Original example of a Japanese antique isho tansu from the Matsumoto area. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with original patina (frame, top, sides, and drawers). Iron hardware includes money bag shaped lock plates specific to Matsumoto tansu, moko shaped drawer pulls and elaborately cut handle back plates and drawer corner bracing. The tansu has 5 large drawers and the lower right hand side has a safe box with 2 small interior drawers.

Late Edo to Early Meiji Period...

Up for sale is this solid and fine seated bronze Guan Yin. It has an old Kanxi mark, but we think this statue dates from the Qing Dynasty in the 19th.cent. and was not made earlier. The statue has a lot of interesting carved ornaments.

Hand polished bronze in good condition with only little traces of age.

Size: 31cm height x 15cm width, weight approx. 3kg.

Shipping incl.

19th century
Qing Dynasty
Porcelain with peachbloom glaze
Diameter: 13.7 cm / 5.4 in
Height: 10 cm
From a Portland, OR estate

An interesting 19th century taibaizun water pot, covered with an even layer of peachbloom glaze and enameled with two dragons playing amongst waves. The base is marked with a very well written Kangxi six-character kaishu mark in underglaze blue...

Antique Japanese bronze vase, beautiful shape and subject matter, 3 koi swimming together, slightly raised with gold inlaid eyes, unusual rim of vase looks like surface of swirling water, beautiful and subtle, bottom of vase signed: Kano, comes with original signed tomobako, Meiji Period (c1900). Size: 11" high x 10" wide diameter.

Up for auction is an antique Chinese percelain rice cooker with lid, 1880. Measurements : Approx. 5" diameter x 6-1/2" high

This very well molded and colored late 19th century sitting Guan Yin is 9 ½” high, 4 ¾” wide and 3 ½” deep. It depicts Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) holding a RuYi scepter and pearl sitting on a double lotus seat. Aside from a crack line on the back due to firing, it is in excellent condition.

A very large 19th. century hanging scroll with a life-size anchestor portrait. Excellently painted in ink and colour on silk, on paper. The rank insignia of a paradise flycatcher identifies the portrayed as a 9th. grade official. Size: The hanging scroll as the background of the portrait: 235 x 129,5 cm. The painting itself: 189 x 96 cm. Condition: The hanging scoll as the supporting body of the portrait cracked ( please look at the images )...

Antique Japanese small box made all of sugi (cryptomeria) wood. 5 shallow drawers and one larger drawer on the bottom. Iron rings for drawer pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 17 1/4" high x 12" wide x 14 1/2" deep

A rare Qing dynasty gilded bronze Buddha, from the mid 19th century with extraordinary fine face. Please have a look on it!

The base, clothes and expression are very exquisite, especially his clothes. Almost the whole body is still gilt, only some parts are worn off.

Marked leaves relief patterns on the bottom. Worth you get it.

Size: height: 8 1/4"; bottom: 3 3/4-4 3/4"; net weight: 2.409 lbs.

Shipping included

Late 1800s / Early 1900s

Gently flaring bowl with lid, both very well-painted with fruiting vines, bamboo and butterflies probably after a pattern from the Qianlong period. The enamel colors are clear and delicate in the case of the aqua blue and pale green; the fruits are subtly shaded with red and green over white enamel. The bowl is raised on an unglazed footring revealing the white porcelain paste. Four character Guangxu marks are on the lid and the base of the bowl in red enamel...

An unusually small size Nagoya Mizuya Tansu in 1 section made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. 3 sets of sliding doors with spacious storage behind each set. 4 side by side center drawers and 3 drawers at the bottom for additional storage needs. Narrow depth allows for placement in even the narrowest of hallways.

Age: Meiji Era: (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 43 1/4" Wide by 49 1/4" High by 14 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Gyosho Tansu also known as a merchant peddler's chest made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Five drawers behind the hinged front door and a sixth drawer below the door. The sides have upper iron cord holding rings and cord holes at the bottom which allowed the merchant to carry this tansu on his back while transporting his wares. All original hand made iron hardware.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" Wide x 27" High x 19" Deep

Japanese sword chest (katana tansu), made all of kiri (paulownia wood), 2 long drawers, iron hardware with square lock plates and warabite shaped drawer pulls, iron corner bracing, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 12 1/2" high x 47 1/2" wide x 14 1/2" deep.

