LARGE KATAKUCHI

Powerful and large lacquered wooden lipped bowl (for pouring sake) from Kutsuki in Shiga prefecture, Japan, so-called 'Kutsuki Katakuchi'. Refined well-used texture and presence. Meiji period (1868-1912). approx...

Japanese Shibayama inlaid oval shape Pin or Brooch, Ca. 1890-1900, Meiji period, 2" wide, 1" high, 1/4" deep, inlaid with Mother of Pearl large Flowers and Butterfly and Coral flower Buds in Persimmon Wood backing. Mother of pearl flowers and coral buds shows low and high depth of the beautiful carving, Butterfly is waiting beside them. The quality and Beauty of the Shibayama work is well known...

An antique Japanese Hibachi with Maki-E gilt lacquer and inlay in a melon shape made of kiri wood. The gilt lacquer designs are of a bird in peonies and ivy trailing around the edge. Gilt nashiji flakes and inlay add depth to the nature scene. Interior has an old patina.

Date: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 11" diameter X 8.5" tall

The Japanese Norimono Palanquin is completely covered in a rich chestnut woven bamboo. The roof has a slight curve and a section of the roof can lift up for entry. The sedan is trimmed in black lacquered wood in a double lined grid pattern contrasting with the woven material. The three outer window openings provide shade covering of reeded sudaris with black wool borders and copper mounts. The sudari is held erect with copper L-shaped hooks...

An exquisite hand-crafted Japanese cinnabar lacquered Inro with five compartments and Manju. It has a meticulously carved scene with 2 scholars or sages on one side and the other with two sages. The scholars are on a bridge surrounded by fronds in a garden setting. The Inro shows a beautiful style, the entire surface of the lacquer Inro boasts fine incised patterns incorporating various plant decors and geometric shapes...

Antique Japanese lacquer manju (netsuke toggle to be worn on obi), made in a round form of lacquered wood and intricately inlaid with tiny flakes of gold and shell. The inside is lacquered with a dense nishiji lacquer (made of tiny flecks of gold suspended in lacquer). Somada School.

Edo Period (19th century)

Dimensions: 1 5/8' wide x 3/4" high

An antique Japanese three-case Inro. The Inro is reddish brown cherry bark lacquered with a dragonfly hovering over a lotus leave and pond. The other side is a continuation of the lotus leaf motif with small gold leaf flowers. The interior has a continuation of the cherry bark surface. The Inro is signed by 'Zeshin" (Shibata Zeshin 1807-1891) with a cursive monogram. Fitted with an orange oval ojime bead.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2.25" tall X 1.5"

An antique Japanese 3 case inro with wisteria in makie lacquer. Designed with a reddish brown ground and lacquered with gold leaf. The wisteria blossoms drape from it's stem which wraps around the top of the case to end in a scroll pattern on the back side. Interior cases interiors are lacquered black.

Date: Edo /Meiji period (1603-1912)

Dimensions: 3"h x 2.5"w

An exquisite Japanese gold lacquer Inro of boat scene with five compartments. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). Underneath the bottom compartment is the artist's signature, KAJIKAWA, with red chop. Inro (seal basket) are small decorative containers that hang from the waist. They originate at the end of the 16th century and were worn by men to hold seals and herbal or other medicines...

An elegant antique Hangai Tansu made of solid quartered sawn keyaki wood with hand forged square iron handles and elaborate key. Hangai is a clothing chest used on ships. It has a single drop-fit door. Keyaki wood has a beautiful wavy natural grain, a bright and calm color and strength. This Tansu comes with a key that unlocks the chest with 2 side locks to uncover two large drawers.

Date: Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 32.5" long X 18.5" tall X 16.25" wide

An antique Japanese Kunimatsu cash register made of hinoki wood with hand painted details in red and gold, tin knobs and scrolling trim. The center has an embossed manufacturer's trademark. The exterior has a white marble ledge. Under the ledge are the numbers in red ink, 50, 10, 5 & 1's. It is a working cash register with a bell when the drawer springs open. There is a key that opens the backside to change the paper roll...

Rare item. Yazutsu (quiver) made of "koyori" which is twisted washi (Japanese handmade paper) strings. The crafts made of koyori and coated with urushi were called "Kami-Nagato" and they were popular handicrafts in Edo period, such as tabacco cases, bowls and sake containers in hyotan shape and so on. It has 15 arrows made of bamboo but feathers are worn out. The quiver is in excellent condition. The 19th century. L:94cm Diameter:7.5cm

An antique, Japanese boxwood lacquer comb with two kanzashi hair pins decorated with niello silver & mokoume-gane etched cat on gilt. The fine toothed comb is hand carved with floral motifs and a man walking over a bridge. The reverse side shows a house surrounded by mountains. Wooden combs in Japan were once believed to have shamanic qualities. Women would brush their black hair thinking that the combs would gather each strand’s spiritual energy...

A Japanese gold lacquer Inro with five compartments. A relief of a pair of silver horses dominates the landscape scene of a seaside village with drying racks of fish and pines and clouds in the background. The horses are galloping over a creek with foliage. The reverse side shows a lone horse under a fruit tree and thatched cottage. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). The cord has an agate ojime...

Japanese gold lacquer Inro with five compartments, decorated in low relief landscape scene of temple in the mountain surrounded by pines and connected by a small bridge over a river in gold lacquer...

Nagoro banana leaf tray lacquer over wood. The black lacquer shines through the red to reveal the ribs and veins of the leaf. In the literati tradition, banana leaves were used by scholar recluses as paper to write calligraphy. Later, this motif was incorporated into other forms of art making the image one of the symbols of the literati aesthetics.

Date: Tiasho circa 1920

Dimensions: 16" x 6" X 3/4"

A Japanese Contemporary Large Bamboo Sculpture made of thin strips of madake bamboo and lacquer. The artist is using an irregular, open work plaiting technique creating a kind of large cocoon shape. It can be seen from different angles and it can also be use for flower arrangements as there are openings through which a receptacle can be placed inside. But it can be admired simply as a sculpture. Made by Homura Reiryu ( b. 1970 ) from Oita prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Unsigned ( the bamboo st...

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. Traveling monks were required to have their own prayer tables and ot...