Nobori banners, carps, warrior's Yoroi and Kabuto helmets, samurai dolls and swords were all a part of the display used for Boy's Day (renamed Children's Day) on May 5th in Japan. They reflect the parents' wish to inspire their sons in manliness, discipline, bravery and the honor codes which are associated with them.

Originally, nobori were used on the battlefield to identify the troops; some were to show the warriors where their taisho (general) was, others were used to shift the troops. ...

A fine Arita blue & white porcelain flower vase to be mounted on a wall, kakehana. 18th century.

The flower vase is heavily moulded with a leaping Chinese Lion or karashishi in a landscape of rocks and Tree Peonies, a classic subject in Japanese art known as “Botan-ni-Shishi”, an auspicious subject.

This old kakehana was manufactured in Arita in the mid Edo period, probably for the home market.

Approximately 16.7 cm high. A tiny glaze chip on the mouth-rim,...

This type of fukusa is a cover placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as the "Yui-noh" which is held prior to a wedding. The evergreen pine symbolizes the strength and devotion of men; the plum blossoms represent purity, subtle beauty and the inner strength of women. Bamboo is often used to describe the personality of men and women; for example, a person being as straight (honest) as bamboo could also mean flexible (bendable) to a large extent. When pine (matsu, SHO), bam...

Munga Ningyo of a Samurai in Court Attire by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Late Edo Period. Height: 10 inches, 25.5 cm.

Japanese antique nobori banner, hand painted on cotton, a tiger in bamboo grove. The style of the painting is derived from ancient Korean paintings of tigers. It is a style that became popular in Japan from the 16th century and you will see many screens and scrolls of tigers painted in this manner. The popularity of these paintings in this style continued throughout the Edo period(1608-1868) and into the Meiji era. The quality of the artwork tells us that this nobori is likely to have been done ...

Exquisite set of Japanese Dairi bina (hina), the emperor and the empress dolls from early to mid Showa period. This is not a large set of dolls. The measurements of the wood box are 17” wide x 12 3/4” tall x 13 1/2” deep. We should add the approximate sizes of dolls. The label indicates that they are from Matsuzaka-ya, a major department store. Matsuzaka-ya started as a kimono store in late 16th century, pre Edo period. The beautiful details are packed in the small dolls - photos could n...

A large and very impressive tomb pottery horseman, Chinese, 1368-1644 AD. The type has been thoroughly tested and was burnt approx 500 years ago, placing it in the mid Ming period, c. early-mid 16th. century.

The pottery horseman, a higher-ranking officer, was probably originally equipped with a standard of wood, that has now decayed. He is clad in body armor in blue and torquise and wears a cone- shaped helmet. He is riding a white horse with details in torquise.

A rare to...

A large rouleau vase of porcelain decorated with the Three Auspicious Gods (sanxing) of Daoism, in polychrome enamel glazes (famille verte style) on a deep, blue ground. Excellent quality of work. China, late Qing to early Republican Period, ca. 1900–1925. Marked with a Kangxi-period nianhao. H 46 cm. Condition: Excellent.

STONE INCENSE BURNER FOR THE DEAD

Used for memorial service in the hilly area of Miyagi, Tohoku region, since Late Edo period, 19th century. H 13.3 x 21 x 14.5 cm (5.23 x 8.26 x 5.70in). One leg chipped due to aging but still stable as is.


selected by titcoRet




* Please understand that EMS shipping fee is additionally charged, and also confirm our Sales Policy before purchase, since your order will be a...

There is no visible image of God in Japanese Shinto religion. For this reason, people find the spirit of God in their surroundings, especially in nature. In the noh play “Takasago”, an old couple is seen together on the beach of Takasago (today’s Hyogo prefecture) sweeping pine needles under the trees. The old man Jo and old woman Uba are the spirits of the pine trees that were grown in Takasago and Sumiyoshi. The two trees are located far away but they are together with their spirits. ...

Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku-ware and especially in works produced by the Tamamizu kiln, such as the 300+ year old ceremonial tea bowl seen here. The first in this line of potters was Yahē (1662 - 1722), an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (1615 - 1768) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho). Though he is the first potter of this branch, he is sometimes referred to as Tamam...

A lovely and very large sandstone sculpturel relief, Cambodia, Khmer, Angkor Wat Period, ca. 12th. century AD.

A very important large fragment of a bas relief, very thick and depicting the upperpart of an Apsara Dancer, with multible figures around, climbing on - or hanging from a large three like monkeys. These figures are all very detailed and the whole relief is in an excellent state of preservation for the mediium and period. There's also a small animal visible on the three, perha...

KINTA THE GHOST

Vintage Japanese mechanical doll called 'Obake-no-Kinta (Kinta the Ghost)' as a traditional folk toy with long history from the Edo period originated in Kumamoto region, made by the previous predecessor in Showa 30 (1955). H 23 x W 5.5 x D 10 cm (9.05 x 2.16 x 3.93in). When the string is pulled, he rolls his eyeballs and sticks out his tongue. Some tears at hat but in good preservation as is.


selected by titcoRet ...

12 BODHISATTVA

A line of 12 Japanese Buddhist wooden figurines of 'Sho Kannon Bosatsu' (Avalokitesvara) fixed on the wooden plate, hand-carved during November-December in 1966, W 37 x H 10.5 x D 3 cm.


selected by hotoke




* Please understand that EMS shipping fee is additionally charged, and also confirm our Sales Policy before purchase, since your order will be assumed to have fully acknowledged our Sales Policy ...

RIMPA SCHOOL INKSTONE CASE WITH BAMBOO FOREST IN MAKIE

Bold and refined gold and silver three-dimensional makie lacquer design with the black background in the style of 'Rimpa (Rinpa)' (ref. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rinp/hd_rinp.htm). Edo period, Japan. 21.8 x 16.5 x 5 cm (8.58 x 6.49 x 1.96in). Some scratches in places and slight bend at lid due to age, but considered in generally very good condition for such aged lacquerware.


selec...

A fine Japanese incense burner, made of wood with pierced gilt copper lid, the interior with copper lining. On a black lacquer ground slightly raised decoration showing a landscape with rockwork and trees in different gold lacquer techniques. Condition: please look at the photos carefully, traces of age and usage, few small lacquer losses, rim with two cracks, lid slightly distorted. Dimension: c. 8.4 cm high, c. 4.8 cm long and wide.

Four finely carved wooden (maybe sandalwood) masks with lacquering and most with glass bead eyes. Showing different types of theatre masks as Hannya, Oni etc. Condition: minor rim frits, the Hannya mask with few lacquer losses. Dimension: c. 5.1 cm long x c. 3.5 cm wide.

The warrior’s armor and helmet, samurai sword, spears, banners and paper carps (later cloth) in the sky are all tools used to showcase boy’s day in Japan. This tradition started early Edo period (1603-1868) by samurai families wishing their son’s good health and studies to be honorable samurai.

This set is made in Kyoto, Japan and is called “Kyo-armor”. Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. The culture there was developed to serve the best for the emperor...