This is Kagura-screen used in Kanto area for the Meiji period(1895). As for this, cotton spun by hand is used. This is a pattern very happy that a crane flies over the sea glistening with the morning sun. As for this, Tsutsugaki where a crane flies boldly in the morning sun is impressive. This has damage and a stain of the aging in several places. And there are several places of small repair traces. And it is in an in total regular state. This was released by big Tsutsugaki collector of Tokyo...

This soulful image of a Japanese hamlet in the depths of winter was done by one of the most renowned and loved waka poets of the 19th century, Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875).

Born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki family, from the age of seven to sixteen Rengetsu was a lady in waiting at Kameoka castle where she was trained in the arts and courtly graces...

Antique Chinese cloisonne flower container, footed rectangular body beautifully colored, scrolling vines and flower on a turquoise ground. Bronze. A large four character mark on the bottom in cloisonne. Period: 19th Century. Size: 12.375" length x 7.5" width x 5.5" height

An antique Japanese Matsumoto Kimono Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron fittings including stylized Mokko handles with unusual front drawer corner decorative plates. Each side has its main swivel carrying handles where a bamboo pole slipped through and two attendants on each side would easily transport this chest. The two lower hand handles would be used to position and place the tansu. Two small drawers hide behind the hinged door...

Antique Japanese dark green bronze suiban on four elephants head legs. Ribbed sides with kanji in raised relief (Good Fortune Fuku or Good Fortune) on sides. Key fret design on rim. Signature etched with three characters on bottom, "Tōryūshū".

Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1900s
Size: 4 3/4" H 8 3/8" W 7 1/4" D

Ca. late 1800s.

Skillfully painted on the interior with a scene of a mountainous landscape with waterfalls and scholars’ residences, loosely in the manner of the late Ming/early Ching artist, Wang Jian.

The transparent glass is slightly grayish in tone and the vase’s interior has been evenly ground to create a frosted background to the painting. The artist was probably a professional snuff bottle painter.

Interior painting is completely intact...

The Famille Rose decoration on this large tray is absolutely breathtaking. Please regard the enlargements to recognize the superb quality of this most impressing piece which almost reaches the quality of the best examples of the Yongzheng period. Daoguang period ( 1821 - 1850 ) Diameter maximal : 37,4 cm. Condition : Very nice condition, partially there is an old minute fritting to the rim.

A Rare and Fine Small Peach Formed Water Dropper: Korea, Choson, period, 18th -19th Century, This is a molded as an unusual small peach with two upright leaves carved in relief to the body and incised with short lines to delineate veins, the stem of the peach also molded in relief to the body. It is painted in under glaze cobalt blue with two peach leaves and peach-pink brushed on the stems and body, applied overall with a blue tinged thick white glaze, flat circular base unglazed with d...

Antique Japanese kannon biraki isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing with hinged doors). Made with kiri (paulownia) wood on the front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood on the sides, top and interior...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. With six drawers total this chest was used to store letters, ephemeral, and small personal goods. Side handles were used to move the tansu from room to room.

Contemporary function includes using this as a side table or a bedside nightstand.

Age: Meiji Era: (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 27 1/4" Wide by 21 1/4" H...

A Large Copper-Red Peach-Form Water Dropper: Korea, Late Choson period, 19th Century, This is a very finely molded as a large peach with two upright leaves carved in relief to the body and incised with short lines to delineate veins, the lively stem of the peach also molded in relief to the body and arranged in a waved stem to served as the base support, painted in underglaze copper-red with four peach flowers on the body, applied overall with a blue tinged white glaze except footed s...

This late 19th century Chinese garlic head vase is 6 ¼ inches tall and 3 ½ inches at the widest part. There are two pictures on the lower body of the vase, the rest of vase is covered with a flower and leaf design. One scene depicts a young man riding on a boat to meet a lady who is waiting for him near a river. Another scene depicts a child and a crane in front of a hut which fronts a lotus pond. The mark on the bottom reads ¡°JING DE ZHEN, TIAN ZHU TANG¡±. It is in exce...

