This flower basket brooch by Vrba is spectacular, huge and very three dimensional. Verba, who formerly designed for Miriam Haskell, has outdone himself on this one! Composed of glass beads and shimmering amathyst rhinestones placed in a dark metal setting, this brooch is a show stopper when worn. And, it is a treasure for the collector. An astounding 5" high, 4" wide and (approximately) 1 1/4" deep. Signed Lawrence Vrba on an oval plaque.

Beautiful Haskell.Simple of line and simply elegant. Signed Miriam Haskell on the floral clasp and on the attached metal tag. 15 1/4" around with a 3" extension.

This is a very high quality Kyoto Nishijin silk brocade obi, one of the best quality obi that we are currently offering. You may find the same type of designs in newer or even in old obis, but the quality of silk and the fine embroidery would not be the same. I have been always searching for the same obi after purchasing this obi in Japan. The seach is still continued. The originally white color is now aged to a beautiful creamy tan color, excellent condition...

Gold plated fringe necklace by Napier. With its faux pearls and its sassy braided fringe, this necklace has personality! 13" long with a 3" extension. Double layer fringe is 1 1/2" and 1" respectively.

These hand done lamp-worked beads are probably Indian in origin, and they most likely are old, perhaps quite old. The workmanship is superb. The brass and glass compliment each other and they are enhanced by the jewel-like work on the round and elongated beads on the fringe. Very dramatic when worn. The choker is 13 1/2" around with a 1 3/4" extension, and is 1 5/8" wide...

Always stylish and well made, this Schiaparelli brooch is no exception. Gold plated sculpted leaves surround black glass faceted stones. The effect is striking. 2 5/8" high. 2 5/8" wide. 1/2" deep.

Beautifully and deeply carved Bakelite, this set was once a lighter melon color as the back of each piece demonstrates. The stiffened fabric belt (37") and can be used or easily replaced by another belt of choice. Buckle is 2 3/4" wide, 2 1/8" high. Pair of dress clips 1" wide, 1 3/4" high.

Huge and heavy with dazzling rhinestones and creamy faux pearls, this gold plated hinged bracelet is spectacular! Some designer should have claimed it, yet it is unmarked. Its lofty measurements are 1 1/2" high, 2" inside diameter and 7/8" (!!) wall.

Gold plated set with fringe on both necklace and earrings, each strand is set off by one tiny prong set rhinestone. The necklace has the Hattie Carnegie oval plaque, and the earrings are stamped Carnegie. Necklace 15 1/2" end to end, with double row of fringe 1" wide and 2 1/2" long, approximately. Double row fringe earrings 1/4" wide, 1 3/4" long.

This bow brooch with tassel is outstanding in design and quality, and that is typical of England's Butler and Wilson. The stones are all prong set, and the housing metal is bronze in color which gives the whole sparkling piece a very dramatic look. The brooch is slightly convex from side to side, and it is 5" wide and 3 1/2" high.

This is a beautiful old Japanese Shusu (lustrous Satin-weave) obi with the finest embroidery work. Condition of the silk is excellent. It feels so soft, totally different from the newer obis. Color is a shiny deep blue. There is one seam in the center of the front and two in the back. Converted from Nagoya style obi to a flat obi of 11 1/8" wide x 80" long, all the works are done profesionally by hand. The design areas are balanced on each end of the front side this way...

While not a true set, these two match beautifully. Both are marbled with yellow, and the luscious green is more vivid than appears in the picture. The longer of the two necklace strands of carved graduated beads is 21" end to end. There is a 3 1/2" extension. The chunky uncarved bracelet is 7/8" wide with a 1/4" wall and a 2 1/2" inside diameter.

Fine quality square Japanese lacquered wood serving tray illustrating a Noh theater performance of the "lion dance" executed in gold lacquer against a black ground. An aristocrat is seated in an outdoor setting with pine sprigs in the foreground observing a performer with long flowing deep coral-red hair dancing with a fan. The back is entirely covered in "nashiji" lacquer. Dates from the early 20th century to possibly late 19th. Stored in a wood presentation box...

