A charming candlestick figure of Ashinaga, a playful spirit in Japanese folklore with incredibly long legs. His counterpart, Tenaga, is the long-armed spirit who would ride on Ashinaga's shoulders and, working together, they would catch many fish from the ocean. Ashinaga is hand-carved with adorable features.

Size: 4.25" L x 3.5" D 16" H

A lightning shaped Narumi-Oribe Mukozuke dish decorated with geometrics and drying persimmons enclosed in a fine custom kiri-wood box titled “E-Oribe Mukozuke” and annotated “Mino Ko-gama” by Living National Treasure Kato Takuo, who was well known for his research into old kilns and firing techniques. One of the best preserved pieces I have seen in a long time dating from the Momoyama to early Edo period.; it originally had three looping feet which have been lost. The dish is 5 x 4-1/4 ...

Antique Japanese kannon biraki (opening door) isho tansu (clothing chest) in 2 sections. Made with kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood top and sides. The top section has a pair of hinged doors which open to reveal two large drawers. The bottom section has two large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side. The hinged safe box door opens to reveal two small interior drawers, one of which has a hidden compartment. The hardware is all iron and includes warabite...

Antique Japanese tansu from the Nigata area of Japan. Most likely used by a merchant for storage. The 9 drawers are in three rows with the shallowest drawers along the top and gradually getting deeper toward the bottom of the chest. The hardware is all of iron and includes elegant hirute shaped drawer pulls, fan shaped lock plates and corner bracing. The wood is paulownia (kiri) wood.

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 19 1/2" high x 31" wide x 19" deep.

This peach-shaped suiteki (water dropper for calligraphy) is made of fine kinuta celadon from one of the great masters of the Meiji era—Suwa Sozan. A classic design, the peach is said to represent long-life for mortals and immortality for the gods in asian folklore. According to legend, the moon goddess—a powerful alchemist—can make an elixir from peaches that grow in the garden of the western paradise with miraculous revitalizing properties.

Suwa Sozan the first (1852—1922...

Tall Japanese Sumida Gawa tankard with 6 mugs. All have the same potter's mark. Mugs measure 5" high, Tankard is 9.5" high. All are in very good condition except for a missing piece from the scroll on one mug, and broken thumb on another. Dates early 20th century.

Japanese two section tansu made with Kiri (paulownia) wood. The chest's four front drawers feature large, round Kiri wood mon (family crest) motif lock plates , while the Warabite style drawer pulls have small pierced plates below them in the style of a crane mon. The bottom section holds a small corner safe door with two small drawers inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 40 1/2" x 17 1/4" x 42" H

Chinese zitan wood ink well, with gold flecks throughout the natural graining. The top is carved with geometric patterns and two wells for ink. The opposite side is hand carved with calligraphy inscription.

Dimensions: 6 1/2" x 4 1/4" x 1"

Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991)
Shower of Cherry Blossoms at Kanbayashi Hotspring, Shinshu
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
First edition. Watanabe sausage seal (in use 1929-42).
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Never displayed.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
In the Snow, Hida, Nakayama-Shichiri Road
Series: Souvenir of Travels, Third Series
Date: 1924.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Edition: First. Tabi no Miyage Dai Sanshu seal Left margin. Watanabe 6mm seal lower left corner.
Reference: Hotei #123.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Restored with tear and chip repairs to margins, including touch-up at upper left edge of im...

A cascade of flora drapes from the neck of this gorgeous piece by Seifu Yohei IV. It is 31 cm (12 inches) tall and in perfect condition. Quite large for a work by Seifu, it is marked on the base with an incised signature.
Seifū Yohei IV (Seizan: 1872-1946) was born the second son of Seifū Yohei III (1851-1914). He studied literati-style painting under Tanomura Shōsai (1845-1909), a son of Tanomura Chokunyū, in Osaka for three years. In 1914, he succeeded to the head of the family an...

This tall and lovely Hagi chawan rests firmly on a wari kodai or “split foot” pedestal that is unglazed—displaying the coarse rich clay. The crackled milky glaze covers the curves and contours of the bowl, contrasting dramatically between the foot and the clay body. Hagi-ware such as this is part of a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery. Hagi-ware is prized for its subdued colors and classical features, especially the glazing, ...

Chinese antique small display shelf with stand, made of hong-mu. A staggered shelf in the middle breaks up the square area. The front and sides of the unit is carved with delicate lined details and cusped edges. On each side of both the top and bottom shelf is a little window (four total) and the back is open. The underside of the base has a black lacquer panel painted with a butterfly and chrysanthemums.

Republic Period

Dimensions: 13 1/4" high x 12" long x 5 3/4" deep.

Japanese antique small ko tansu (personal chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with black lacquered iron hardware. This small chest has 7 drawers of various sizes; 2 large drawers on the top portion, 2 medium drawers and 2 small drawers on the lower portion. The hardware is all made of blackened iron and includes round lock plates and square drawer pulls.

Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 21 3/4" high x 24 3/4" wide x 13" deep.

Japanese "Silver 950" marked Jewelry Box with etched design of Imperial Carriage in front of etched design of Mt. Fuji background, mid Showa period, 8 1/2" wide, 5 3/4" deep, 3 1/2" high, original Key included, inside the hinged top lined with red velvet divided tray and red velvet lined on top of Rosewood on the bottom. Beautifully etched and very fine quality of detailed of Imperial Carriage resting on the flowering bushes and Mt. Fuji in the back ground, impressed and etched mark "Silver 95...

Antique Chinese snuff bottle depicting a highly raised dragon with a ball of fire amidst swirling clouds, made of molded porcelain and glazed yellow. With a coral lid. Provenance: Collection of Howard Kaplan.

19th century

Dimensions: Bottle 2 1/2" high (with lid 2 3/4" high)

Japanese bronze sculpture of a coiling dragon, holding a clear quartz crystal ball in its raised claw. The foot is cast with the two character seal of the artist.

Early 20th Century

Dimensions: 7 1/2" x 6" x 7" H

Antique Sino-Tibetan silver cup with key fret border. Decorated with engraved deer, birds, and scrolling lotus in the round.

19th century

2 1/8" diameter