Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (227)

Beautiful Japanese antique Imari charger, circa Meiji period (1868-1912).
Dimensions: 14 1/4 inches in diameter x 2 1/2 inches deep

Antique Japanese men’s silk juban, an undergarment worn under a kimono. The dimensions: 51 ½” across and 53” from shoulder to bottom hem.

This is an exceptionally beautiful antique Japanese doll. The face of the doll is small but delicate. It has the look of a Noh mask with painted skinny eyes and a nose that is extra high. This indicates that the doll was intended to be a beautiful woman. The color on her lips is almost all faded leaving a green dot on her lower lip...

The Kanzashi hair accessory has been the main jewelry for Japanese women. This antique comb and hair pin set has a wonderful design of turtles in the bay area on one side and landscape on the other side. It is a classic design in gold makie on tortoiseshell with coral inlay. Hair Pin is 5 3/4" long, comb 3" long and 1" in width. Meiji period (1868-1912).

This is a wonderful set of Japanese bridal kanzashi (hair ornaments) from the Meiji to Taisho period, late 1800s to early 1900s, made out of tortoise shells. We assume that this kanzashi was decorated with the auspicious emblem, a phoenix bird in paulownia tree, with some elements (leaves, flowers and birds) altered to the family of the bride. It has an aura of nobility and power. The family crest on the box is three ivy leaves...

This is “kataginu” (shoulder cloth), only the upper vest of kamishimo without a trouser. Kami-shimo simply means top and bottom in Japanese. It was a high ranking samurai’s formal attire when they attended official meetings at the Edo castle. It was worn over kosode (kimono with small sleeves) with trousers. The shoulders are arch shaped and this was the style that developed in the late Edo period (1603-1868). Longer trousers (approx...

Japanese fukusa, a silk satin gift cover depicting the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. The development of the Japanese fukusa is closely associated with their custom of gift giving. Japan has been a farming country until recently and crops were directly affected by nature (draft, floods, etc). The rituals were held within their own communities and fresh crops were offered to god. To irrigate and lay the roads, they needed the better their work relationship...

Antique Japanese warrior dolls, musha ningyo displayed for the Japanese Boys Day. Clad in armor is a beautiful young widow, the Empress Jingo with her faithful retainer/high ranking minister, Takenouchi no Sukune. He is holding her baby Ojin (Oh-jin) who was later known as “The God of War”, the 15th Japanese emperor, Emperor Ojin. These are all original dolls including the baby.

Some old records indicate that in 300 AD, God came down to talk to Empress Jingo in her sleep...

Antique silk Kesa, an outer garment worn by Japanese Buddhist priests, cotton liner, padded with paper, late Edo to early Meiji period. Dimensions: 76 1/2" x 43 1/2"

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...

Japanese hair comb decorated with a pair of love birds, Oshidori (Mandarin ducks) perched on a plum tree, raised gold makie with silver, kirikin and shells. The theme here is auspicious. We counted 33 teeth in 3 cm, amazingly skillful hand work. Excellent condition - actual color loss in the center area of wooden teeth is not so obvious as shown in the photos. Circa, Meiji period (1868-1912) Dimensions: 3 1/4" x 1 1/8"

This kura (saddle) was used in the rituals which took place on the first day of rice planting. The day is called hana-taue (daue), "the flower-rice planting" and it has been practiced in the southern part of Japan. The links to today’s hana-taue is listed at the end...

This is a Japanese fukusa, a gift cover with the design of the “Eight Views of Omi”. In the beginning of the 16th century, eight scenic spots in Omi (Shiga, Japan) were selected by closely following the Chinese “The Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers”...

Three Jokan Dolls are part of a Hina doll set for the Japanese Girl's Day. They are to serve the Emperor and Empress with drinks and food. The young and pretty are usually choosen for this role. Many sets have one older married woman sitting in the middle, possibly a supervising figure? Her hair is usually done in a less attractive manner and she often has her teeth blackened...

Heavily glazed Japanese katakuchi bowl in the shape of a “Sazae” turban shell. Written on the lid is “made by Matsuyama” and “kashiki” (dish for serving sweetmeats). On the reverse side, there is a signature, "Kei Ho-o En" with a seal. We are not quite sure if this is an original box. Meiji, late 1800s. Great bowl for the kaiseki cuisine? A hairline crack (enlarged photo #7) is a surface crack (does not go through to the other side). Approx. dimensions: 6 3/4" x 6" x 3 1/2...

A Japanese priest's silk ouhi (Buddhist priest's ritual arm - shoulder covering), the green/gray/black brocade silk with an overall design of cranes, pine, stylized shells, verlaid with white line divisions and asymetric gold thread kikyo (Chinese bell flower) designs, pale pink silk liner. Late Edo period. Dimensions - 11 1/8" x 54".

A Japanese Samurai doll (ningyo) with the look of a Daimyo: feudal lord in the Edo period (1603-1868). The Kamishimo with long hakama trousers were only worn for special occasions in the Edo castle. The samurai's blue top kimono is made out of a wash paper (a liner to his original kimono). There is a beautiful patina on his face which is covered with a gofun mixture from the time. In the old time, doll makers used to let oyster shells sit outside for years before they could ground th...

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...