There is no visible image of god in Japan's oldest religion, “Shinto”. People look for the image of gods in their daily surroundings and found the divine spirits to dwell in pine trees. For this reason, pine trees are considered sacred and many wonderful artworks of pine trees were created. Cranes are said to live one thousand years. They are considered auspicious as their distinctive high pitched voices can reach to the heaven...

Unusual Edo period safe box, 1800-1850. Original hardware and finish. Kiri leaf design on hardware with mon character, original hand forged hardware. Number 18 on front of box. Box made to be carried there is an inset handle on the back of the box. It measures 20" long by 6.25" wide by 8" tall.

Antique Japanese 2 section Soma isho tansu from the Northern Honshu area, beautiful keyaki (elm) wood on front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame, deep red translucent lacquer finish, iron hardware with incised warabite shaped drawer pulls and very large round chrysanthemum shaped lock plates, safe box in lower right hand corner with 2 small interior drawers, safe box has key, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 44" high x 45 1/2" wide x 18" deep

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), keyaki (elm) wood front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame, 2 drawers on top, 6 drawers of various sizes on bottom portion, middle portion has sliding panels with horizontal slats of keyaki wood with sugi wood panels, behind sliding panel on right hand side are two shelves and two small interior drawers with keyaki wood fronts and iron hardware, behind the sliding panel on the left side is one interior shelf, extensive iron hardware on front ...

Japanese box made of boxwood carved in the shape of a giant clam shell upon which sits an arhat. His robes are beautifully decorated with gold maki-e lacquer. He holds a sharp tool as if he may attempt to open the enormous shell. Meiji Period (1868-1912).

A rare blue and white glazed Arita porcelain Lion or Shishi made in Japan during the late 19th or early 20th century. Condition - excellent - no damages and no restoration. 11.5cm (4.5 inches) high; 12cm (4.75 inches) across.

Antique Japanese rare ceremonial court hat, made of green asa (hemp) with an open weave meant for summer use, wonderful shape reminiscent of a cicada, woven with gold scrolling vine design and Tokugawa Family mon (crests). Underside has silk padding. Wonderful and rare. Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 19" long x 5" wide x 5" high

Antique Japanese tall gyosho bako (merchant's box), made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood, top door opens to 6 small interior drawers and bottom door opens to 4 small interior drawers, all drawers of different sizes, iron hardware with locks and unusual hooks, chrysanthemum shaped hardware in corners, rings on sides for tying ropes as this piece would have originally been made to be carried. Edo Period (late 18th/early 19th century). Size: 33 3/4" high x 11 3/4" wide x 22" deep.

Antique Japanese fune tansu (ship safe box), made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) and sugi (cryptomeria) woods with kiri (paulownia) wood on inside of drawers, heavy iron hardware including cross bracing on both the front and back, heavy iron hinges on door, interior has 6 drawers of different sizes two of which have iron lock plates, warabite shaped drawer pulls and handle on top, Edo Period (late 18th/early 19th century). Size: 16 1/2" high x 16" wide x 17" deep.

A spectacular and intricately detailed painted Japanese Satsuma Koro. The painted features display Buddhist monks surrounded by an encircling phoenix on either side, beautifully gilted and accented with flowers and four legs that sport foo dog faces. A large gold gilted foo dog adorns the lid and is one of the most unusual renditions that i have ever encountered, I have not seen another like it...

Antique Japanese iron lock from kura (storehouse) door, in the shape of a money bag, wonderfully worn, a work of art in itself, 19th century. Size: 19" high (12" high just purse) x 13 1/2" wide.

Antique Japanese gilt lacquer three-case inro, in the shape of a large sake jar decorated with two karako (children) surprised by their companion tumbling in a cascade of sake to the opposite side, expertly rendered in gold and silver hiramakie, takamakie, togidashi and usu-nashiji on a kinji ground, the interior's fundame and nashiji (silver oxidized), signed Koryu-saku, Edo Period. together with a lacquered wood bead ojime fashioned as a brocade ball with minute inlay...

Japanese gilt lacquer three-case inro, Edo period, 19th century, the flattened body decorated overall with fluttering butterflies, finely rendered in gold, silver and iro-e hiramakie, takamakie and togidashi on a kinji ground with gold foil, aogai and raden inlaid accents, signed Yoyusai followed by a kakihan, the interiors fundame and nashiji (silver oxidized), 3.5''l; together with a copper ojime with bat and floral design in gold, silver and shakudo overlay.

Provenance: Property...

Antique Japanese futon cover, beautiful design of phoenix in blossoming kiri tree, cotton with colorful paste resist dye on indigo ground, 4 panels, edging added later, one very good repair, no losses, Meiji Period. Total size: 64 1/2" high x 55 1/2" wide Size without edging: 59" high x 50 1/2"wide

Antique Japanese large kura door (warehouse sliding door), made of solid keyaki (elm) wood with red-orange finish, two heavy iron locks, Meiji Period. Size: 81 3/4" high x 67" wide x 2 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese large kura door, slatted on top, bottom has large keyaki (elm) wood burl panel, large iron lock in the shape of turtle rising up out of the water with mon (family crest), Meiji Period. Size: 81 3/4" high x 67" wide x 2 1/4" deep.

Superb Kenzan ware decorated with designs of overlapping fans depicting an early winter scene with a house gate by pine trees covered with a rice straw mat as well as Japanese old poems on the interior and with stylized Japanese pampas grass design on the four sides. Edo period. In the interior decoration dated "gen-bun ni-sai" means 1737...

This rare 19th Century Bunraku Puppet of Osome, and rare scroll painting of Osome came from a private collection of theater art in Japan. The puppet is a heroine in the play, Shinpan Utazaimon Nozakimura no Dan (Osome Hisamatsu). It is made of wood and covered with many layers of gofun (crushed oyster shell), with painted features, dressed in a sumptuous brocade silk kimono and obi. Her head moves up and down, and from side to side. Bamboo stand is included...