$5,500.00
From the ceiling of the zushi hangs a drapery, decorated with of two phoenixes in fine gold on a lapis blue ground.
Wood with mineral colors, gofun, and fine decorations in gold. The crown of the Buddha in gilded metal.
Japan, Meiji era, later part 19th century.
Height case: 9 7/8 in. (25.7 cm).
Figure: Segment of crown missing, small tension crack in his left thigh, seam of right arm open, otherwise excellent condition. Case: Few dents, lacquer chips in one spot, otherwise very good condition.
The figure in the shrine is an amalgamation of figures. The mudra and especially the wearing of jewelry (crown, bracelets) identify him as Dainichi Nyorai. Dainichi is the only Buddha who appears as a Bodhisattva (i.e. wears jewelry). The lion hat is very rare for Dainichi, so is the disc-shaped mandorla. However, both are common attributes of Aizen Myoo, an incarnation of Dainichi Nyorai. This figure represents the three incarnations (sanshu rinshin)of Dainichi Buddha:
As Nyorai, he represents the Wheel of Self Nature (jisho rinshin).
As a Bodhisattva, he represents the Teaching of the Law to Buddhist adherents (shobo rinshin).
As a Myoo, he represents the Teaching of the Law to wayward souls who need intimidationto become faithful Buddhist practitioners (kyoryo rinshin).
$4,700.00
The baldachin decorated with double family crest. The zushi (case) has double hinged doors decorated with family crests in gold lacquer, indicating that the shrine was made on order for a family temple.
The inside of the doors decorated with flowering lotus plants in etching or scratch technique. Buddha wood, gilded over black lacquer.
Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Height of zushi: ca. 18.8 inches (48 cm); height of Amida: ca. 10 inches (25.5 cm).
Traces of usage. Basically good condition.
$4,000.00
Wood decorated with gold and mineral colors. Gilt metal mandorla behind her head, decorated with flaming jewels.
The baldachin above the figure is decorated with auspicious symbols in mineral colors. The pedestal is decorated with a few of the Treasures.
Japan, Edo period, late 18th century.
Height zushi: ca. 11 inches.
Some cracks in the wood, flaking lacquer at the base, some cracks in the lacquer on the figure, stabilized with clear finish, all in all in stable condition.
Shichimen Daimyojin is the protectress of Minobu, the site of temple Kuonji, general quarters of the Nichiren sect and burial place of the founder of the sect. Mount Shichimen is south of Minobu.
$3,900.00
Makers mark chiseled into the bottom of each lion dog. The name consists of a single character that can be read in a variety of ways: Yasushi, but also Hiroshi, Yutaka, Toru or Akira; followed by "saku" or "made by".
Japan, late 19th century.
Height: left 9 inches, right 9.1 inches (22.8 and 23.2 cm).
Excellent condition.
They seem to be modeled after a pair of Kamakura period komainu, made of wood, in the Daiho shrine in Shiga prefecture, which are deemed Important Cultural Assets.
$3,700.00
Height case 10.5 inches.
Figure: Some minor rubbing and lacquer chips, two tips of lotus petals on dais broken and repaired, fringe of crown on right missing, few fingertips slightly chipped.
Case: minor traces of usage.
Overall condition very good.
$3,500.00
In the front two red colored Nio are guarding the deities.
Inscription on the central base reads: Ichijoten (name of the temple hall), junsan koichi hongu.
The inscription on the bottom reads: Kazusa Shibayama Tenozan Kanon kyoji.
Rollers cut off and framed in mounting.
Black ink and colors on paper.
Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Painted area: 22 7/8 x 10 9/16 inches
Frame: 29 ½ x 12¼ inches.
Paper slightly creased and rubbed at places, some pigment loss on creases, otherwise good condition.
This painting was sold at the Kannon kyoji temple on Tenno Mountain in Shibayama (Chiba Prefecture). It shows the main hall’s statues of worship, the 11-headed Kannon, Bishamonten and Fudo Myoo, and the famous nio at the gate. Printed versions of this image were also sold.
$3,500.00
Brown patinated bronze with roughened surface.
Each fox signed on the bottom ‘Kozan’ in archaic script.
Japan, mid 20th century.
Height 10 and 10.1 inches (25.2 and 25.8 cm).
Comes with the original tomobako storage box; the cover inscribed on the outside ‘tsuki miru kitsune’ (foxes looking at the moon) and stamped ‘seido sei’ (made of bronze); the cover signed on the inside ‘Kozan saku’, and sealed ‘Kozan’.
A few tiny dents at the bottom edge of one of the foxes, otherwise excellent condition.
The signature Kozan belongs to the artist Sakai Kozan, who was active in Takaoka during the Showa period, from the mid to late 20th century. The Sakai bronze manufacture is still active today.
$3,000.00
Black ink, light mineral colors and gold wash on silk.
Signed Bunrin; seal Bunrin and seal Shion.
Japan, Meiji era, 1870s.
Image H 49 x W 19.5 in.; total height 76.25 in.
Gold slightly oxidized, otherwise fine condition.
Comes with wooden storage box, inscribed Bunrin hitsu hotaru no zu Shiokawa ...