 

Black jewelry has a sophisticated look. This Weiss set is no exception.Glittering black- faceted glass beads compose the leaf brooch and the clip earrings. Brooch 2 1/4" wide and 2 1/2" high. Earrings 3/4" in diameter. Pin and one earring marked Weiss.

The beautiful design and craftsmanshiip typical of Castlecliff is evident in this gold plated brooch. The flowerheads are glass cabochons in transparent and opaque red and pink glass. Very three dimensional. 2 5/8" high, 2 1/4" wide and 7/8" thick.

 

Charming pendant with simulated Baroque pearls and gilt. Double faced filigree back with oval Haskell plaque. Square shape link chain 23" long end to end. Pendant 3 1/4" long including dangles. 1 1/2" wide.

 

Antique Japanese kesa, purple satin silk brocade. Kesa was originally made from scraps of material donated to the priests. People who gave to Buddhist institutions were often keen to give very expensive items, so some fabulous kesa were created from wonderful silk brocades. This also could mean that the wealthier temples end up collecting the better fabrics or able to send out for the expensive custom made kesa as this...

 

Typical of the dazzling rhinestone clips by Eisenberg. This large two prong sterling fur clip has a block-letter imbedded signature.It dates from around 1945. 3" long, 2 1/8" wide.

This sassy snake brooch and his buddy earrings attempt to look ferocious, but they wouldn't scare anyone. These are well crafted pieces in gold tone with white and red enamel and glinting red rhinestone eyes. Brooch is 1 3/4" by 1 1/2". Dangle clip earrings 1 1/2" from top of clip to bottom of dangle, and 3/4" across.

Five strands of unusually shaped black and gray-swirl glass beads with gold spacers. Shortest strand is 18 1/2", longest is 22". The 1 3/8" clasp is very ornate with gilt flowers and leaves and black beads and mirror back rhinestones in classic, elegant Haskell fashion. Oval signature on back of clasp.

This old pair of candle holders is called Shokudai. The large tweezers hanging from a hook is used to pinch the wick. Then, the wick will be stored in the small brass pot. The base of these holders and plates are beautifully shaped like lotus flowers which has been always associated with Buddha and the temples. It weighs over 10 pounds packed and 26.8 inches tall. Circa, Meiji period (1868 to 1912). Original wood box...

 

This is a newer Hakata doll. Hakata doll was originated by a roof tile maker in the early 17C during the construction of Fukuoka castle. Hakata is located on the Kyushu island (southern island in Japan), famous to other porcelain makers such as Satsuma, Imari, Nabeshima and Hirado.

She looks quite different from the 50’s Hakata export dolls, looking more like a dancer with an umbrella than a Geisha. She is 15 ¼” tall and her "Kanzashi" hair accessories and the umbrella are removal...

 

 

 

On the 9th day of the 6th month of 1775, 3 artists, Reisen Uno (Motoaki/Gensho, a songwriter, poet and calligrapher), Keiho Takada (Kano Chikuin, a Kano trained painter of budhist images and calligrapher) and the master of the Chikudo, Teiun held a songwriting party. This scroll is a recording of the scene, with the subsequent song written along the top, followed by a poem by Chikuin and Reisen, recorded by Teiun. This is a truly fine scroll, recently restored from its worn Edo mountings...

A snow-capped Mt. Fuji viewed through clouds from Nihonbashi (Japan Bridge) from the series "Famous Views of Edo" by Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858) published by Sanoki circa 1840. The print depicts a lively scene with workers carrying merchandise by foot across the bridge in Edo (now Tokyo)...

"The Tamaya Restaurant," subtitled "The Back Gate of Kameido Shrine" from the series "Collection of Famous Restaurants of Edo" by Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858). Circa 1840. The print depicts beauties standing in a snow-covered courtyard under umbrellas. Three small dogs circle in the snow at the lower left. The colors are exceptionally fresh and vibrant. This is not a later edition or reproduction. It is a guaranteed original woodblock print by Hiroshige. Standard horizontal oban print meas...

