A kozuka with gilt and silvered bronze decoration of a general's baton and banner on dark patinated bronze nanako ('fish roe' textured ground.) The utility knife handle with shakudo (a pickled gold and copper alloy) back and sides. Surfaces showing wear and slight distress from use but in fairly good and serviceable condition. Could benefit from a light cleaning and oiling. Length, little more than 3 3/4 inches (9.53 cm)

Gnarled plums cover the unusual rich blue ground of this antique tsubo vase from the Arita kilns dating from the early 20th century. It is 14-1/2 inches (37 cm) tall and in fine condition, signed on the base. The decoration is performed entirely in overglaze enamels with a gold rim,and is both vivid and fresh. One of the more unusual pieces I have seen from this region. It is signed on the base in Red Arita sei Miyuki Gama

DESCRIPTION: A large, ten pronged tortoise shell comb made for the European market (Victorian era, circa 1880-1890). The fashion of the day included large elaborate combs placed in upswept hair, and this one is a real beauty! The curved prongs and scalloped crown are from a single piece of shell which is mounted with three large round beads and two carved triangular designs. Very good condition with only a couple of tiny nits that are difficult to even see. DIMENSIONS: 6 ½” long (16.5 cm...

Japanese 32 Sword Scabbards Tray, set in Wood Frame-top and shaped bottom Tray, Meiji period, 13 1/4" x 8" wide, 1 1/2" high, and Scabbard-1" high, 1 3/8" wide for each Scabbard, include Shark's skin, various techniques Lacquered design, none of them are same, all different lacquered Scabbard, tray has rounded corners on top and short rounded bracket feet on the bottom. All the Scabbards are in good condition but wood on the bottom shows two(2) cracks between 5" to 9" long.

We proudly like to offer a 400 year old perfect Korean Gohon Ido shape chawan.

The fine, little iron bearing clay has been mixed with sand (suna gohon) and thrown into an ido shape widening towards the rim.

The light body is covered with a clear, little greyish ash glaze, reacting with the iron oxide in the body to develop the pink spots typical for that kind of Gohon bowls.

The high foot has been trimmed when the clay was leather hard producing a rough surfac...

A set of three framed woodblock prints by artist Hiroshige depicting a busy street at night, a boat scene, and a small, upscale gathering. The similar usage of deep blue in each print is complimentary to the set. Size: (entire frame) 12.25" height, 22.25" width (each print) 6.25" height, 4" width

A monkey reaches toward the moon, arms outstretched from the gnarled trunk of an ancient blossoming plum on the side of this large pottery bowl by Kiyomizu Rokubei IV and decorated by a young Takeuchi Seiho. It is 23 cm (9 inches) diameter, 9.5 cm (4 inches) tall and is in excellent condition, and comes enclosed in a fine custom made kiri-wood box.
Kiyomizu Rokubei IV (1848-1920) was first born son of Rokubei III, and took over the family business in 1883 upon the death of his father. N...

Japanese framed woodblock print of a nude woman sitting on blue robes, combing her hair. Signed Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992), dated 1977. Number 50/80 of its series. Red seal in corner. Size: (entire frame) 25.75" height, 19.25" width (print only) 20" height, 13.75" width

An unusual, sancai glazed stoneware caparisoned elephant form vessel. The larger opening on its back is suggestive of a lime pot (our best guess) with only traces suggested by an off white cast on the sides of the otherwise buff colored unglazed interior. The trunk, curled above the head, ends in a smaller aperture but not optimal as a kendi. The form, in the round, and the pleasantly crazed sancai glaze (cream, amber and a rare blue) suggest influence of the Cizao kilns legacy of Fujian (known ...

DESCRIPTION: From our Southeast Asia Collection, a large and classic 19th century Burmese Hsun-ok constructed of wood that was first lacquered in black, and then covered in successive layers of cinnabar colored lacquer called hinthabada. Over time, through use and handling, the cinnabar lacquer has worn off in some areas to reveal the black lacquer base coat underneath, resulting in an attractive negoro effect. This particular vessel has graceful, stepped shoulders, a tall spire with large ce...

DESCRIPTION: A captivating pair of lacquered figural candle pricks, each in the form of a smiling attendant with hand on hip, wearing a banded hat and holding aloft a candle dish. The figures themselves are hand crafted of solid brown lacquer around a wire frame, while the flared bases are wood blocks covered in brown lacquer. This unusual, rare pair date from approximately 1750 – 1850, and are in remarkable condition with the expected age wear to the lacquered surface. DIMENSIONS: Each app...

An Ao-Kutani palette porcelain deep dish in the Yoshidaya manner. Hydrangeas decoration in polychrome enamels including white, light blue-green, and dark green, blue, blue-green and aubergine in black line, all on yellow ground, a chocolate brown enamel on the otherwise unglazed biscuit rim. The number and subtlety of hues but consistent for palette is pleasing. The back with enamels including dark green on black line decoration of clouds. Kutani mark in black under yellow glaze inside the foot ...

A well carved hardwood figure of an emmaciated aescetic, probably depicting the Chinese Daoist Immortal Li Tieguai. This item was made in China, probably for export, during either the late 19th or early 20th century. Condition: there is a small old chip to one finger and an old age crack to the base; otherwise excellent. 27cm (10.5 inches} high.

A sansai-glazed Tang Dynasty pottery tripod censer. Most sansai-glazed pottery include green and amber glazes - this vessel is glazed in blue and amber glazes. Blue sansai-glazed pottery is very rare since the blue color was made from cobalt imported from the Middle East and was very expensive at the time. Blue cobalt glazed sancai pieces go for much higher prices because of the preciousness of the ingredient and how scarcely it was used. This piece has bold splashes of blue against an amber...

A Dayak sword - Mandau - with rattan bound deer antler handle in the form of a finely carved zoomorphic (possibly deer's) head. The iron blade is engraved with stylized scrolling vine decoration. This item was made (and used) during either the 19th or very early 20th Century. Condition: very good, but the sword is without its scabbard and the bade has seen much use, having many nicks to the cutting edge; also much of the decorative brass inlay to the blade is missing. For many additional pict...

A whimsical ceramic figure of a stout man squatting with his hands on his hips and a blue bowl/object protruding from his belly. His bottoms have been glazed in blue with green and yellow star patterns and a red sash. The bottom has been engraved "Fujian Huiguan" (Fujian Club), "Jing De Zhen made". Dates from the 19th century Size: 5.25" height, 3.5" width

The Katchushi style of this tsuba gives it an earlier look and feel. But it is probably an Edo period work (might expect more wear on the seppa-dai or more conspicuous tekkotsu on an older example.) The thin body nonetheless resilient. Strong, sparse, decorative file marks on the vertical add to character. Adept use of the file, thin plate and slight taper toward the rim could support argument a swordsmith may have made the tsuba. Genji style mon and two five petal blossoms in fine open work (so...

DESCRIPTION: One of the necessary calligraphy tools on the Chinese scholar’s table was a small container to hold water and drip it onto the inkstone for the purpose of mixing the ground ink. These small but important objects were crafted so that one measured drop at a time could be poured to ensure the proper ratio of ink to water while mixing. This bulbous blue and white ceramic dripper would have been submerged in water to fill, and then held between the thumb and forefinger with the thumb...