Antique Japanese lacquer suzuri bako (writing box) and matching large stationary box inspired by Korin Ogata of the Rinpa School tradition. The larger box was used for writing paper while the smaller box was used for writing implements. Inside the suzuri bako is an ink stone and a metal water dropper. Both boxes are decorated entirely with a highly raised design of blossoming cherry branches on a gold lacquer ground. Each flower is made of inlaid shell...

Kogo in Japanese lacquer urushi, decorated on maki-e with a dog playing with a fan. The interior is Nashiji. Diameter : Inches. Japan Edo (1603-1868), End of 17th, early 18th century.

Large and wide tray, in Japanese lacquer, black, gold and silver according to the techniques of hiramaki-e and takamaki-e. It offers a setting of two large rabbits in autumn grass looking at the sky, under a large silver crescent moon, on a black background. Length: 66cm x Width: 44cm. With a base. Japan Edo (1603-1868) 19th Century

Kobako – Lovely and interesting little model of rectangular urushi gold lacquer box, opening with a lid. It offers a delightful decoration in gold in mak-ie on a black background, of two pretty rabbits in a landscape of foliage. Interior and underside in nashiji lacquer. The inside of the lid is decorated with butterflies. Beautiful border in gyobu lacquer (gold flakes). Sides in fundame lacquer. Length: 8.1cm x Width: 7.4cm. Japan Edo (1603-1868) 18th century.

Kobako box decorated with stylized foliage in black and gold hiramaki-e lacquer. The motif is karakusa, a growing plant extending in all directions. It symbols prosperity and longevity. Interior is lined with a floral fabric and topped with a pewter border.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 2.5 in / 6.5 cm – width: 3.5 in / 9 cm – depth: 3 in / 7.5 cm

Pair of square-shaped hibachi made in lacquer and gold...

Box in black lacquered wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, golden details. The decor is composed of birds among plants and shrubs. The birds are very active, the one in the center tends to what appears to be a stylized egg in a nest? Probably a meaning. The designs are simple but harmonious and very elegant. The inlay work is empirical but the materials used are solide and they have stood the test of time well indeed the lacquer has not peeled off and the mother-of-pearl is still well maintained...

Sagemono complete with four-compartment lacquer inro decorated in gold and turtle taka-maki-e depicting Raijin and Fujin. Relief decoration with finely engraved turtle depicting Rajin, god of thunder, and Fujin, god of wind. The figure of Raijin is recognized as the god of thunder and lightning, he is represented as a demon, an Oni, with drums. The figure of Raijin is often associated with another deity, also connected to meteorological events, namely Fujin, the God of Wind. The inte...

An antique Japanese scholars table with inlaid mother of pearl (Raden). The top features a landscape scene with blooming Wisteria, a tree with flowers, birds, water side huts, borders and rippling waves of water. The scene is surrounded by a checkerboard design with a raised lip. Gold makie lacquer highlights the designs on a chestnut brown hardwood.

Age: Meiji Period (1870-1890)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" Wide by 7 3/4" High by 15 1/2" Deep

A rare small sized circular Hokai container with chased brass hardware decorated on the lid with a six layer 16 petal chrysanthemum, the floral symbol of the Imperial Household. The container is made of wood covered with black lacquer decorated with gold powder hira-maki-e with brass hardware. Hokai were a standard accoutrements to any household of means, however this size is quite rare. It is not the miniature version from a doll set...

A fine Japanese incense burner, made of wood with pierced gilt copper lid, the interior with copper lining. On a black lacquer ground slightly raised decoration showing a landscape with rockwork and trees in different gold lacquer techniques. Condition: please look at the photos carefully, traces of age and usage, few small lacquer losses, rim with two cracks, lid slightly distorted. Dimension: c. 8.4 cm high, c. 4.8 cm long and wide.

Kodansu in gold lacquer and mother of pearl, with silver hinges and decorated with naturalistic motifs...

Geometric designs in glimmering Raden (abalone shell) cross the surface of this intricate box by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Youko. Inside gold nashiji glistens on the mirror black surface. It is 15 x 15 x 11 cm (6 x 6 x 4-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project...

Thick hirame polished gold disks glimmer on the surface of this peach-shaped container by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Toju. The peak is tinged pink, while a green leaves embedded with kiri-gane gold wrapping up the sides. A striking work of kanshitsu (dried lacquer art) from the pinnacle of the artists career. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall, the same diameter and is in excellent condition...

A wave like form seemingly cut from stone decorated with a river of black lacquer in which flows inlayed mother of pearl and Suzuita metal strips by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 32nd National Modern Crafts Exhibition in 1993. An exciting and striking work sure to inspire conversation. It is 43 x 55 cm. The height is dependent upon how it is displayed (we currently have one side elevated to flow like a waterfall)...

A 7 tiered pagoda like Tower in red and black lacquer by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 13th Nitten National exhibition in 1981 titled Hokuto no Shirushi (Guide to the North Star). It is made of wood cores around a metal box, each “wing” covered in alternating layers of red and black with sheet suzu metal edging. On top is an acrylic panel engraved with a target finder-like symbol (guiding us North). It is roughly 60 cm (2 feet) square, 38 cm (15 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Like the layered hills of Kyoto at twilight, this vase is of Kanshitsu dry lacquer body with layers of colored Urushi by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 31 cm (just more than 12 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project...

A small wall hanging in Togidashi maki-e surrounded by a checkerboard pattern of polished Suzu-ita metal squares by Okada Yuji dating from the mid 1970s. The Togidashi technique requires the artist to create a design in Maki-e, then cover the design entirely in a layer of lacquer, polishing the lacquer through to reveal the image below...