One of a collection of three fantastic and rare, large Edo Period Iki masks, de-accessioned from the Musée Archéologique in Strasbourg, France during the mid-20th Century. These three are rare for their large size. They have never before been offered on the art market. The other two masks are posted on this site. Carved Poloma wood with gofun (oyster shell lacquer), glass eyes and human hair. 9 inches (23 cm) high x 8 inches (20 cm) wide.

Magnificent master work by Hirata Gōyō II (1903 - 1981) of a Bijin (young beauty). It features a wonderfully carved head and body cover with many layers of gofun oyster shell lacquer, with sumptuous brocade with gold thread wave pattern and applied chirimen silk with painted image of waves and cherry blossoms. circa 1945. 14.5 inches (37cm) tall...

A decorative black lacquer box by the Ryukyu Lacquer Ware Company, c 1920. The inside red, the knobbed lid with a carved lacquer banana plant - flowers, fruit and leaves - in colours. Stamped company mark. Diameter "3¾/ 9,7 cm. Condition: small nick to the rim of box and lid (cf. picture).

A pair of small pottery spill vases, Japan, unmarked, probably Kyoto, 1920’s. Bottle shaped, decorated with hand painted flowers and borders in olive green and black, pink, brown and blue against a cream-coloured background. Height "5/ 12,5 cm. Condition: firing crack to the foot rimof one vase, otherwise fine (cf pictures).

Hand shrine, or zushi, of the triptych type. Inside, in the middle section sits Amida Nyorai on a lotus base, flanked by Seishi and Kannon bosatsu. Inside the left panel, and inside the right panel tennin (apsara) flying over a lotus pond. Image of Western Paradise.
Sandal wood...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada), depicting a heavily tattoed actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of Omatsuri Sashichi in a scene from kabuki theater. The cartouche at the upper right holds the series and image title "Mitate Tsuki Zukushi: Musashi no Tsuki" (Collection of the Full Moon Parodied: The Moon over Musashi)...

Antique Japanese large and deeply carved ranma depicting three sages (from left to right): Le-tieguai (with the iron crutch) , Zheng si yuan (with the tiger) and Gama Sennin (with the frog). There is much of the original paint still intact. Wonderfully carved with great detail and expression. Most likely from a Shinto temple. Edo Period (18th century). Size: 27" high x 87" long x 3" deep. (very heavy!)

This scene may have been depicted from a national treasure “Hikone Byobu six panel folding screen”. The screen has been collected by the Hikone castle museum located in Shiga prefecture in Japan. The screen has been very well known for not only the quality but also as a representative masterpiece depicting the custom of the early Edo period showing early-modern Japanese history. In this painting depicts a young robust courtesan with her western puppy...

Hand shrine, or zushi, in the shape of a lotus bud, carved in two halves. On the inside, on one side the standing figure of Amida Nyorai on a lotus base, his hands in mudra. The other half of the lotus bud is decorated with a mutsume pattern (imitating a triaxial weaving) in kirikane (very thin strips of gold foil). Japan, Edo period, early 19th century.
Very light, soft wood. On the outside red lacquer, covered with leaf gold, that is partly rubbed off again...

A lovely Japanese cloisonne cosmetic box designed with flowers and gold tone flecks. It is in excellent condition and begs a new home. Measures 3.5" diameter by 2.25" high. Circa 1900

Dorrington-Ward, Carol (ed.), Fans from the east. New York: Debrett's Peerage Limited/The Viking Press 1978.
Hard cover binding with dust jacket.
Essays on fans in China (Julia Hutt), Japan (Joe Earle), Southeast Asia (Nancy Armstrong) an on Chinoiserie with 29 color plates and 79 b/w illustrations.
Dust jackets with minor abrasions (shelf wear) and covers slightly warped.

A Nihonga Scene mounted on a two panel screen of a thatched house in the winter forest, blossoms just opening on the garden trees by Takahashi Shiko (1897-1970). The scene has been created over a complete wash of white, making the crisp early spring morning real and sharp. The screen measures 74-1/2 x 67-1/2 inches (189 x 172 cm) and is in excellent condition bordered in a red lacquer frame typical of the 1920s and 30s and retains the original backing paper...

This is Japanese antique urushi Lacquer Wooden bowl 8pieces.Each fish is a design of a male and a female. It is made all by hand and is very beautiful.It has a little abrasion. However, it is in a very good state. size:12cm x h8cm (4.72" x 3.15")8pieces

An unusual decorative wooden sword (tea room sword) carved of hardwood in the shape of a dried fish signed on the belly pierced and wrapped with a faded silk chord. An excellent example of the genre it is 13-1/2 inches (34 cm) long and in fine condition.
It is said that these wooden swords were produced from the mid to late Edo period, in lieu of swords for those not allowed to carry weapons (all but samurai)...

An elegant Japanese kiseru with a wooden double gourd ojimie. We believe the pipe case and tobacco box to be made from Sakura, cherry blossom wood, (Prunus serrulata). In excellent condition, the pipe case measures 9.5" long, pipe: 7.5" long, and the tobacco box is just under 3" in diameter.

A Japanese cherry bark kiseru with a carved wood ojime. The set includes 2 pipes. There is some age related wear to the pipe case, otherwise in very good condition. Circa 1900.
Measurements;
Pouch: 2.75" high
Small pipe: about 2.75"
Pipe case: 9.75" inches long
Long Pipe: 7.5" Long

An Edo period sumi-e painting stamped Shundo-no-in on very rough silk depicting Daruma heir Kensu Osho, an eccentric Chinese beggar-monk who lived on shrimp and clams. The painting is certainly no less eccentric than its subject, unique among paintings I have seen from the Edo era. It retains the original faded border of dragon dials and lucky symbols extended with beige and features bone rollers...

This is a fine early Japanese Satsuma vase. It was made before 1900 and is one of the better examples I have seen from this artist.. The enamel work and relief dragon are done very well. The vase is interesting and has a lot of character. It is very heavy and in very good condition. The only real flaw is a broken horn on the dragon which is a common occurrence with these pieces. This can be fixed fairly easily and I could arrange for this small repair for the buyer. Stands 9 1/2 inches tall.