A gun powder container (kayaku-ire) made of twisted paper string and urushi (lacquer) is painted. It is very sturdy and light-weight so that it was made to many living wares such as a bowl, a sake cup, jingasa (hat), tobacco pouch, trunk, etc. from Edo period. In excellent condition with a deer skin pouch. 19th century. W:7cm H:16.5cm

Antique Japanese gunbai, war fan belonging to a high ranking samurai officer. Made of lacquered wood with shell inlay and with 2 large cut outs. This fan would have been used to shade from the sun and to signal troops. Though this shape of fan was not used as a weapon, it could have come in very handy in battle and there are legends of samurai heroes fighting with nothing but their war fans. The art of fighting with a war fan is called tessenjutsu...

Japanese antique okimono of a group of 3 frogs. The younger frog sits on a larger frog's back while one frog is separate. Carved of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with reverse painted glass eyes.
Frogs are considered symbols of luck in Japanese culture and are used widely in poetry and art. The word for "frog" (kaeru) in Japanese also means "return" which is why small sculptures of frogs are sometimes carried by travelers as a way to make sure they return home safely from their journeys...

Antique Japanese group of 3 bronze vases. The smallest is gourd shaped, the medium vase has an hourglass shape and the tallest vase has a long neck, a round base and a reddish finish.

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 9 3/4" high, 11" high, and 12 1/4" high

Japanese antique seated gosho-ningyo doll, a boy child holding a toy in one hand, he is seated with one chubby leg in front and one in back, he wears a little silk bib embroidered with flowers, Edo Period. Size: 9" high x 11" wide x 7 1/2" deep

Japanese large seated gosho-ningyo doll, a boy child holding a silk scarf in two hands, he is seated with one chubby leg in front and one in back, he wears a little silk bib embroidered with a tortoise in gold thread, he has a hat on his head tied with a cord around his chin, Edo Period. Total size including hat: 13 1/2" high x 10" wide x 8" deep.

A cute Japanese gosho ningyo doll in the form of Ebisu, one of seven fortune gods. Handpainted detail work, red and brocaded fabric is used for the clothing of the doll. Meiji to Taisho period. Size: Length: 5.5" Width: 6" Height: 9.5".

Antique Japanese gosho ningyo doll. Called a "palace doll" as these were once given as gifts from the Emperor and Empress to young princes and princesses. These young baby dolls represent a hope for happiness and prosperity. Made of ceramic and painted with gofun (a paste made from fine itabo oyster shell powder). The gofun was applied in many layers before carving, shaping, polishing and finally painting the details on. This doll is painted with royal gold and purple robes...

Antique Japanese inro with three compartments, made of wood with gold lacquer and inlaid with gold flecks. One side is decorated with a pair of cranes and sprouting pines. The other side of the inro depicts an ancient turtle who carries, on his back, a large rock formation. Out of the rock sprouts a plum tree, a pine tree and bamboo - together called Sho chiku bai or "The Three Friends of Winter". The inside of each compartment is cover with dense nishji lacquer (fine gold flecks)...

Beautiful antique Japanese 5 piece inro (3 compartments), made of lacquered wood, raised gold lacquer with miniature scene of temples and pavilions in a mountain setting with rivers and lakes and Mt...

Japanese antique rectangular kesa or priest/monk's outer vestment cloth. This asa (hemp) kesa is a yellow/gold color and finely woven with a design of phoenixes and clouds.

Often described as a mantel or robe, the kesa is worn draped diagonally over the left shoulder and under the right armpit. It is meant as a reminder of the Buddha's own simple patched garment, kesa are formed from many fragments of the same cloth...

Japanese antique giver of joy diety elephants, Shingon and Tendai sects, made of boxwood male and female elephants-headed with human body holding another. Well-carved, with inlaid eyes, hollow body. Giver of joy and prosperity. Small restoration.

Edo Period, circa 1800s
Size: Height 4" Width 2 1/4" Depth 2"

Antique Japanese small kobako (incense box) with inside tray. The outside is decorated with a scene of a garden fence, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas and daisies in gold lacquer on a nashiji ground. The interior is covered in fine nashiji. The small tray stands on tiny feet and has a pavilion scene with twisted pines all in gold lacquer on a matching nashiji ground.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4" high x 6" wide x 4" deep.

Antique Japanese mounted carving of a group of 6 flying bats. Sculpted with detail and lacquered gold, the group moves together through the air like a small cloud. Mounted and framed in a plexiglass shadow box. Bats are symbols of prosperity and good luck. This carving was most likely part of a larger temple decoration.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: Carving alone: 9" wide. In frame: 12 1/4" wide x 9 1/4" high x 5 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese Buddhist Temple lantern made of gilt copper with a wooden interior armature and iron handle. This six sided lantern is decorated all over with ornate pierced karakusa, scrolling arabesque filigree. Both top and bottom of the lantern have six trapezoidal friezes, each with a three dimensional medallion in it's center depicting alternating crests of blossoms and Buddhist symbols. The interior is lined with it's original paper...

Antique Japanese Buddhist Temple hanging lantern, made of ornately cut copper in a scrolling motif with raised copper buddhist symbols, hexagonal shaped, inscription on top, Taisho Period. Size: 15" high x 16" wide

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

Japanese Buddhist reliquary made of gilt bronze and crystal in a miniature lotus lantern or stupa form. The sarira, or human pearls, are delicately displayed in the central portion of the reliquary through a crystal cylinder. Two types of sarira are divided between two levels, with three smaller yellowish churira on top (originating from the liver) and two larger, whitish sharira (originating from the head) on the lower shelf...