Original Japanese kabuki actor color woodblock print by artist Toyohara Kunichika, 1835 – 1900. Beautifully framed and matted measuring 17" x 22", the print site size is 9.75" x 13.5". Any streaking is reflection from the glass. Print does not appear to have any condition issues.

Kanban or shop sign. The sign indicates that the store would sell or manufacture ornamental pin holders for the oars on a boat (ireko), in the shape of dolls. According to the sketch pasted to the back of the kanban, this holder is mounted on the oar and is placed over a pin mounted on the boat edge. The oar pivots around that pin, so that the oar moves the boat through the water.

The pin holders are decorated as a male and a female doll in court style, their mouths wide open...

A mandala from the Main Kyoto Nichiren Sect Buddhist Temple Honnoji cut from a hardwood slab used in the rebuilding of the great hall in the Taisho period. Written on back is “Given in Taisho 14 (1925) to the temple supporter’s representative as a prayer for good fortune upon the occasion of the ceremonial raising of the roof beam of the main temple structure (Honden), the plackard cut from wood used in the rebuilding”. It is signed Nichijo-gan...

An antique Japanese Yonezawa Isho Tansu made of Kuri (Chestnut) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware. Lock plates feature the family crest of the original owner with bronze outer circular frames. The handles are of the Warabite style. Five drawers with a security hinged door that hides 2 additional drawers.

Age: Meiji period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 42 3/4" Wide by 35 3/4" High by 16 1/2" Deep

Unique Zen ink wash painting depicts scroll and bamboo broom representing Kanzan and Jittoku. Kanzan and Jittoku were Zen eccentric monks thought to have lived at a monastery on Mt. Tendai in China during the Tang period (618-907). They had a thorough knowledge of Buddhist philosophy. Kanzan often depicted holding a scroll, presumably of his poetry, while Jittoku holding a broom, indicating his position as a scullion at a monastery...

Japanese antique Zuishin dolls (Ningyo). This set of dolls are often called Daijin minister dolls but they are actually the imperial guardsmen and escorts for the Heian court (794-1185). A beautiful quality set in the perfect size to decorate Hina Goten (Imperial Palace). Meiji Period (1868-1912). Approx. 5” tall, 4 ½” in width.

An antique Japanese Zushi (portable altar) with standing Amida Buddha within. Urushi lacquer over wood. Original bronze ornamentation features a large clasp with stylized arabesque Lotus blossoms on either side and the Dharma wheel above and below. Makie lacquer crossed feathers Mon (family crest). Opening the doors of the altar reveals the Buddha in its original patina and a hand painted upper apron with lotus blossoms...

Taoism guardians known as the embodiment of Good Fortune (Fu), Prosperity (Lu), and Longevity (Shou) finely curved and kept in a Zushi, a miniature shrine decorated with gold leaf and handmade silver work. Circa 19th Century. The guardians are often kept as personal daily worship at household and decoration. Signed Shugetsu. The seal reads Hara. It is attributed to one of prominent doll make artists, first Hara Shugetsu. It is in fine condition.

Hara Shugetsu was born in Sakai in Osaka...

This lovely plum patterned chawan (umebachi) is done in a classic style known as e-Gorai (“e” meaning picture and “Gorai” meaning Korean). This classification is somewhat of a misnomer as the style is said to have first developed at China’s Cizhou kilns in early Ming—only later being widely copied and popularized in Korea. e-Goriai wares first made an appearance in Japan by way of Korea at the end of the 16th century and have been highly appreciated among tea enthusiasts to this day...

An unusual Arita porcelain tea pot styled after a cast-iron example. The textured surface is described as “nail head” when it appears on an iron tetsubin. Late 18th ~ early 19th century.

The Shibata Museum compendium has a pot of similar shape and cartouche, no nail head texture or iron dressing  but with additional cobalt decoration, item#3782.  1780~1820.

This example is approximately 17.5 cm high. The handle has a very obvious stress crack but no other problem...

The dish is shaped in the form of a folded paper letter. Unusually it is decorated with a stenciled design of what appears to be a formal pattern of lightning behind an arrangement of stylised flowers. The back is simply decorated with pine needles.

Two dishes of very similar shape are illustrated in the Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, items 2604 and 2635, dated to 1690 ~ 1730.

Approximately 14cm wide. In fine condition...

The dish is shaped in the form of a folded paper letter. Unusually it is decorated with a stenciled design of what appears to be a formal pattern of lightning behind an arrangement of stylised flowers. The back is simply decorated with pine needles.

Two dishes of very similar shape are illustrated in the Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, items 2604 and 2635, dated to 1690 ~ 1730.

Approximately 13.8cm wide. In fine condition...

An unusual Arita wall-vase, kakehana, circa 1750. The seed-shaped hollow body is moulded with trailing vines supporting a dragonfly. The painter has used two different greens, aubergine, yellow and black. The unglazed back is pierced for suspension. It is probable that this kakehana was made for the home market.

In 52 years of business I have found only two of these unusual vases, this one I kept for my collection.

Approximately 16.7cm long. Perfect condition with only a little w...

A JAPANESE EXPORT DISH, LATE 17TH CENTURY.

This fine dish is decorated with designs taken from Ming Chinese Wanli 'Kraak' wares and came about as a result of a disruption of Chinese production during a period of unrest. Dutch traders who found their Chinese trade stopped resorted to ordering from Japanese makers. The Japanese versions of these Kraak style pieces are usually thicker than the very thin Chinese Kraak wares and this has ensured their survival in often pristine condition. Thi...

A Japanese porcelain plate decorated with a dignitary beneath a parasol, attended by his servant, in a garden. The cavetto is unusually decorated with a continuous landscape, a device not often encountered on Arita porcelain. The use of linear shading is reminiscent of Chinese “Master of the Rocks” style. The back is entirely plain with four spur marks within the foot-rim. Arita, circa 1680~1700.

Approximately 21 cm diameter. Perfect condition with only a tiny piece of kiln dus...

Japanese tachi-kake or samurai's sword stand, black lacquered and rich intricate shell inlay work, with a reishi mushroom shaped finial.

Late Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 10 1/4" x 8 1/4" x 25" H

Here’s a really large Neolithic greenstone Axe from the early Funnel Beaker Culture, dating to around 4000-3500 BC.

A massive axe in hand, weighing 3,1 kg. on the kitchenweight.

The axe is made out of greenstone that was polished into the four-sidet shape. 10-12 cm from the edge, the axe ‘hollows’, indicating the place where the axe was fastened to the shaft.

A large and impressive axe measuring: 29,5 x 10 x 5 cm / 11,6 3,9 x 2 inches. The size indicates that t...

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Flying Cuckoo
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 4.625 inches. 24.8 x 11.8 cm.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto Print Works. Cat. #360 tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight creasing where publisher's original tag is attached to back. Small dash mark indentation under bird.
- Rarely seen.