Antique Japanese cast iron figure of Bishamonten, chief of the Four Heavenly Kings and guardian of the north. Dressed for war, he stands on the back of an evil spirit. He holds a club in his right hand in association with his role as guardian. In his left hand, he holds a small pagoda representing the divine treasure house alluding to his association with wealth and good fortune...

Bertha Boynton Lum (1869-1954)
Kites
Date: 1912
Size: 14.375 x 8 inches.
Pencil signed and copyrighted 1913 by the artist.
Edition: "197" noted at lower right.
Reference: Gravalos/Pulin No. 29.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Wrinkle in lower margin. Paper at a back margin.
"..the wind fills them up till they look like fish" - Bertha Lum: American Printmakers, (Smithsonian)

Kanban or shop sign. The sign indicates that the store would sell or manufacture ornamental pin holders for the oars on a boat (ireko), in the shape of dolls. According to the sketch pasted to the back of the kanban, this holder is mounted on the oar and is placed over a pin mounted on the boat edge. The oar pivots around that pin, so that the oar moves the boat through the water.

The pin holders are decorated as a male and a female doll in court style, their mouths wide open...

An antique Japanese Mikawa Maneki Neko also known as a beckoning cat made of clay and natural pigments. Beautiful aged patina and natural wear over its 100 years of providing luck and happiness. With its raised left paw, it is beckoning customers, friends, family, guests and good luck for its owner...

No discussion on 20th century Kyoto ceramics can skip over the importance of the Kyoto Shi Tojiki Shiken-sho ceramics research facility at which all the luminaries studied and laid the foundation for a number of the early Living National Treasures...

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

Daruma standing tall, wrapped tightly in his garment, the tips of his feet just peeping out. This pose is associated with the episode in which Daruma travels to China, crossing the river Yangzi, while standing on a reed.
The figure was molded in a cast in two halves and joined before firing. A hole in the back functions as a vent and prevents the statue from exploding while fired in the kiln.
Stoneware with gomma...

An antique Japanese Ikebana basket in a Cornucopia open flared mouth design tapering to a four post square base. Finely woven using a two tone caramel colored split bamboo with binding weaves forming frogs and turtles. Each post has inset caterpillar weave and the base has a cross slatted split bamboo that was signed by the artist. The handle is comprised of three delicate bamboo branches each of differing sizes representing a child, an adolescent, and an adult...

A Chinese style celadon vase by one of the 5 Imperial Court Artists of Meiji. Sozan spent his life perfecting techniques for celadon production first used in the Souther Song Dynasty as evidenced here with the powdery blue “”kinuta”. The outer ring of the foot is unglazed showing the fine porcelain clay this piece is constructed from and the glazed center bears the seal of the Imperial Court Artist who fashioned this piece...

Antique Japanese ikebana basket. Woven of split bamboo in a round, footed form. The handle is made of a piece of bamboo that has been carefully curved to give the whole basket a lovely hourglass shape.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 16 1/2" high x 7 1/2" wide

1920's Japanese Aquamarine Color Silver Wires Cloisonne Vase with Iris Flowers Unsigned but Attributed to Hayashi Hachizaemon

It is 6 inches (15.2 cm) tall by 2 inches (5 cm) wide. It weighs 170.4 gram.

The metal rims and bottom are tarnished and have surface wears and scratches. It has surface wears and scratches, missing enamels at the bubbles, pitting, bubbles, and oxidized and tarnished wires (as seen in the photos)...

MUDRA OF ESOTERIC BUDDHISM

10 pieces of the practitioner’s manuscript of various hand-signs called ‘tein’ (also ‘inso’, ‘ketsuin’) as the mudra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra) of ‘mikkyo’ (Japanese Esoteric Buddhism), as the symbolic or ritual gesture or pose performed with the hands and fingers for marking each secret of various buddhas, bodhisattvas, deities, etc. Early 20th century. approx. 31 x 26cm (12.20 x 10.23in) each...

Kobako in dark brown lacquer. In imitation of bamboo, the inner part is made of bamboo and the outer part of the box is made of kaki wood. It represents the cross section of a bamboo cane node with its light brown diaphragm slightly bulging in the center of the lid and stand. External layer of the bamboo cane representing the cellulosic fibers.
Bamboo, strong, flexible and fast growing, symbolizes strength, flexibility and prosperity...

An antique Japaese tray in the form of a banana leaf in green natural Urushi lacquer with its original Tomobako. Beautiful artist rendition of a folded top to the leaf that has an edge which naturally cuts up. Fully carved and lacquered both top and bottom. Age: Meiji/Taisho (1900-1920)

Dimensions: 23 1/2" Long by 10 1/2" Wide

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) in three sections made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Two sliding doors to the top section behind which are three small drawers to the right and a split level shelf to the left...

An antique Japanese Ikebana basket made with split and large slatted bamboo and Wisteria branches for the handle and mouth. Its design is a flattened Ovid form that is almost purse-like in shape. The top of the basket is woven along the Wisteria mouth in a free-form style that undulated along the wavy movement of the mouth. The base is a raised twisted rope foot. The handle evokes an image of a mythical creature standing on both sides of the basket with other gnarly creatures sitting along t...

Antique Chinese large porcelain vase. Decorated all over with a basket texture and a pair of dragons with a flaming pearl and cloud-like mist. The body of the vase is glazed a celadon green while the dragons remain a very pale bluish white. The dragons represent the endless cycle of transformation and the flaming wish-granting pearl is one of the Eight Treasures and represents pure intention.

Age: Republic Period (1912-1949)

Dimensions: 22 1/2" high x 13" wide

Japanese ribbed melon shaped vase with tall neck decorated with five shield form panels holding dragons chasing flaming pearls below a central horizontal red ground band filled with yellow and white chrysanthemums. The decoration is set against a tan background. Green counter-enamel base and interior. Circa 1920. 6 7/8” high. From a Prescott, Arizona collection.