An antique Japanese 2 section tall Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron and bronze hardware including the Hirute style handles. It features 2 pairs of large sliding doors and a lift-out door behind which were kept store records and books. 12 exterior drawers were used for storage and organizing. A small pair of sliding doors near the bottom hides two small drawers where valuables were kept...

Pair of six leaves screens with decoration of horse-races on golden relief paper. The decoration offers a multitude of characters combining all the social classes gathering in the sanctuary of Kamo to Kyoto, to attend the taking place horse-race the fifth day of the fifth month : the Kamo Kurabe-Uma (加茂競馬).

This race count twenty riders in costume of Heian period split in two teams...

Child Jesus as a Good Shepherd ivory statuette on a pedestal. He is naked and his face is gently leaned. His hairs are sculpted in fine strand of hair shaping curls. His almond eyes and his fixed look suggest a mystic and pensive attitude. The Christ child is seated, he is in a deeply meditation...

A well carved bamboo brush pot with beautiful patina. The main side showing figures in a garden setting, the backside with two animal cartouches and a poem in Chinese characters, as well delicately engraved in French and romanized Chinese. Condition: the base reinforced with leather, some tears and cracks and tiny losses, rim with flee bites. Dimension: height: c. 15.5, diameter: 11.1 cm.

Antique Chinese unusual double-gourd monochrome porcelain vase. The body with circular reserves in the center of either side of the vase. On one side is a highly raised and detailed scene of noblemen and a horse with a carriage and attendants. In the background is a pavilion roof and mountains. On the other side, a maiden sits in a garden beneath the moon with two attendants...

Ancient Chinese jade figure of a kneeling anthropomorphic creature. Angular face with large, almond-shaped eyes and two dragon-like curling ear/horns. The body of the figure appears human with hands resting on bent knees and feet tucked under. Carved of pale green jade with orange rind and striations. The back is pierced for a chord to suspend or sew to clothing. Considered precious, carvings like this one were passed down through generations before finally being buried with the owner...

Antique Chinese small bronze handle fragment from a ritual bronze vessel. Made with swirling cloud motifs and dragon-like creatures. Beautiful patination. With custom metal stand.

Age: Song Dynasty

:Size H 4.5" x W 2.75" x D 2.5" (on stand)

An eye-catching combination of brown-black colors and old expertly applied gold repairs on a classic Japanese E-Karatsu tea bowl dating from the middle of the Edo-Period (1603-1868).

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for...

Fabulous Taisho Period c.1920 iron lantern. Repapered and electric source added. Very art deco. 10" tall by 9" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote from California.

Expertly executed noh mask carved out of cypress wood. Okina, among all Noh masks, the Okina (old man) mask is considered particularly sacred and has been at times treated as the embodiment of god, bringing longevity and prosperity to families. C.1920. In silk bag. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote.

Antique Chinese belt hook of an unusual anthropomorphic figure with the head and wings of an owl but with human-like arms and legs. The opposite "hook" portion is another animal head. Made of bronze and mixed metal with inlaid swirling motifs and inset with carnelian eyes.

Age: Warring States ( 475BC-221BC)

Dimensions: 3 3/8" long x 1 1/8" wide x 1 1/4" high

An antique Japanese single section Kimono Tansu (chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Front corner reinforcements on all drawer fronts with two side handles on each side for carrying this tansu from room to room. Constructed using thick straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: Early Meiji Era (1868-1880)

Dimensions: 36 1/2" Wide by 37 3/8" High by 17 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite stye handles. 5 exterior drawers for storage and organizing with 2 sliding doors behind which store records and books were kept. Hinged door secures 2 small drawers where valuables were hidden away. Horizontal side slats provide strength and a visual design element complimenting the sliding door slats...

Diameter approximately 9.9 cm. Height approximately 7.7 cm. The blue color on the powder box is cute. More pictures are available. In good condition.

Diameter approximately 9.7 cm. Height approximately 7.7 cm. The blue color on the powder box is cute. In good condition.

Rather unusual decent size 19th century staghorn netsuke of a horse appearing from a dried gourd that has a rope tied around its waist. According to a Japanese legend Chokwaro sennin (Chinese sage) could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Cleverly and elegantly carved piece with great face, mane and front legs...

19th century netsuke of a karako (Chinese boy) with a flower in his hand standing by a tall floor screen decorated with a dragon in flight among clouds. Very nice carving, beautiful light staining, pleasant wear and patina. Tiny old chip to rim on the top of the screen. Formerly in Mary Louise O’Brien collection (Sotheby’s NY, September 17, 1981, lot 153. Height 1 3/4 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke with multimetal top and wooden bowl. The top is inlaid with an actor wearing a mask and holding an open fan in his hand seated next to an assembly of stacked shallow boxes. Superb quality work with silver and gold inlays, excellent depiction of different designs on his robe and boxes, in great condition. The box is made of shakudo (an alloy of copper and gold) with its characteristic black patina resembling lacquer)...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a crouching puppy about to pounce. Strong early piece with unusual posture, excellently captured facial expression and chunkiness of a young pup, wonderful hairwork. Eyes are inlaid with black horn, old stable age line along its back, superb wear and patina. Excellent strong netsuke. Length 1 1/4 inches.

19th century kagamibuta netsuke with iron lid inlaid with multimetal old torn fan and iron tetsubin (tea kettle) in a shape of a pig, its handle of twisted gold wire, and 2 drum strikers incised on the plate. Elegant design in Japanese taste, crisp work, beautiful patina on the lid and the bowl. Metal swinging loop on the back for hanging. Recently deaccessioned from the Framingham History Center, Massachusetts, where it has been part of the collection since 1923. Lid diameter 1 1/4 inches, bowl...

