Japanese scroll painting of skeletons, one dancing and one playing a shamisen. Strewn over the ground are skulls and a giant gourd filled with drink. The calligraphy on the top of the scroll states that even the great sage Boddhidaruma and the beautiful Onna no Komachi are Doitsu Byodo (the same as the rest of us) when their flesh is stripped away. Komachi, known for her musical accomplishments is represented by the shamisen-paying skeleton and the dancing skeleton has hands like Daruma's fly...

A wonderful Japanese scroll painting showing one peahen strutting underneath the cascading tail feathers of a peacock, standing upon a small rock structure. Pink and red peonies bloom around the two majestic birds. Attributed to artist Tani Bunchō (1763-1841). Size: (entire scroll) 88" height, 35.25" width (artwork only) 51.5" height, 28.5" width

Japanese scroll painting of a group of scholarly skeletons. At the top of the image, three skeletons drink tea while viewing scrolls. One skeleton displays a scroll on which the artist has signed his name. Other skeletons enjoy music played on a koto while others play go, paint scrolls and make tea. Painted in sumi-e ink and light colors on paper.

Dimensions: Total size: 78 1/2" high x 26" wide (28 1/4" wide including ends). Size of art: 52" high x 20" wide

Japanese scroll painting of 3 skeletons celebrating Obon. One skeleton dances with a fan while two others pay a drum and a shamisen. The Obon festival happens in summer and is a time to honor the dead with music, dance, parades and other events. It is believed that ancestors' spirits return to the world of the living during Obon. Painted in ink and light colors on silk. Signed and with seal of Takeuchi Seiho (1864 - 1942) Seiho traveled and studied in Europe was being strongly influenced ...

Japanese scroll painting of two skeletons hard at work counting money. The calligraphy verse up top appears to be influenced by the Confucian scholar, Kameda Bosai and is sealed Gakubutsu. Below, the skeletons pour over accounting ledgers next to a large scale. This painted portion of the scroll is sealed Nisekisai. Painted in sumi-e ink on paper.

Dimensions: 81 1/2" high x 30 3/4" wide (33" wide including rollers). Size of art: 53" high x 26 3/4" wide

New Arrival

Japanese antique small and charming scroll painting and poem by Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875). The image is of a small hut with a thatched roof. The poem translates as follows:
春鳥 春寒み 榾火にねぶる 山賤の 夢おどろかす うぐひすの声

cold spring day, a worker naps, by an outdoor fire,
his dreams i...

Japanese Hand Painted scroll of a warrior in a fighting stance with sword drawn, signed by the famous print maker Yoshitoshi Mori ((1898-1992). Unusual that this is a true painting and not a woodblock print. Very Collectable Size: (total) 49" H, 19" W, (painting only) 16.5" H, 12.25" W

Antique Japanese scrol painting of a landscape with boat. The water is very still and the moon is high over a mountain in the distance. A flock of geese swoops down from the sky on the right. On the far left, an outcropping of rocks partially obscures some rural houses. A willow tree drapes itself outward over the water. With signed tomobako. Signed Tan'yu and with the seal of his given name Moninobu. Certified by Eitoku, his grandfather. Kano Tan'yu (1602-1674) was one of the foremost...

A young woman dressed in a white robe with red hakama pants is holding a folding fan and is posed to do a dance. This dress is often known as Shirabyoshi where these were sacred dances offered to the gods. The shirabyoshi figure evokes the Heian and Kamakura aesthetic and the legends contemporary to the era that portray the Shirabyoshi. Work is signed and sealed by an artist named Nanko. Age: Early 20th century. Size: height 74.25" width 22.5

Dark brown patina bronze sculpture of a monkey with shakudo eyes. Sitting, he is contemplating or examining attentively a small turtle placed on his right hand, held with care. The latter is removable. The monkey's eyes seem to be illuminated by what he is observing through the shakudo (copper alloy typically containing 3-7% gold, mainly used for its black-purple lacquer-like patina).

In Japanese art, there are many representations of monkeys (paintings, sculpture, ceram...

An amazing wood sculpture of a standing lady looking at a mirror while fixing her hair. Sculpture was done by Owa Sakunai (1894- active 1987) originally Sakunai was a farmer in Nagano and did sculpture as a hobby. Sakunai received the opportunity to study at the Academie Julian when he was 65 years old. After his study in France, he submitted many of his works to the Nihon Bijutsu-in exhibition. The work shown may have been submitted to an exhibition during the 1960s - 1970s. Age: late 20th cent...

A wooden sculpture carved from a single block of wood of kannon or kwan yin. The work takes inspiration from the 6th century image at Horyuji temple in Ikaruga, Nara. Jimbo Yutaka (1923~) is known throughout Japan for his wooden sculptures and has done numerous exhibitions. The work comes with a tomobako with the inscription of the title of the work and the artist's signature and seals. The work also contains a signature by the artist. Age: Late Showa Period (1970-1980). Size" height 20" width 4...

Polychrome lacquered wood sculpture of a tanuki dressed as a pilgrim, carrying its baby on its back. Their eyes are in horn.

The tanuki is a kind of racoon dog which is part of the yôkai (spirits) of Japanese folklore. It is endowed with magical powers: it can metamorphose and take many different forms. This spirit is a symbol of luck and prosperity. As a prankster, it beats its swollen belly with its paws like a drum, imitating the sound of a temple or inn gong to misl...

Length: 4.5 cm (1.7 in)
Height: 3.4 cm (1.4 in)
Depth: 1.6 cm (0.7 in)

Japanese seal converted to a netsuke; finely carved Foo Dog in natural material; this looks to have been converted very early; fine honey-coloured patina; good condition

A healthy round-faced, plump figured, seated boy wearing a typical high hat of boy doll figures of the period. He is also wearing a checker-patterned loincloth. His hands are positioned under his chin, where he is holding his hat ties together. The stoneware was formed with a mold (you can see the faint molding line on both sides and underneath--it is not a crack.) The surface has a natural patina from age. Age: Late 19th Century. Size: H. 10.5cm. W. Base. 7.5cm. Condition: No repairs or...

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. Size: 18 3/4" high x 10" wide x 7 1/2" deep. Size of ...

Japanese Amida Buddha statue, gold gilt over wood with inlaid crystal third eye. Seated on a lotus throne atop a hexagonal base, carved with smoke and flowers. The left hand mudra showing Varada: a gesture for granting and fulfilling all wishing as well as bestowing mercy and charity. The raised right hand is cradling a golden ball representing enlightenment and everlasting knowledge.
Overall condition is very good, consistent with age.

Early 19th century Edo period
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Japanese Seto Earthenware Tea Chaire, Tea Caddy with original Ivory Cap and Gold Foil inside, Ca. Edo Period, 1603-1868, 2 1/4" high include Ivory Cap 7/8" diameter-top rim, 1 1/4" Diameter-bottom rim, this beautiful old dark Brown glazed Tea Chaire or Tea Caddy kept original Ivory Cap, which is stained with dark brown tea between porous grains, some rough spot inside the top rim.