A beautiful stand mounted Japanese architectural (corbal) carving of ocean waves. One of this detail and design would have been built into the architecture of a temple. The carving is highly stylized with large openwork areas. The Keyaki (zelkova) woodgrain is visible on the reverse of the carving. Mounted on black iron plates.

Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 32" L x 3 1/2" D x 17 1/4" H, 13" H carving only

Natural Japanese burl wood stand with dramatic, long gnarling root legs and wide, flat base. Hardwood with beautiful grain.

Size: 15" L x 11" W x 6" H

Antique Japanese natural burl wood stand. The gnarled roots twisting with knotholes cascade down the sides of the stand, the bottom appearing to have animal feet. The tabletop of the stand with dark lacquer finish.

Showa Period

Dimensions: 22" x 16" x 23 1/2" H

Japanese Noh theater Ko-omote (young lady) mask. Beautifully carved out of wood and delicately painted with the rounded features and slight smile of a young lady. She has the shaved eyebrows which have been stylized and darkened up high on her forehead and the delicate blackened teeth of an upper class woman. Caved mark on the back. Showa Period (1926-1945). Size: 8 1/4" high x 5 1/4" wide.

An exquisite image of an emaciated man, the prominent bones about the eyes softly glowing pale white over the hollow cheeks. The mask is of the Yase-otoko type, and is signed on the back by the maker Iwasaki Hisahito in a carved seal above the eye. Superb craftsmanship!
Iwasaki Hisahito is a well known Mask carver currently 78 years old and still going. He was born in Oita prefecture, but moved to Nagoya then Yokohama at a youthful age...

Japanese noh theater mask of a woman, carved with pierced eyes, mouth, and nostrils for the wearer, as well as two pierced holes at the temples to be secured against one's head. Lacquered in flesh tone, black hair and blackened teeth and eyes, red lips, and black lacquer interior. With kiri (paulownia) tomobako, inscribed with the name "Zouonna".

Size: 5.5" L x 3" D x 8" H

Beautiful Japanese carved Noh theater mask of Zo-onna (beautiful woman). Carved out of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood and painted with seashell and natural pigments. This mask is masterfully carved and painted with subtle detail like her very slight smile and the small dimple just above her chin. The mask is signed and has it's original tomobako (also with the same signature).

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Size: 8 1/4" long x 5 1/4" wide

Antique Japanese Noh mask of the character Okame, a young moon faced woman, pleasant rounded features and smile with blackened teeth, very beautifully worn lacquered and painted kiri wood, remnants of old mouth piece on back, Edo Period. Size: 8" high

Height: 14.5 cm (5.8 in)
Width: 5.4 cm (2.2 in)
Depth: 3.2 cm (1.4 in)

Japanese okimono of Benzaiten carrying her biwa; natural material; fine carving; signed to the base; good condition

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

Antique Japanese pair of wonderful Koma Inu shrine guardian fu-dogs, carved from keyaki (elm) wood. Traces of painted details in green, white and brown. Expressively carved with great curling manes and tails. One of the fu-dogs has a single horn on top of it's head. Edo Period. Size of taller fu-dog: 19" high x 9" wide x 16" deep. Size of fu-dog without horn: 17 1/2" high x 9" wide x 16" deep.

Pair of Japanese antique hibachis. Round in form and carved to appear as if made of woven basketry. Spilling over the rims and made to look as though bursting forth from holes in the baskets are plump clusters of grapes, vines and leaves. The "basket" portion of the hibachis is lacquered a deep red while vines and leaves are lacquer a dark green. The grapes a lacquered a deep red. There are metal inserts for coals and ashes...

Wonderful wooden pipe case and tobacco pouch. The pipe case contains the original pipe, made of paktong and bamboo. The pouch in the shape of Daruma,made of softwood and boxwood with inlaid mother of pearl eyes. Dimensions: pipe case L. 23 cm, the pouch H. 10,5 cm, W. 7 cm. Condition: excellent. Age: Late Edo, first half 19th century.

A unique Japanese kanban (shop sign) in the shaped of a pipe, with gilt kanji. It hangs from a length of iron chain. A very fun and attractive piece. Vintage age c1950 Size: 8" height (17.5" hanging) 26.5" length

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...

A magnificent and detailed noh mask known as Shojo, which is used specifically for the play that contains the same name as the mask. Shojo originated in China as a mythical beast and was imported to Japan as a sake loving creature. In Noh theater, the play is performed for festive and auspicious occassions where the character is dressed in a colorful noh costume and wearing a red wig. Depending on the school of Noh, a jar with a ladle at times are used for the performance...

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

A Japanese Mokugyo wooden temple bell, carved from kusunoki (camphor) wood in the form of a lifelike human skull. Used to accompany chants (sutras) in Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies. The base of the skull is signed "Bononshi", with matching tomobako.

Dimensions: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" x 4 1/2" H