Extremely Rare Edo Period late 18th/early 19th Century Buraku Theater Puppet. This very large puppet was operated by three puppet masters, with an operator manipulating the head and face to create a wide variety of expressions. We think this puppet was used to portray Benkie, the 13th century warrior monk of Hieizan and trusted adviser to Yoshitsune. He wears a black velvet robe and sumptuous textiles and fiercely brandishes his nagitana weapon...

Wonderful pair of antique Japanese temple doors, made of very heavy solid keyaki (elm) wood, beautifully weathered, heavy iron hardware, back locks with single large keyaki beam, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Total size: 80" high x 80" wide x 3" thick

Antique Japanese beautiful and rare kura tansu (warehouse storage tansu), this piece would have been a status symbol and would have been used to store very important and special items, made all of thick and dramatically grained keyaki wood with panels all cut from the same section, top sides and front all have panels with mirrored grain, interior right side has 3 small drawers and interior right side has two small drawers, heavy iron hardware through out including locks on all drawers and h...

Japanese cloisonne vase decorated with two cattleya orchids set against a green ground. The interior counter enamel is black and the rims are chrome. The Ando Cloisonne Company seal is on the base rim. Measures 8 1/2" high x 4" diameter at the mouth. Dates from the Showa period (mid-20th century). Very good overall condition.

An unusual Ryoku Odoshi Ni-Mai-Do Gusoku armor of pleated horizontal plates and Armadillo scale mae-ate reminiscent of the leather covers on the front of older O-yoroi with an inscription inside the box lid attesting the armor to the property of Prince Arisugawa Taruhito. It features a black lacquered 62 plate suji kabuto with simple brass Tehen Kanamono and 6 lame shikoro with arisugawa crest on the fukigaeshi and genuine armadillo tail maedate...

Antique Japanese Funa Tansu (merchant's ship safe), made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood, heavy iron hardware including raised Chrysanthemum buds in corners and on hinges, large iron Chrysanthemum locks, sliding panel opens to 2 interior drawers, hinged door opens to 3 interior drawers, comes with 2 keys.

Mid Edo Period

Dimensions: 19" high x 21 1/4" wide x 17" deep.

Incredible highly detailed hand carved Japanese temple ranma (transom carving). Carved of a solid thick slab of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. Depicting a pair of beautiful musical apsaras (celestial beings), floating in a elaborate swirling clouds. Each figure is adorned with a head dress and whimsical flowing dress. The celestial beings are shown holding a drum and the other a flute. The transom is carved in high relief with great detail...

Beautiful and rare large Japanese futon tansu, two sections, all keyaki front with dramatic grain, top section has 4 sliding panels which open to one large compartment, bottom section has 9 drawers of various sizes, a pair of sliding panels with horizontal slats covers a compartment with two small drawers, iron hardware including hirute shaped drawer pulls, the large sliding panels have bronze pulls with a chrysanthemum motif, beautiful deep brown original lacquer finish, Meiji Period. ...

Beautiful Japanese mizuya (kitchen tansu), all keyaki front with very dramatic grain and original red-orange tranlslucent lacquer finish, 2 sections with an unusually tall top section including 4 separate compartments covered by sliders and a series of 5 small drawers; bottom section has a large compartment with 4 sliding panels and a row of 9 drawers.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 68 1/2" high x 65 1/2" wide x 17" deep

Beautiful Japanese antique chobako (merchant's safe box) made all of keyaki (elm) wood with original deep reddish-orange lacquer finish, dramatic keyaki burl wood used, extensive dove tail joinery, heavy copper hardware including elaborately cut lock plates, top portion has sliding panels that reveal 4 small drawers of different sizes, bottom portion has one larger exterior drawer and a drop in door that covers 2 more small interior drawers, has 2 keys, Edo Period. Size: 11 1/2" high x 22...

A set of 10 Hirado porcelain lidded bowls decorated in underglaze blue with mountain landscape on one half and prunus on the other. The interior has a central floral roundel and wave design on the rim. Each marked Hirado, Kasho. The original wood box, tomobako, inscribed "Hizen Hirado yaki", Kodai (ancient), Prunus, Sansui ga (oriental style painting of mountains and water). One bowl is damaged - 9 sets plus a lid. Late Meiji/Taisho period...

A Japanese earthenware hot water pourer (yuzamashi), decorated with shaped panels depicting landscapes and flowers and roundels, all on a gilt red ground, the base marked Kutani, Shoza. Dimensions: 3/ 3/16" (8cm) x 4 1/8" (10.5cm) across(from tip to tip) x 1 7/8" (4.5 cm) high. Meiji period.

Japanese Arita vase of ovoid shape decorated in underglaze blue with a continuous design of a small boat on a tranquil lake beside a large rocky outcrop, the base marked Arita kiln, with illegible artist's signature, Taisho period. Height 13"

Large Lidded Imari Bowl and cover decorated in underglazed blue with a scrolling design of leafy camellia, Meiji period. Dimensions: 9 3/4" X 5 1/2".

Beautiful Japanese large bronze trumpet shaped vase with long neck decorated with highly raised dragon and phoenix in swirling clouds, the round body of the vase is decorated with raised scenes of birds in branches, Meiji Period (1868-1912), signed on bottom: Yoshida. Size: 24" high

Edo period Kimono hang from a lacquered frame on this gorgeous two panel silver screen dating from the turn of the 19th century. Dyed on the shoulder of the Chirimen silk lavender mans kimono is the Mitsuba-Aoi, official crest of the Tokugawa Shognate indicating the original kimono was property of the family which ruled Japan for 250 years. Below is chrysanthemum flowers (symbols of Imperial Power) embroidered over patterned Rinzu Satin...

A Late 18th Century Japanese suit of armor. This suit is an example of blue laced HON KOZANE NIMAI-DO GUSOKU. Seated height of 79" to tip of feather, 18" wide at the chest an 13" deep. Comes with storage box which is also used as seat.

Japanese Early 20th Century wooden carving of adult monkey holding fruit with juvenile monkey playing below. Carved by artist, SUIUN. 18" height by 16" width by 9" depth.