Antique amitung (door board) for a dwelling or ceremonial house of the Telefolmin people who live in the southern portion of Sandaun (West Sepik) Province of Papua New Guinea. This large door board is made of a single piece of wood and has an opening for people to enter and exit. The carving is made up of individual motifs that represent different parts of human or animal: the central heart or navel, the wings of a flying fox or fruit bat, spirals represent limbs or eyes. These raised detai...

Korean antique celadon bowl carved with a large flower in the center. Beautiful crackled green glaze.

Age: Koryŏ (Goryeo) Dynasty (935 to 1392)

Dimensions: 3 1/8" high x 7 5/8" wide

Provenance: From the personal collection of Frederic Cheever Torrey (1864-1935), partner of Vickery, Atkins & Torrey, interior design firm and art gallery founded in San Francisco in 1888.
The gallery, most famous for its role in helping to introduce California to Impressionism...

Pair of lacquered wooden panels inlaid with jade and soapstone. The first is decorated with antiques, the second with foliage and birds. The sculptures are of very good quality. The wooden frames as well as the lacquered backs are late 20th century but we believe that parts were recovered from older broken furniture and were reused here, as can be seen with the small wooden panels decorated with bats and mother-of-pearl inlays that are 19th century or earlier. We can sell them separately, the on...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (captain's chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute style drawer pulls and the Warabite style carrying handle. Iron strapping over the exterior of the chest. Front security door opens to reveal 4 drawers. A secret hiding area is accessible when the lower drawer is fully removed. Wooden support braces are present at the bottom.

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 15" Wide...

A Japanese fascinating embroidered silk hanging tapestry depicting a flying Phoenix 鳳凰 and a Kirin 麒麟, the two most powerful and sacred beasts of all Japanese within a silk frame finely decorated with a dense pattern of stylized motifs. The central scene is very unusual and it represents a Phoenix in flight in the upper part and a Kirin looking at each other. Even the back is finely embroidered with a dense decoration of stylized motifs on a blue background. The kirin and the ph...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nihon Matsu Tansu (Kimono chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware including the double action lock plates and the Warabite handles. Bronze decorative mounts feature lucky Japanese symbols including the treasure mallet, the treasure bag, a traveling cape and a traveler's hat. A rare feature is how this chest can be configured side by side due to a bespoke second stand that allows for the s...

A Japanese excellent ivory netsuke depicting a group of three mushrooms. The green patina is of excellent quality with finely engraved and crafted lamellae. Every detail has been carefully taken care of, from the shape of the cap to the roots at the base. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 2 x 6 x 4,7 cm. State of preservation: Very good

This beautiful painting from late Edo portrays Mount Fuji as a sublime centerpiece, overlooking a serene landscape below. A lush pine forest embraces the foot of the sacred mountain, its deep greens contrasting against the pristine snow-capped peak. A tranquil lake reflects the ethereal beauty of the surroundings, mirroring the image of Fuji and the towering pines. The composition captures the harmonious coexistence of nature's grandeur, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the ...

Lavender tinged crawling pale glaze covers the soft porous clay of this classically inspired Mizusashi by Living National Treasure Miwa Kyusetsu XI enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shiro-hagi Mizusashi. It is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter, 18 cm (7-1/4 inches) tall. It comes complete with the original ceramic lid as well as a Kae-buta (alternate lacquered lid) in a separate compartment within the box The box is contained inside a second, black lacquered wooden box, and all is in e...

Antique Japanese Nihon Matsu isho tansu (clothing chest) in two sections from the Nihonmatsu area of Fukushima Prefecture. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Iron hardware has a deep red lacquer finish and includes hirute shaped drawer pulls and large square lock plates with shōchikubai symbols (three friends of winter: plum, pine and bamboo) and a butterfly key hole cover. The top section has 2 large full-width drawers. The bottom section has two drawers and a safe box in the lower right ha...

Antique Japanese hangai tansu (captain's chest for business transactions). Two door panels outfitted with heavy iron work set into the frame and open to reveal five drawers on either side. The exterior frame of of the box is made of sugi (cryptomeria - Japanese cedar) while the drawers are made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The exterior has square iron handles while the interior has iron warabite shaped drawer pulls. It comes with a key.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: ...

Ivory netsuke depicting a snail crawling on a bamboo shoot. The snail is carefully rendered highlighting its curvature of the shell. The underside is enhanced with spherical horn details and an excellent patina. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 7 x 3 x 3cm. State of conservation: Very good

Kodansu in gold lacquer and mother of pearl, with silver hinges and decorated with naturalistic motifs. The surface is covered with a delicate and shiny golden lacquer on a nashiji background which gives the box set brilliance. Decoration with naturalistic motifs in lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlays depicting stylized peonies and phoenixes in flight, creating an evocative contrast of colors and a fascinating texture. The inside of the kodansu hides three drawers decorated with silver kno...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware with Kaute style handles. 6 drawers of varying sizes with a pair of sliding doors and a security door that hides 2 additional drawers and a secret box where valuables were kept.

This Tansu would make a perfect side chest or nightstand.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 32" Wide by 31'" High by 18" Deep

An antique Japanese Kansai Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Three pairs of sliding doors of varying sizes with 8 drawers on the upper half and 5 drawers to the bottom half. There is a split level shelf behind each set of doors.

Age: Meiji Period (1890-1910)

Dimensions: 70 3/4" Wide by 67 1/4" High by 19 1/4" Deep

The poem accompanying the artwork on this antique scroll reads: Fishing little trout—Precious drops of dew glisten—Flowing with the blossoms—The mountains and rivers of spring ( Rengetsu, age 78 ). A rather later and mature work by Rengetsu, this piece was created right as Edo ended and Meiji began, marking a major turning point in Japanese history and culture.

Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) was born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki fam...

A Tokyo school bronze sculpture depicting a geisha sitting on a wooden bench. The figure of the geisha is portrayed in a moment of deep reflection, with a fan held in her hands. She wears a luxurious festive kimono, embellished with rich details and a large cushion adorns her place to sit. The artist's extraordinary mastery is evident in the impeccable folds of the kimono, which lie with surprising softness. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji 19th century Dimensions: 34 x 15 x 20 cm. – We...

Okimono depicting a koi carp in boxwood with excellent color and blonde patina. The carp is represented in movement with glass eyes and scales superimposed on the body. The carp has a difficult to read signature under the base. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 33 x 9.5 x 12 cm. State of conservation: Very good