Large Thai painting on thick card with gold showing Buddha flanked by his 2 chief disciples Sarriputta and Mogallana. Image 64 x 50 cm. Undated, estimated to be late 19th century. Areas of old restoration in background. In silk mount and gold frame under glass.

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut), Keyaki (Elm)and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Sliding doors cover a spacious area where business books and documents were stored. Hand made iron fittings and hardened wooden nails were used in the construction of this chest. Multiple drawers were used to store business stationary, writing brushes, money and business supplies. This piece comes from the Kansai area of Japan.

Merchant chests were prominently sit...

Late 1800s

Water pot of squat, ovoid form with a narrow foot and slight depression of a base. The even lavender-blue tone of the glass is translucent in strong light and is well-polished on the interior as well as the exterior. Such items as this were essential for the scholar's desk and are more often seen in ceramics than in Beijing glass. There are a few areas of abrasion and scratches from use and some light wear to the foot area. Otherwise, good condition.

Diameter: 4 ½ in., He...

Very Unusual Antique Japanese large safe box made all of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood, door has elaborate six drop-in hinges (when door is unlocked it can be lifted completely off), other hardware inlcludes heavy iron cross and corner bracing, heavy side handles, and warabite shaped drawer pulls on the two interior drawers, the outside of the box is finished with it's original reddish orange translucent lacquer finish. Edo Period (circa 1850's) Size: 41 1/2" high (42" high including ...

An antique Japanese Kotansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Made in a rare design to look like a miniature Kimono tansu. All original iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. Complete with front drawer corners. Straight dovetail joinery with hardened wooden nail construction. An unusual and unique personal storage chest.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 25 1/4" Wide by 14 1/4" High by 13 1/8" Deep.

Bronze 10 Heads 8 Arms Avalokitesvara, 19th Century

It is 7.25 inches (18.5 cm) tall by 4.75 inches (12 cm) wide.

It is in good condition with no repairs, chips, cracks, or dents.

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. All you need to do is return the item to us within 10 days of receipt and in the ...

Museum quality piece. The front decorated with two dragons and the flaming pearl, the back decorated with bats, the standing rim decorated with colorful flower bands, both on the inside and outside. China, 19th century. Dimensions: 22 x 15,5 cm. Condition: excellent. A similar tray can be found in the catalogue of the opium exhibition at Kunsthal Rotterdam (collection F. Bertholet and C. Hoogendoorn) page 177 and 178.(see pictures)

Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) with kannon-biraki cabinet doors (opening outward on hinges). The doors open to reveal one interior shelf. These door panels as well as the safe box door are both removable. (The hinge pins are built into the door side of the lock and slot into the hinges on the tansu frame.) There are 6 drawers of various sizes. The safe box on the lower right hand side has two additional small interior drawers. The tansu is made all of kiri (paulownia) woo...

Japanese Buddhist devotional plaque made of bronze with design of lotus blossoms and braided cord tied in a bow. This keman would have hung in a temple as an offering for the Buddha. Age: Meiji Period (19th century). Size: 14.50" high x 10.25" wide.

Late 1800s

Rose-pink glass in good condition.

Diameter: 3 ½ in. ext., 2 ¾ in. int.

Antique Japanese lady's kimono made with grey-green chirimen silk and white silk jacquard with orange and green embroidery of bamboo and plum blossoms with cranes. Details in wrapped gold thread and use of tiny shibori technique in the leaves and flowers. The front hem of the kimono is decorated with a delicate design of plum blossom in resist and white silk embroidery. The kimono interior is lined with red silk.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 60" high x 48" wide

An antique Japanese Kiri Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Two small drawers behind the small hinged door. Hidden behind the bottom small drawer is a secret pull-out box that was used to store valuables by the original Japanese owner of this chest.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 38 1/2" Wide x 40 1/2" High x 17 1/2" Deep

An antique Japanese 2 section Nihon Matsu Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Natural Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron fittings. Accented with butterfly and plum blossom Atari handle backstops. Lock plates feature the Sho Chiku Bai (three felicitous friends of winter) motif and two side by side Chrysanthemum flowers . Hinged door covers two small drawers and includes a working key.

