A quaint hand-carved image of Minogame (a sea turtle) supports this antique bamboo pipe tap dating from the second half of the 19th century, the rich dark wood highly polished from a century of fond handling glows like satin. The turtle is a symbol of longevity in Japan, and often is depicted in celebratory situations. Here the creature has been chiseled out of a solid chunk of wood, head raised over the top of its shell...

Late Edo Period (1850-1868) Japanese Musha Ningyô (Boys Day Doll) wearing an Eboshi, a court hat and robes with crests. He is seated in a court position and has a handsomely caved face. His silk fiber hairs are tied in a top knot. This is a well executed example. 11 inches (28cm) tall. From a widely renowned and published collection that has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and Japan Society.

Japanese Musha Ningyo of Old Minister Takenouchi, Meiji Period, late 19th Century. 12.5 inches (31.75 cm) height.

Antique Japanese Musha-ningyo doll of a samurai warrior, the hero Minamoto Yoshitsune. He is seated and wears an elaborate kabuto with dragon meadate. His quiver and arrows are strapped to his back and his two swords are intact. His clothing is made of silk brocade and his armor is metal and lacquer...

Japanese antique large musha ningyo (samurai warrior doll) of the great epic hero, Minamoto no Yoshitsune. His handsome face is set in a determined expression, he is seated with sword and saihai (command baton). He wears a spiked helmut, armor and silk robe woven with dragons. Edo Period. Size: 26" high (to very tip of helmet)

Japanese Ningyo of a Mother and Child or Mary and Child. 13.25 inches (33.5 cm) height.

Japanese Oshi-e Ningyô of a High-Ranking Oiran Geisha. 12 x 8.75 inches, 30.5 x 22.25 cm. These were very popular during the Meiji Period; over 400 million dollars in sales (in current currency) was recorded in 1888. The characteristics of Matsumoto Oshi-e Ningyô are that the design is stuffed heavily with cotton and the faces are painted in Ukiyo-e (the floating world of Edo period) style. It is very rare to find old Oshi-e Ningyô in this quality and size today...

Japanese plaster and paper mache mask of a Boddhisattva (Bosatsu in Japanese), a Buddhist monk who has reached a high level of enlightenment. The mask has long earlobes, typical of a holy being in Buddhism, green lacquered hair pulled into two buns, and golden lacquer skin with traces of black lacquer. Early 20th century. Size: 8.5" height, 5" width

A fine Japanese ranma or transom with an image of a bush warbler perched on a flowering plum tree. Often bush warblers are a symbol of the coming of spring. Age: 20th century. Size: Length 73.25" Height 14.8"

Ikebana basket (hanakago) made of dark brow varnished bamboo wickerwork, elongated rounded shape, with a handle made of three varnished wooden branches. Thicker bamboo braids on the four sides. The roughness of the handle is a reminder of a raw wood and contrasts with the delicate weaving braiding of the basket.

Ikebana or Ka-do (the way of flowers) is a traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement...

Japanese Red Lacquer on Wood large Sake Barrel with stopper, Ca. 1940, 20" high to the top of the 2 side handles, 19" diameter top rim, top has cover with black Mon design with hole and stopper, all one piece of wood include high 2 handles on the side, wrapped around with red lacquered heavy twisted Bamboo ropes. Japanese Kanji character written under the top cover...

A rare sake-daru (Sake Keg) made of piled woven bamboo in combination with Japanese red lacquered pine. This tsuno-daru has two horn-like staves with inscriptions, a cross piece forming a carrying handle, and a wooden plug that pulls out. This saki barrel dates pre 1920. Sake casks such as this were prepared by sake factories to be used for special ceremonial occasions in the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. In excellent condition, it measures 21” tall and 7” in diameter.

Japanese Reed and Bamboo woven hanging Ikebana flower Basket with long handle to hang, woven with all natural material, 3 3/4" x 3 1/2" wide, 2 2 3/4" diameter-top rim-basket vase only. The condition is good.

Very large Samurai doll from the late Showa period with beautiful brocade costumes. This is a hero or musha ningyo doll for Boy’s Day (May 5th) in Japan. Some dolls are made to depict a hero or warriors from the past. This doll is a quite impressive size of 22” in height without the hat and 15” in width

Japanese Samurai Warrior in full Armor on Noma Uma Black horse, special small tough Horse in Japan on black wooden stand, Ca. 1910, 15 1/2" high with stand, Samurai on Horse Doll is 12" high, 10" x 5" wide, fully dressed with typical Samurai Warrior outfit, with brocade cloth and some metal and paper decoration on the Armor outfit. Horse and Samurai have glass eyes, one eyebrow on left side lost some thick black hair...

Antique Samurai drinking vessel with red lacquer and wooden stopper in excellent condition. The hand made cord tassels complete the set.

Dark old patina due to its age enhances its historical beauty. The sake gourd was a common attribute of the Samurai, it was traditionally attached to the waist by a cord.

In Japan, gourd or "hyotan" is a symbol of good luck or success.

Symbolic belief of gourd in Japan has existed for a long time...

Antique Samurai drinking vessel with red lacquer and wooden stopper in excellent condition. The hand made cord tassels complete the set.

Dark old patina due to its age enhances its historical beauty. The sake gourd was a common attribute of the Samurai, it was traditionally attached to the waist by a cord.

In Japan, gourd or "hyotan" is a symbol of good luck or success.

Symbolic belief of gourd in Japan has existed for a long time...

Antique Samurai drinking vessel with red lacquer and wooden stopper in excellent condition. The hand made cord tassels complete the set.

Dark old patina due to its age enhances its historical beauty. The sake gourd was a common attribute of the Samurai, it was traditionally attached to the waist by a cord.

In Japan, gourd or "hyotan" is a symbol of good luck or success.

Symbolic belief of gourd in Japan has existed for a long time...