A beautiful 19/20th C. Chinese sterling silver miniature snuff bottle with jade stopper, and embellished with gem stones in excellent condition. Marked Silver H:4cm $315

19th century Asakusa school staghorn / bone netsuke carved as 2 sprays of fungus growing on a tree stump. Superb elegant carving in Japanese taste, excellent rendition of fungus head textures. Very clever design, excellent wear and patina on the surface. Height 2 1/2 inches.

19th century netsuke depicting Ashinaga seated next to a basket, his absurdly long legs raising higher than his head, wearing a skirt, a short European jacket and tiger skin pants. In Japanese legends he is often accompanied by Tenaga (long arms) whom he puts on his back and goes fishing. Very nice work, wonderful smiling face, buttons are inlaid with horn, pleasant wear and patina. Height 1 3/8 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a blind masseur working on a client who appears to be a scholar wearing glasses and leering as he looks through a shunga (erotic book) edition. Wonderful carving with great faces, beautiful textile lines, rich warm patina. Signed HOMIN on the bottom - for information on this pupil of Meikeisai Hojitsu see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 487. Height 1 3/16 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a theatrical mask of O-Beshimi skillfully carved in characteristic ittobori (one cut) style typical for the Hida school. Pupils are inlaid in brass, golden paing highlights, excellent rendition of facial expression, wonderful mellow patina. Signed RYOSEI (alternative reading is Ryusho) on the back. Height 2 inches.

19th century netsuke carved out of kurumi (natural walnut shell) with a reserve on the front showing a face of a tengu hatching from an egg. Tengu are mythological: creatures half men, half birds, they are usually depicted as goblins and are considered to be first-class fighters. Nice carving, black and red highlights. Fantastic deep warm brown patina, signed NIKO by himotoshi - this rare artist who seems to have specialized in using walnuts is listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p. 503, number 183...

A scarce antique lady informal padded winter robe, 19th century (Qing Dynasty), China.

Dark blue satin silk is finely embroidered in colored floss satin silk with butterflies flitting amidst peonies, chrysanthemums, and other various flowers.

Sleeves finished with cream-colored satin silk bands embroidered with various figural scenes, bordered with multicolored ribbons and light blue satin.

The front - opening with four toggles and gilt–metal buttons and trimmed together wit...

Antique Chinese grey celadon ceramic military "gunpowder jar" or "bullet jar," late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The jar is handcrafted, strongly potted with a cylindrical tapering form, high shoulder, short neck, and lightly ground down rim.

The body is potted with horizontal coiled ribbing and covered with glaze in various shades of grey celadon.

REFERENCES:

Similar jars are in The Smithsonian's National Museum

https://asia.si.edu/object/S2005.51/

and The Brit...

Stoneware food jar covered with a brown glaze, probably ash-glaze. There are adhesions which I think are firing defects because they are very hard and not marine concretions due to long immersion which could scratch easily. The clay is beige in color. It would seem that the potter used the coiling technique to create this ambitious shape, I draw your attention to the difficulty of firing such a heavy jar with such a small base, there must have been a lot of breakage or sagging, so not many have ...

Authentic antique cast bronze brush washer of the compressed globular body with rounded sides terminating with lipped rim, 17th-19th century(Ming or Qing Dynasty), China.

Cast in full relief with a pair of chilong dragons clambering along the side with their front claws grasping the rim and long bifurcated curled tails.

The recessed base is cast and chiseled with the Chinese character "Xuan" within a square.

This Chinese character "Xuan" is possibly an abbreviation for the Chinese M...

18th century netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a monk’s robe and a leaf cape and skirt, looking to his left and supporting a double gourd on his shoulders. Netsuke represents Chokwaro sennin who could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Strong early piece with exceptional carving of his wonderful face with mouth open in a wide smile and one eyebrow raised, excellent detailing of his fingers and toes, flow of his robe lines and the leaf cape te...

18th century netsuke of a reclining monkey, its front paws and upper body resting on a large chestnut. Very strong early piece, great thoughtful face, excellent incised and etched hair, wonderful detailing of its fingers and toes. Netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, warm yellow patina (darker on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono), large and deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Length 1 15/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of a bamboo shoot containing a hollow section with anabori (cavern carving) of the Seven Sages of the bamboo grove looking at an open scroll. (see the detail on the first photo), The inside is almost impossible to photograph, but all the sages are there, need a flashlight even to see them. Very clever joke on the usual depiction of the sages being placed among bamboo stalks, not inside them. Excellent depiction of the shoot structure, the bottom perfectly imitates the marks ...

19th century hand carved Asian figural cheroot pipe with a Mother-of-Pearl disk inset on each side and a dark red lacquer rim. A very unusual and collectible pipe that was used "back in the day" when smoking cheroot in pipes was fashionable. Missing its stem which could have been metal or reed. Measures 3.5 inches long.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a man with a horn on his head, bent under the weight of a richly dressed woman on his back. The subject of the netsuke is Ikkaku Sennin (single horn Sage) carrying princess Sendarama on his back - according to Japanese legend, he grew angry with the Rain Dragons and sealed them away in a cave, causing a drought. Beautiful Indian princess was sent to tempt him and when he could not hold on to his chastity vow, he lost his magical powers, and the rain returned...

19th century wooden netsuke of a slightly inebriated dancer with a fan in his hand. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red (or golden brown) lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing. Beautifully carved drunken facial expression, really nice feel of age to the piece, very pleasantly worn. Height 2 inches.