Substantial storage capacity as it is typically found on the Nihon ...

An antique Japanese Yosegi Kobako (marquetry personal drawer box) from the Hakone region made of various natural colored woods with a Hinoki (Cypress) structure and drawer backs. The expert craftsmanship is quite evident by how the front marquetry design flows seamlessly across all of the drawers while the horizontal and vertical marquetry of the top and sides adds texture and dimension to the piece.

Yosegi is a centuries old traditional Japanese craft that began in the late Edo era. The...

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant) Tansu of hinoki wood and iron hardware. The top section has one large drawer with two handles. The middle section has two sliding doors with slats. The lower section has 5 drawers with a safe drawer with two interior drawers.

Date: Meiji (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 34.5"long X 35"tall X 14"wide

Diameter approximately 11 cm. In good condition.

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing), made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Top section has two large drawers and the lower section has two large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side. The safe is opened by a hinged door to reveal two small interior drawers. Iron hardware with unusual daikon (radish) shaped lock plates. Lovely foliated iron corner bracing and safe door hardware.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high ...

Antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (clothing chest). Two stacking sections made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top section has two large full-width drawers. The bottom section has one long drawer over a deep drawer on the lower left and a safe box on the lower right. Hardware is made of iron and includes square lock plates, corner bracing and warabite shaped drawer pulls. The safe box door has iron cross-bracing and swings open on 5 hinges.

Age: Mid Meiji Period (circa 1880-1890) ...

A Large/Rare/Fine Korean Copper-Red/Bue Hae-Tae Water Dropper-19th C.: Korea, Joseon dynasty, late 19th century. An unusual large carved in the form of Hae-Tae (sea lion) with curling tail and hairs, its open round jaw forming the spout, decorated in coppter-red on the mane, and in blue on the ears, its neck wearing a large neck belt with bell, the body glazed thick white with slight tinges of blue, unglazed on the flat base. It’s in very fine condition without any repairs or cracks. It...

Japanese Tetsubin Cast Iron Teapot Kettle

Description & Size: 24.13 x 19.05 x 16.51 cm (9.5" x 7.5" x 6.5") height & wide with & without spout & handle; Weight: 1844 gram(65.04 oz)

Age: Meiji Period c1900'; Material: Carbon iron & silver; Production: Hand wrought & crafted

This is a rare & definite a treat for the tea connoisseur of the time. The tetsubin is constructed & designed with two sand dragons crawling & piercing through the iron teapot body as if ...

Lovely small wooden house altar with fine carving and its original gilding and the original cover (most of the time the covers are missing). 19th century. Dimensions: 35x30x14 cm. Condition: a crack in the cover, some wear to the lacquer and gilding.

Beautiful antique Japanese fune tansu (merchant's ship safe), made of keyaki wood with heavy iron hardware, top has drawer with elaborate lock, bottom has removable panel with three locks, interior has two small locking drawers and another drop in door which reveals a separate locking money box, interior components are made of kiri, iron bracing on top and sides, bottom has wooden bracing, Edo Period ( 2 keys). Size: 19 1/4" high x 21 1/2" wide x 18" deep

An antique Japanese Nagoya Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original bronze hardware. 2 section set. Upper section features 2 sets of sliding doors and four side by side drawers below. Bottom section has a pair of sliding doors and 3 side by side drawers. Originally used as a kitchen chest to store large jars of water, dishes, cooking utensils and serving ware. In a contemporary home, it will function well as a linen chest or beautiful st...

An antique Japanese merchant desk made of Keyaki burl (Zelkova), Honoki (Magnolia), and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Elegant two leg support balancing 5 drawers. Bronze metal pulls and through mortise and tenon joinery brings this well designed functional chest together.

Present day contemporary uses for this desk would include additional storage and document shelf atop a full sized counter or large desk as well as an elegant display riser to showcase a statue or porcelain figurine.

Another precious Buddha statue of our collection. Here we offer a Chinese Buddha from the Qing Dynasty, 19th. century.

