An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) in a rare two section design made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with full moon style locking plates and Warabite handles. Two sliding doors open to a storage area where merchant books and business records were kept. Recessed side handles on the tops of each section.

Merchant chests provided two important key elements for the store owner...

An antique Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) in 2 sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress), Kaki (Persimmon) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware with burled Keyaki door panels and drawer fronts. Unique and natural thunder bolt-like grain pattern on the Hinoki wood frame. Side horizontal supports add strength and aesthetic beauty to the tansu...

A rare an high quality Japanese Matsumoto Choba Tansu (merchant chest from the Matsumoto region of Japan) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with full moon style lock plates and Warabite handles. Recessed side handles lift open to accommodate a wood pole through each handle allowing two persons to carry the tansu from place to place...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with auspicious Paulownia leaf lock plates and Warabite handles. The original finish was done in a wiped Urushi lacquer technique for both the drawer fronts and the tansu body.

It was used in a wealthy Japanese home to store personal effects, ephemera, writing tools, and other miscellaneous sundries...

Ohara Koson
Three small birds on a twig of a red maple
Size: Approximately 17.5 x 12.5 cm. 6.75 x 4.875 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 440).
Reference: AK.18 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design.

Two silk Fukusa wrapping cloths designed and or hand painted by Kamisaka Sekka enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating from the Taisho period. The first is an emboridered wrapping cloth with patterns of flowers and grasses designed by Sekka, 13 x 14 inches (33 x 35.5 cm) in excellent condition complete with red cloth obi. For an identical piece see Kamisaka Sekka: Rimpa Master - Pioneer of Modern Design by Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art 2003 p. 103 fig 23...

This Toba-e E-maki appears to be a 19th century Gi-ga follower of the later 18th to early 19th century Osaka "Manga-ka" Nichosai (Matsudaira Heisaburo). His humorous images of Hell were quite popular, known as Kakuyu painting.　Overall the genre has many names, Gi-ga being all encompassing, Toba-e being descriptive of this particular style, and Kakuyu-fu being the style of Nichosai. It ends with a simple stamp which reads Fish (Gyo/Sakana). It is 11 by 174 inches (28 x 442 cm)...

Silver damask iron box, gold details. Japanese work of the Edo period bearing the coat of arms of the Saka-I clan. I once read that this clan was responsible for security in Edo in the 18th century (to be checked). The essential feature of this box is the finesse of the iron that makes it. The blacksmith managed to hammer a wall as thin as paper. Which is a technical feat requiring a exceptionnal mastery of iron...

Japanese kakiemon dishes late 17 ° circa 1700. Porcelain enamelled with deer. D:18 cm. In a perfect state. Very rare set of 8 to the same model. For sale individually or by several the price is for one.

Han-gappa (short jacket) made of kuzdu-fu whose wefts are kudzu fiber and warps are cotton. Kudzu is one kind of leguminous plant. The collar is made of imported wool. Han-gappa made of kudzu-fu was worn in summer and other ones with lining was for winter. The design of the straps show it was made after Tenpo era (1830∼1844）in Edo period, according to the "Kinsei Fuzoku-shi" Buttons are made of the horn of the water buffalo...

Okame standing in blue over-kimono with a sweet and cheerful facial expression. Her garment falls open a little, showing a red colored underkimono or liner, indicating her profession. Cradled in her arms is a large matsudake mushroom...

Kozuka in sentoku inlaid with silver and gold butterflies. Length 95mm. Edo period.

An antique Japanese Satsuma Jar that measures about 18" tall x 13" in diameter. The jar has the "thousand faces" design, skillfully executed in gold and raised moriage enamels. On one side is Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess, and on the other I believe it is the Immortal, Lu Tung-pin, who has the power to slay dragons and evil...

A male figure sitting in ceremonial kamishimo dress of a striped hakama (pants) and a golden kataginu (vest) over a red kimono, his head shaped like the top of an erected penis.

Soft molded earthenware, painted in cold-applied colors and gold and silver.

Japan, 1960s or earlier.

H 4 in.

Colors and metal pigments chipping, otherwise good condition. Because of the cold application, the colors are fragile and easily wash away.

Rare subject matter

A modern, elegant openwork flower basket, Hanakago, by Tanabe Chikuunsai II (1910-2000). *Material: Madake bamboo, rattan, lacquer. Hexagonal shape at the base. The weaving is made employing bamboo split in extremely thin strips. *Signed Chikuunsai zō (made by Chikuunsai) It comes with the original lacquered bamboo water receptacle Otoshi and Tomobako storage box inscribed and signed by the artist. * From the 60’s. ***Tanabe Chikuunsai II ( Ichichikusai ) (1910-2000), was son of Tanabe...

1900's Japanese Satsuma Punch Bowl Signed Shuzan with Yasuda Trading Company

It is 5.9 inches (15 cm) tall by 11.9 inches (30.2 cm) wide. It is 5.7 Lb.

It has rubbing of paint and gold, stains, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item from us and are unhappy with it for any reason, return it for a 100% refund of the amount you originally paid. All you need ...

Old (1920's) Japanese Gilt Bronze Mixed Metal Koi Fish Signed

It is 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall by 9 inches (23 cm) wide. It is 737 gram (1.6 lb).

It has surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item from us and are unhappy with it for any reason, return it for a 100% refund of the amount you originally paid. All you need to do is return the item to us within 10 days of...

A rock textured Kurinuki tokkuri compliments this guinomi selected to match by Inayoshi Osamu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The Tokkuri is 5 inches (12 cm) tall, the Guinomi 2-3/4 inches (7 cm) diameter and both are in perfect condition, enclosed in the original wooden box from the artist this summer.
Inayoshi Osamu was born in Aichi prefecture, the heart of Mino country, in 1976. He completed his initial training in the plastic arts at the Seto Pottery School in 2002, gar...