A pair of Japanese wooden carvings of the Nio, or wrathful guardians to the Buddha. While Buddhism beliefs are typically pacifist, the Nio justified physical force in order to defend against evil and are usually found on either side of a temple door. The Nio called Misshaku Kongo or Agyo keeps his mouth open to represent the first sound in the Sanskrit language "a", symbolizing birth and overt violence. The other Nio is called Nareen Kongo or Ungyo and has a closed mouth to represent the last so...

This chawan was fired in the kilns of one of Kyoto’s best known raku-yaki potters, Sasaki Shoraku III (1944-). The Shoraku line began when the grandfather of the current potter established a kiln near the famous Kiyomizu temple, nestled at the foot of the eastern mountains in Kyoto. In 1945, the kiln was moved to Kameoka near the Yada shrine where it remains today.

Raku teabowls are made by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel. In the process of shaping the bowls, potters ha...

This brilliant Tenmoku chawan displays gold and flaxen hues interspersed with dark ash glaze. The piece rests upon an unglazed clay pedestal showing the iron-rich clay the bowl is formed from.

Shodai-ware has a long and storied history stretching back as far as the Nara (710 - 794) and Heian (794 - 1192 ) periods. Pieces made in this pottery tradition have a very distinctive look that comes from the iron-rich clay of Kumamoto and the distinctive ash glazes that are used that give t...

Occasionally as I’m browsing through the temple markets of Kyoto or perusing backstreets tea-ware shops, an attractive piece will catch my eye for no particular reason. When this happens, I typically buy it immediately without hesitation, trusting that I will be able to decipher the Chinese script and give it proper attribution through the course of my research. In this case, I was only able to make it half-way there. Unfortunately the bowl does not bear the artist’s seal and the box only pr...

Japanese framed woodblock print by esteemed artist and forerunner to the sosaku-hanga movement Jun/Junichiro Sekino (1914-1988). The subject is a young woman sitting in a red chair, embracing a swan. The forms and colors he uses are pleasing to the eye in the way they compliment each other. Signature in bottom. Size: (entire frame) 53.25" height, 27.25" width (artwork only) 24" height, 18.5" width

A unique Japanese kanban (shop sign) in the shaped of a pipe, with gilt kanji. It hangs from a length of iron chain. A very fun and attractive piece. Vintage age c1950 Size: 8" height (17.5" hanging) 26.5" length

A breathtaking framed woodblock print by artist Takahiko Hayashi (1961-present) titled "The Wind Filled with Roots, Countless Small Beginnings". Hundreds of small overlapping swirls may represent gusts of wind blowing over bold blades of grass, with a gradating background of golden and deep brown hues. The top of a single, transparent red block sits in the very bottom center of the print. Signed, titled, and numbered 47/50 in pencil. It is set in a wonderful, attractive gilt frame with a bold li...

Japanese vintage woodblock print by artist Yoshio Kanamori (1922-present) titled 'Lake Mountain'. Numbered and inscribed in pencil, signed with red cartouche. Size: 19.25" height, 13.25" width

Large Japanese woodblock print by artist Mayumi Oda (1941-present) known for portraying male Buddhist deities as female. This print is titled "Victoria Invention, The Locomotive" Low numbered 6/30 in its series, and signed in pencil. Beautifully done. Size: 25.5" height, 19 3/4" width

Japanese woodblock print by artist Makino Munenori (1940-present) titled 'Tenka' (or Heavenly Flowers) in pencil, number 107/180, and signed in bottom corner. The colors used are extremely beautiful and gives a surreal feel to this piece. Dated 1988. Size: 16.5" height, 22" width

Chinese display shelf made from gorgeous Rosewood (hardwood) with an attractive grain and a glowing red-brown finish. It has many tiered shelves with spiral accents. One thick shelf actually has a wonderful small drawer inside. Perfect Condition Size: 32.75" height, 18.5" width, 7" depth

A wonderful statue of the Bodhisattva Kwan Yin carved from precious aloeswood. The distinct and pleasant fragrance of aloeswood is the result of a special kind of mould and is highly treasured for its use in incense and perfumes among various Eastern religions. This Kwan Yin has been decorated with gold and silver pigment. Small losses. Republic period. Size: 18" height, 6" width, 5.5" depth Weight: 1829 grams, 4.05lbs

A wonderful contemplative scholar's piece of Chinese aloeswood. The distinct and pleasant fragrance of aloeswood is the result of a special kind of mould and is highly treasured for its use in incense and perfumes among various Eastern religions. A fine yet subtle decorative piece. Size: 6" height, 17" length, 4" width. Weight: 799 grams/13.8 oz

A Japanese woodblock print titled "Nikko Sacred Bridge"by renowned artist Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949). Inscription and red seal in bottom corner. Born in 1870 near Hamamatsu City (Shizuoka Prefecture) with the name"Sahei." Koitsu moved to Tokyo at the age of fifteen. He had planned to apprentice with Matsuzaki, a carver for the artist Kobayashi Kiyochika, but instead, he became Kiyochika's apprentice and moved into his home to study art and print design. It is through Kiyochika that Koitsu g...

Beautiful Chinese jadeite pendant, carved with a dragon on one side of front and back, mounted with a white gold setting marked 18K, the jadeite is a striking mottled light green, emerald green with subtle orange-yellow area on one edge. Size of jadeite: 2.8 x 4.3 x 0.4 cm

Chinese jadeite pendant carved in the shape of a gourd on vine with smaller gourd on one side, a squirrel runs up the other side, made of lovely green jadeite with 18K white gold setting. Size of jadeite: 4.6 x 2 x 0.9 cm

Japanese vintage kimono made of navy blue silk with embroidery of chrysanthemums on long vines down the front, and branches with cherry blossoms on the sleeves. The backside has a large, beautiful bunch of embroidered chrysanthemums and cherry blossoms cascading down with two small birds in flight. The collar is lined with a charming fabric of dragons, flowers, and oriental designs. Size: 53.5" height, 47.5" width

Chinese ring with green jadeite oval shaped cabochon, mounted on a 14K good ring (with gold mark), the jadeite is encircled in a ring of leaves and raised up with an open back to maximize the light shining through stone. Size: 1.7cm x 1cm