The title does not lie, this is one against which all others might be measured. A celebratory sake set consisting of three cups and a stand enclosed in their original lacquered wooden boxes. The cups are over the top, decorated with plum pine and bamboo in taka-maki-e gold over red replete with bits of kirigane gold and ke-uchi details. The cups are equally gorgeous on top and bottom, the design extending even inside the foot ring...

Antique Japanese gyosho bako (merchant's box) with a red-orange lacquer (negoro) finish and iron hardware with hirute shaped drawer pulls. It features three drawers on its front, two with iron lock plates, and a hinged door at its very bottom with a sideways facing handle over crossed hardware, with three extra drawers inside. Size: 34.5" height, 11" width, 16" depth

Antique Japanese small censor carved of wood and decorated with a gold maki-e lacquer design of flowers and grasses behind a bamboo garden fence. The gold lacquer stands out against a black lacquer ground. The gilt bronze lid is in the shape of a lattice work basket. Charming and detailed.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2 1/2" high x 2 3/4" wide

Natsume in dark red lacquer, decorated with autumn leaves and cherry blossoms in hiramaki-e and nashiji. Interior in black lacquer.
Maple leaves (Momiji) are celebrated in literature for their beauty. Cherry blossoms (sakura) are symbols of renewal and the ephemeral nature of beauty. Embodying the flowers and leaves typical of autumn and spring, they are true visual spectacles to be admired during walk or a picnic...

Unusual Japanese Buddhist Zushi with dark, lacquered wood exterior and gilt interior. Enshrined in this portable altar is the statue of Buddha seated on a lotus. His two attendants are sitting on a dragon and fox. The double doors and roof top are decorated with scrolling gilt metal work.

Buddhist traveling altars and shrines create a sacred space of spiritual magnetism and are the product of dedicated craftsmanship...

Antique Japanese safe box with hinged door and 3 interior drawers. The outside is beautifully decorated all over with raised gold and colored lacquer scenes of birds and morning glories, grape vines, and pomegranates on a black lacquer ground. The door opens to reveal drawers decorated with butterflies on a nashiji ground. The inside of the door, with peaches. The inside of the drawers is lacquered black...

A Japanese large wood and lacquer head of Fudō-Myō-ō. Fudō Myō-ō is the central deity in all Myō-ō groupings, and in artwork is positioned in the center...

Oni mask in dark brown patina lacquered wood with finely sculpted details. The expression of the mask, although funny, is imbued with a slight fear, creating a balance between the comical and the disturbing. The painted glass eyes add a magnetic depth. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 7 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Superb covered incense box entirely gold lacquered with decoration of bamboo leaves and wisteria in a lake environment and on a base of nashiji gold powder. The 2 parts of the box are surrounded by shibuishi (silver and copper alloy). Edo period 18/19th century. Diameter 6cm x Height 3,5cm.

An antique Japaese tray in the form of a banana leaf in green natural Urushi lacquer with its original Tomobako. Beautiful artist rendition of a folded top to the leaf that has an edge which naturally cuts up. Fully carved and lacquered both top and bottom. Age: Meiji/Taisho (1900-1920)

Dimensions: 23 1/2" Long by 10 1/2" Wide

Beautiful Japanese light colored gold guilt lacquered case with fans. There are six fans with cranes, landscape scenes, and fruit. Original brass hardware has a lovely scrolling design. The interior has two drawers below one compartment with latticed sliding doors. Mid - Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). It measures 14.5" tall by 16.5" wide by 9.5" deep.

Antique Japanese lacquer vanity box with a nishiji (sprinkled gold) background, gold lacquer painted flora including peonies and chrysanthemums, recessed side handles, four front drawers with hirute style handles. The top of the box has a lacquer stand and mirror box, with painted butterfly. Inside the box is the Original bronze mirror with flying cranes and trees. Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Size: 26.5" H, 14" W, 10.5" D

Large Antique Japanese Zushi, or portable Buddhist shrine, with black lacquer exterior decorated by large areas of metal plating embossed with intricate floral designs and double-jointed doors. The interior is gilt lacquered with emblems of mandarin orange blossoms on the top paneling, associated with the Tachibana family. Early 19th Century. Size: 33" H x 27" L x 19.5" D

An unusual Japanese circular wooden stand with black and red lacquer finish, the edges of the stand are inlaid with shell, standing on slight cabriole tripod feet.

Early 19th century Edo Period

Dimensions: 19" W x 5" H

Leather tobacco pouch (tabaco-ire), its lacquered wood pipe case decorated with a landscape and a pipe in wood, copper and silver. The pouch still contains tobacco.
Ojime in white and blue porcelain, decorated with a dragon.
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Pipe case : 8,3 in – 21 cm
Pipe : 7 in – 18 cm
Pouch: Height : 3,1in (8 cm) - Width : 5,1in (13cm)

A fine pair of matching square bowls on raised foot. Decoration: the inside, in the centre a gold takamaki-e medalion with a raised design of a couple of Reshiki stems in shakudo and hirame, on red ground, rim decorated with cloud pattern in gold on red lacquer...

An antique Japanese Katana Small Chest and Stand made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron with cat bronze hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Upper area holds 4 Katana and lower section has a locking bar with key that secures 4 small drawers where polishing tools and Katana parts were kept. Note: Katana is for example and display purposes only.

Age: Late Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 18 3/8" Wide by 14 3/4" High by 11 1/4" Deep

A quintessential 16th century design in worn gold covers all the dark surfaces of this lacquered wooden box dating from the Momoyama period. Here auspicious cranes and turtles, reported to live a thousand years, laze among pines. About the lid boaters enjoy leisure seas. Ichimonji checkerboard patterns rising diagonally up the sides alternate with garden trees, the ends decorated with wisteria and ivy. The box retains the original inner tray in festive red decorated with garden grasses...