Antique Japanese keyaki (elm) wood temple carving of a fu-dog. Beautifully carved with mane of swirling curls and mouth full of sharp teeth, this fierce guardian would have once graced the eves of a buddhist temple roof. Edo Period. With contemporary black metal stand. Size: 15 1/2" high total (10 1/2" high not including stand) x 15" wide x 7 1/2" wide.

New Arrival

Antique Japanese large onigawara roof tile end cap. This beautiful tile was made in the toukigawara method with a hollow interior. It once graced the roof of a large building, perhaps a temple or an important house. It has a raised Tomoe crest (mon) in the center which is surrounded by wonderfully three dimensional swirling clouds and topped with it's own roof. Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 20" high x 22" wide x 12 1/2" deep.

An antique Japanese bamboo brush holder decorated with multiple figures and pine tree, flower pots..etc. Superbly carved. 18/19th century. Condition: cracks and chips, please see photos for condition details. Height: 7-7/16"; diameter: 5-1/2".

Midsize Buddhist shrine, zushi, with double doors on front and back, housing a suiseki (scholar’s rock) placed on a lotus base. Zushi black lacquer on outside with brown copper hardware engraved with flowers, the roof decorated above the doors with cranes painted in black ink. Inside covered with gold lacquer, the pillars decorated with lotus petals...

Large two-door shrine holding inside the figure of Kujaku Myoo sitting on a lutus dais on the back of a peacock. Kujaku means peacock and is revered for transmuting the "poisons" of greed and anger and for eliminating karmic hindrances. The peacock (in India) eats poisonous plants and snakes and is thus thought to guard against evils from poisoning or calamity. Kujaku has four arms, holding a pomegranate, peacock feather, and either a lotus flower or a Buddha-fruit (one attribute is missing)...

Antique Japanese bronze okimono, animated in a recumbent pose. The tanuki clothed in Buddhist monk robes, curled and withdrawn for rest. A strand of prayer beads is visible out from underneath his crossed front legs. The sculpture is skillfully cast with a bronze dark russet patina, essentiated by the chasing of the hair and the smooth surface of the folds...

Japanese pair of finely cast bronze Nio Buddhist temple guardians. Dressed in traditional robes with auspicious motifs. Each figure stands on a four legged base with cartouche impression underneath.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

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

Japanese antique large censer depicting the fisherman Urashima Taro from the fairy tale, Otogi Banashi. In the story, the fisherman discovers some children on the beach toying with a turtle. Urashima Taro buys the turtle from them and sets him free. The turtle grows in size and carries Urashima Taro down beneath the sea to the Dragon Palace (Ryugu-jo) where he is met and thanked by the Princess Otohime. After a few days, Urashima Taro decides to return to the world above the sea...

Japanese bronze vase with fine, inlay cranes in silver and copper. The vase form has a short mouth and dramatic tapered body to the platform foot. The reverse side of the vase has a commemorative inscription and the base with artist's cartouche.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

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

Japanese Amida Buddha statue, gold gilt over wood with inlaid crystal third eye. Seated on a lotus throne atop a hexagonal base, carved with smoke and flowers. The left hand mudra showing Varada: a gesture for granting and fulfilling all wishing as well as bestowing mercy and charity. The raised right hand is cradling a golden ball representing enlightenment and everlasting knowledge...

First of its kind we have seen with a carving on the table top. A kannon , goddess of mercy is riding a dragon carved into the top and lacquered. Exceptional. Copper metal fittings. Some wear as expected with this age c. 1850. Ask for shipping quote.

A Japanese Painted wood statue of Kannon Bosatsu. 19th century. Condition: small chips and age cracks, please refer to photos for condition detail, addition photos will be provide upon request. Height: 9-7/8". Weight: 46 OZ, heavy for a wood statue at this size. Provenance: Former collection of retired Professor D. Gibbs of University of California

A very interesting and well-carved figure-group (okimono) on a fitted base depicting the ox-herding boy and his ox loaded with fire wood in naturalistic style. The head, hands, feet of the body as well as the leash and the bundle of fire wood carried by the ox have been made from tinted ivory, as has the plaque with the artist’s name. The rest of the group has been made from a dense type and beautifully veined Oriental wood...

Stunning original 17th century Japanese Amida Buddha statue, gold gilt over wood with inlaid crystal on his third eye and his crown chakra. He stands on an open lotus pedestal atop a circular step base, his hands performing the virtaka mudras. Behind him is a canopy of lingzhi smoke and 7 boddhisatvas seated in the heavens...

A Japanese wood carving of a seated figure, probably the poet Matsuo Basho (1644~1694), the most famous poet of the Edo period. 19th century or earlier. Fine old patina.

Approximately 14.5 cm high...

A pair of antique Japanese folding keyaki doors with iron mounts. The door is constructed with mortise and tenon joints. The panels are divided into 7 parts framed with carved decoration and hinged with iron mounts. The carved decoration is finely painted with polychrome mineral pigment with gold gilt accents. The subject matter of the temple doors is a scrolling lotus motif and 8 phoenixes.
The phoenix represents power sent from the heavens to the Empress...

Sublime ceramic Kannon statue of old Kutani-yaki made by one of the greatest potters, Aoki Mokubei. The statue is 200 years old and in great antique condition with only a small repair on the right hand with transparent lacquer and only one! tiny spot with peeling of glaze. The all over glaze is spectacular.

Aoki Mokubei (1767-1833 ) was born in the Gion district of Kyoto as Aoki Sahei...

Length of first: 10.1 cm (4 in)
Height: 2.7 cm (1.1 in)
Depth: 5 cm (2 in)
Length of second: 8.5 cm (3.4 in)
Height: 2.3 cm (0.9 in)
Depth: 4.3 cm (1.8 in)

Quality Japanese pair of bronze turtle okimonos; finely modelled throughout; Meiji Period; both signed by the same artist; one missing the tip of its tail; good condition