Catalog (6140)

A stunning fine antique Japanese makie lacquer box decorated with a tataki-nuri style black background with makie of vines and gourd and folding fans on the exterior. The interior is decorated in nashiji with a still life of a flower arrangement set in a basket with a charming lifelike rabbit and autumn grass for the inner tray. The vibrant colors and designs are often seen in lacquer works from the Edo and Meiji periods. Overall excellent original condition.

Age: Early Meiji Period...

Antique Chinese small bowl carved of deep spinach green jade. Lobed in form and with four small feet. It stands on a carved hardwood base. Beautiful mottled translucent jade.

Age: possibly Qianlong Period (1723-1795)

Dimensions: 5" long x 3 5/8" wide x 7/8" high (1 1/2" high on stand)

Antique Chinese tomb pottery figure of an ox with bridle and harness. Modeled with large eyes and a friendly expression, this ox was made to loyally serve it's owner in the afterlife. Made of terra-cotta with traces of brown, black and white slip pigment.

Age: Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" high x 13 1/4" long x 4 1/2" wide

Antique Japanese scroll painting depicting a dragon in clouds. In his left-hand claws, he holds the flaming hoju, the wish-granting pearl. Storm clouds billow below him. Painted in sumi ink on silk with details in white and gold ink.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: total size of scroll 75" high x 10 3/4" wide (12 1/4" wide including rollers). Size of art: 45 1/4" high x 9 3/8" wide

Antique Japanese small and exceptionally fine cloisonné vase. Four sided shaped body with a flower reserve on each side including irises, wisteria, chrysanthemums, daisies and maple. More fine details on the neck and sides.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 6" high x 2 1/8" wide

Antique traditional robe of the Ainu people of northern Japan. Attush (attusi) fabric was made of the inner fibers of elm tree bark (ohyo). The bark was harvested by the men but refined and woven by the Ainu women. This robe is edged with dark indigo-dyed cotton cloth. The back of the neck of the robe is sewn with a bit of lighter blue cotton fabric with a white paste resist pattern.

Age: late 19th/early 20th century

Dimensions: 54" high x 58" wide

A rare antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kikute handles and Urushi lacquer finish). Unusual design with two small drawers secured by a locking security bar and two sets of doors with the upper set having a spacious storage area behind and the bottom set having storage to the left and three small drawers to the right. The main drawer has a lock plate with an incised Chrysanthem...

A beautiful burl Keyaki wood early 19th century Funa Ko Tansu (Captains's document chest). Frame is made of solid keyaki wood with interior drawers made of soft kiri wood. Original urushi warm transparent lacquer finish with hand forged iron hardware and copper side carrying handles. Unique ring pull faux drawer front that doubles as a lift-out door hiding two small drawers.

Mounted on custom iron stand

Late Edo Period (1603 - 1868) C. 19th Century

Dimensions...

Antique Japanese three section stacking tansu. Top section has four sliders that open to reveal organized area with small drawers and shelving. A total a 12 drawers ranging in size along with a hinged compartment revealing two more small drawers. Original warm honey finish in great condition. Quarter sawn keyaki hardwood with strong grain patterns.

Late Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 48" wide x 63 1/2" high x 16 1/4" deep

Antique Japanese two-panel Byobu folding screen painting of a pair of Pheasants (male and female) and their chick. The male stands on a craggily rock with blooming Peonies nearby and Weeping trees in the background.

The Pheasant is a messenger of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu and represents power, abundance, promise, and duty to the family while the family itself represents marital bliss. The Peony symbolizes happiness, wealth and beauty while the old jagged rock and the old truck of the Pe...

Antique Chinese rectangular embroidered panel. Made all of silk with butterflies and flowers on an orange embroidered ground. Many flowers and butterflies are sewn us using the forbidden stitch technique. Edged in black silk embroidered with more flowers and butterflies in shades of blue.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 38 1/2" x 47"

Antique Japanese bajo jingasa, lacquered military hat for a high-ranking horseman. Carved of wood with an upturned front rim and rounded dome. Decorated all over with intricate shell inlay in black lacquer. The underside is lacquered red with four hooks for chords. On custom metal stand.
The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru ) used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood, paper, bamboo, or leather and usually treated wit...

