It was carved by a late Meiji period (1868~1911) artist Tozan (東山). It depicts a smiling wood cutter taking a break and tying his straw sandal lace. A sparrow is resting on his straw hat. It is 6 1/5" high, 3 7/16" wide (from the bottom) and 3" thick (from the bottom). Aside from two hair line cracks; one on his back head and one on the bottom, it is in great condition.

The Hannya (般若) mask in Noh theater represents a jealous female demon. She possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic gold eyes, and a leering mouth with jagged teeth. The mask is all hand-carved with open eyes, nostrils, and mouth so the Noh performer can see, breathe, and speak. There are also two pierced holes at the temples to be secured against the head with cord...

A large architectural Buddhist temple carving of a Dragon (Ryu), with reverse glass painted eyes. The dragon clutches a smooth clear quartz crystal ball in its 3 point sharp claws. The high relief carvings show the dragon's body coiled behind clouds of smoke and waves. Dragons are the powerful embodiment of yin and yang and are seen as a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people that are worthy...

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel is carved with a landscape scene of a bridge with pine trees and rock formations.

Dimensions: 73" L x 1" D x 13 1/2" Height

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel carved with lakeside scene of pagodas in a pine tree forest.

Dimensions: 73" L x 1" D x 13 1/2" Height

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel carved with lakeside scene of pagodas in a pine tree forest.

Dimensions: 73" L x 1" D x 13 1/2" Height

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel is carved with a hawk (taka) on a pine branch. This motif in Japanese art is called "matsutaka-zu".

Dimensions: 67 1/2" L x 1" D x 14 3/4" Height

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel is carved with a landscape scene of a bride with pine trees and rock formations.

Dimensions: 73" L x 1" D x 13 1/2" Height

Antique Japanese wood ranma (transom) with a black lacquer frame. The center panel is carved with a crane flying through pine trees. The crane, as well as the pine, are both symbols of a long and healthy life.

Dimensions: 73" L x 1" D x 14 3/4" Height

Japanese several Mother of Peal Artistic carved pieces, 2" x 3/4" wide for carved Pagoda chips, 1 3/4" x 1 3/8" wide for Baby Jesus and Mary, 1" round for several chips, as is condition.

Small antique Japanese lacquer zushi (personal shrine) with tiny carved wooden bodhisattva inside. The standing figure inside is painted black and gold. The exterior of the zushi is lacquered black and the inside is painted a deep green with delicate gold details. Tiny copper hardware.

Dimensions: 4" high x 3 1/2" wide (opened)

A carved wooden box with removable lid revealing a container for matches and tobacco slotted in the side to carry a Kiseru pipe. Exquisitely crafted by a man who both understood design and wood grains, it is likely from the arts and crafts era. It is 5-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 5 inches (14 x 9 x 13 cm) and is in overall fine condition, with wear to the base attesting to age.

A Japanese Buddhist temple wall carving / transom, with red and gilt lacquer pigments. Carved with the image of an instrument against a ground of heavenly clouds. Professionally framed to be mounted and displayed on the wall.

Dimensions: 32" L x 27" H

A Japanese Mokugyo wooden temple bell, carved from kusunoki (camphor) wood in the form of a lifelike human skull. Used to accompany chants (sutras) in Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies. The base of the skull is signed "Bononshi", with matching tomobako.

Dimensions: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" x 4 1/2" H

Pair of Architectural corbels of mythological elephant baku’s are commonly placed under the eaves of Japanese Buddhist temple and Shinto Shrines to wore off evil spirits. The baku devour dreams and nightmares and protector against evil. The baku cannot be summoned without caution, however as ancient legions say that if the baku is not satisfied after consuming the nightmares, he may devour ones hopes and dreams...

Japanese pair of Buddhist attendant figures. Each figure is carved of wood and painted with mineral pigments. Fine details are painted in gold gilt. They are draped in Chinese robes with long flowing sleeves, each wearing an ornate metal headdress. One attendant holds an offering, the other, a flower scepter made of wire with glass and wooden beads. Their inlaid eyes are made of glass.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" - 11" high x 4 7/8" wide x 3 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese natural burl wood stand. The gnarled roots twisting with knotholes cascade down the sides of the stand, the bottom appearing to have animal feet. The tabletop of the stand with dark lacquer finish.

Showa Period

Dimensions: 22" x 16" x 23 1/2" H

A whimsical Japanese boxwood carving of a toad, with inlaid eyes, crawling atop a functioning cylindrical box carved of bone. The box is hand-carved with flying insects and leaping frogs in a lily pond, the base carved with a floral band. Signed by the artist.

Dimensions: 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 6 3/4" H