form of a haboki - a feather brush used for swiping ashes during tea ceremony. Iron is notoriously difficult to work with. Excellent design, superb crisp detailing, gilded highlights. Length 1 7/8 inches.

An attractive and rare group of rootwood ducks. Partly carved from the natural root with the legs attached. The gander with a natural stone around which the root has grown. Meiji, ca. 1850. Size: . H 15 cm, H 12,5 cm., H 10 cm . Condition: Excellent and with great age patina.

A rare antique Japanese Edo era Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Sliding doors in front with various small drawers and shelves that originally store merchant documents, books and other store related items.

The merchant chest served two purposes in a business. The first was its basic utilitarian function of serving as a business records storage and safe for keeping money and valuables...

19th century lacquered boxwood netsuke of a horagai - a trumpet shell (Charonia Tritonis). These shells in Japan were often fitted with a mouthpiece on the thin end, and used as war trumpets. Beautifully carved netsuke in Japanese taste, muted lacquer colors with some wear exposing the wood underneath, tiny chipped areas along the ridge of the shell, excellent feel of age to the piece. Length 2.42 inches.

A carved female mask netsuke showing Okame. Unsigned. Back partially covered with black lacquer. Provenance: a gentleman's collection, Geneva - Switzerland. Condition: few tiny rim chips. Dimension: 4.1 cm x 3.6 cm.

19th century rock crystal ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in modified egg shape. Does not photograph well. All lines inside the material are not cracks, but natural features of the stone, pleasant patina on the surface. Length 1 inch.

Antique Japanese bronze Buddhist temple lantern. The finial is a flaming jewel and the corners of the roof are hung with bells. A dragon is coiled around the lower portion of the lantern stand. Many areas are decorated with colorful cloisonné clouds, flowers and cranes. Electrified.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 25 1/2" high x 13" wide

19th century marine netsuke carved as inu-bariko - a papier-mâché box in a shape of a simplified dog. Unusual version of the object - the face is that of a human. Opens to reveal a carved bar inside the upper part that serves as himotoshi. Great smiling face, black ink highlights, gold lacquering to the top of the lower part, pleasant wear and patina. Signed GYOKUBUN on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 423 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick...

19th century Japanese ceramic wall vase for use during tea ceremony as a flower container. Bizen ware made in Okayama Prefecture - one of the 6 oldest kiln centers in Japan. Wonderful free potting, beautifully indented by potter’s thumb on the front, subtle glaze ranging in color from gray to olive to brown. Excellent piece in Japanese taste, very pleasant warm patina, overall in excellent shape. Iron ring for hanging, inscribed with potters’s mark on the bottom. Height 4 3/4 inches.

Length: 57cm (22.8 in)
Height: 38cm (15.2 in)
Width: 18cm (7.5 in) ear to ear
Weight: 6.5kg (14 lb)

Wonderful large Meiji bronze elephant; very good casting with ivory tusks; marked on the belly; good patina and condition

Large and wide tray, in Japanese lacquer, black, gold and silver according to the techniques of hiramaki-e and takamaki-e. It offers a setting of two large rabbits in autumn grass looking at the sky, under a large silver crescent moon, on a black background. Length: 66cm x Width: 44cm. With a base. Japan Edo (1603-1868) 19th Century

19th C Japanese Imari porcelain dish featuring 2 shishi lion dogs. In very good condition, no chips, no hairline, etc. Scene in the center has fine gold highlights showing no wear. Measures 9" diameter x 2" deep.

An antique Japanese Kotansu (organizer storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulwonia) wood. Hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. 9 drawers used for organizing artist supplies, Japanese carpenter hardware or store supplies. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. A very utilitarian chest that would work well in any home decor.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 33 3/8" Wide by 13 5/8" High by 16 1/2" Deep

Antique Japanese safe box with hinged door and 3 interior drawers. The outside is beautifully decorated all over with raised gold and colored lacquer scenes of birds and morning glories, grape vines, and pomegranates on a black lacquer ground. The door opens to reveal drawers decorated with butterflies on a nashiji ground. The inside of the door, with peaches. The inside of the drawers is lacquered black...

