Catalog (6165)

Japanese small bronze censer for a Buddhist shrine, made in a squat round form with inlaid gold metal shapes in a random pattern. Cast mark on the bottom. Nice patina.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2" high x 2 7/8" wide diameter

Small antique Tibetan bronze cup. Intended for holding water in a Buddhist shrine. Made of bronze and shaped in the form of a lotus with petals starting in a gardroon and ending in a scalloped edge just below a ring around a smooth rim.

17th century

Dimensions: 2" high

The whole body, except for the top, is carved in relief with lingzhi fungus of hardwood of rosewood family. The waist, the apron, and the connecting joints are also decorated. The legs are slight cabriole leg with block carved hoof feet.

Republic Period

65" x 33" x 25 1/2"

Antique Chinese porcelain vase with deep lapis blue monochrome glaze. Meiping form with ornately carved, possibly zitan wood lid and base.

Ch'ien Lung Period (1736-1795)

Dimensions: 13" high including base and lid. 9 1/2" high vase only.

Small Indian bronze figure of a standing female deity, most likely the protective Jain Mother Goddess, Ambika. Although it is difficult to tell for sure, the popularity of the Yakshi goddess in Jainism makes it probable. The goddess stands in a very traditional straight pose associated with Jain statues. She holds various attributes in her four arms. Standing on either side are two smaller figures. Significant traces of a pink pigmentation and signs of wear from handling through the year...

Indian Jain bronze figure of Vishnu with Lakshmi seated on his knee. Six other figures are present including 2 attendants on the bottom. The figure on the bottom is their friend and vehicle, Garuda. Incised with writing on the base and back.

19th century

Dimensions: 5 5/8" high x 3 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep.

Pair of Architectural corbels of mythological elephant baku’s are commonly placed under the eaves of Japanese Buddhist temple and Shinto Shrines to wore off evil spirits. The baku devour dreams and nightmares and protector against evil. The baku cannot be summoned without caution, however as ancient legions say that if the baku is not satisfied after consuming the nightmares, he may devour ones hopes and dreams. The open mouth is to scare off demons and the closed mouth baku shelters and keeps...

Japanese pair of Buddhist attendant figures. Each figure is carved of wood and painted with mineral pigments. Fine details are painted in gold gilt. They are draped in Chinese robes with long flowing sleeves, each wearing an ornate metal headdress. One attendant holds an offering, the other, a flower scepter made of wire with glass and wooden beads. Their inlaid eyes are made of glass.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" - 11" high x 4 7/8" wide x 3 3/4" deep

A Tibetan round burl root wood container. The top surface of the lid is flattened with low relief carved rings. Inside the container has been lacquered in black, the edges of the container with traces of red pigment.

Dimensions: 4" x 2 1/2" H

Chinese bronze figure, wearing a headdress and cast upright on a four legged pedestal. Traces of gold gilt essentiate his bearded continence, his gilt hands hold a "hu" in front of his chest, his hemmed robe is incised with cloud patterns. The richly patinated bronze displays remnants of pigment and file marks. The underside interior is hollow with a pitted surface, residual of the casting process.

Figures of the Eight Immortals are popular decorative motifs because it is belie...

Chinese heavily cast figure of Ananda standing on a lotus pedestal with gilt hands held in anjali mudra before his chest. His head and face are gilded with shaven head and pendulous ears framing a meditative expression and narrowed eyes. His long robes are incised at the hem with lotus blossoms. The upper portion of his body is in a kasaya with a finely chased lotus border. The patina shows it's sign of age.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Dimensions: 13" high x 5 1/2" wide x 5"...

Japanese lithograph print by Toko Shinoda (born 1913) entitled "Arrived Wind". Signed in pencil. Undated. Edition number 27 of 35. Frame: 33" high x 27" wide Inside archival mat: 23 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide

Japanese lithograph print and sumi ink brush strokes by Toko Shinoda (born 1913) entitled "Snow". From her series of prints also entitled "Snow". Undated. Print number 4 of 45.

