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...
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...
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...
When you look at an obi like this, you know why the name "Nishijin" is so known. This is a very formal obi, the biggest obi that I have seen, 13" wide and 154" long. Just a perfect piece for the formal dining room.
It is large enough to cover two formal dining room tables. The colors are pastel, very gentle. When this obi was woven, the gold thread was woven in together. Every dot and line that you see in these pictures is the gold thread. It is a thick textile without a thick padding...
Beautiful man's short jacket, hand painted on Asa(hemp). It is in excellent conditon, very rare to find this quality in this condition. This type of kimono is becoming very scarce every year.
This is a current Nishijin textile, a very pricey item in Japan. This is an authentic one, it is woven thick like an obi sash.
I have two hangings listed here. This is the larger one. The details, especially the gold thread, did not show up in the pictures. The theme is the aristocrat's graceful life in court during Heian Era (794-1192AD). You see a princess figure wearing 12 layered kimonos...
This is an older (40 to 50 years) Japanese screen. The frame is black
lacquered wood with a silk border. The dimensions are 36" high and 71" wide. There are some damages in the back which does not affect the front. There is a small hole by the stand in pic #6. You may not see it in the picture (it is small).
What is unusual about this Uchikake is that the fabric has a plastic coating. This is the only one that I have seen with this type of finish. This gown will survive nicely in the high traffic area or you can even hang it by the fireplace in your home. The color is orange. There are some areas that the plastic is missing (last picture). This is something that I did not see until I started to view these pictures (shown in last picture). Other than that, the condition is like new...