A Japanese shrine lantern often seen hanging outside of shinto shrines. Generally there are devotional lanterns that are donated to the shrine and lanterns that are part of the architecture and design of the shrine complex. This lantern would be the latter, where it was part of an Inari Taisha shrine. The lantern contains the distinct crest of the inari shrines and each panel is decorated with a cut out design of scrolling vines. Age: Meiji to Taisho Period...

Japanese food container, at times known as a jikiro, where food items are placed inside the container. In tea ceremony, the object is used to place sweets inside. The object is done in black lacquer with makie decorated with a motif of a peony. Inside the container is decorated with gold in the style known as Nashiji, or pear skin. Age: 20th century. Size: Diameter 8" Height 4.75"

Antique Japanese woven copper Ikebana flower basket, Meiji period, c. 1868-1912. Rich patina on whimsical flared rim form with skillfully rendered weaving. Ideal platform for dramatic floral display. Very good condition. Dimensions: 5” high x 8” at rim.

Wonderful Antique Japanese Imari two-piece flower arranger, Meiji Period c 1868-1912; the bowl with looped and reticulated border of interlocking rings, the interior decorated with blue, orange and beige fish and lilies, auspicious symbols of longevity and good fortune. The underside marked with a lucky symbol. The bowl is in good condition, some flaking on the perforated cover. No restoration or chips. The dish measures 12" diameter x 2 3/4" high.

Detailed Japanese colorful silk obi. Pre-1920. Size: 12" width x 157" length

A hand carved antique wooden mask of Tenko or the nine-tailed Kuuko, heavenly White Fox (kitsune) which do good, wrapped in a modern silk bag and enclosed in an antique black lacquered wooden box. The mask is roughly 21-1/2 x 17 x 20 cm (8-1/2 x 7 x 8 inches) and in excellent condition. A cartouche bearing the artists signature can be seen inside the black lacquer within. The Fox has many roles in Japanese Folklore...

Perfectly formed characters eschew the virtues of the scholar life and way of tea through the Gyokusen Chaka (Song of Tea) decorating this masterpiece of calligraphy and design by Miura Chikusen enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Books have been written upon the subject of this poem centering on the experience of a Tang dynasty recluse reaching Daoist enlightenment through the drinking of seven cups of tea...

Very strong and well carved wooden mask. Japan, 19th/early 20th century. H. 22 cm (34 cm including custom made stand). Good wear and patina, some missing parts to the horns.

A free-form watercolor on silk image of a dancer by Nishimura Goun inside a Kurogaki (black persimmon) frame with patterned brocade border. Who could not fall in love with this unusual expression of early twentieth century Japanese Art. She speaks of an era when a new freedom was growing in Japan, the growth of Democracy and rise of women’s rights. She dances free of care and self-consciousness, a blue ribbon tying her hair...

A spectacular set of bira-bira-kanzashi hair pins in the form of cranes among blossoming plum and pine formed of silver which come enclosed in a custom made silk-lined wooden box. Two are 13 inches (33 cm) long, the other is 9 inches (23 cm) long and all are in fine condition. According to a label inside the box they are from Akita City in Northern Japan, sold by Takeyaso Hon-ten. The box is 15 x 17 x 5 inches (38 x 43 x 13 cm). I do have more images if someone is interested.

A pair of Satsuma vases decorated with two scenes one is a scene of a group of samurai strolling around the streets of Edo and another view is a group of court nobles walking in a garden like setting. The scenes are surrounded by geometric patterns and a dragon set in a medallion form. The bottom of one vase contains the character for the number 3. Age: Taisho Period. Size: Length 3.75" Width 3.75" Height 9.5" (both vases)

A Cloisonne Enamel vase depicting two Manchurian Cranes, made in Japan for export during the Meiji period (1868-1911). Condition - there is an under rim chip and one to the body (please view enlargements 8 & 9); there are very minor losses to the enamel and there are stress cracks. There have been no repairs or restoration...

Antique Japanese tall banner for Boy's Day celebration, two mon (family crests), scene depicting a noted scene from a noh play called Takasago. The two old couples represent the wish for a couple to be together till the end. The rake represents raking in fortune and the broom for sweeping away misfortune and bad energy. A crane above and an ancient turtle below, both also symbolic of longevity. The banner is painted in mineral pigments on cotton. 190" high x 26 1/2" wide.

A simple yet artistic Seto ware jar. The jar is done in a creme base with a brown and green color drip glaze surrounding the piece. The style of glazes is reminiscent of the expressions seen Japanese earthenwares of Seto, Tanba, or Kyoto. The work contains a signature-like inscription on the bottom which reads, Sanshun. Age: 19th-20th century. Size: Height 9" Diameter 9.1"

Antique Japanese vase decorated with scroll vine motifs around the mouth of the vase and animal like figures near the mid-section of the vase. The glaze used for this piece is emulation Jun ware which was developed in the Song Dynasty in China and in Japan, Song dynasty style glazes captivated connoisseurs and tea masters. The popularity and preferences of these glaze still continue to this day. Age: 19th-20th century. Size: Height 14" Diameter 7"

Rather unusual zenibako where the fittings seen on the box are typically done in iron, the fittings of this zenibako are carved from the wooden pieces that are used for this box. The top section of the box contains the characters: Kin Senryo, or 1000 Ryo of Gold and underneath the lid is a lacquer decoration of a Tensho period gold coin. A traditional lock and key comes with the zenibako and a manju netsuke with an ojime decorated with images of mice. Age: late 19th to early 20th century...

Large Rare Japanese Clay Figure of a Young Girl playing with her pinwheel. Beautifully executed and glazed with wonderful colors, exhibiting the style of the 1920s Art Deco Period in look and form. Taisho Period. 16h x 9w x 9d inches, 40.5h x 23w x 23d cm.

Finely Painted Six-Panel Crane Screen, in various poses with leaves and flowers on a charcoal silver background. A highly styled creation of the Taisho Period. Taisho screens are very much sort after today for their unique beauty and the way that they complement a contemporary setting. Each Panel: 30h x 13w inches, 76h x 33w cm; total Dimensions: 30h x 80w inches, 76h x 203 cm.