The body is gilded with fantastic signs of age. The clothes, the detailed parts of its head and the expression of its face are exquisite.

Size: 9,6'' height. Bottom 5,75''-4,5''. Weight 4 lbs!

Shipping included

Beautiful Chinese cloisonné tripod censor decorated in beautiful colors with motifs of lotus, scrolling vines, chrysanthemums, and archaic chinese elements. With a gilt bronze fu dog on the top cover and three elephants as the censor legs. Slightly worn gold gilt over bronze is constant with age. Age: 18th/19th century. Size: Height 7.75" Diameter 5.25"

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Kuri (Chestnut) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Upper section has 2 large drawers, a small drawer and a hinged door that hides 2 smaller drawers. The bottom section has 2 full width drawers for spacious storage. Each section has side handles for carrying from place to place. The lock plates feature the family crest of the original owner which depicts 8 circles e...

c. 1875-1900
Guangxu Period, Qing Dynasty
Porcelain with overglaze famille rose enamels
Height: 17 cm / 6.7 in
Diameter: 16.8 cm / 6.6 in
From a Kansas City, MO estate & private collection

A large and unusual late Qing famille rose stem cup, dating from the Guangxu reign. Marks around the stem and on the inside foot reveals it was custom-made as a sacrificial vessel for a 'Li' family's ancestral altar. The bottom mark, 'jiqian', means 'to remember the heaven...

A heavy six-sided porcelain deep bowl decorated on the outside with famille rose enamels depicting ladies and boys in a garden landscape. The base bears the six character seal mark ( painted in iron red) of the Tongzhi emperor (1862-1874). Condition: there are enamel losses to the turquoise glazed interior: no losses to the famille rose enamels: no chips or cracks to the porcelain body and no restoration. 21 cm (8.5 inches) across; 9 cm (3.6 inches) high.

These mid 19th century Chinese carved wood statues are around 12 inches high, 8 inches wide and 5 inches deep. They depict two young men sitting on a Qi Lin (or Qi Ren). Their arms are raised up and they are holding gold ingots. Both Qi Lin have a loose ball in their mouths. The workmanship is great, especially the detail of the Qi lin’s faces. Aside from slightly worn colors and portions of the statues are missing due to age, they are in good condition.

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking 2 section chest on chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute style handles and beautiful lock plates with the owner's family crest incised in the design. Each section has two sets of side handles, one for long distance moving and a hand pair for room placement. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: ...

Antique Japanese ko tansu (personal storage chest) made with kiri (paulownia) wood drawer fronts and sugi (cryptomeria) wood body and drawer interiors. 5 drawers of various sizes. Finished with red and black negoro lacquer finish. Hand forged iron hardware including hirute drawer pulls and round lock plates.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 16" high x 22" wide x 13 1/4" deep

A rare antique Japanese Sado Kasane (stacking chest on chest) Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Original natural Urushi lacquer finish. Hand forged and hand made iron hardware featuring two Phoenix birds representing immortality on the upper large drawer lock plates, two sea turtles symbolizing 10,000 years of longevity and a crane meaning 1,000 years of long life on the lower drawers. Paulownia leaf family crest on the hinged door which hides two small drawers ...

mid-19th century
Mid - Late Qing Dynasty
Porcelain with overglaze famille verte enamels
Height: 44.5 cm / 17.5 in
Width (at widest point): 21 cm / 8.2 in From a Madera, CA estate

A large and fantastic 19th c baluster or yen yen vase, enameled in the famille verte palette with eighteen different individual luohans and four unique depictions of Buddha. The attention to detail is superb, with each luohan sporting different colored-combination of clothes, facial feat...

An antique Japanese Yosegi Kobako (marquetry personal drawer box) from the Hakone region made of various natural colored woods with a Hinoki (Cypress) structure and drawer backs. The expert craftsmanship is quite evident by how the front marquetry design flows seamlessly across all of the drawers. Made with various woods including Keyaki (Zelkova), Kakinoki (Persimmon) and Tochinoki (Horse Chestnut). The box has 5 drawers with Mokko shaped drawer pulls. The interior of each drawer is lacquere...