Small statue of the face of Okame. Her round, full cheeks and Heian period hairdo give her head the silhouette of a penis. Her open mouth is in the form of a stylized vagina. Shunga of sorts.
Cast bronze with dark brown patina. Good details.

H 3 x D 2.25 in.

Few casting flaws, otherwise excellent condition

This type of erotic statues are regarded as funny rather than erotic. In Japan they are called waraimono, ‘something (or someone) that makes you laugh’.

A seminal Karatsu fresh water container by master of that style Nakagawa Jinenbo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Chossen Karatsu Mizusashi. Raw earth is supplanted with rich iron into which flows curtains of black into which flows rivulets of blue. Two lug handles drape from the sides and it retains the original ceramic lid. It is 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) diameter, 17.5 cm 7 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

An antique Japanese 3 section kimono chest called Isho Biraki Tansu made entirely of Kiri (Paulwonia) wood. All original hardware and natural patina finish. Top section has two sliding doors behind which lies three small drawers and a split level shelf. The drawers and shelf front have a Kuwanoki (Mulberry) wood trim. The center section features 2 large hinged doors which house 4 kimono trays with Kura on the center shelf. The bottom section has 3 large drawers for additional storage...

Gold nuggets gleam on the deep lavender and black surface of this organic form by Inayoshi Osamu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kurinuki Kinsai Mizusashi. Kinsai is literally gold color, and here the artist has embedded gold into the surface, allowing it to expand and bubble out in the heat of the firing process. The effect of this on the dark matt surface is both striking and original...

Large octagonal bowl made of porcelain, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue. In the center of the bowl a prancing tiger before a roaring stream, looking up towards the sky. Behind him bamboo and rocks. Left of the tiger there is a three-line poem about the tiger and the third moon (May or June).

The sides are decorated with four peonies and leaves draped in arabesques; the rim decorated with a border of key-fret motif...

Kato Juemon (1894-1974) Aka Oribe Chawan with box signed by Sen Soshitsu XV Grand Master (Iemoto) of Urasenke Tea School (b.1923)

Fine Red Oribe Chawan for tea ceremony made by Kato Juemon (1894-1974).
Of irregular Kutsugata shape with unglazed foot ring.
The mark of the potter is stamped on the bottom.
Juemon Kato (1894 (Meiji 27 year) - 1974 (Showa 49year)) is a renowned Japanese ceramist...

Rectangular kobako box in ivory with inlays of stones and mother-of-pearl according to the shibayama technique to represent insects. Combining this technique and the legs painted in the hollows of the ivory, the insects stand out and are highlighted by the play of volumes, materials and contrasts. Among them, there is a cricket, a firefly, a fly, a dragonfly, a ladybug and a butterfly...

A Japanese boxwood netsuke of a Shinto priest wearing the geta and holding an umbrella with his right hand and the lantern with the other. Edo period 18th century Sizes: 7,5 x 2,5 x 2 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Sculpture of Daikoku sitting on a rice bale with a big grin on his face, spilling countless jewels (tama) from his treasure bag.
Keyaki (Paulownia) wood, carved in a slightly abstracted manner, called ittobori.
Unsigned. Mingei (folk art)
Japan, 19th century.

H ca. 11 x W 10½ in.

Tension cracks (consistent with material and age), several scuff marks, painters tape on bottom.

Daikoku is one of the seven gods of good fortune. He stands for good fortune and wealth...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) in 2 sections made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original iron hardware with a natural patina acquired over many years. Upper section has 3 drawers and lower section has 2 drawers with a removable base at the bottom. Very thick wood used throughout this chest. Side handles to each section for ease of transport.

Age: Taisho Era (1912-1920)

Dimensions: 36 3/4" Wide by 47" High by 16 3/4" Deep

Tsuba in cut iron, details inlaid in solid gold. The characters are excessively in relief, thickness of the tsuba 4.8 mm and 9.6 mm for the characters. Diameter: 76mm. Decor representing Jô and Uba with their broom and rake under a pine tree. This refers to the legend of 2 lovers who, united for life, were very happy and together became very old. They died the same day at the same time. Their spirit lives in 2 old pines, one in Sumi-Yoshi and one on the beach of Taka-Sago...

A horrifying image of a ghostly apparition accompanied by a Buddhist verse engraved into this long bamboo incense container by Ishii Matetsu. It is expertly crafted. The verse reads:
Katsu!
Dokusei Dokushi Dokko Dokurai
The literal translation sounds quite cold, but in Buddhist teaching it means: We enter the world alone; we depart it alone. Do not depend upon others for your happiness, rely upon yourself and live your life in your way to the fullest...

Graffito scrawls through the silver lining of this fine Chawan by Morino Taimei enclosed in the original signed wooden box. A single dark spot, like a phpotograhic negative of the full moon reflected in water. Outside a wavering line about the foot...

A playfully colored lidded container in the shape of a mellon by Matsuda Yuriko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Every aspect of the sculpture has been colored, from the golden stem to the glittering seeds inside It is 31 cm (I foot) tall, 17 cm diameter and in excellent condition.
Matsuda Yuriko was born in Ashiya, Hyōgō Prefecture in 1943nd lives and works in Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture. Yuriko is an avid exhibitor; it is a wonder she has time to do any work at all. Bot...

Antique Japanese surimono woodblock print by Hokkei (1780-1850) entitled "The Chomonju - Snake and Melons". A snake entwined with a tray of melons. The poem above speaks of how the snake will become a dragon which will make clouds of white cherry blossoms in the mountains. Snakes and dragons are closely associated with water. The poems alludes to a wish for rain and the blossoming of Spring.

Dimensions: Unframed: 21.2 cm x 17.7 cm. Framed: 15 1/4" x 15 1/4"

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (stacking Kimono chest) in 3 sections made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite style handles and the Uchide no Kozuchi (lucky treasure hammer) sliding door pulls. Top section includes the 2 sliding doors with 3 side by side drawers below. Opening the doors reveals a split level shelf and a small drawer for hair ornament storage. The center section has 3 full width Kimono drawers and the bottom section has 2 obi drawers a...

Beautifully plaited bamboo basket we think by Iizuka Sounsai of the famed Iizuka Family of reknown basket makers in the Taisho and Showa eras. It is not signed but exactly like the signed Kyokusho (Sounsai's art name) pc4 we have on the site. Circa 1920 – 1940. Iizuka Kyokusho was a brother of Iizuka Rokansai and Iizuka Hosai. He worked in Tokyo, and liked to work with slat bamboo. 12" tall by 10" wide. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote.

Circa 1870s-90s Japanese Hirado porcelain vase with a globular body raised on a short footrim and rising to a slender, knopped neck with everted mouth and galleried rim. Decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a falcon perched on the bole of a gnarled pine tree, a band of lappets around the foot, and the rim with a continuous key-fret border, it is in excellent condition. Measures 10.5" high x 6.5" diameter