Catalog (6144)

Antique Japanese kuruma tansu (wheeled chest), made all solid quartered sawn keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with beautiful and dramatic natural grain. The upper and lower portions of the chest have open compartments which close with sliding panels. Each panel is reinforced with either vertical or horizontal wooden slats. A heavy hand forged iron plate sits in place along with hand forged iron locks and hardware with a key to keep the door panels from sliding. The back and sides have wonderful hea...

An antique Vietnamese jar with covered lid with blue under glaze. The lustrous ivory glaze covers the whimsical 3 blue floral images. The bowl's interior center has splotches of blue paint intermingled with a rust colored paint. The rim is unglazed, as is the small footing. Provenance: Prominant private collection from San Diego, CA

Date: Tran Dynasty (1225 - 1400)

Dimensions: 8" diameter X 7"high

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu (clothing chest). Kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame and drawer interiors. Three full-width drawers, the middle drawer is 3/4 width with two small drawers to it's right hand side. Blackened iron hardware includes moko shaped drawer pulls and round lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 3/4" high x 32 3/4' wide x 16 1/4" deep.

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu with locking bar. The upper portion has a full width drawer with a large iron money bag shaped lock plate. Below this are two drawers held in place with a locking bar (with key). The bottom portion has two smaller drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand corner with two small interior drawers. Beautiful and extensive iron work also includes raised corner handware on the drawers and square shaped drawer pulls. Original deep red lacquer finish....

A Japanese gold lacquer Inro with five compartments. A relief of a pair of silver horses dominates the landscape scene of a seaside village with drying racks of fish and pines and clouds in the background. The horses are galloping over a creek with foliage. The reverse side shows a lone horse under a fruit tree and thatched cottage. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). The cord has an agate ojime. Inro (seal basket) are small decorative containers ...

A rare Japanese Hirado porcelain Netsuke with a movable tongue. The unglazed porcelain of the Hotti has a laughing face with a tongue that moves in and out of his mouth. He is carrying a guord and walking stick. Netsuke are miniature sculptures that were invented in 17th-century Japan to serve a practical function (the two Japanese characters ne + tsuke mean “root” and “to attach”). Traditional Japanese garments had no pockets; however men who wore them needed a place to store their per...

A Japanese hand forged iron tsuba. A tsuba is an important fitting on a samurai's sword to protect their hands from the blade and provide balance. This tsuba has cast motifs of a 5 petal flower and oblong hole. The tsuba is from the Myochin school (1573-1867).

Date: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 2.75" in diameter

A rare antique Vietnamese four-legged Censer from the Le dynasty. (Later Le Dynasty, Vietnamese Nha Hau Le, (1428–1788), the greatest and longest lasting dynasty of traditional Vietnam.) The white glazed ceramic censer has a cylindrical body with lappet band above molded trigrams. The vessel is raised on four zoomorphic supports. Provenance: Prominent private collection from San Diego, CA.

Date: 15th C

Dimensions: 10.25"diameter X 10" high

An antique, Japanese boxwood lacquer comb with two kanzashi hair pins decorated with niello silver & mokoume-gane etched cat on gilt. The fine toothed comb is hand carved with floral motifs and a man walking over a bridge. The reverse side shows a house surrounded by mountains. Wooden combs in Japan were once believed to have shamanic qualities. Women would brush their black hair thinking that the combs would gather each strand’s spiritual energy. In later years, they were used to create elabo...

Antique Japanese cast copper jizai okimono of an articulated cricket. Small, articulated metal figures of this type are called jizai okimono (literally "free decorative object"). They typically have moveable bodies, arms, legs. Each copper section of this okimono is finely cast, depicting a natural realism, a style that was prominent during the Meiji Period. All six legs, wings and both long antennas are movable. The base of the cricket is signed: Zaodo.

Provenance: British privat...

Antique Korean bandaji (blanket storage trunk), made of beautifully rough hewn wood. A single door is hinged horizontally and opens downward to reveal a large compartment for storage. Hardware is made of iron and includes large hinges and lock plates with Buddhist symbols. Stunning warm original finish.

19th century

Dimensions: 27 1/4" high x 29 1/2" wide x 15" deep

An exact miniature version of a Tanegashima matchlock rifle in the form of a Netsuke with a little gilt metal loop as himotoshi. The match-lock rifle was introduced by the Portuguese in 1543 and is rarely seen in Netsuke art. The rifle is iron with brass and black lacquer and gilding. In good condition with minor wear to lacquer and gilding. Provenance Norwegian private collection formerly acquired at Galerie Zacke.

Date: 19th C, Edo period (1615-1868)

Dimensions: 3" X .75"...

An Indonesian mask carved in the form of a male figure. The mask is carved and painted with expressive eye brows and mustache. These masks are often used in Bali and Java during religious ceremonies performing the legend of the Hindu gods.

Date: 19th-20th C

Dimensions: 8.5" X 7" X 5.5"

Antique Chinese scholar's desk in 3 sections. The top section has 3 drawers in a horizontal row. Each of the bottom sections (that the top rests on) has 2 drawers and a compartment on the bottom enclosed with an open lattice work on all sides. Made of jumu (elm) wood. Hardware is made of brass.

19th century

Dimensions: 34 34" high x 51" wide x 23 3/4" deep

A set of three bronze macaques with fine incised detail in their faces and fur. Their postures are a highly naturalistic rendering. The underbelly of each monkey is signed by the famous bronze animalist artist, Genryusai Seiya. Perfect condition. Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: largest monkey - 4"X 2.5" X 2"
- medium monkey - 3.5" X 2.75" X 2"
- smallest monkey - 2.75" X 1.75" X 1.5"

Antique Tibetan pair of low folding tables. Originally used by Buddhist priests for teaching and praying, these unusual tables fold down for travel. The front and sides of the table are hinged on wooden dowels and fold into the tray created by the table top when it is turned upside down. Painted with colorful scenes of birds and flowers. The table top surface is painted with red lacquer, decorated with gold dragons in the center and fruit branches in the corners. The back is left open to ...

A perfect Persian turquoise Chinese Peking Glass wine cup. it is molded glass, cut/grinded with a short carved foot. Chinese glass was largely used to imitate more precious materials such as white jade, lapis lazuli and other valuable minerals.

Date: early 1900's

Dimensions: 3.5" in diameter X 2.5" high

Antique Chinese namu hardwood table. The wide front apron is carved with bats in beautiful pierced detail and low relief.

Late 18th to Early 19th Century

Dimensions: 34 3/4" high x 41" wide x 19 1/2" deep