Stunning five strand orange-coral plastic beads in this necklace and bracelet by Schiaparelli. Each piece has an ornate and dramatic clasp of prong set aurora borealis and black rhinestones and small orange- coral beads. The necklace may be worn in the traditional manner, or the clasp may be worn in front or at the side of the neck. Shortest strand of the necklace is 13 1/2", longest 18" with clasp adding another 2", and with top to bottom measurement 1 1/2". Bracelet bead strands are 5 1/4" lon...

 

 

Elegant elephant.Great detail for such a tiny little guy.Plum, cream and lavendar enamel with gold plate. Marked Boucher with the #0577p.

Luscious, shiny pear fruit with pale green enamel, gold leaf and tiny pave rhinestones. An adorable, wearable pin by wonderful HAR, from the 1950's. 1" wide 2" high, 5/8" deep.

Through the Nanbansen trade, the Portuguese introduced two important things to the Japanese in the 17th century. They were the matchlock gun and tobacco. As the popularity of tobacco spread rapidly to all classes, there was the need for a tray or box to hold the utensils. Tobacco-bon came to be the "must have" entertainment piece in the Edo period (1614-1868). Along with the widespread use of charcoal in the mid Edo, metal and ceramic pot style ashtrays were used to keep the fire (charcoa...

This Alice Caviness set is masterful in combining stones in various shapes, colors and sizes: simulated pale opals, black glass marquis and pear shapes, white glass stones and aurora borealis rhinestones, all prong set and surrounded by gold plated braid-like wire. Handsomely designed and of the finest quality. Necklace with Alice Caviness oval plaque is 15" long, approximately, by 1 5/8" wide with a 2 1/2" extension. Clip earrings are 1 1/4" in diameter. one earring is signed.

A stunning painting of Mt Fuji viewed from a misty sea by Yukansai (Kano Arinobu, 1605-1677) painted in 1672 at the age of 67 on silk. The image of Fuji, broken by clouds, dominates the scene, with rolling hills and sailing vessels visible in the foreground. It is mounted in a field of copper brocade extended above and below in beige silk and measures 26 by 49 inches.

This is an old Yogi, a futon/blanket for the colder parts of Japan. It is a thick cotton dyed in the "Japanese blue", ai/indigo with a tsutsugaki (freehand painted rice paste resist) family crest on the back and stuffed with a cotton inside. The whitle little spots that you see are cutton balls from inside. The condition is excellent; some faint brown stains on the right side bottom and the lower left side bottom of the inside which is giving a charactor to this beautiful piece. Small cuts a...

Spectacular Haskell! This silver-tone pendant necklace is Haskell at its best. 16" end to end, it is composed of six chains and dozens and dozens of various size prong set mirror back rhinestones in a floral-leaf three part pendant 2 1/4" wide and 1 1/4" high. Oval signature plaque on the back of the pendant.

Rare first state impression of "Nihonbashi (Station 1) Morning Veil" from Ando Hiroshige's ((1797-1858) first series "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" published by Hoeido circa 1833-1834. The print depicts a daimyo and his attendants crossing the Nihon Bridge in the early morning hours. This is not a later edition or reproduction. It is a guaranteed original woodblock print by Hiroshige. Standard horizontal oban print measuring 9 3/4"V x 14 5/8"H (image: 8 3/4"V x 13 3/4"H). The art...

This painting is done by Sosen Kano (1813-1897), a well-known painter in the late Edo period who was the Edo Shogunate’s designated painter.

Here is a peaceful scene of a child sitting backwards on the back of an ox strolling under a weeping willow tree. This painting shows the monotonous scene of the country and the trust between the two catching the expression of the ox beautifully. Painted on silk, it is in the excellent conditionwith with some repair on the silk mounting. The ro...

 

 

Turquoise glass beads and tiny rhinestones, all prong set, compose these lovely DeMario earrings. Gilt flowers and leaves complete the design. These hinged clip earrings are delicate in appearance while also being very three dimensional. 2 1/4" top to bottom. The ball of the dangle is 7/8" across and 3/8" deep. The ear attachment piece is signed DeMario.

