A pair of Edo Period C.1860 shishi wood lion carvings. Quite playful as one looks back at the other in chase. Excellent detail in the carving and very expressive. Carved out of hinoki cypress. One shishi is missing a claw but otherwise very good condition. See photos. Each 12" long x 5" tall. Ask for shipping quote.

Japanese wooden shop sign. Well-carved with large lettering and small chop signatures in corners. Very heavy in weight. The entire sign has been hand carved down, exposing the kanji lettering. Natural design. Edo Period (circa 1800's) Size: 18" H x 76" L x 1.5" D

Pair of Japanese Meiji Period Wood Kitchen Gods, Daikoku and Ebisu. 8 inches, 20 cm and 7.5 inches, 19 cm. Daikoku, God of Earth and Agriculture, stands on bales of rice and wields his magic mallet. Ebisu, God of Ocean and Prosperity, holds a large red sea bream tucked under his arm. This fish is an ancient symbol of good luck in Japan. Daikoku and Ebisu often appear together in the Japanese kitchen...

A large unusual natural section of Japanese burl wood with dramatic twisting form on a stand. Great presence and charming qualities. Size: 44" H, 42" W, 14" D

Rare Japanese 7th Century Asuka Period Buddha of Paloma Wood. Beautiful patina and wood grain. The Asuka Period is known for its significant artistic, social, and political transformations, having their origins in the late Kofun period but largely affected by the arrival of Buddhism from China. The introduction of Buddhism marked a change in Japanese society. The Asuka period is also distinguished by the change in the name of the country from Wa to Nihon...

Japanese Edo period carved wood polychrome and gilt Buddhist figure in the form of Bishamonten, one of the Guardian Dieties of the Four Directions (representing North). A protector of the Buddhist faith, Bishamonten is clad in armor and holds a stupa believed to carry the ashes of the Buddha, and by extension, the teachings of the Buddha. He is depicted standing on a gilt base atop a lion-type creature to symbolize the subjugation of evil in the world...

A pair of Japanese wooden carvings of the Nio, or wrathful guardians to the Buddha. While Buddhism beliefs are typically pacifist, the Nio justified physical force in order to defend against evil and are usually found on either side of a temple door. The Nio called Misshaku Kongo or Agyo keeps his mouth open to represent the first sound in the Sanskrit language "a", symbolizing birth and overt violence...

Large Japanese Okimono Sculpture of Jurōjin, God of Longevity with a turtle, also a symbol of long life, and a young boy representing the beginning of life. Exquisitely carved from one piece of boxwood with a beautiful, rich patina. 15.75 inches, 40 cm. In Japan, Jurōjin is one of the Daoist Seven Gods of Fortune, or Shichifukujin. He is the God of Longevity. Jurōjin originated from the Chinese Daoist god, the Old Man of the South Pole...

Snake carved out of a natural piece of twisted keyaki (paulownia) wood, stained dark brown. Japan, Showa era, perhaps a bit earlier.

H ca. 24 in.

Excellent condition.

A man-headed snake coils atop this incredible mid Edo period (18th century) image of Benzaiten (Saraswati) inside a mountain shaped reliquary of dark wood. Inside the gilded cave she sits on a gilded lotus base. The figure holds a variety of sacred implements in her 8 hands. Riding on the benevolent figures head is the snake seated behind a Torii-shaped Crown settled between two Buddhist jewels...

A comparetivly large sized Japanese Kannon Bosatsu from the Edo Period - about 250 years old - used in Sōfuku-ji ( 崇福寺 ) Temple in Gifu and since 80 years in our collection.

It is made of premium wood and has been carved by a master craftsman. The golden colour is still vivid and shiny and looks absolutely amazing...

Wooden sculpture of an old man and woman taking a break from the rice harvest. They are sitting on an elevation. He is preparing his pipe, taking tobacco out of his tonkotsu. She is getting out a lunch box and two tea cups, while the tea kettle is at her feet. Behind them a sheaf of rice and two sickles. Perhaps a modern reference to Jo and Uba, the old couple on the island Takasago who symbolize longevity...

15th Century Japanese Gilt Wood Amida Nyorai Buddha. His hands are held in the vitarka mudra, the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching. Amida is captured here in his welcoming descent from Heaven to greet the soul of a faithful devotee at death. Images of his descent to earth illustrate the nineteenth of forty-eight vows made by Amida in a previous life, in which he promises to appear at the moment of death to all beings who devoutly desire rebirth in his paradise...

A traveling wooden shrine “zushi” or "Nenjibutsu" with enclosing a finely curved wooden sculpture of shichimen Daimyojin (Heavenly Lady from Mount Shichimen). The wooden case is decorated with red lacquer and metalwork. Some loss of lacquerer and pigments are visible, otherwise it is in good condition.

H 2 7/8” x W 1 7/8” x D 1 3/8 (H 7.0cm x W 4.5cm x D 3.2cm)

Zushi with beautiful hardware on the front; inside the figure of Yakushi Nyorai (medicine Buddha), sitting on a high lotus throne, holding the medicine jar in his left hand and with his right hand making the gesture of picking medical herbs...

Sculpture of Shomen Kongo, standing with 6 arms, holding ghanta and sword, bow and arrow, halberd and chakra. Shomen Kongo protects against demons and diseases. Wood stained black, with metal parts. Japan, Edo period, shortly after 1800.
H ca. 11 inches.
Sword missing, few traces of usage. All in all very good condition.

Small shrine holding the image of the Buddha Dainichi Nyorai, sitting on a lotus base, before a circular mandorla. Doors decorated on the inside with an exquisitely painted motif of star-shaped flowers. Wood decorated in mineral colors and gold. Very high quality. Thin metal for mandorla and crown. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
H of case ca. 5 inches.
Most of the crown missing, some traces of usage but all in all in excellent condition.

Very small shrine holding the figure of Dakiniten riding a white (or silver) fox. Dakiniten is worshiped at the Toyokawa Inari temples. The zushi is on the inside encased behind a glass pane, surrounded by painted treasure symbols. These kind of zushi are sold at the temple to the patrons and other visitors. Polychromed wood with abundant gold and silver Japan, dated Taisho 13 (1924).
H of case ca. 4 inches.
Comes with original fitted kiri-wood storage box, inscribed with the receiver...