Extremely rare Japanese antique usagi (rabbit or hare) mask for a Noh performance. Carved of wood and covered with gofun, a raised paste made from ground oyster shells. The surface of the usagi mask is carefully textured so that every hair is visible and some areas are polished from wear. The eyes of the hare are a pink color, similar to those of an albino snow rabbit.

Usagi is the creature most closely associated with the moon...

Japanese antique pair of zenko, good spirit kitsune (foxes) specifically associated with the goddess, Inari. These figures are carved of wood and painted with gofun, a white paste made from oyster shells. Details are painted using black and red pigments. Gold lacquered hoshi no tama, resembling flames and symbolizing magical jewels that hold part of the kitsune's power, are held by each fox on the tip of it's tail...

Lovely maiden of bronze holding basket of sea life including octopus and walking with sandals, signed with rectangular cartouche reading 誠谷作, Seiya saku. That would point to Genryūsai Seiya (源龍斎誠谷). Realistic Tokyo School bronze dating from the Meiji Period (1868-1912). With natural burl wood base.

Size: 19"H x 8" D, stand 3.5"H x 21" D

SOOTY GOD

Image of 'Hotei' (God with a potbelly who is one of the Seven Gods of Good Luck) enshrined for long years in a kamidana (household Shinto altar), Edo period (1603-1868), Japan. Made of wood but turn to be more solid like a stone due to such mature and aesthetic fumigation as is. approx...

A large pair of temple foxes carved from granite. The Inari foxes come complete with separate plinth bases. This pair of Kitsune (foxes) is finely rendered with ears pricked back, tail upright, with paws and hinds seated on its bases. The stone Imari foxes have bryophyte moss growth which is now dormant...

Antique Japanese tall and graceful lotus blossom. Made to be part of a Buddhist altar arrangement. The lotus represents enlightenment blooming from out of the mud. Carved of wood and lacquered gold. Lotus petals are carved separately and joined. Fitted with a custom metal stand.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 27" high (including stand)

Antique Japanese gracefully curling tall lotus leaf. Made to be part of a Buddhist altar arrangement. The lotus represents enlightenment blooming from out of the mud. Carved of wood and lacquered gold. Fitted with a custom metal stand.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 27 1/2" high (including stand)

Antique Japanese wide lotus leaf. Made to be part of a Buddhist altar arrangement. The lotus represents enlightenment blooming from out of the mud. Carved of wood and lacquered gold. Fitted with a custom metal stand.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 20 3/4" high (including stand)

An antique Japanese large Jizai (hearth hook) used above an Irori (fire hearth) and hung beneath the house rafter to support a rope and hook or a Jizai Kagi (adjustable hook) to hold a kettle or large teapot above the burning charcoal. Carved from one solid piece of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood, this sculpture epitomizes the true feeling of the Japanese word Mingei (folk art)...

An antique Japanese bamboo Ikebana basket in a barrel shape with dual double arm connected handle. The body is woven with multiple layered bamboo strips in a horizontal pattern which gives strength and tenacity to the piece as well as the symbolic nature of bamboo. The base is a bamboo rope foot with a star patterned bottom. Natural soot patina contrasted against chestnut brown highlights.

Early Meiji Era (1870-1880),br>
Dimensions: 17 1/2" High by 9" Diameter

Antique Japanese carved wood figure of the esoteric Guardian of Buddhism, Fudō Myō-ō. The figure is simultaneously finely detailed and charmingly primitive adding to the authentic spirit of this Shingon temple guardian.

Also called Acala Vidyarāja (Sanskrit meaning unmovable king of esoteric knowledge), Fudō (sometimes simply called Fudō san in Japan) is usually the central figure in depictions of the five Wisdom Kings (Vidyarāja, Myōō)...

Antique Japanese small and detailed wood carving of standing Buddhist attendant figure. Gracefully positioned on a rocky out cropping, the male figure, possibly a Bosatsu himself exudes a sense of calm strength. Flowing drapery is carved with movement and intricately painted with mineral colors.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 9" high x 4 1/2" wide x 3" deep.

Japanese antique small Buddhist zushi shrine in the form of a lotus blossom enclosing a tiny figure of Buddha Amitābha. Also known simply as Amida Buddha, he stands on a lotus blossom, floating on swirling clouds. His hands are in vitarka mudra, also known as Raikō gesture of welcoming souls to Paradise (Jōdō or Sukhavati in Sanskrit). Amitābha (which means Infinite or Immeasurable light) is much loved for his gentle wisdom and his all accepting nature...

Highly unusual Buddhist shrine with the image of a horse looking back. The horse has a ‘brocade’ cover over his back and is standing behind a mesh wire fence, the way they would be kept in temple compounds.

Polychromed wood with some gold details. The roof of the shrine is a separate piece and can be detached, which allows for taking apart the zushi.

Japan, Meiji period, 19th century.
Height of zushi ca...

Miniature shrine, or zushi, with figure of Bishamonten, carved in wood.
Bishamon stands on a demon that is lying on a rock. In his left hand he holds a pagoda and in the right a short staff or stick. Behind his head a gilt metal flaming mandorla. The garment of Bishamonten is decorated in gold paint, the crown and mandorla made of gilt copper.
The inside of the doors decorated with waribishi (diamond) pattern...

An antique Japanese Jizai (hearth hook) used above an Iron (fire hearth) and hung beneath the house rafter to support a rope and hook or a Jizai Kagi (adjustable hook) to hold a kettle or large teapot above the burning charcoal. The main body is carved from one solid piece of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood...

Richly decorated Buddhist shrine containing the deity Uga Benzaiten flanked by Daikoku and Bishamon and surrounded by Fifteen Children (Jugodoji), all sitting and standing on a rock formation...

Very small portable shrine, zushi. The figure of Amida Nyorai is standing on a lotus base with intricately carved curled lotus petals. His slender body covered in a finely, gold ornamented garment, his left hand pointing down in mudra, his now missing right hand would be held up in mudra, as well.

Soft wood stained dark brown, with gold painted decoration and some red.
The insides of the doors decorated in reddish brown with meandering flowers over gold foil on black lacquer.

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