Early Meiji Maneki Neko (Beckoning Cat), believed to bring wealth and good luck, from the collection of a renowned author on and collector of Asian art. The fur is white with random black and orange patches. This tri-coloring is considered especially lucky. This belief may be related to the rarity of this coloring in the Japanese bobtail cats, after which the Maneki Neko is modeled. This coloring is called Mi-ke in Japanese, meaning three-fur. 10 inches, 25.5 cm tall.

Early Meiji Maneki Neko (Beckoning Cat), believed to bring wealth and good luck, from the collection of a renowned author on and collector of Asian art. The fur is white with random black and orange patches. This tri-coloring is considered especially lucky. This belief may be related to the rarity of this coloring in the Japanese bobtail cats, after which the Maneki Neko is modeled. This coloring is called Mi-ke in Japanese, meaning three-fur. 7.5 inches, 19 cm tall.

Landscape Oil Painting by Ryonosuke Fukui (1923-1986), purchased directly from the artist in Japan in 1962. Excellent Condition. 16.5 x 13 inches, 42 x 33 cm.

Maquette (scale model) of Faun Sculpture by Yasuhide Kobashi (born 1931), commissioned by Lincoln Kirstein for the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in its opening years. Purchased directly from the artist at the time the sculpture was first displayed in Lincoln Center in the 1960s. Signed on the Bottom of the mount...

Late 18th, Early 19th Century Edo Period Japanese Wood Horse Sculpture in a galloping pose. The horse still has a good amount of its original colors and gold gilt. It would have been offered as a gift to a Shinto shrine from someone with the means to afford more than the usual horse plaque, but not quite the means to afford to give a real horse to the shrine, a gift only the most wealthy could afford to give. A wonderfully rendered sculpture and a special image for equestrian art collectors...

White Rabbit Ceramic Sculpture by Takegawa Chikusai (1809-1882), created in his final year, 1882. Takegawa Chikusai was responsible for putting Banko Yaki, and the Banko-gama kiln (established 1829) and its home of Yokkaichi City in Mie-ken back on its feet and on the map. Banko Yaki had previously been made in the early Edo Period in Kyoto...

Very old and wonderful carved wood figure of the buddhist god Fudo Myoo, he stands with laso in one hand and sword in the other, made of wood with mineral pigments, glass eyes, metal details including sword, large and dramatic with fire nimbus, Muromachi Period, inscription on the back of nimbus says Yuwayadera (name of temple), nimbus is signed that it was restored by Minamoto Haruhisa April 16, 1560. Size: 62" high

Late 19th Century Japanese signed Noh theater Mask of Okame, the Goddess of Mirth, a very popular image in Japanese culture. A beautiful example of this type of mask done by a master carver, using Cypress wood (Hinoki) and many layers of Gofun, crushed oyster shell lacquer. A very charming and well rendered image. 8.25 inches (21cm) high x 5.25 inches (13.5) wide.

Very beautiful and detailed antique figure of Uga Benzaiten, she is carved of wood and painted with colored and gilt lacquer, she has eight arms each holding a different Buddhist objects, her elaborate crown is made of metal and includes glass beads which hang down and a torii gate which stands at the top, one of the details specific to Uga Benzaiten is the coiled snake that sits on top of her head with the head of a man, Edo Period...

Eight Part Temple Stone Pagoda or Stupa with moss lichen marks on surface,Hokyointo Type, Kansai area, Momoyama/Edo Period 16th-17th century, representing the five elements-water,earth,fire,wind,space. Size H 75" x W 25" x D 25"

Pair of Fushimi Kitsune Stone Foxes, Shinto shrine guardians have a lively and attractive appearance, red pigment to mouths. Inscription on back shows the address of the Inari Fushimi Shrine and the name of the carver...

Pair of Attendant Bodhisatvas, Edo Period, gilt over black and reddish brown lacquer. Losses. 33 inches height and 12 inches diameter.

Edo Period Kyogen Theater Karura (Garuda) Mask, donated in the 19th Century by the prominent collector, Dr. C.G. Weld to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Karura is a mythical fire-breathing bird-human creature from Buddhist-Hinduist mythology. A fine and rare example. Wood with lacquer. 8 x 6.25 inches, 20.5 x 16 cm.

Beautiful large flat keyaki root wood stand with over 6 natural holes of root on surface, beautiful graining and sculptural presence, top edge carved at perimeter with incised line and raised surface on edging. Size: 40"L 25"W 5/8" H

Pair of Inari Foxes of sculptured and fired clay with luminescent powered white glaze. In traditional Japanese art, a pair of foxes typically flank the deity Inari’s shrine image. But in modern times, images of Inari have all but disappeared, replaced instead by images of Oinari’s messenger, the magical shape-shifting fox (kitsune 狐). Here the symbolism is two-fold. First, rice is sacred in Japan, closely associated with fertility (the pregnant earth) and with sustaining life...

Fine early example of a Jomon Period Dogu Clay Figure, the earliest known Japanese figures. The Dogu acted as effigies of people. They manifested some kind of sympathetic magic. For example, it may have been believed that illnesses could be transferred into the Dogu, and then destroyed, clearing the illness, or any other misfortune. Because of the ritual destruction of Dogu, they are quite rare. This primitive abstract fertility figure has a futuristic look...

Beautiful large Japanese standing Amida Buddha, finely carved wood with red, black and gold lacquer, flowing drapery. Standing on base carved to look like rock and lotus and painted with a gold lacquer, inlaid glass eyes. Early Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Size: 42" high x 19 1/4" wide x 14 1/2" deep.

Late Edo Period Japanese Bronze Turtle. A fascinating, finely casted bronze turtle, it has a wonderful attitude. The beautifully rendered form shares the feelings of the turtle with the viewer. 14.5 inches (37cm) long, 7.5 inches (19cm) across, and 5.5 inches (14cm) high.