Antique Tibetan horse saddle. Made of wood and decorated with red lacquer flowers and scrolling vines on a black lacquer ground. Horse riding on in Tibet is especially popular on the plateau of Western Tibet where the Kampa horsemen have held traditional horse races and festivals for generations. This saddle comes with a custom metal stand.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 10" high x 18" long x 14 1/2" wide (17" high on stand)

An antique Japanese Kansai Mizuya Tansu in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. Upper section features two sets of sliding doors with a set of 5 side by side drawers. Bottom section has 2 large sliding doors that open to a spacious storage area behind. Constructed using Japanese mortise and tenon joinery. Drawer handles are Hikute style made of hand forged iron.

Age: Meiji Era (1890-1900).

Dimensions: 71 3/4" Wide by 67 1/4" High by 19 3/4" Deep

A rare antique Sendai Tansu in 2 sections made of quartered sawn Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. Lock plates feature a rare dragon motif with upper and lower drawer showing the dragon protecting a sacred Hoju. Warabite handles have incised scrolling detail. Hinged and keyed security door protects two small drawers. Beautiful original condition, ready to be enjoyed.

Age: Edo Era (1800-1850)

D...

A 20th Century example of a tradition laos rain drum cast in bronze. Three frogs (12 altogether) on top with a twelve pointed star with continuing concentric circle with stamp decoration. The side has two short vines with a feaf design. snails representing water and fertility.

A globular flared body rises with four attached handles of frog design. Circular concentric pattern continues throughout the top and body with a range of geometric shapes within each one. The patina is a complex ...

Antique Japanese large 2-section storage tansu for an herbal merchant. Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood, beautifully worn and patinated from years of use. The top section has a large compartment opened by two sliding panels and with two interior shelves. The bottom section has 38 drawers for storage of various herbs and wares. Every drawer has an iron hirute-shaped pull.

Age: Early Meiji period (circa mid 1800's)

Dimensions: 67 3/4" high x 71 1/2" wide x 18" deep ...

Antique amitung (door board) for a dwelling or ceremonial house of the Telefolmin people who live in the southern portion of Sandaun (West Sepik) Province of Papua New Guinea. This large door board is made of a single piece of wood and has an opening for people to enter and exit. The carving is made up of individual motifs that represent different parts of human or animal: the central heart or navel, the wings of a flying fox or fruit bat, spirals represent limbs or eyes. These raised detai...

Korean antique celadon bowl carved with a large flower in the center. Beautiful crackled green glaze.

Age: Koryŏ (Goryeo) Dynasty (935 to 1392)

Dimensions: 3 1/8" high x 7 5/8" wide

Provenance: From the personal collection of Frederic Cheever Torrey (1864-1935), partner of Vickery, Atkins & Torrey, interior design firm and art gallery founded in San Francisco in 1888.
The gallery, most famous for its role in helping to introduce California to Impressionism...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (captain's chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute style drawer pulls and the Warabite style carrying handle. Iron strapping over the exterior of the chest. Front security door opens to reveal 4 drawers. A secret hiding area is accessible when the lower drawer is fully removed. Wooden support braces are present at the bottom.

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 15" Wide...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nihon Matsu Tansu (Kimono chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware including the double action lock plates and the Warabite handles. Bronze decorative mounts feature lucky Japanese symbols including the treasure mallet, the treasure bag, a traveling cape and a traveler's hat. A rare feature is how this chest can be configured side by side due to a bespoke second stand that allows for the s...

Antique Japanese hangai tansu (captain's chest for business transactions). Two door panels outfitted with heavy iron work set into the frame and open to reveal five drawers on either side. The exterior frame of of the box is made of sugi (cryptomeria - Japanese cedar) while the drawers are made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The exterior has square iron handles while the interior has iron warabite shaped drawer pulls. It comes with a key.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: ...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware with Kaute style handles. 6 drawers of varying sizes with a pair of sliding doors and a security door that hides 2 additional drawers and a secret box where valuables were kept.

