The russet iron menpo depicts an older man's face with wrinkles and a long hair mustache (missing). The removable nose plate has small perforated holes for the insertion of horse hair for the mustache. The rivets are rendered in a plum blossom configuration, and the strap posts holder is in the form of petals and stems. The ears are pierced with plum blossoms. The yodare has four plates laced with blue, calico, and pale orange silk cords. The backside is lacquered in red for the face and black f...

Three boxes inrô in black lacquer and gold hiramaki-e, maki bokashi, kirigane and mother-of-pearl (raden) inlay depicting peasants planting rice seedlings in a rice field.
Nashi-ji lacquer interior with the inscription ソカウアン (sokauan) at the top of each boxe.
Rice is the staple food in Japan. Before the Edo period (1603-1868), it was considered a luxury food, reserved for the nobility and warrior classes.
Signed under the inrô曽幽作 (Soyû-saku), “made by Soy...

Beautiful Japanese antique fan painting of irises, painted in ink and mineral colors on paper that was once silver leaf but has worn and oxidized a beautiful sepia color, wet on wet painting technique, Rimpa School, !9 century- Late Edo/Meiji Period. Size: 21" long x 7" wide.

Small round hare in bronze with dark brown patina, standing on its four legs. In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are referred to by a single word: usagi. The animal is one of the twelve animals of the zodiac in Sino-Japanese astrology. It also plays a role in many folk tales and legends. A symbol of longevity, it is supposed to reach a fabulous age and turn blue at five hundred years. Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912) Height: 3.1 in (8.5 cm) – width: 2 in (5.5 cm) – depth: 2.6 in (7.8 c...

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

Pair of bronze rabbits running, their legs forming a round shape.

Made by Hiroharu Hiramatsu (1896 Hyôgo prefecture – 1971, Fukushima,平松宏春). Specialized in metal art, he is a councilor of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. He studied with Katsura Mitsuharu (1871-1962), one of the great metallurgists of the modern era. Selected for the first time at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition in 1934, he has been presenting his work every year, and since then he has been presenting as one...

Unusual circular russet iron jingasa, with 16 triangular riveted plates. The iron is flattened to a thin gauge for lightweight comfort. It sports a finial top and a hand mount ring to a silk cord decoration.
The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru), used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood, paper, bamboo, or leather.Kasa shares its etymology with the Japanese word for "umbrella" (which is also pronounced "kasa", but wri...

Uji is between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. The document box lid is decorated with the Hiramaki-e technique in gold and silver sprays of the Uji bridge and a cascade of Sakura blossoms on to a copper based nashiji ground. It’s complete with a black lacquer interior tray decorated in a minor composition of a riverside scene, with copper sprinkles throughout. The box interior is black lacquered with copper sprinkle...

A Japanese, Ryukyuan type, lacquer charger. Inlaid mother of pearl decoration of figures in landscape on black lacquer in the center surrounded by red lacquer. A band of black lacquer also exposed just inside the rim - also with mother of pearl inlay. The egde of the charger rubbed for that prized negoro affect of exposing the black lacquer background through an invariably worn coat of red lacquer. This sensibility in mother of pearl inlay work is typical of the Ryukyu islands (including Okinawa...

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).

Inrô of three black lacquer compartments decorated with raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) of ducks on the water or in flight on both sides. One of the faces shows four ducks (one per box) in different postures among a decoration of stylized bamboo leaves. The upper one in flight, head to the right, the second facing left and about to land, wings spread apart, the third in a resting position, head on its wing, the fourth on the water, leaning its head forward. The other side shows two ducks, one f...

Japanese Sadao Watanabe (1913 - 1996) print of the Three Saints. Attractive red background highlighting the three saints with birds sitting atop a terrace. Print # 10/70 in 1971. Print on Paper 1971 Dimensions: 27 1/2" High X 23 1/2" Wide

Japanese Sadao Watanabe print of pouring water (1913 - 1996). Striking red background with four characters pouring water. Numbered 16/70 printed in 1971. Great condition, with no rips or condition issues. 1971 Dimensions: 27 1/2" High X 23" Wide

Meiji Period Japanese Safe with Drawers and Handsome Butterfly and Floral Metalwork. 13.5h x 12.5w x 12.5d inches, 34h x 32w x 32d cm.

Japanese Sakata area keyaki kodansu, beautiful condition and original finish. Hardware includes crane and turtle symbols of happiness and longevity on largest lock. Bar hardware has family mon. Meiji Period, circa 1860s. Size: 22"H 11.25"D 22.25"L

Japanese ko tansu, or small chest, with natural finish kiri wood front drawers. The outer frame has the Akamatsu wood dramatic woodgrain in black lacquer finish and cut-out handles for carrying. The hand-forged iron lock plates are in motifs of the Mokko mon.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 22.5" x 10.5" x 10.75" H

Antique Japanese gusoku bitsu (carrying box for samurai armor). Constructed of Kiri (paulownia) wood with original red lacquer finish and black lacquer frame, its edges reinforced with hand-forged iron plates and locks. The back has shoulder straps, made of leather and braided reeds, on iron rings for carrying. A kanji inscription between the leather straps gives the previous owner's name.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 31" H x 17" x 14 1/2"

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