Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Metalwork (234)

Antique Japanese bronze usubata (container for ikebana flower arranging). Charming bronze frog with bumpy skin except for his belly and under chin which are smooth. Out of his mouth comes the stem of the water container portion of the usubata. Inside the inverted conical container is a rounded form with ridges for holding flowers and branches in place...

Antique Japanese large bronze vase with double coils on each side. This design is reminiscent of Chinese Han dynasty blackware pottery amphora with the same motif. Dramatic scale and clean lines.

Age: Taisho Period, Deco Era circa 1920's/30's

Dimensions: 12" high x 18" wide x 12" wide

An antique Japanese large bronze shrine vase cast in a loss wax technique. Depicting waves of a rough ocean with sea spray floating in the air, the female turtle carries a hatchling on its back while facing downward with its mouth open to expel evil spirits. The male turtle is jumping above the waves with its mouth closed to retain the good spirits. All three turtles have their wisps of sea algae growing from their shells as a symbol of the parents old age and the hatchling's life beginning...

Antique Japanese bronze vase with incised design. A vertical row of diamond shaped reserves with plum or cherry blossom and bamboo motif. Unusual overall form with wide mouth. Signed on the bottom and coated on the inside to hold water for flower arrangements. Comes with signed tomobako...

An antique Japanese bronze temple bell called Bonsho with a handle depicting diverging dragon heads called Ryuzu, protrusions called chi chi or nye to improve resonance of sound, two opposing Tsuki-za striking panels and a Mei-bun inscription of the bell's history. Bonshō (Japanese: 梵鐘, Buddhist bells), also known as tsurigane (釣り鐘, hanging bells) or ōgane (大鐘, great bells) are large bells found in Buddhist temples throughout Japan, used to summon the monks to prayer and to de...

Lovely Gilt bronze incensor with raised chrysanthemum flowers and tripod feet in the form of chrysanthemum leaves. Reticulated cover for smoke. On the bottom is the incised signature of Kо̄sai Sano 佐野宏采, a favorite artisan of Emperor Hirohito's. Age: Early 20th century

Size: 6"H x 4" Diameter

Antique Japanese rectangular bronze letter box. Decorated with a highly raised design of Benten, the Goddess of knowledge, music and eloquence. She is standing on a water dragon who looks up at her admiringly. With a plectrum in one hand, she plays her biwa. Waves churn around Benten and her dragon. The sides of the box are decorated with raised waves and remnants of gilding. The interior of the box is lined with wood...

Antique Japanese bronze candlestick with a whimsical scene of a cat chasing a mouse. The cat slinks around the round base while the mouse clings to the candle pricket high above. The animals are especially well modeled and have highly detailed fur. The base of the candlestick is cast with an archaic motif made popular again during the Meiji era...

Antique Japanese Bronze Dragon and Phoenix Pedestal Stand, beautifully modeled and unusual with dragon encircling diameter of the neck with the phoenix above him. key lappet border at base. Good overall condition. Some wear to finish on top.

Size: 31"H x 10.75" Diameter at top and 12.5" Diameter at base.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912), circa 1900

Antique Japanese rectangular bronze censor with four legs. The lid has a pierced floral motif and a fu-dog finial. The body of the censor has dragons for handles and is encircled with a scrolling key fret motif. The front has a highly raised makara-like elephant-headed water serpent while the back has a raised peacock. The bottom has a six character mark.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 12 1/2" high x 9" long x 7" wide

Antique Japanese bronze suiban with raised designs of dragons on the front and back. Swirling mist motifs decorate the sides of the suiban and continue on the four feet it stands on. A key motif runs along the edge of the rectangular container. Four character mark on the bottom. Suiban are intended for displaying flowers (with a kenzan) or for displaying suiseki scholar stones for viewing and contemplation...

Antique Japanese pair of bronze candle sticks. Simple and elegant with bell shaped feet. Most likely for use at a temple shrine.

Age: Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 13" high x 4 1/4" wide at base

Antique Japanese small bronze suiban for flower or rock arrangements. Cast with designs of irises on two sides, the ends have bronze handles in the shape of knotted chord. Stands on four small feet.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 7 1/2" long x 5" wide x 2 1/8" high

Pair of dramatic Japanese large bronze candlesticks. Each candlestick depicts strolling vines with blossoming flowers on all sides. Small detail are seen down to each petal. The bronze nail head is in great condition and could easily support large candles an be used once again.

Taisho Period (Early 20th Century)

Dimensions: 24 1/4" High x 9 1/2" wide

Charming Japanese Seated Bronze Maiden on original well-carved wooden base. Young maiden is dressed in peasant clothing and is holding a teacup.

Size: Overall 16" H x 13"W x 17"L Actual 14.5:H bronze figure

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Antique Japanese small bronze door latch in the form of a rabbit. The rabbit sits on a section of hollowed out log. The log is patinated green and the rabbit, a deep orange. With signed tomobako.

Age: Taisho/Showa Period (circa early 1900's)

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

Antique Japanese tsuba (hand guard for samurai katana) decorated with a monkey peeking though the bamboo rails of a cage or gate. Often occurring in Japanese folk tales, the monkey generally symbolizes a trickster. Since tsuba were often a warrior's source of personal expression, it is likely this monkey held specific significance to the blade's owner.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" high x 2 7/8" wide x 1/8" thick (1/4" thick including monkey).

Antique Japanese bronze vase molded with a pair of phoenixes in flight. Signed on the bottom. Also called hou-ou, the pair of mythical birds together are often symbols of fidelity but also represent fire, sun and justice. When used in reference to the imperial household, the phoenix represents the empress.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 13" high x 8 1/2" wide