Japanese fukusa, a silk satin gift cover depicting the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. The development of the Japanese fukusa is closely associated with their custom of gift giving. Japan has been a farming country until recently and crops were directly affected by nature (draft, floods, etc). The rituals were held within their own communities and fresh crops were offered to god. To irrigate and lay the roads, they needed the better their work relationship. The custom of eating and drink...

The idea of a Fukusa gift cover comes from the old Japanese tradition of gift presentation. Fukusa began to be decorative as well as practical in the Edo period (1600 to 1868). The appropriate design was chosen for the occasion; for seasonal, ceremonial and later, time of grief when Japan started to face battles again, with the foreign countries this time. This delicate, indirect way of conveying feelings has been in Japanese culture, poems replacing words for occasions, reminiscent of the ...

Fukusa, Japanese Gift Cover, Pine, Bamboo and Plums on Fans: This type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as "Yui-noh" which is held prior to a wedding. This is an elegant old satin silk Fukusa in excellent condition. It is not as shiny as it looks in photos. The lining is an old, red (light red color, not orange as it appears in some photos) crepe silk with padding on the rims. Exceptionally beautiful work of embroidery and silver couc...

Old Japanese gift cover, fukusa with a black mask and a mask box, bells, hat and fan used in the Noh(No) play, Okina (the sacred old man). The Dance of Okina start with a comtemporary prayer for 'a peaceful reign over the land' Okina wearing a white mask. The black mask is worn by the Kyogen actor in the third dance, "Sanbaso". Embroidered on satin, lined with red crepe silk. Dimensions: 28" X 29"

The theme on this fukusa (Japanese gift cover) is “Kin ki Sho ga”, four accomplishments of noblemen. For a man to be well balanced and eventually become a good leader, practicing (and become good at) of “Kin ki Sho ga” was encouraged during their leisure time; ‘Kin’ (Jp. Koto, string music instrument), ‘ki’ (jp. ‘Go’, Chinese chess), ‘sho’ (calligraphy) and ‘ga’ (painting). This started in China and was brought back to Japan by traveling monks studying Buddhism...

Antique Japanese fukusa (gift cover), Yuzen-zome (paste regist dye) on silk kabe-ori (coarse crepe silk), early 1900s.

For a man to be a well balanced nobleman, there were requirements to be filled. 'Kin Ki Sho Ga', the four accomplishments of gentlemen, were chosen at an early time in China, practicing Kin (koto, music instrument), ki (go, Chinese chess), sho (calligraphy) and ga (painting). Here on this fukusa, with some variation (tea - sencha? was added), are the Six Immortals of the...

A framed pair of Southeast Asian palm leaf manuscripts, each side covered in gold leaf, with ornate filigree in red, and scenes of dancing people and beasts. With lines of text written in black lacquer pigment. These manuscripts have two holes each to be strung and bound together as a book. Professionally displayed suspended in glass and framed.

19th Century

Dimensions: 21.25" L x 23" H (entire frame) 22.5" L x 5" H (each manuscript)

Woodblock print by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Utagawe Hiroshige (1797-1858). The streets are bustling with activity as we see a gentleman who wears a top hat being pulled along in a handcart, a woman in a kimono shading herself with a parasol, and other characters. There are sakura trees blossoming around a flagpole, a communal well, and a beautiful view of the sun rising beyond Mt. Fuji in the distance. Size: (print only) 6" height, 8.5" length (with frame) 9.25" height, 11.75" length

DESCRIPTION: A colorfully painted Tibetan chest with four side drawers having leather strap pulls (two drawers on each side). The chest is painted with green floral panels having red floral borders and is supported by short legs. A carved key fret pattern decorates the neck just below the top. Dating from the 19th C, this chest is in good condition with very minor scuffs to paint. DIMENSIONS: 33” high x 28.5” wide x 18”deep.

A beautifully crafted image of a cormorant seeking fish by Ishida Rainosuke enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating from the early 20th century. The bird is 38 cm (15 inches) long and both bird and fish are in excellent condition. A very interesting treatment of the position of the back foot shows the bird kicking, as if speeding up, eye on the prize.
Ishida Rainosuke was born in Kyoto in the 36th year of Meiji (1903) and graduated from the Department of Sculpture at the (mod)...

A square porcelain plaque painted with different greens, overglaze blue, yellow, aubergine and iron red, mounted in a later European wooden frame. Depicting Hua Mulan, a legendary female warrior, who took her aged father's place in the army. Some orange peel, reverse without glaze. Condition: enamel colors with some wear. Dimension: plaque: 22.7 cm x 22.6 cm x 1 cm, with frame: c. 30 cm x 30 cm.

This is a fine Famille Rose Figural Molded Porcelain Snuff Bottle, of flattened ovoid form, with a waisted neck, a flat gilded lip, and an oval concave foot. The body of the bottle crisply molded with bright colors a scene of the Nine Buddhist Lions at play amid clouds. The neck decorated with a leiwen border. There is a Qianlong Period (1,711 - 1,799) seal script Mark in iron red letters to the base. It comes with a red coral stopper. There vividly colorful bottle is in remarkable p...

A very finely painted Chinese FAMILLE ROSE 18th Century Porcelain Plate with delicate pink flowers and foliage. Good overall condition. Size: 28.5 cm diameter (11.25"). Price:US$ 495.00 Shipping not included. For a shipping quote Fedex needs your address and postal zip code. Thank you.

Antique famille rose brush pot, made of Chinese porcelain and decorated with two perched quails, surrounded by flowers in hues of purple, pink, yellow, orange, and blue. The bottom of the vase has a Jian Ding seal that reads "Shende Tang Zhi", meaning "Made for the Hall of Prudent Virtue" (1831-1850). 19th century Size: 4.75" tall, 3" diameter

Japanese antique edo(1800-1830) indigo dye silk kosode gosyyotoki pattern kimono of tsutsugaki and embroidery. Although there is light discoloration, there is no damage and it is in very good condition overall. Kimono with no lining, worn in spring and autumn. size::Length:155cm(61.0inch) / Cuff to cuff, across the back: 122cm (48.0inch)

A lustrous emerald green Chinese Peking Glass brush bowl. It is molded glass with a rounded base. Chinese glass was largely used to imitate more precious materials such as white jade, Lapis Lazuli and other valuable minerals.

Date: early 1900's

Dimensions: 3.5" diameter X 2"

Beautifully embroidered "Goa" priest vestment from india. Goa was a Portuguese colony off the coast of India. It is embroidered with shades of blue, red, pink, yellow, orange, and green. There is a floral scrolling pattern on front and back with smaller flowers.

18th Century

Size: 48" long by 26" wide.

A fine embroidered purse, probably made to hold tissues at a tea ceremony. The exterior is embroidered with Sagara embroidery (Peking knot), and has a sarasa design of stylized butterflies, birds and flowers. The sarasa (Indian Chintz), first came to Japan through the Nanban trading in the late 16th century and was tremendously favored by the tea masters and some daimyo (regional lords) during the Edo period. The colorful and exotic fabric originated in India (spread to Java, other parts o...