Antique Japanese pair of boxwood okimono Nio. The Nio are guardians to Buddhist temples, and enforcers of physical confrontation to fight back against evil. Nio are typically placed on either side of a temple door. One statue, named Misshaku Kongo or Agyo, has an open mouth to represent the first sound in the Sanskrit language "a", symbolizing birth and overt violence...

Antique Japanese Noh performer's mask, carved, lacquered and painted, wrinkled features beautifully rendered and sensitively painted, good patina, white beard and eyebrows, mouth grip, worn circular chop on back: "_____munae", Edo Period (early 19th century). Size: 6" high x 4 3/4" wide

Japanese pair of Buddhist attendant figures. Each figure is carved of wood and painted with mineral pigments. Fine details are painted in gold gilt. They are draped in Chinese robes with long flowing sleeves, each wearing an ornate metal headdress. One attendant holds an offering, the other, a flower scepter made of wire with glass and wooden beads. Their inlaid eyes are made of glass.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" - 11" high x 4 7/8" wide x 3 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese Shinto mask in the likeness of a fox (kitsune). Carved of wood and lacquered dark brown, this mask is made with a movable lower jaw operated by a wooden mouthpiece. Most likely used during ceremonial dance associated with Shinto religion.

Japanese folk lore tell of many variations of the role of the fox including those closely related to guardians of Shinto Shrines...

Antique Japanese zushi shrine for travelers. Doors open to reveal Aizen-Myōō, one of the Wisdom Kings. Venerated in Japanese Esoteric and Vajrayana Buddhism, Aizen-Myōō is known for transforming worldly lust into spiritual awakening. In his six hands he hold attributes including a bell which calls awareness and a vajra which represents the diamond that cuts through illusion...

Antique Japanese large wood carving of a fish jumping up a waterfall. Symbolizing strength, perseverance and aspiration, the large koi moves against the raging water which crashes below in a torrent of waves. Above the falls, a calm mist swirls. On either side of the water, tufts of grass grow out of the rocks. Carved of a single enormous piece of keyaki (zelkova Japanese elm) wood and with traces of blue and green pigment. Finely carved with extraordinary movement and depth...

Okimono expertly carved from a single block of ivory depicting a hunter in the company of an Onagadori rooster. A child stands at the hunter's feet while he strokes the rooster's feathers. This okimono features the Yukiharu 之晴 signature in relief under the base within a rectangular reserve in red lacquer. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 29 x 7.5 x 6 cm. State of conservation: Very good

A wooden okimono depicting a lying horse, finely carved down to the smallest details. The muscles, hooves and mane are rendered with care and artistry, capturing the vitality of the horse in a static form. The excellent patina that envelops the okimono gives the horse a subtle shine that reveals the sculpted details with even more clarity. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 6.5 cm State of conservation: Very good

A bronze and ivory okimono depicting a street entertainer playing the shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument. The player wears a traditional kimono, rests his right foot on his box which he carries along with his umbrella on his traveling journey. It is signed Jōnan 城南 with engraving on the bronze. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji 19th century Dimensions: 21 x 20 x 15 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Antique Japanese 4 piece wood carving of Fudō Myō-ō, the center deity of the Myō-ō in Buddhist mythology. The Myō-ō are wrathful incarnations of the Five Buddhas of Wisdom. This Fudo has been wonderfully and carefully carved with a large wall of purifying flames behind him. He has large, vengeful glass eyes and wields his sword called Kurikara in his right hand, and a rope in his left with which to bind and subdue demons...

Antique Japanese wooden temple carving of a fu dog (fu lion, or shishi). Carved of keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with wonderful details including characteristic swirling fur and wide, toothy jaws, this fu dog is a powerful Shinto temple guardian. Wide eyes are made of reverse-painted glass with irises of two different colors and with pupils of varying width, adding an intensity to his expression...

A charming little okimono of three monkeys posed in the famous style known in Japanese: Sanzaru (Hear no evil, See no evil, Say no evil). Inlaid eyes, amazing detail work on the fur and the face. Signed Shugetsu. Age: Meiji Period. Size: D: 1.6" H: 2.8".

Antique Japanese wooden fish jizai, designed for hanging a pot over fire to boil. Has a long iron chain with attached hook running from the tail, through the body, and coming out of the bottom. Very detailed carving showing charring from the fire.

19th Century Meiji Period (168-1912)

Size: 8.5" tall, 15.25" long, 3.5" wide

A whimsical boxwood carving of a fisherman with look of shock on his face as an octopus crawls out of his basket and onto his head and shoulders. The extreme care and detail of this piece along with the amusing expressions make it especially wonderful. Signed by "Kogetsu". Meiji age (1868-1912) Provenance: From the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon. Size: 6" height, 3.5" width

Antique Japanese boxwood okimono carving of Shoki, the Demon Queller, commander of evil spirits and beings, shown holding onto a small demonic figure by the wrist. He is a popular figure in the household as a guardian. Intricately carved details apparent all throughout. Signature on foot reads "Sei Gyoku". Meiji period (1868-1912) Size: 6.5" H x 3.5" L x 3" D

Adorable very well excuted Japanese hardwood carving of a frog seated on top of a leaf. He is wonderfully detailed with allover chisel marks due to the hand-carved nature. Hand carved with the upmost attention to detail. The underside is signed. (Translation coming Soon). Size: 3" H x 6.25" L x 6.5" W

A diminutive carved wooden Shishi, used as architectural elements placed under the eaves of Shinto and Buddhist temples to ward off evil spirits. Carved Hinoki wood with glass reverse-painted eyes. Mounted on custom steel metal display stand.

19th Century Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8.5" x 7.5" x 4.25". Mounted on a step metal base 5 x 7".

Among popular Japanese symbolic animals are frogs. There are many species of frogs in Japan as a result of flooding rice fields in Japanese agriculture. These creatures are often used in poetry and art, and are sometimes carried by travelers to make sure they return home safely from their journeys. The word "frog" in Japanese means "return" which is why the frog is considered a Japanese lucky animal and seen as good fortune in things returning...