An exquisite pair of gofun covered fox on black and gold lacquered stands protected by copper wire cages, dating from the second half of the Edo period. They wear a shrewd look, eyes narrowed to slits, enhancing their mischievous image. The mystical carvings are covered in white gofun, stained a soft gray from age with highlights still white from eons of careful cleaning. Around the pair of ethereal creatures are removable cages of copper wire to protect the sacred images, the gofun coating m...

The bird-faced Kami (god) Doryo Daigongen strikes a powerful pose astride the back of a mischievous white fox. Doryo is purported to have been an ascetic monk who turned himself into a Tengu when he vowed on his deathbed to protect the Mountain Temple Complex of Daiyuzen in modern day Kanagawa prefecture. This legend inspired a cult which rose to great prominence in the Edo period. To this cult the figure was the ward of Budo (martial arts). Originally this figure would have had feathered wi...

An elephant with pagoda on its back forms this three-piece koro incense burner from the Kairakuen Feudal kiln of the Tokugawa family stamped on the belly with the Kairakuen seal. It is magnificently sculpted, standing 31 cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition. It comes in a wooden collector’s box. Inside the lid is a long verse detailing the origins of Kairakuen pottery written and attested to by important Meiji to Taisho period pottery legend Miyagawa (Makuzu) Kozan I.
The K...

A perfect example of the Early Edo Tea aesthetic in this Chatsubo dating from the first half of the Edo period, a splash of black over rust with a white glazed waste from the Seto region around modern day Nagoya. It comes with an ancient wooden bung and wrapping cloth. The pot is roughly 27 cm (11 inches) tall and in overall excellent condition, with typical wear around the foot. No cracks or repairs. Called Koshijiro (White wasted) this style became popular in the end of the 16th century, an...

Early Edo Myochin Signed Nimai Do with Nanban influence featuring gilded kusazuri and sode laced with blue chord dated Genwa 3 (1620). There are rows of Prominent rivets all about with nobori-kiri crests on the top of the munaita. Comes with an old wrapping cloth dyed with the same crest. The Hon-kozane Kusazuri are removable, attached to two leather belts suspended from iron tongs about the waist. The takahimo shoulder straps are wrapped in leather. The shaped horn clasps are extant but on...

A ceramic cover for a tea room brazier in the shape of a devil dressed in priests robes dated and annotated within. Dating from the Ansei era, inside it is annotated by Daiko Sogen (1772-1860), 435th head of Daitokuji. Well known for his poetry and mastery of the Tea Ceremony, he taught Zen to Eiraku Hozen, and was compatriot to Gengensai. It is 34.5 x 34.5 x 30 cm (13-1/2 x 13-1/2 x 12 inches) and is in fine condition.

A Fushina (Fujina) yaki image of the three monkeys made to support the Kettle lid in the Japanese Tea Ceremony dating from the Edo period. A warning to all, the little creatures hear nothing, see nothing and speak nothing. What happens in the tea room, stays in the tea room! The figure is 4.5 cm (roughly 2 inches) diameter the same height and in excellent condition. Impressed into the base is the Rakuzan seal. It comes in an antique woven thread pouch.
Rakuzan pottery falls under the umb...

A fine Edo period portrait of a sinewy middle aged samurai proudly seated before a pair of swords, a table upon which rests an ink stone and book at his right elbow. Exquisite detail in the figures face and fine lines and shadows in the clothing are reminiscent of portraits by the great artist Watanabe Kazan. The portrait is signed Higashiyama Giryo and dated Tenpo 3 (1832) and the epitaph is signed Raijo. The portrait appears to be of a samurai named Kanda Hojo. The artist Giryo is likely a...

A mid Edo period (16th to 17th century) five plate cuirass (go-mai-do) of heavy iron emblazoned on front with a sun and moon in inlayed silver over the fierce god Fudomyo with protective sanskjrit characters in silver damascene on the sides and a five character phrase (The Gotoku or five precepts of Confucianism, also espoused in the book of five rings) on back, also in silver. It is lacquered red inside, and about the waste hang rows of black lacquered scales laced in blue with color fleckedwh...

Gold glimmers on the rim against pale concrete tones on this rare mid-Edo period tea bowl from the Utsutsugawa kiln in Nagasaki prefecture, late 17th to early 18th century. Waves of brush strokes decorate the outside, while the white slip cascades from the rim in withering streaks within. A kutsuki on the side testifies to some event which happened during the firing, where another piece of pottery collapsed against the side, fusing and causing the bowl to deform. This force created a crack wh...

A fine wakizashi in saya of crushed aogai shell in lacquer with engraved silver fittings adorned with a family crest wrapped with matching Kozuka. Kyoto license number 59007 Heisei 9.
blade length: 38.9 cm
sori:0.7 cm
motohaba:2.4 cm
motokasane: 0.6 cm It is in excellent condition.

This is rinzu silk fukusa textile in Edo period(1603-1867). It is an elegant design with good history of the bamboo and bamboo shoots. All embroideries are the hands. There is no stain. There is one very little small hole. However, it is very good. I recommend it for your collection. size:47cm x 48cm (18.5" x 18.9")

This is Safflower dyeing sarasa katazome somewake(dyed with separate design)cotton textile kimono of the last part of Edo era(1800-1868). It is very rare, and it is a precious item.Please watch somewake(dyed with separate design) of the part of the sleeve. It is very impressive, and it is beautiful. It does not have a stain and damage. And it is very excellent condition.It is made of hand-spun and hand-woven and natural Safflower dyeing cotton. size:Length 133cm (52.3") sleeve to sle...

This is Sakai-Sarasa used for Edo period. Sarasa of a small pattern is rare. The warm feel does this. As for this, cotton is spun by hand and is thick. This does not have a stain and damage in a face. This has a few stains in the backside, but does not stand out. Size 93cm x 44cm (36.6 "x 17.3")

This is Sakai-Sarasa used for Edo period. Sarasa of a small pattern is rare. The warm feel does this. As for this, cotton is spun by hand and is thick. This does not have a stain and damage. Size 155cm x 33.5cm (61 "x 13.1")

This is Sakai-Sarasa used for Edo period. Sarasa of a small pattern is rare. The warm feel does this. As for this, cotton is spun by hand and is thick. There is the stain such as the image of the backside, but does not stand out. Size 80cm x 78cm (31.4 "x 13.3")

Douchuugi is Kimono which a person wore at the time of going out. This Douchuugi is the kimono which a samurai wore in a trip. List cloth is cotton. And lacquer is painted the surface with. Because it was able to rub against the surface which created beautiful changes. However, it is beautiful like "unintentional art". The lining is very good hemp of the Katazome- dye.It has three places of repair. There is one place of thin stain. Size: 83cm x 128cm (32.6 "x 50.3") It has three places of repair...

This is shijira Noshime kimono of the samurais with luster dyed with an indigo plant of nature of the Edo era. This has two places of small holes and thin stain This Nosime features deep indigo dyeing with clean luster and Kasuri of transparent blue. In this way, Nosime of the indigo dyeing of Sijira with the luster is rare. This was made in Kyoto and was used in Akita. Size 141cm x 132cm (55.5” x 51.9”)