Frame: 28 1/2" high x 22 1/2" wide

Inside archival mat: 13 1/2" high x 9 1/2" wide

Japanese antique single section mizuya (kitchen tansu for storage). Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with original deep brown lacquer finish. The right hand side of the chest has a compartment covered by a pair of sliding panels with keyaki wood details, open work carving and wire for ventilation. The largest compartment is covered with sliding panels with keyaki details and vertical slats. The inside of each of these compartments has one shelf. A series of 8 small drawers occupy t...

A pair of Chinese bamboo horseshoe chairs, of steam bent, tied, pegged and notched construction. The continuous horseshoe rail and arm rest has tied, cane split bamboo throughout the furniture. It is made to secure and create a decorative pattern. The open back slat frame has a geometric Shou pattern and a double happiness motif. The woven rattan seated is hard mounted on wood, front apron bent with four bamboo forming the square seat. The four bamboo legs of the chair are connected with a woode...

Japanese art deco bronze vase, with a globular form decorated with silver damascened and chased key fret motif; patterned in the round midway down. The richly patinated russet color contrast with the delicate silver gives it an unmistakably up to date modern look. The vessel form successfully takes a basically traditional shape, in this case, probably derived form Chinese ceramics and the key fret design can be seen on a Han Dynasty pottery that is unambiguously Asian and yet also very much a p...

Japanese mingei water wheel of hinoki wood. Constructed with iron nails, joinery, complete with 17 spokes and paddles with kanji characters. The central hub has an iron piston protruding for rotational function. The wheel comes with a contemporary custom steel mount which allows it to spin smoothly and silently.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 64 1/2" wide diameter x 9 1/8" deep (paddle)

Hardwood stand made of white nara. Dramatic white rind with natural finished top.

Contemporary

Dimensions: 19 3/4" high x 24" wide

Chinese round table of natural gnarled, twisted hardwood roots, and a transparent russet lacquer. The table is constructed in two parts- The trunk-like pedestal base and the rooted edge, round top. This type of natural root furniture goes back to the 12th century aesthetic. Here is an example of the round center table produced during the Republic period, bearing the colonial form true to the Victorian Era.

Republic Period

Dimensions: 30" high x 42" wide diameter

Antique Japanese natural burl wood stand. The gnarled roots twisting with knotholes cascade down the sides of the stand, the bottom appearing to have animal feet. The tabletop of the stand with dark lacquer finish.

Showa Period

Dimensions: 22" x 16" x 23 1/2" H

Chinese brush washer carved from agate, of a lingzhi mushroom form with smaller lingzhi sprigs carved underneath. The white agate stone contains natural inclusions with areas of orange coloration.

Dimensions: 3 1/2" x 3" x 2"

Japanese studio ware ceramic figure of the immortal, Gama Sennin. Based on the Chinese 10th century alchemist, Liu Hai, Gama Sennin is often depicted in relation to the lucky 3-legged money-toad. Gama Sennin can assume the form of a toad and can change his skin to appear young again. In this depiction of the much loved immortal, he sits on a rocky outcropping and hold in one hand a peach, in the other a small toad. Whimsically perched on his head is a large load with a spotted belly.

Me...

Japanese antique small ko tansu (personal chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with black lacquered iron hardware. This small chest has 7 drawers of various sizes; 2 large drawers on the top portion, 2 medium drawers and 2 small drawers on the lower portion. The hardware is all made of blackened iron and includes round lock plates and square drawer pulls.

Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 21 3/4" high x 24 3/4" wide x 13" deep.

Antique Tibetan cabinet with 2 large compartments. The entire front of the cabinet is decorated in kyungbur technique (designs and pictures painted in raised lines of a gesso and resin mixture) on a deep red ground. Two large compartments are covered by 8 large panels decorated with phoenixes in medallions of scrolling vines and flowers. The middle four panels open to the compartments. The bottom of the chest has 3 additional stationary panels decorated similarly with flowers. The top was o...

