Antique Japanese bar tansu with dramatic natural Keyaki burl front hardwood. The locking bar has hand-forged iron bamboo motif plating; Its handle is a 16 petal chrysanthemum Imperial seal mon. The piece has 4 large drawers and a safe box containing 2 smaller drawers. Original condition lacquer finish.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" x 12" x 24.5" H

A charming pair of Japanese porcelain satsuma vases. The panels on each vase tell a story of ghosts and demons escaping from a woven basket. One vase shows a scene of court performers in a traditional lion dance, used to repel evil spirits. In another panel is a scene of kneeling courtesans with worrisome expression and a shrine maiden attempting to purify the area. The final panel shows a golden box, with a large clawed oni forcing the lid shut to trap the evil spirits within...

Large and only slightly distorted full cylinder shaped Tsutsu (hight is bigger than diameter) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of reddish, unrefined Mino clay with clearly visible finger marks on the wall.

The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife around the regular food ring. In the style of Seto-Kuro bowls this bowl was covered with a black glaze.

On three sides a round space was spared from black glaze...

Birds in white plumage decorate the shadowed raw clay of this vase by Miyagawa Kozan enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 21.5 cm (8-1/2 inches) tall, 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.　
The name Kozan was granted by Prince Yasui-no-Miya in 1851 in honor of the tea ware produced during the later Edo for the imperial Court by the tenth generation head of the Kyoto pottery family Miyagawa Chozo...

Pair of Japanese damascene candlesticks, the body of each with dramatic imagery of serpentine dragons and fireballs. The foliate petal rims decorated with chrysanthemums and coiling vines, and the tripod feet with auspicious objects and flowers. Both candlesticks are signed "Kuma" in gilt pigment on the base.

19th Century Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/4" x 9" H

Antique Japanese inro with three compartments, made of wood with gold lacquer and inlaid with gold flecks. One side is decorated with a pair of cranes and sprouting pines. The other side of the inro depicts an ancient turtle who carries, on his back, a large rock formation. Out of the rock sprouts a plum tree, a pine tree and bamboo - together called Sho chiku bai or "The Three Friends of Winter". The inside of each compartment is cover with dense nishji lacquer (fine gold flecks)...

Japanese pair of Buddhist attendant figures. Each figure is carved of wood and painted with mineral pigments. Fine details are painted in gold gilt. They are draped in Chinese robes with long flowing sleeves, each wearing an ornate metal headdress. One attendant holds an offering, the other, a flower scepter made of wire with glass and wooden beads. Their inlaid eyes are made of glass.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" - 11" high x 4 7/8" wide x 3 3/4" deep

From our collection of Japanese Chawan with Christian Cross design: highly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part around the foot ring.

In the style of Seto kuro bowls this Chawan was covered with a light brown glaze. On one side the sign of a Christian (Maltese) cross was left unglazed and was covered with a transparent ash glaze...

A round moon shaped Japanese kogo or incense box with sprinkled gold lacquer maki-e motif of an anthropomorphic rabbit pounding mochi. The rabbit wears a decorative robe with scrolling vine motifs. The interior of the box and foot are adorned with nashiji gold flake on black lacquer ground.

The subject comes from the tale of the rabbit who lives on the moon and prepares an elixir of immortality with a mortar and pestle similar to those used to pound mochi...

Japanese kogo, or incense container for tea ceremonies, in the form of a small bird with very fine maki-e or sprinkled gold lacquer exterior. Each feather of the bird is highly detailed in low relief maki-e lacquer. The pupils of the bird are done with very fine red lacquer for contrast. The interior of the box is finished in gold nashiji, sometimes called pear skin due to the resemblance to the Asian pear...

Japanese lacquer suzuribako or calligraphy writing box. The box is wood with lacquer, gold gilt sprinkled lacquer, and inlaid shell on the lid, adorned with scrolling leaves, floral medallions and motifs of sparrows. The box interior is red lacquer with gold lacquer patterns. The inside box contains an attached inkstone, a brush, and a small brass water dropper. Underneath is a shallow compartment for the storage of calligraphy papers...

Japanese apothecary tansu made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood in original red lacquer finish, with an iron carrying handle on its top for transportation. The chest holds 35 deep drawers with small ring pulls, each drawer bears an interior calligraphy inscription in sumi ink to indicate which medicine belongs in which drawer...

A large round Ottoman Empire hammered copper tray with verdigris patina throughout. The Qajar-themed artwork depicts various men, women, and animals. Figures are shown playing music, some on horseback in battle skirmishes or hunting with their swords, bows and arrows, and spears. The figures are shown in a repeating pattern against a floral scroll ground...

A set of three bronze macaques with fine incised detail in their faces and fur. Their postures are a highly naturalistic rendering. The underbelly of each monkey is signed by the famous bronze animalist artist, Genryusai Seiya. Perfect condition. Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: largest monkey - 4"X 2.5" X 2"
- medium monkey - 3.5" X 2.75" X 2"
- smallest monkey - 2.75" X 1.75" X 1.5"

Antique Japanese storage tansu made with all keyaki (elm) wood on the front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood on the top and sides. The upper portion of the tansu has a large compartment opened by sliding panels with wide, horizontal slats...

An unique antique Japanese tansu of hinoki wood and iron hardware. It has the original patina with 10 drawers and a large top shelf. Dates from the Edo period.

Date: 18th/19th C

Dimensions: 38" tall X 37" wide X 11.5" wide

An antique bronze Inoshishi (white-moustached pig) made by Hobundo. It features prominently in Japanese culture, where it is widely seen as a fearsome and reckless animal,Among Japanese hunters, the boar's courage and defiance is a source of admiration, and hunters and mountain people not uncommonly name their sons after the animal. The underside of the pig has a maker's mark.

Date:Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8" X 3"

Splendid well-matched pair of antique Japanese gilt bronze lanterns with incised floral pattern and tokugawa mon designs. With opening doors lined with paper for illumination. Used in temple passageways. Edo period, circa 1850s. Size: 16" H x 13" Diameter.