1800's, finely hand-carved Japanese mix-materials netsuke depicting an Entertainer or Dancer, who is standing on one leg, in the middle of a theatrical performance. He is wearing an Usobuki mask and a dancer's robe. Excellent detail and patination; he grimaces as he attempts to lift the large stone. Signed Hozan on his Obi, near the ribbon that ties it on his back. Netsuke measures 1.04 inches (2.6cm) wide, and 1.56 inches (4.0cm) tall...

This is a Superb 1800's hand-carved boxwood rendering of a muscular blind masseur or Totsuka Beggar netsuke, an excellent example of this popular Japanese character, who is crouching and lifting a heavy Stone. He is wearing only a fundoshi. Outstanding detail, clever use of the materials, and patination; His left eye and teeth are inlaid with a natural material. Very nice uneven himotoshi. Signed Gyokkei in a red stained rectangular inlaid natural material reserve...

19th century finely hand-carved Japanese boxwood netsuke depicting Three Monkeys that are squatting on top of Daikoku's Hammer. Very fine detail and harmonius form characterizes this superb miniature carving. Signed Koryu on an irregular red tablet inlaid of the barrel-like mallet. It measures 1.15 inches (2.9cm) wide, 1.94 inches (4.9cm) long, and 1.20 inches (3.1cm) tall...

Kobayashi Kiyochika
Shrouded Moon Over Takanawa, Ushimachi.
From the series Famous places of Tokyo (Tokyo Meisho).
Date: 1879. This edition 1896.
Signed by the artist in black at lower left.
"Shiba" collector's seal on verso.
Publisher: Fukuda Hatsujiro (successor to Fukuda Kumajiro).
Size: Oban. Approximately 13.25 x 9.25 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good color and condition...

Asa (hemp) baby's kimono with hand-painted pine tree motif whose wefts as well as warps are hand-plied. It has se-mamori in the back which is a charm with silk threads and this one is boy's kimono as they are in the left as well as in the center (girl's one is in the right). Evils are believed to come from back in old days and it protects a baby from diseases. The second half of the 19th century. In good condition but some stains in front and holes in two belts made of thin raw silk...

A Japanese Arita deep dish, early 19th century. The dish is decorated with Ho-o birds and branches of flowering paulownia. The back with clouds and bats and a single spur mark. The Dutch refer to this palette of red and gold on white porcelain as ‘Milk & Blood’.

There is the remains of a collectors mark on the back

Approximately 20 cm diameter...

A Japanese Arita deep dish, early 19th century. The dish is decorated with Ho-o birds and branches of flowering paulownia. The back with clouds and bats and a single spur mark. The Dutch refer to this palette of red and gold on white porcelain as ‘Milk & Blood’.

There is the remains of a collectors mark on the back

Approximately 20 cm diameter...

Antique Japanese small tansu chest made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. The chest is configured with seven drawers of various sizes: 3 small drawers above 2 medium drawers above 2 large drawers. Black iron hardware includes 7 round lock plates, circular corner bracing and square drawer pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 23 1/4" high x 27" wide x 13" deep.

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

A pair of powerful Shishi guardian carvings dating from the later Edo period, 18th-19th century, in the Ah-Un expression (Exhaling and inhaling). Ah-Un has many allusions, it is the beginning and end of the alphabet, summarizing all in between, and is said to be inhaling good fortune, and exhaling bad. Glass eyes inset into very human faces. They are 10-1/2 inches (26.5 cm) tall, 9-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches (24 x 14 cm)...

Deluxe impression Edo period Japanese woodblock print depicting an actor portraying a man carrying a bucket in a scene from kabuki theater by Yoshitaki (1841-1899). Circa 1860. Exceptional color with lacquer highlights to the collar of the outer kimono. The background at the left side of the print contains fine calligraphy executed in silver. Chuban-sized print with margins evident on the top and right sides. Paper size: 9 7/8" x 7 1/8" (image measures 9 5/8" x 7")...

Japanese gifu choba tansu made with Hinoki and Sugi wood and hand-forged iron hardware including Hirute drawer pulls and plating. The sliding panels with slats open to a spacious interior. The bottom of the chest holds two drawers recessed behind a locking bar, and a safe door with two small drawers inside. Original finish.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35" L x 16 1/2" D x 37 1/4" H

Antique Japanese bronze okimono, animated in a recumbent pose. The tanuki clothed in Buddhist monk robes, curled and withdrawn for rest. A strand of prayer beads is visible out from underneath his crossed front legs. The sculpture is skillfully cast with a bronze dark russet patina, essentiated by the chasing of the hair and the smooth surface of the folds. The artist has also rendered in detail of the tanuki's paws, which is the underside of the sculpture signed "Yoshiyama".

Me...

A very large plate decorated with a kylin surrounded by panels of cranes among pine and prunus trees, separated by formal lotus flowers.

Just a tad under 41 cm diameter. No cracks, chips or restoration. Some light wear from use.

Stand not included.

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 P...

Iyashiku mo tsune areba
hisashi hisashikereba onozu kara yoi kaori wo harau
If you perservere (with proper living), the years will grant you success. This was a famous last line from a treatise written by revered Han Dynasty scholar Cui Yuan (Cui Ziyu, 78–143). These same words were famously written by Kukai (Kobodaishi 774-835) the founder of Shingon escoteric Buddhism in Japan. The calligraphic style appears to be taken directly from the Saishigyoku Zayumei, written by Kukai, o...

The Japanese bronze maker is known for its high quality and attention to detail rendered in bronze, silver, and other precious materials. The exposure to the world's fair has showcased the Japanese skilled artisan in many different styles and categories. Naturalism and realism was the template to the Western taste during the Meiji period.

This is a fine example of a great horned owl in bronze depicted in naturalism. The okimono owl is perched on a gnarled branch preening itself. The ...

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
The Ghost of Kohada Koheiji From Hyaku Monogatari (One Hundred (Ghost) Stories)
Published by Tsuruya Kiemon ca. 1833. This edition Meiji 19th century.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7.25 inches.
Condition: Very light creasing.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
This rare print depicts the murdered Kohada pulling back a mosquito net as he returns to haunt his wife and her lover.

Height: 3.8 cm (1.4 in)
Width: 5.1 cm (2.1 in)
Depth: 2.3 cm (0.9 in)

Antler bone netsuke of sea life; carved from the base of an antler; good condition