The size of Covered Bowl: 4 1/4" Dia x 3 1/2"H top of bowl and Cover. 2 1/16" H top of bowl. This is pretty Japanese Porcelain Covered bowl with the design of bamboo and vase, with flowers and other tree. It is nicely hand painted with thick polychrome as well as gold painted...

Fan-shaped kobako in lacquer. The kobako is decorated with autumn plants on sequined silver and gold. The inside and the circumference are in nashi-ji lacquer.

Kobako (“little boxes”) are often adorned with harmonious decors and sceneries inspired by Japanese fauna and flora. Japanese artists play with shapes and materials with accuracy and thoroughness akin to silverware.

Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)

Length 3.75 in (9,5 cm) – Height 1.6 in ...

Uniquely figured diamond shaped bronze 'suiban' flower vessel for ikebana flower arrangement. Lovely Meiji Period c.1885 bronze featuring hexagonal diaper pattern representing tortoise shells and long life. Ever since the Nara Period, stylized tortoise shells have been a popular diaper design in Japanese art. Very rare design for a suiban flower vessel; most are rectangular. Excellent condition. c.1885. (18" x 13") (45cm x 32cm).

19th century marine ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape carved in the round with shishi (Buddhist lion) frolicking among rocks and flowers. Beautifully carved, excellent patina, metal liner to the central hole. Diameter 0.68 inches.

This is an antique, Early 20th C., finely hand carved Japanese netsuke, made by Yukimasa (Tadami Uno), depicting a seldom seem version of a Fukura Suzuma or 'Tongue-cut Sparrow', with an elderly woman seated on the right wing of the bird, holding very tight to its neck, while carrying a pair of scissors on her right hand. Very nicely detailed with a rich patina. The bird's eyes inlaid in dark horn.Signed Kosho on the bird's bottom. Netsuke measures 1.65 inches (4.2cm) wide, and 1.10 inches (...

Okimono in bronze of a frog.
Seal of the founder or of his factory on its belly, not identified.

The frog (kaeru) is associated with luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the frog to return each year to the pond of its birth. A gong in the shape of a frog can thus sometimes be used as a door hammer or to protect a house.

Japan - Meiji Era (1868-1912)
Height: 0.9 in. ...

Two early vintage albumen prints, one showing a Japanese river landscape, the second one with a group of Western and Japanese men in a garden. Mounted on coeval cardboard. Condition: fine, minimally faded, the photo with the landscape with a tiny hole, the cardboard with two lost corners. Dimension: photo: c. 20.1 cm x 26.1 cm, cardboard: 34.8 cm x 43.8 cm.

A Japanese gold lacquer Inro with five compartments. A relief of a pair of silver horses dominates the landscape scene of a seaside village with drying racks of fish and pines and clouds in the background. The horses are galloping over a creek with foliage. The reverse side shows a lone horse under a fruit tree and thatched cottage. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). The cord has an agate ojime. Inro (seal basket) are small decorative containers ...

Seto Kuro Oribe (black oribe) kutsugata (shoe-shaped) chawan with a rounded brim, made in the late Edo Period around 1850. This rare type of tea bowl was made from light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay which contains some iron oxide and and a rich black glaze (made from ground up Kamagawa stones) which partially obscures the white designs on the side. The Chawan fits nicely in your hands and looks great filled with bright green matcha. It comes with an older Japanese wooden box with a new r...

1900's Japanese Nishiura Enji Studio Porcelain Vase with Relief Egret Marked

It is 4.1 inches (10.5 cm) tall by 4.7 inches (12 cm) wide. It is 0.9 Lb.

It has a hairline crack at the side, skip glazes, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item from us and are unhappy with it for any reason, return it for a 100% refund of the amount you originally paid....

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of a ceramic sake jar with high shoulders and wide top, pierced and decorated with concentric circles . Clever elegant design in Japanese taste, beautiful staghorn texture, in great condition. Height 5/8 inches.

