Iyashiku mo tsune areba
hisashi hisashikereba onozu kara yoi kaori wo harau
If you perservere (with proper living), the years will grant you success. This was a famous last line from a treatise written by revered Han Dynasty scholar Cui Yuan (Cui Ziyu, 78–143). These same words were famously written by Kukai (Kobodaishi 774-835) the founder of Shingon escoteric Buddhism in Japan...

Antique Japanese inro with three compartments, made of wood with gold lacquer and inlaid with gold flecks. One side is decorated with a pair of cranes and sprouting pines. The other side of the inro depicts an ancient turtle who carries, on his back, a large rock formation. Out of the rock sprouts a plum tree, a pine tree and bamboo - together called Sho chiku bai or "The Three Friends of Winter". The inside of each compartment is cover with dense nishji lacquer (fine gold flecks)...

Japanese antique inro with one compartment, carved of wood and lacquered a very dark brown. On one side, a silvery bat flies through the air. On the other side, a fishing net hangs to dry on a fence. The fishing net is done in gold lacquer and the fence is made of shell inlay. The inside of the inro case is lacquered a deep red with gold edging.

Late Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2 1/8" high x 3" wide

A high grade Japanese Kura samurai saddle detailed in high relief lacquer. The maewa (front arched plate) and shizuwa (rear arched plate) display a lacquer relief carp climbing a waterfall motif. The maewa and shizuwa are connected by two igi (contoured side bands). The igi rest on either side of the horse's spine and serve as the under frame for the leather seat (basen or kura tsubo) and are slotted for stirrup straps (chikara-gawa or gekiso) to pass through. Mounted on custom stand...

A contemplative and artistic rendering of a lotus leaf bowl with deteriorated edges. The lotus is a symbol of purity, beauty and a metaphor in teaching Buddhism. The lotus bowl has a small frog sitting on the leaf's edge with outstretched leg. The underside of the leaf bowl has 3 characters of the artist's signature.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 9" x 8 1/2" x 1 3/4" H

Sizable Japanese Edo period Buddhist traveling shrine (zushi) with black lacquered wood case and copper metalwork. Two hinged doors open to reveal a central standing carved wood Kannon figure on a pedestal base set against a gilt ground. A round metal halo is behind his head and he wears a metal crown and neck ornament. The interior doors are painted in polychrome with Bodhisattva figures. The case measures 12” high. 19th century. The zushi is remarkably intact and stable for its age...

The size of Kogo: 2 3/4" Dia x 1 5/16" High. This is beautiful Japanese Roiro, Black Makie Kogo (incense box). It has four makie leaves design with silver, gold, red, and dark green color with gold works. Inside Kogo with silver finish. The condition of Kogo excellent, no chip, no crack and no hairline. It does not come with Tomobako, match box by artist, but we will supply wooden box. Dating from after war 1950-1960's.

A beautiful Japanese black lacquer over wood with applied mother of pearl charger featuring 2 sparrow-like birds surrounded by cherry blossoms. The branches have gold highlights and the cherry blossom buds have red lacquer accents. One small mop bud is missing, otherwise in very good condition. Measures 17 inches in diameter.

Four little red-lacquered Kamakura-bori dishes with a decorative carving of a dove. All with Hanko stamp to the back. Diameter "6 ¼ / 16.3 cm. Condition: a few minimal scratch marks.

Antique Japanese lacquer stand with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay and painted details. The top depicts a dragon floating in swirling clouds. Each cloud is a fine dusting of different colors of shell inlay. The base is decorated with a tiger near a rocky waterfall. The stand has two arching legs which end in shoulders and apron with reserves depicting kirin, a phoenix and chimera...

Japanese inro with a large standing bull, frontally positioned with head lowered and looking ahead at the viewer. From the ring in his nose is a rope leading off to the side. The reverse image is a scene, entirely in gold lacquer, of rolling hills and pine saplings in the foreground. The inro opens to reveal a compartment lacquered red on the inside with a small removable inset tray.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2 3/8" high x 3" wide

Japanese black lacquered wood stand, with shell inlay courtyard scene of scholars practicing calligraphy on a scroll, bamboo forest and other floral motifs, a butterfly, and a central figure holding an auspicious two character sign. The side panels have openwork carvings and scrolling apron. The feet all connect to a squared stretcher base.

Dimensions: 24" x 15" x 7 3/4" H

Japanese antique Shibayama inlaid horn vase, decorated with lotuses in a pond with flying cranes and song birds in shell inlay and gold maki-e lacquer. Inscribed with three characters and mounted on a wooden stand decorated w maki-e lacquer and carved design of scrolling vines.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 5/8" high

A pair of Japanese Hibachi vessels with brown lacquer.

Hibachi is a traditional Japanese heating device.

Age: Japan, Showa Period, Mid-20th Century
Size: Height 27.4 C.M. / Width 27.5 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall. Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the shipping fee.

Wisteria vines in gold and silver Maki-e lacquer decorate the natural body of this beautiful sake flask cut from a section of vine, hollowed and capped with natural wood and black lacquer, a pouring spout of brass bunged with bamboo. It is 9 inches (22 cm) tall and in fine condition, dating from the 19th century.

Antique Japanese red lacquer trunk. Hardware is made of copper and ornately incised. Papered on the inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 14" high x 24" wide x 16 1/4" deep.

Japanese Buddhist Zushi (portable shrine) with bright red lacquered wood exterior and gilt interior. Shrine with the statue of sitting Fudo Myoo, the fierce deity with his pair of attendants, is seated on a craggy outcropping. The double doors decorated scrolling gilt metal work.

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

Japanese Maki Lacquer double Cherry Blossom shape Box, Ca. Meiji 1868 - 1910, 1 5/8" high, 5 5/8" x 3 1/8" wide, low relief of double Gold and tarnished Silver design of Cherry flower pedals with multiple seeds lined up perfectly on the top, and one side shaded with silver leaf tarnished and the other side is in gold, low relief Pine trees with some shaded darker, some pure gold hidden here and there on the shaped sides, sparkled gold design inside the box and on the bottom...