Shiokawa Bunrin (1808-1877). Shijo painter, Kyoto. Pupil of Okamoto Toyohiko. Learned nanga painting and western style painting. Specialized in landscapes.
A pair of six-panel screens from 1874 signed by Bunrin and dealing with the exact same subject matter and same color scheme, is located in the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City, object numbers 74-12/1 and 74-12/2
$2,800.00
Painted area: 39 x 15 ¼ inches; frame: 47 ¼ x 21 in.
Good condition, framed ( rollers cut off, old mounting behind mat).
$2,800.00
Painting of the demon of Rashomon stealing back his severed arm from Watanabe no Tsuna. Excellent use of dry-brush technique.
Signed: Yoshimitsu saku, seal Hoko. Japan, Taisho/Showa era.
Newly mounted with original embroidered brocade.
Image: 24 x 12.5 inches.
Total length: 58 inches.
Few old water stains on brocade, few tiny stabilized damages in paper, some damage to embroidery, all in all very good condition.
$2,800.00
Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Height of zushi: ca. 5.8 inches (14.6 cm).
Baldachin split and restored, gold decoration rubbed; sword missing.
Shrine with usual wear and tear, hard ware loose in places. All in all very good condition.
Fudo Myoo converts anger into salvation and frightens people into accepting the teachings of the Buddha Dainichi. His sword symbolizes wisdom as it cuts through ignorance. His rope is used to catch and bind demons. The flaming mandorla (also called garuda flame, referring to the fire breathing bird from Indian mythology) represents purification of the mind by the burning away of all material desire.
$2,500.00
Painted area: 7 5/8 x 3 13/16 in.
Size of whole scroll: 7 x 17 ¾ in.
Back of scroll needs fixing, scroll ends missing, painting slightly yellowed and soiled, crease at the top, some tears in lower area, due to rolling, generally good condition.
Hakuin 1685-1768.
$2,500.00
Height of case: 9 ¼ inches (23.8 cm).
Left hand of left hand figure partly missing, attributes missing, otherwise good condition. Case: Gold lacquer inside chipping and cracking in places, metal door lock missing and replaced
$2,500.00
Mat and frame
Painted area: 37 1/8 x 13 1/8.
Frame: 19 ¼ x 48 ¾ inches.
Some creases, one tiny hole, generally in good condition.
$2,500.00
Painted area: 37 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. (95.3 x 41.9 cm). Total height: 75 1/2 in. (191.7 cm).
Some paint rubbed off (mainly in flowers), some scratches in blue background, partly retouched (minimally), basically very good condition. Modern, Chinese mounting.
$2,500.00
Japan, Meiji era, late 19th century.
Measurements: ca. H 12.25 x L 9 x W 7 inches (ca. 31.75 x 22.8 x 17.75 cm).
Tips of the upper flame bunch on the mandorla are bit bent and partially broken off, otherwise excellent condition.
Daiitoku (Sanskrit Yamantaka) is an emanation of Amida Buddha; he is positioned in the West; the white buffalo is a symbol of enlightenment; he has the power to eliminate evil and to establish goodness and to defeat poisonous snakes and dragons.
$2,200.00
Tosa style. Signature at bottom: Yuho Issho ga. Red seal: Issho no in.
Colors on silk.
Japan, early 19th century.
Painted area: 23 5/16 x 10 13/16 in. (39.7 x 27.9 cm).
Total length 57 in. (146.5 cm).
Three restored holes in silk (not in image), otherwise very good condition. Mounting fairly modern and in excellent condition. Bone scroll ends.
Comes with a fitting kiribako of a later date.
Sugawara Michizane (845-903) was a Heian period scholar, poet, politician of lower nobility. He was deified as Tenjin-same, god of the sky and storms, later as a god of education/scholarship. The Kitano Tenman-gū Shrine in Kyoto was dedicated to him by the imperial court.
$2,000.00
Behind the door, there are two full width drawers, one half-width small drawer and two mid-size ones with iron locks.
The exterior of the chest is made of keyaki (Zelkova) wood, which is unusual. Drawers made of the softer, kiri wood with iron hardware. Wrought iron handle on the top of the chest. Door, corners and edges fitted with sturdy and very decorative ironwork, ornamental lock.
Bottom inscribed in black ink by carpenter.
Japan, 19th century
H 19 x W 16.25 x D 19.5 inches (48 x 41.4 x 49.5 cm)
Traces of usage (stains, dents, scratches), some of the iron hardware reattached or replaced or missing, 4 bottom slats re-attached or perhaps replaced at an earlier date. All damages acceptable as traces of usages. All replacements acceptable as necessary maintenance, while the chest was in practical use. All in all very good condition. NO KEYS.
Funa dansu are strong boxes used by sea men. They were used to carry business papers, money, writing supplies, seals and other personal things. They are small in comparison to chests that were used on land. The earlier ones are rather simple. The exterior of kakesuzuri-type ship’s chests was traditionally made of sugi (Cryptomeria) or kiri (Paulownia) wood. Kiri wood is fire resistant. Keyaki is much harder, and more expensive, and was more often used from the late Edo period on.
Due to the nature of their use, all funa dansu have traces of usage.