Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (164)

Rectangular kobako in gold lacquer fundame. The cover represents in hiramaki-e a Japanese castle, surrounded by majestic pines. The decoration extends on the edges of the lid and on the sides of the box. The interior and bottom are in nashi-ji lacquer.

Japanese castles (shiro) are constructions mainly made of stone and wood. They are perched on stone headlands. Their appearance coincided with the beginning of Japanese feudalism...

Beautiful gold lacquer bottle decorated with pine, wisteria and bamboo. Mon (family crest) of Makino and Shinjo families.

Height 6.89 in – Diameter 3.94 in

Japan – EDO (1603-1868)

Rectangular and flat lacquer Kobako (small box) representing a furoshiki knot seen from above. Fundame background, furoshiki in takamaki-e with floral pattern, inside the folds of the fabric with black and gold sayagata pattern with togidashi maki-e technique. The saya (or sayagata) pattern is composed of Chinese swastikas. This symbol, linked to Buddhism, represents qualities of intelligence, strength and peace...

Inrô in gilded lacquer according to the takamaki-e, hiramaki-e and kirigane techniques, with five squares of a mountain lake landscape.

On the first side, there is a samurai on horseback, who is drinking from the stream. A servant accompanies him, his sword in hand. Next to the pine tree are the things they would have left behind...

Ivory netsuke of a guardian lion, komainu in Japanese or shishi in Chinese, with golden eyes. Resting on its front paws, its head is turned backwards on a four-lobed base.
The komainu is inspired by the Chinese guardian lion shishi, which dates back to the Tang dynasty (581-618)...

Handled circular ikebana basket (hanakago) in Chinese style, in vanished bamboo and rattan. Inside in copper alloy.

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...

Wooden suzuribako decorated with two hares with red eyes in gold and silver lacquer surrounded by grass.

The interior is made of negoro-nuri lacquer. This is an ancient technique, developed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) at the Negoro temple in the ancient province of Kii (now Wakayama prefecture). It is characterized by vermilion color, made from cinnabar and showing natural brush marks...

Blue and white Hirado porcelain reticulated incense burner (kôro). Handles in the shape of komainu lion-guardians (also called shishi in Chinese) and blue geometric foliage decoration.

Hirado porcelain (平戸焼, hirado-yaki) is made in Mikawachi, Nagasaki prefecture (it is also known as Mikawachi-yaki). Its names come from the former Hirado feudal estate...

Japanese incense cabinet kodansu in wood veneered with tortoise shell on its different sides and the three drawer fronts that compose it. Interior of the door and drawers in black lacquer.
Floral decoration in hiramaki-e lacquer of gold and kirigane lacquer on the different faces, the drawer fronts and the interior of the door. These are peony flowers, maple leaves, cherry blossoms, daylilies and irises. Two butterflies on the inner door...

Four-square inrô in hiramaki-e lacquer, maki-bokashii and mother-of-pearl inlay (raden) in the form of a man sailing on a boat, against a mountain background. On the back side, bamboos are in the foreground.

Horn netsuke of a man resting against a stone, a fan in his right hand.
Ojime in stone painted with white carnations.
Sold in a box which is not original.
Small boxes formed of interlocking compartments, inrō (印籠) are traditional Japanese clothing items...

Fine iron jizai of a butterfly with articulated wings.

The butterfly (choho) in Japan is perceived as "the soul of the living and the dead", the spirits of the dead taking the form of a butterfly on their journey to the other world. The butterfly spreading its wings is a symbol of femininity...

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.

Ivory netsuke of a craftsman with a fan. Near the holes reserved for the rope (himotoshi), maple leaves.

Signed below, the first character unidentified: ?夫 .

Japan – Late Edo period (1603-1868) or Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century – ?夫
Width: 1.9 in (5 cm) – depth: 1.6 in (4.5 cm) – hauteur : 1.6 in (4.2 cm)

Ivory netsuke representing a bag.

Netsuke constitute the major part of Japanese ivory of great quality. Since the Japanese costume (kimono) had no pockets, the objects were passed under the belt and the netsuke, held by a cord, was used to hold them.

At the end of the Edo period, Japan started to adopt western ideas. Japan entered a phase of commodification. The movement of people and goods was facilitated by improved land and sea transportation. Education spread among...

Ivory netsuke representing a bamboo shoot (takenoko).

Netsuke constitute the major part of Japanese ivory of great quality. Since the Japanese costume (kimono) had no pockets, the objects were passed under the belt and the netsuke, held by a cord, was used to hold them.

From imaginary animals to natural and domestic elements, the subjects represented in netsuke are varied. The netsuke could represent elements of daily life. Netsuke carvers supplied for posterity ...

Large hollow porcelain bowl with polychrome decoration of flowers, landscapes, and a samurai on horseback.

The village of Kutani, located in the province of Kaga, is a famous place for the production of ceramics, characterized by a particular decoration. The first pottery kilns were built around 1640 at the instigation of the lord of the province, eager to encourage the nascent industry.
The industry of Kutani developed considerably and became famous towards the end of the 17...

Four-compartments inrô in black lacquer with a hirameiji background with peonies and butterflies in gilded maki-e. Rocky promontory in takamaki-e and kirigane. Interior in nashi-ji lacquer.

Boxwood netsuke in the shape of a toad on a leaf. Signe with the name of “Masanao from Yamada”. Ojime made of hard stone.

Inrô are small compartmentalized boxes hanging from the belt that are part of sagemono (hanging objects). Indeed th...