Catalog (6144)

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant storage box) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Eight drawers of varying sizes for the storage of paper, writing brushes, inkstone, money, receipts and other merchant paraphernalia. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. It features a secret hidden box where valuables were kept hidden away from thieves.

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1880)
Dimensions: 9 1/2" Wide ...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Aka Matsu (Red Pine) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Unusual counter Ryo Biraki design with door hinges in the center of the piece opens to a configuration of drawers and open cavities where store records and books were held. It has a low profile that was custom designed for the merchant for his specific needs. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: ...

An antique Japanese Funa Bako (ship safe box) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. The safe door opens to 5 drawers where valuables were kept. The heavy weight of the case combined with a buoyant interior allowed the crew members to attach a rope to the handle and throw the safe overboard during a pirate attack. The chest would float beneath the surface of the water for retrieval after the attack was...

An antique Chinese export desk made of a hardwood and hand carved with dragons. Stylized egg and dart pattern along the edge. Cabriolet legs of dragons with each three toe claw holding a Hoju (sacred jewel). Skirt and fence also decorated with dragons.

Age: Early 20th C

Dimensions: 48 1/2" Wide by 44 1/2" High by 27" Deep

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

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 Indo-Persian miniature painting depicting a hunting scene. A party of three men on horses gives chase to a herd of deer while two others stand by with spears. In the background a river wends it's way through hills covered in low trees and flowers. Painted in gauche colors. Framed.

Age: circa 1800-1850

Dimensions: Total size with frame 13 1/8" high x 10 3/8" wide. Art only 7 1/2" high x 4 1/2" wide

Antique Indo-Persian miniature painting depicting a hunting scene. A party of four men with swords on horses gives chase to a herd of deer. In the background, another man with a spear rides an elephant. Intricate details of rocks and flowers. Painted in gauche colors with sky of gold. Framed.

Age: circa 1800-1850

Dimensions: Total size with frame 18 3/4" high x 18 3/4" wide. Art only 9 1/4" high x 4 1/2" wide

Large antique Japanese Buddhist temple textile made of green silk and woven with gold gilt-paper weft (ginran or kinren) in a design of dragon medallions floating amongst billowing clouds. Dragons have long been used in Buddhist art symbolizing the endless cycle of transformation. This textile piece consists of two long woven panels sewn together and backed with white cotton fabric. Has inscription on back.

Age: Edo Period dated 1836

Dimensions: 59" x 91"

Antique Japanese bamboo walking stick. Carved with scenes of snakes chasing frogs. The frogs and snakes appear on the surface of the cane as if through holes in a tunnel. With details painted in ink and light colors. Signed by 吉明刀 Yoshiaki.

Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 36" long x 3/4" wide

Amazing antique Chinese porcelain dish. Beautifully formed, glazed with a rich monochrome turquoise color. Standing on four small unglazed feet. Intricately decorated with tiny drum-like rivets around the outer edge and on the inside with raised stylized 5-bat motif around a central prosperity symbol. The underside has an incised 6 character Qianlong zhuanzhu mark (1735-1796) or later.

Provenance Michael S. Smith Collection, well-known NY Designer

Dimensions: 5 1/4" wid...

Antique Chinese large porcelain low bowl possibly for bulbs. Shallow, oval form with purplish-blue monochrome glaze and four low feet. Zhuanshu Yongzheng mark (1722-1735) under glaze on the bottom. With wooden stand.

Mark: Yongzheng

Dimensions: 10 1/2" long x 7 5/8" wide x 1 3/8" high (3 3/4" high on stand)

Antique Chinese ovoid form ink stone carved of green serpentine and inscribed with calligraphy on one side and archaic script on the reverse. The text on the front of the ink stone references a quote from the Analects of Confucius:
子曰：“不患人之不己知，患不知人也。 Which translates as Xue Er: The Master said, "I will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me; I will be afflicted that I do not know men." There is a key difference however in the middle of the phrase. ...

Mystical Dzi beads have been implements of ancient Tibetan culture for thousands of years. They are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection. They are also thought to hold medicinal properties and so can be characterized by the "dig marks" left over the surface of the bead where a small portion has been scraped away to be ingested. This Dzi bead has a pattern of one large white square and one circle, or "heavenly eye", considered one of the most sought after charact...

Mystical Dzi beads have been implements of ancient Tibetan culture for thousands of years. They are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection. They are also thought to hold medicinal properties and so can be characterized by the "dig marks" left over the surface of the bead where a small portion has been scraped away to be ingested. This Dzi bead has a pattern of 8 white circles, or "heavenly eyes", considered one of the most sought after characteristics. It also ha...

Antique Japanese round lacquered wood container decorated on both sides with a karakusa (octopus vine) pattern and blossoms around the central aoi mon of the Tokugawa shogunate. Gold lacquer on a dark brownish black ground. Possible for archer bow strings.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: 3 3/4" wide diameter x 1 3/4" deep

Antique Chinese slate stone carving of small houses on the edge of a mountain lake. The hills around are covered with pine trees and great rocky peaks rise up in the distance. Created with a wonderful transportive quality that makes the viewer feel as if they are within the scene. A contemplative piece for the scholar's desk. Provenance: Collection of Artist R. Garreki

Age: Republic Period

Dimensions: 4 1/2" high x 8 1/4" long x 2 1/8" deep

Antique Chinese ruyi scepter carved of boxwood in a naturalistic representation of a lingzhi mushroom. Long and elegantly curved with smaller lingzhi sprouting from it's stem. Beautifully carved with great attention to detail and form. Ruyi scepters were used in Chinese Buddhist ceremonies and as symbols of good fortune, luxury and power.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 15" long x 3" wide