Japanese wooden chest with a black lacquered body and iron handles on its front and back side, and red lacquered lid. The chest's top and sides are decorated with a gorgeous mother of pearl inlay in the shape of a kiri leaf, from the Tokugawa family. It is lined in rice paper and sits upon an added black wooden stand. Edo period (1615-1867) Size: (with stand) 20.5" height (no stand) 16" height, 24" width, 15.5" depth

The size of Plate: 7 7/16" Dia x 1 1/2" High. Japanese Ko Imari Porcelain Plate. Plate is thinly made. Plate has design of turtle shell(Kiko) design in blue underglaze. There are two Ho-O bird in red and gold. Two Kiri design in red/gold. Two kiri design with green enamel works. There are Mon design around the plate with bamboo leaves design. Outside has Karakusa design by blue under glaze. The condition of plate very good, no chip, no crack and no hairline. There is one spot in the center has g...

Japanese Dragon design Cast Black Iron Tetsubin, Teapot, this kettle is supported with three(3) small feet, with twisted iron handle, and Pewter top, Meiji period, 1880's, 9" high include handle up, 9 1/2" wide include the spout, rust inside the tea pot, with twisted handle and impressed design of vines on the Pewter top cover, raised Dragon is flying among the clouds. The tip of spout is brokwn off and repaired(small piece of broken piece is saved inside the kettle).

An antique Japanese Karatsu ware tea container or chaire with motif of donkeys painted on the side of the piece. One side is painted in a indigo blue color with a fine tip and on the other side is brown done in thicker lines. The motif of donkeys in Japanese art may infer to the literati taste of a rustic and simple lifestyle. The motif is not often seen in ceramics, but mostly in paintings influenced by Chinese works. Also typically with painted Karatsu (e-Karatsu), motifs of reeds or geometric...

A set of three nesting Japanese Imari porcelain bowls. Richly decorated and gilded, all 3 bowls are identical and are signed on the bottom. Dates circa 1875.
All three are in excellent condition and they measure:
Large bowl: 9.75 inches x 4.25" high
Medium bowl: 8.5" x 3.75"
Small bowl: 7.25" x 3.25"

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu (clothing chest). Kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame and drawer interiors. Three full-width drawers, the middle drawer is 3/4 width with two small drawers to it's right hand side. Blackened iron hardware includes moko shaped drawer pulls and round lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 3/4" high x 32 3/4' wide x 16 1/4" deep.

Lacquered wooden box inlaid with gold, silver and mother-of-pearl mosaic, typical work of the famous Somada family of Japanese lacquerers. The box is made up of two superimposed parts which are partially covered by a surprisingly openwork lid, largely revealing the sides. Inside there is a small tray. The preciousness of this box is matched only by its fragility; however, it is in a perfect state of conservation, which is exceptional. there is no artist signature, the Somada family very rarely s...

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

Rare 19th century Japanese stoneware Kuro Oribe chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) of cylindrical shape with square shoulders. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Beautiful free potting, typical elliptical lines on the foot left by a string used to cut off the piece from potter’s wheel. Characteristic kuro (black) Oribe beautiful rich glaze enveloping most of the sides with one open area painted in underglaze black with hanging buds...

Beautiful Japanese antique storage tansu with locking bar, made with all keyaki (elm) wood front and frame, iron hardware, top portion has three drawers covered by a vertical locking bar, bottom portion has sliding panels with horizontal slats, bottom right side opens to reveal two small interior drawers, deep red translucent lacquer finish, Edo Period. Size: 41" high x 38" wide x 19 1/2" deep.

Japanese lacquer incense box with low-relief designs of plum blossoms in maki-e lacquer on finely sprinkled nashiji lacquer ground. The plum branch pattern is continuous along the sides of the box. The base and interior of the box are finished in fine nashiji lacquer, and the space where the lid and base join together is done with silver.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" x 2" x 1 3/8" H

Antique Japanese dramatic large incensor, multi-color glaze decorated with scenes of beautiful maidens and flowers. Meiji Period (19 century). Size: 15.5" height x 12.5" wide diameter.

A very fine Japanese gilt blue and white charger decorated with phoenixes, dragons, peonies and other motifs. There is a six characters Chinese Chenghua mark inside the foot-rim, but I would date it to 18th or 19th century. The charger is in excellent condition besides some faded gilt and one kiln fault spot(see photo #2); no cracks or chips. Diameter: 15-7/8".