This Tansu would make a perfect side chest or nightstand.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 32" Wide by 31'" High by 18" Deep

An antique Japanese Kansai Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Three pairs of sliding doors of varying sizes with 8 drawers on the upper half and 5 drawers to the bottom half. There is a split level shelf behind each set of doors.

Age: Meiji Period (1890-1910)

Dimensions: 70 3/4" Wide by 67 1/4" High by 19 1/4" Deep

Antique Chinese porcelain vase. Baluster form with flared neck. Pink glaze with gold painted rim and foot. Nice hand painted gold and red 4 character mark on the bottom.

Age: Republic Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 7 3/8" high x 5" wide

Chinese Bronze vase from the Qing Dynasty C. 1700's
The Qing dynasty, officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by a Tungusic-speaking ethnic group who became known as the Manchus.

Age: 18th Century

Dimensions: 15 1/2" High x 10 1/4"

A Chinese Jade carving of a lady carrying a baby. The jade carving contains fine details of the hair, robes, and tassels the lady is wearing. Size: length 2.25" width 1" height 7"

Antique brush holder of steatite, or soapstone, with intricate carvings of a tree branch with flowers and a bird perched upon it. It has a smooth surface and a sturdy feel. 19th century Size: 4" tall, 2.5" wide at base

Chinese jade seal with a serpentine chimera coiled around the top. The chimera body is finely and continuously carved with the beast's horns are carved connected to its back and its tail curls around to connect with its front leg. Dates from the Ming dynasty.

Dimensions: 1 1/8" x 1 3/4" H

Chinese agate carving of a curled lotus leaf. The leaf is delicately and thinly carved and is edged in pierced flowers and vines. The agate stone has natural siena and russet tone areas throughout. Comes with original tripod wood stand.

19th century

Dimensions: 3" x 3" x 1/4" (carving only)

An antique Japanese large merchant chest (Choba Tansu) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Aka Matsu (Red Pine) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hikute handles. Functional design with 7 exterior drawers, a pair of sliding doors (where store records and books were kept) and a hinged security door that hides 2 small drawer where valuables were stored. Constructed with side slats for strength and support.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 73" Wide by 37 1...

Antique Japanese wooden standing screen painted on both sides. One side is painted with a Kabuki actor portraying a samurai sharpening the points of an arrow on a whetstone. The image is inspired by an Edo Period woodblock print from the Kabuki drama Yanone Koro by the artist Kiyomitsu Torii II (1787-1868) entitled "Samurai Sharpening an Arrow" c. 1820. In this image, the artist has gone further to include a background with a rack of arrows behind of the main figure. It's seal reads 秋 Aki...

Antique Japanese todana mizuya (kitchen cabinet) made from a beautiful keyaki burl wood in reddish brown hues, with two sets of sliding panels, 8 drawers in varying size, and one pull-out panel with a ring handle. It has a very interesting and unusual form, with slats running down its sides and back. The inside of the top set of sliding panels has an aged sheet of paper marked with kanji. Edo age, circa 1870 Size: 49.75" height, 39" width, 18" depth

Chinese sandstone carving of Buddha's head, a fragment from a larger statue. This buddha has delicate features and a beautiful expression with high arching brows over half lidded eyes and a slight smile. Hair is a series of continuous sweeping rows over a subtle cranial protuberance. Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577). Size of head: 12 1/2" high. Total size including stand: 18 1/2" high. (custom Black Iron Stand).

Circular jingasa with a gradual domed top. The composition is of bamboo, paper, layers of lacquer work with intricate shell inlay. The jingasa is decorated to the edge of three gilt lacquer circular crests (mon) The interior is finished in red with its original cotton gear straps and cushion. Mounted for presentation on steel plates.

The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru), used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood...

Antique hand knotted wool carpet, Joshegan, Persia in navy and reds, tight weave with central medallion and border. Good condition.

Age: circa 1940s

Size: 4.5 x 6.7'