A pair of Arita dishes moulded in Ko Sometsuke Kraak style decorated with a pair of scholars playing Go, one of the four accomplishments of the Chinese gentleman scholar. In which one of the pair of figures is parodied in mitate style as a proud Rooster and Hen. A short eight character poem is incorporated in the design, but is probably unrelated to the figures, reflecting the contemporary popularity of haigu combinations of painting and poetry during the late Eighteenth century...

A pair of Arita dishes moulded in Ko Sometsuke Kraak style decorated with a pair of scholars playing Go, one of the four accomplishments of the Chinese gentleman scholar. In which the first of the pair of figures is parodied in mitate style one of whom has a board on his head and one presumes losing opponent has a miserable expression...

A rare English soft paste porcelain copy of a Ko Imari Kinrande Kikugata Bowl with janome, bulls eye base. This class of porcelain in Japan is usually attributed to the late Edo period, c.1750-1780. This particular bowl is attributed to the Worcester factory in the Marshall Collection at the Ashomolean Museum, but it is now thought that these bowls were manufactured at the Derby factory...

An Imari miniature condiment set of hexagonal baluster form decorated with trailing foliage in underglaze blue, iron red and gilding. Consisting of four small ewers, three marked with A for azin, vinegar, one marked with “S” for syrup; three with plain covers, one with a perforated cover. A complete pepper pot with perforated cover, 7cm high, and a pillar form salt, 6.2cm high...

A Japanese handled mirror, e-kagami, decorated with a Hoo Bird in flight, a harbinger of Peace, combined with Waka Matsu, Young Pine, a common motif associated with the celebration with the New Year. The design can therefore be seen as symbolising a wish for a Peaceful New Year. In the right hand portion of the mirror reverse is a set of four characters reading Fujiwara Mitsunaga...

A fine large fan shaped sweetmeat dish decorated with a central motif of a wide mouthed baluster form vase flanked by a pair of rectangular shallow sand filled bronze trays, suiban, containing arrangements of Cherry, Camelia, Chrysanthemums and Pinkes...

Zushi, shrine used in Buddhist temples, containing a statue of Aizen Myoo. He sits on his typical lotus throne carried by a vase full of jewels, surrounded by a circular, red, flaming nimbus. He has six arms and on his head he wears a crown in the shape of a lion’s head flanked by two gilded sharito reliquaries. In his lower hands Aizen holds a ghanta and a bell, the secondary hands hold arrows and formerly held a bow, the upper pair of hands used to hold probably a rope and a jewel...

A high quality crisply cast Japanese mirror. The reverse of the mirror decorated in high relief with a conventionalised representation of the utopian Isle of the Immortals typical of the Edo period integrating into the design the auspicious Takasago twin branched pine tree with a pair of flying cranes and a Minogame in the left hand corner. All set against a crisp granular ground. Probably late Edo period, or possibly slightly earlier...

An 18th century Japanese Arita porcelain moulded dish, circa 1750 ~ 1780. The dish with a cavetto moulded with foliage and lotus flowers within a barbed rim. The centre sporting a fine underglaze blue ferocious dragon and pearl amongst coloured clouds. Within the foot-rim is an unusual six-character Yongzheng mark. A dish of this design is illustrated in Shibata, “Complete Catalogue of the Shibata Collection” The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, # 3359.

Approximately 21.2cm diameter...

A large Arita celadon and Blue & White porcelain dish, 18th century.

The attractive dish with a misty village and waterfall scene within a moulded celadon border. The back celadon glazed to the foot-rim which contains a six-character Chenghua mark and five neat spur marks.

Approximately 29.3 cm diameter. Perfect condition...

A Japanese Arita dish, in Kakiemon style, of rhomboid shape with rounded, spreading sides rising from a circular foot. The inside is decorated round the sides with a continuous 'classic scroll' boldly moulded in relief, and below with a design painted in pale blue, red, green, black and pale yellow enamels. The rim is glazed brown. The exterior is painted in enamels with sprays of camellia and pairs of flying birds...

A fine Japanese porcelain small tray-form dish with an upturned vertical rim decorated in the centre with a lake, waterfall and pavilion. The base with a fuki chosun mark...

A Japanese Export Imari plate decorated with a pavilion amongst flowering trees. The reverse plain with four spur marks. Arita porcelain circa 1750.

Approximately 23.5 cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

For new customers resident in China sadly I have to state that I am no longer prepared to accept payment by PayPal, I will accept payment only by bank to bank transfer in British Pounds Sterling (GBP), fees to be paid by the purchaser....

Antique Japanese zenibako, or money box, made with Kuri wood (chestnut) and Sugi wood (cedar). Features on this piece include a top hinged lid with a shallow compartment for the storage of accounting papers, cut with slots for money to be dropped into the locked drawer below it. To the left are two deeply recessed compartments. A long drawer and a safe box in front of the chest provide even more secure storage. Original condition.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 25" L ...

In 1563 the Amako of Izumi province won a victory over the Kikkawa with 33 of their adversaries wounded by Tanegashima. As a result, in the year 1567 Takeda Shingen announced that "Hereafter, guns will be the most important arms, therefore decrease the numbers of spears per unit, and have your most capable men carry guns".

Oda Nobunaga used used Tanegashima in the battle of Aregawa (1570) and again against the powerful Takeda clan in the battle of Nagashima (1575); 3000 gunners help ...

Antique Japanese chobako (small merchant's box) made with Sugi wood (cedar). Original condition. With squared iron handles on flared backplates. Two drawers are fitted with round iron locks.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 25" L x 15" D x 10.25" H

18th century consecrated Japanese dragon (Ryu) temple carving. Its serpentine body reveals his 3 appendages with classic three claw anatomy. The high relief carving engulfs the dragon in flames. The rendering of the dragon's face exudes power and compassion.
The dragon carving was part of the architectural decoration of a Buddhist temple. It has been sanctified with sutras, located in the dragon's eye during the "Eye Opening Ceremony" (Kaigen-Kuyo). The ritual of venerating an image b...

The expression of this armor, with its dragon and carp maedate transformation, sets the tone of its mythological meaning. The red armor has a Zunari Kabuto decorated with a Nichirin sun motif, which supports the dragon and carp conversion. The menpo is a Reisei-men with rabbit hair mustache, rendering a fierce warrior’s expression. The menpo is attached with four Kiritsuke yodare in blue and gold silk cords. The Renzan Dou is decorated with slivers of silver in the Ronin pattern from front to ...