Head of monk’s staff, Japan, Meiji period

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1920: item #865548
10554

The metal head of the staff, with some simple engraved decoration on the central shaft indicating lotus petals. The central ring has the shape of an inverted heart, from which six rings loop, three on each side. Mounted on a short wooden pole, covered with red lacquer. The staff is one of the 18 Possessions permitted to a monk. It has several uses attributed to it, among others to scare away insects and reptiles while traveling. Cast sentoku. Japan, 19th century.... Click for details

Antique Chinese Knife and Chopsticks Set

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1910: item #840544
DLL8058

Traveler's set of knife and chopsticks in a sheath. Sheath has metal fittings and sharkskin covering, chopsticks and knife handle are bone. Qing dynasty. 12" long.

Japanese Meiji Blue and White Ceramic Benki

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1900: item #805132
18-46

Salvaged from a Japanese ryokan (inn), this late Meiji blue and white ceramic benki moves easily to a second life as a handsome plant holder or fountain. Western expatriates in the Far East, particularly in Japan, have a long history of adapting utilitarian items with appealing Asian design to inventive new uses, and this is one of the most unusual items to be adapted. This benki, with its cobalt blue patterns, is recognizable as Japanese at first glance but its original use as a urinal is not a... Click for details

Large Japanese Mingei Lacquered Wood Water Bucket Pail

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1920: item #789632

Large Japanese folk art wooden water bucket of cylindrical form with a notched carrying handle lacquered in black and red and secured by bamboo bands. Early 20th century (early Showa to possibly late Taisho). 19"H x 12 3/4" diameter of bucket (13 3/4" across at top). Very good overall condition with minor losses consistent with its age. Acquired from the Arizona estate of a World War II veteran who purchased the water bucket in Japan in 1954.

Wooden phallus, Japan, 20th century

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1980: item #788531
10510

Wooden folk art carving of a giant penis. Strapped around it are red and white twisted cotton cords (imenawash) with paper strips (gohei). Japan, 20th century.
H 24.5 inches (62.2 cm).
Excellent condition.
The piece may have stood in a fertility shrine or may ... Click for details

Shop sign, oar ornament store, Japan, 19th century

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1837 VR: item #785042
10508

Kanban or shop sign. The sign indicates that the store would sell or manufacture ornamental pin holders (ireko ningyo) for the oar pin to fall into. The pin holders are decorated as a male and a female face in court style, their mouths wide open. The words ireko ningyo branded into the wooden board. On the back of the board paper label with a flying plover and the words ireko ningyo; another paper label shows the proper use of the ireko ningyo on the oar of a Japanese rowing boat. Japan, early 1... Click for details

Two kashigata, wood, Buddhist texts, Taisho period

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1930: item #773627
10507

a) Two-sided cookie mold carved with three molds with text and two with mani-design on one side, and five molds with text on the other side. Cherry wood. Japan, Taisho period. L 15 7/8 in. (40.4 cm). b) Two-sided cookie mold with five molds with text on each side. Cherry wood. Japan, Taisho period. L 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm).
a) Traces of usage (some splintering at edges and few stains), b) repaired stress crack. Both wi... Click for details

Kashigata, wood, diamond pattern, Japan, Taisho period

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1930: item #773595
10502

Cookie mold carved from a piece of wood too small for the intended size of the cakes, so one edge had to be added. Square molds with diamond patterns. A separate, tightly fit segment shapes the bottoms of the cakes. Cherry wood. Japan, Taisho period.
L ca. 16.75 in. (42.5 cm).
Some stains, thin stress crack at tip, pegged on edge (this i... Click for details

Kashigata, wood, Japan, Taisho period

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1930: item #773540
10501

Two-sided cookie mold for two different candies. One side has 10 half globular indentations to form five spherical candies. The other side has five square molds for cookies with text. Burn mark of the manufacture. Cherry wood. Japan, Taisho period.
L ca. 13.5 in. (34.2 cm)
Stress crack in the tip, abrasions at the tip, beautiful dark pat... Click for details

Kanban, cooking oil, wood, Japan, early 20th century

Japanese: Folk Art: Utilitarian Accessories Pre 1900: item #772258
10500

Shop sign or advertisement for cooking oil (abura). Front incised with characters and hiragana with advertisement for a Tokyo based company selling the oil. On the back in katakana in black inky lacquer: Meriyasu. Two iron eyes in the top for hanging. Traces of white pigment in calligraphy. Japan, early 20th century.
H 32.25 in. (81.9 cm); W 10 in. (25.4 cm). ... Click for details