Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Sculpture (72)

Antique Japanese set of four lotus leaves and blossoms. Carved of wood and lacquered silver. Made for a Buddhist altar, these leaves and blossoms symbolize the stages of the path toward enlightenment. Every petal of the lotus flower is carved separately. Each blossom and leaf comes fitted with a custom metal stand so they can be rearranged at will.

Age: Taisho Period

Dimensions: approx 24"hight (tallest leaf)

Japanese antique carved boxwood figure of Soko-tanuki. Here he is disguised as a monk with a large temple bell. The story goes that a tanuki (who is famous for his shapeshifting abilities) worked in the temple for many years. One day while he was taking a nap, he was caught in his original form...

Japanese antique Baku carving for temple. The mythical creature, part lion, part elephant with clouds represents the beast that devours dreams. Carved from one solid piece of sugi (cryptomeria) wood.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 52 1/2" long x 9" high

Japanese antique fu-dog carving for temple. Also called a shishi, the mythical creature is shown here with blossoming peonies. The shishi and peony together is called Karajishi in which the ferocious beast is tempered by the beautiful queen of flowers, Yin and Yang. Carved from one solid piece of sugi (cryptomeria) wood.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 52 1/2" long x 9" high

Antique Japanese suiseki on base. Suiseki (sui=water, seki=stone). This natural stone formation resembles a mountain and has pleasing fine quartz striations. It sits on a low wooden base.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 11 1/8" high x 17" long x 7 1/2" wide

This antique Japanese large flying dragon shrine corbel is a stunning piece of art that is sure to impress. The sculpture is made from one solid block of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood depicting a dragon that appears to abruptly change course in mid-air. The body has dramatic features that visually flow with this sculpture, making it a true masterpiece...

Antique Japanese carved wooden panel depicting a pair of pheasants. The male is seated on a blossoming cherry branch while the female looks up at him from near a spray of bamboo. Beautifully carved and painted with intricate details. The frame is lacquered.

Age: Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 22" high x 16" wide x 1" deep

Antique Japanese figure of a Buddhist guardian, possibly Fudo Myoo, the Immovable One, the protector of Buddhism and true Buddhists. His stature, his curls, and his intense eyes are all traditional characteristics of Fudo Myoo. His red coloring is reminiscent of a Nio guardian. He stands on a rocky ground with one hand raised as if shielding his eyes. Carved of wood and painted with mineral pigments and gold. His eyes are painted glass...

Antique Japanese burl root wood formation. Collected for it's unusual, gnarled beauty. Mounted on a square stand of iron and cherry wood. Exhibited at the San Francisco Fall Art and Antiques Show.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 16 1/2" high x 16 3/4" wide x 12 1/4" deep

Antique Japanese ranma (transom). Carved from hinoki wood on both sides with a scene of a twisting pine tree. Framed in natural, unfinished hinoki wood. The carving is unusually detailed. This architectural detail would have been built into a Japanese home usually over a door or window.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Period (earl 20th century)

Dimensions: 84 1/2" long x 17" high x 2 1/4" deep

Antique Japanese ranma (transom). Carved from sugi wood on both sides with a scene of a twisting pine tree and stalks of bamboo. Framed in black lacquered hinoki wood. This architectural detail would have been built into a Japanese home usually over a door or window.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Period (earl 20th century)

Dimensions: 65" long x 14 3/4" high x 1 1/2" deep

Antique Japanese ranma (transom). Carved from sugi wood on both sides with a scene of a blossoming plum tree and stalks of bamboo. Framed in black lacquered hinoki wood. This architectural detail would have been built into a Japanese home usually over a door or window.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Period (earl 20th century)

Dimensions: 65" long x 14 3/4" high x 1 1/2" deep

Japanese antique black and gold lacquered kanban (shop sign). Decorated with unusually beautiful calligraphy advertising cosmetics with words like 艶 tsuya "luster/gloss/sheen" and 白粉 Oshiroi which literally means "white powder"; the powder foundation worn by kabuki actors and especially by geisha and their maiko apprentices...

A large Japanese transom temple carving framed in black lacquer with gold leaf edging. Temple ranma is masterful made up of a single slab of Keyeki (zelkova) hardwood, carefully carved to reveal there central blossoming lotus flowers along scrolling vines. Original finish showing off natural patina consistent with age. Few loses that have been sorted and stabilized with old repairs done at a high level. Ready to be mounted and installed...

Antique Japanese set of 7 lotus leaves and blossoms. Carved of wood and lacquered gold. Made for a Buddhist temple altar, these leaves and blossoms symbolize the stages of the path toward enlightenment. The individual parts of the lotus are carved separately then joined in an arrangement. Sold separately or together. Each comes fitted with a custom metal stand.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: range from 35 1/2" high (including stand) to 19 1/2" high.

Antique Japanese bronze hiten (Sanskrit, apsara), celestial musician. Seated on swirling clouds, she moves her flute to her lips to play. Stylistically represented in the Indian or Southeast Asian traditional garb of bodhisattvas with high crown, elaborate pectoral jewelry and flowing drapery. The billowing clouds on which she sits have a green patina.

Age: Taisho period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 15" high x 9" wide x 7" deep

Antique Japanese bronze hiten (Sanskrit, apsara), celestial musician. She sits on swirling clouds, her drum in her lap. Stylistically represented in the Indian or Southeast Asian traditional garb of bodhisattvas with high crown, elaborate pectoral jewelry and flowing drapery. The billowing clouds on which she sits have a green patina.

Age: Taisho period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 14 1/4" high x 9 1/2" wide x 6 1/2" deep

Antique Japanese carved bamboo kakehana, wall vase for flowers. This section of bamboo has been carved with the figure of Quanyin (Kannon). The Goddess of Mercy is seen floating amidst storm clouds, ribbons of lightening streaking across the sky around her. There is a small rectangular hole in the back of the vase so it can hang from a hook or nail in the wall.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8" high x 2" wide