Gold plated heraldic brooch that can also be worn as a pendant. Very ornate. Unusually shaped stones have simulated matrix of black and copper on gray. Back is as ornate as the front. 2 3/4" high, 2 1/2" wide.

This Napier necklace and earrings has a distinctive look. Gold plated and of intricate design, they are light weight for ease of wearing. Necklace is 13" from clasp to bottom. Dangle earring are 2 1/4" from top. Disk is 1" in diameter.

Hagi Yaki is a thick, grained pottery with a thin yellowish-white or bluish-pink glaze with large crackles. It is originated by a Korean potter as many other Japanese potteries are. Hagi ware is especially known for the beautiful changes that follow after each use. The town Hagi is located in the very southern tip of Honshu main Ireland, right next to Kyushu Ireland.

This hagi ware is from Seiunzan-Okada kiln, which has been in operation since 1782. Okada Yutaka (1946-present) the 8th ...

Sassy. Enamel, gold plate and rhinestones, this cute critter will steal your heart. Contemporary and well made, very three dimensional. 2 1/4" tall, 1 3/4" wide.

An extremely fine bronze Koro in the form of a mythical Kirin by Living National Treasure Katori Masahiko (1899-1988). Masahiko, a graduate of Tokyo National University of Art, went on to an illustrious career. Unlike his colleagues, he produced very limited numbers of his pieces, often only one. As this piece is not numbered, I believe it also is a one of a kind. It has a rich, green patina that lends age to the work, actually most likely no more than 30 years old. It is 8 inches (20cm) lo...

This Bizen yaki is an older pottery, the uninterrupted history of more than one thousand years, from Okayama prefecture, Japan. Bizen pottery is one of “Rokkoyou”, six famous potteries from Japan like Seto, Tokoname, Echizen, Shigaraki and Tanba. These types of hand made plates are mass-produced from the very end of Edo to early Meiji, early to mid 1800s. The designs are pressed in and baked in a very high temperature flame ‘til it becomes as dry as it could be.

Each side mea...

Sterling vermeil pendant-tassel necklace and clip earrings, Nettie Rosenstein from the 1930's or early 40's. Pendant has oriental feeling in a bird cage effect complete with ruby rhinestone flowers and turquoise colored beads. Simulated seed pearls form the border. The twisted rope chain is thick and works well with the pendant. Oval earrings match the pendant design. Chain is 15" long, 1/4" thick. Pendant is 2" long, 1" wide, 1/2" deep. Tassel is 1 1/2" long. Earrings are 1 1/8" by 3/4". Pendan...

 

 

This is simply stated a BEAUTIFUL RING having an OVAL SAPPHIRE weighing 1.5 Carats. The Sides and Shoulders have 50 accenting DIAMONDS weighing .82/100 Carats; these are Full Cut with 58 Facets SI Clarity and HI Color. The SAPPHIRE is a PRETTY STONE Medium to Dark Blue Color set in PLATINUM. DIAMONDS accent around the Ring in a WEAVE Design, some may call an Endless Knot. Marked on the Shank interior: Pt950/ DO .82. Ring size is 6 1/2 using a Dixon sizing Mandril and can be sized up or do...

A stunning early 20th century ai-zome chirimen Kimono decorated top to bottom with dragonflies flitting through tall bamboo grass. The cloth is in excellent condition, with no stains and is over 4 feet long, and 4 feet wide at the shoulder. The collar has been lightly sewn with a protective piece of cloth that can be easily removed for display (see last picture), or left on to protect it from daily wear. The kimono is lined with white cotton. Now I will shut up and let the pictures talk for ...

NEW BOOK: This is the most popular quarterly antique magazine published in Japan. It is from Gakken, Gakushu Kenkyu-sha. This is their the 24th edition, published on Nov 15, 2001. I had a chance to purchase one of these series a year ago. Within a year I looked for others and purchased the next two books when they were available.

"Picture tells all" describes this book. You can enjoy this book without knowing the language. It shows the details in the pictures. This edition sh...