An unusual Japanese 2 section, 6ft mizuya (kitchen buffet tansu) from the Kanazawa region. Constructed with Hinoki (cypress) and Sugi (cedar) woods, with red and black lacquer frame, and Keyaki (elm) burl front panels in reddish brown lacquer. The top of the piece holds a long open compartment behind four sliding panels with bookmatched Keyaki burl hardwood. Below are a center pair of mesh sliding panels with black lacquer wood frame, carved with floral motifs and with decorative iron pulls. The...

Antique Japanese 2 section isho tansu (clothing chest) constructed of Kiri (paulownia) and Sugi (cedar) wood. With hand-forged iron lock plates, hardware, and handles. The upper section of the piece holds two open compartments side by side, and five shallow drawers of various size. One side of the chest has a lift-away door and the other with pair of sliding door panels framed with shou sugi ban panels. The lower section of the tansu holds five drawers for clothing and three drawers for small t...

Japanese Buddhist scroll depicting the Legendary Sixteen Arhats. The Arhats are described as sage beings who have attained enlightenment, yet have not become a full Buddha. The Sixteen Arhats are traditionally worshipped for they are said to have renounced Nirvana out of compassion to help relieve human suffering on earth. Their Sanskrit names are: Pindola Bharadvaja, Ajita, Subinda, Kalika, Vajraputra, Bhadra, Kanakavatsa, Kanaka Bhadra, Nakula (or Vakula), Rahula, Chudapanthaka, Angaja, Pant...

Chinese jade carving of an ink stone, with a shallow well and a bat flying overhead. The light green jade stone has natural inclusions and outer layer of stone.

Dimensions: 2 1/4" x 3"

Japanese hand-forged iron tsuba, used to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The openwork motifs depict a man and ox resting below pine trees and a cottage with gold gilt, with a faint signature illegible from wear.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 2 5/8" x 2 3/4"

A whimsical Japanese boxwood carving of a toad, with inlaid eyes, crawling atop a functioning cylindrical box carved of bone. The box is hand-carved with flying insects and leaping frogs in a lily pond, the base carved with a floral band. Signed by the artist.

Dimensions: 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 6 3/4" H

Japanese small amber carving of a frog resting on a leaf. The golden yellow amber has natural inclusions.

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

A contemplative and artistic rendering of a lotus leaf bowl with deteriorated edges. The lotus is a symbol of purity, beauty and a metaphor in teaching Buddhism. The lotus bowl has a small frog sitting on the leaf's edge with outstretched leg. The underside of the leaf bowl has 3 characters of the artist's signature.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 9" x 8 1/2" x 1 3/4" H

Chinese ceramic arrow form vase, with thick green crackle celadon glaze and wide squared mouth. An arrow vase is a type of vessel used for the game Touhu in which players would throw arrows into the cylinders attached to the sides of the neck.

Dimensions: 3" x 2 1/2" x 5" H

Korean blue and white porcelain water dropper in a squared form. The top surface adorned with cobalt blue underglaze landscape scene of mountains and boats and its sides with cobalt blue geometric motifs. The piece stands on four L shaped feet. With old crazing.

Dimensions: 2 1/2" x 2 3/4" x 1 6/8" H

Among popular Japanese symbolic animals are frogs. There are many species of frogs in Japan as a result of flooding rice fields in Japanese agriculture. These creatures are often used in poetry and art, and are sometimes carried by travelers to make sure they return home safely from their journeys. The word "frog" in Japanese means "return" which is why the frog is considered a Japanese lucky animal and seen as good fortune in things returning.

Japanese boxwood carving of a female f...

Japanese five section lacquer inro in the hiramaki-e technique. The low relief gilt lacquer adds depth throughout the landscape composition of pine forest, distant ocean, mountainous terrain, and the famous Uji bridge. The black ground lacquer also shows the use of nashiji gold flecks creating mist and cloud formation. The interior of the compartments are covered with the nashiji gold flecks, resembling a pear skin effect. The ojime bead is of sliver and gold in the form of a laughing face of Ho...