An antique Japanese Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. The hinged door opens to 4 drawers where the merchant's wares were stored. The bottom drawer was used to keep documents, writing brushes, an inkstone and other business related accessories. Two iron rings on each side used with rope for carrying this chest on a peddler's back. All original finish and hardware with straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Edo Period (1603-186...

Antique Japanese todana tansu (storage chest). Large sliding panels with wide horizontal slats open to a series of interior drawers: four drawers on the right (two large and two small) and three large drawers on the left. The front and frame of the tansu is made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with kiri (paulownia) wood drawers. Iron hardware includes hirute shaped drawer pulls.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 31 1/2" high x 72 3/4" wide x 22" deep

Antique Japanese tansu made from Keyaki (zelkova) wood with a deep red lacquer and a gorgeous woodgrain. It has a central vertical lockbar with ornate iron decorations over two large drawers, with squared handles. Key included.

Late Edo Age circa 1850

Size: 18.75" height, 36" width, 16.5" depth

A flat and circular kogo – incense box – made out of skillfully turned pine wood, stained or thinly lacquered dark brown. On the inside of the cover are two red lacquer kao (seals) by a tea master for whom the piece was made.

Unsigned, Japan, early to mid-19th century

H 0.75 x diam 2.55 in.

Excellent condition

Comes with an inscribed wooden storage box: Cha, marugata, kogo (tea, circular shape, incense box).

Although neither the kogo, nor the storage box is sign...

19th century netsuke of recumbent mother Shishi with a Young one that is playfully climbing on her back. They, both seemed to be on the alert with their eyes wide open. Excellent form a symmetry, great rendition of their curly manes and tails, from an artist that was quite adept and proficient at carving animals, according to George Lazarnick, in his book “Netsuke and Inro Artist and How to Read their Signatures. Wonderful chimney himotoshi that starts on the bottom of the netsuke and conti...

A Japanese Arita deep dish, early 19th century. The dish is decorated with Ho-o birds and branches of flowering paulownia. The back with clouds and bats and a single spur mark. The Dutch refer to this palette of red and gold on white porcelain as ‘Milk & Blood’.

There is the remains of a collectors mark on the back

Approximately 20 cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

For new customers resident in China sadly I have to state that...

1900's Japanese Lavender Amethyst Crystal Carved Kogo Box with Butterfly

It is 1.01 inches (2.58 cm) tall by 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) wide. The box is It is 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) tall by 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) wide by 2.4 inches (6 cm) in length. It is 34.8 gram. Total weight with box is 52.4 gram.

It has inclusion, flea bite chips and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purcha...

DESCRIPTION: This large, boldly decorated early 19th century Japanese Arita sometsuke (blue and white) porcelain dish in square form (“kaku-zara”) is hand painted in deep cobalt blue with a center floral design against thin parallel lines. This center ground is bordered by diaper designs around the raised rim with floral cartouches at each corner. Such a dish was used in Japanese tea ceremonies for serving raw fish or shellfish. The reverse is hand painted with stylized decorations in cobal...

An antique Japanese Todana Tansu similar to the western sideboard cabinet or chest made of Momiji (Maple) for the drawer fronts and frame and Keyaki (Zelkova) panels for the sliding doors. with the interior made of Japanese Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original hand made iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Floating panels for the front, sides and top to prevent the wood from cracks from expansion and shrinkage. Constructed using through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery for strength a...

The size of Makie Kobako: 3 3/4" Long x 3" Wide x 3" High. This is Amazingly Fine Japanese 19 th Century Japanese Antiques Makie Kobako(small box). The Kobako has Roiro(black) background Makie with Hira Makie gold design of Japanese trees as well as Japanese Kamon(family crest). One tree looks like Magnolia tree with flowers. It is finely done. The Kobako came with inside tray as well. The side of Kobako with Red Makie finish over cloth texture finish as photo showing. Between red makie cloth fi...

Wonderful antique Japanese tea ceremony tray to serve sweets. Meiji Period c.1890 made of persimmons wood with rich patina and undulating edges. Inscripted on the tray in flowing japanese characters are the kanji reading 'sei ogi-zo' meaning realized sage and the maker's signature which we can't read. Excellent condition. c.1890. (15" x 7") (38cm x 18cm). EMS Shipping/Insurance to USA or Western Europe $35.