Catalog (189)

Kobako in gold lacquer fundame in the shape of two joined shells, the interior and the bottom in nashi-ji lacquer. One of the two shells has a hiramaki-e decoration of gold lacquer and mura nashi-ji on a black background. It represents a landscape lit by the diffuse light of the moon, crossed by a river and animated by mountains and a valley dotted with trees and thatched cottages. White lacquer highlights for the moon and red lacquer to represent the leaves of a maple

Much apprecia...

Group of three bronze rabbits with black patina, partially chiselled. Two rabbits resting on their four legs, the third trained on its hind legs. In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are designated by a single word: usagi. The hare occupies an important place in Japanese legends and superstitions. Like many other animals, it is supposed to reach a fabulous age and become blue at five hundred years old.

Japan - Meiji Era (1868-1912)
Small Rabbit: Length: 8 cm - Width:...

Suzuribako (writing box) in lacquer decorated with clematises and kakis trees in black and gold lacquer and kirigane lacquer on a nashi-ji background. This suzuribako is composed of an ink rock, a small water pot and two side compartments in nashi-ji lacquer. Several mon in shape of fans are also present.

Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)

Depth: 2” - 5cm
Length: 9.4” - 24 cm
Width: 8.6” - 22 cm

Pair of folding screens with painted decoration on paper. The screens are made up of six leaves representing figures in a landscape decorated with pine trees and enhanced with gold leaf. On each of them is a cherry tree in bloom, indicating that the scene takes place in early spring.
On the first screen, several groups of figures, each holding a bunch of flowers in their hands, play and talk. On the fourth sheet, two young women sit and appear to be receiving flowers from a kneeling man's...

Dark brown bamboo ikebana basket with twisted handle.

Ikebana or Ka-do (the way of flowers) is a traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Unlike Western floral art, ikebana does not aim to emphasize only the beauty of the flowers and the harmony of colours. This art wants to enhance the vase, the stems, the leaves, the branches as much as the flower itself.
The structure of the floral arrangement is based on three symbols: the sky, the earth and humanity.

Kushibako (comb box) in black lacquer with gold lacquer decoration of arrows and my in the shape of three assembled commas " mitsudomoe " (Okabe; Itakura; Kuki; Hijikata; Arima families)

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Height : 4,5 in – 11,5 cm Length : 6,3 in – 16 cm Width : 5,1 in - 13 cm

Chiseled wood sculpture representing a seated monkey holding peaches of longevity in his hands.
The figure of the monkey with longevity peaches is a popular image in China, however this subject was also widely used by the Japanese. According to the legend the monkey Sun, king of monkeys, upset that he was not invited to the banquet of the Queen Mother, entered the garden of the goddess Xiwangmu in the mountains of Kun Lun and ate all the heavenly peaches she grew there. He became immortal...

Tonkotsu (tobacco box) in tortoise shell crowned by a wooden lid, accompanied by its kiseruzutsu (pipe case) in wood engraved with crabs in a floral decor.

Japan – Meiji (1868 – 1912)

Box : Height: 2 ¾ ” – 7 cm Length: 4 ¾ ” – 12 cm Depth: 2 1/3 ” -6 cm
Pipe case : Height 8 1/3 ” – 21 cm
Pipe : Height: 8 ½ ” - 22 cm

Pair of stamped brass stirrups decorated with Hashizuka, Ito and Manabe Mon.

Japan - Edo (1615-1868), 18th century.
Height 10.24in - 26 cm
Length 12.6in - 32 cm
Width 4.72in - 12 cm

As in Western culture, the culture Japanese stirrups were part of traditional accessories used only by the nobility and the people belonging to the upper class. The stirrups were made in the most precious metal, they were intended to indicate the social status of the ow...

A bronze okimono of an owl, constructed in two sections, the short-eared owl (detachable) perched on a tree branch with its head cocked quizzically to the right and its wings folded at its sides; signed on one side of the branch Seimin chu within a rectangular reserve, by Murata Seimin (村田製眠, 1761-1837)

Japan - Edo period (1603-1868)
Height : 10¼ in - length : 10¼ (26 cm x26 cm)

Rectangular box in red lacquer and black highlights, with three drawers with floral decoration on one of the short sides. Adorned with dragon, kirin, chimera and baku in hiramaki-e, in multi-lobed reserves

The baku is a Japanese fantasy creature from Chinese folklore, whose name means "dream eater". He is credited with the ability to devour bad dreams and nightmares. It most often takes the form of an elephant and tiger chimera, although its appearance changes over time. In more mod...

Banko pottery teapot with polychrome birds decoration in relief on a natural background imitating a basketry resting on a saddle. Different birds decorate the edges of the teapot, the neck of one of them and the tail of another forming the passersby of the handle, a duck with outstretched wings and a large beak forming the spout.

Banko pottery is a type of Japanese pottery originating from Yokkaichi (Mie prefecture) in central Japan. Banko pottery has existed for 270 years, far bey...

Namban chest in lacquer with inlayed mother-of-pearl in a floral pattern. The metalwork is in engraved copper.

The word "Namban" comes from namban-jinou "southern barbarians", used by the Japanese to refer to the Europeans, especially the Portuguese. Namban art came about between 1500 and 1600. The Portuguese reached Japan in 1543 and forged a very intricate commercial relationship.
Initially, the Japanese weren't overly fond of the Portuguese. They found them to be crude and ...

An articulated iron model of spiny lobster. Naturalistically modelled, formed from individually cast, hammered and carved sections crafted to resemble the crustacean’s shell with well chiseled details, assembled with fully articulated joints to allow lifelike mobility; signed on the belly Myochin (明珍). With a wooden storage box.

Japan, Meiji era (1868-1912)

20,5 cm (8in) long with retracted antennae.