noh mask representing a demon: Kotobide stamp : Deme (cf stephen marvin "heaven has a face" p 326 when he wrote his book the consensus of specialists agreed to identify the catouche as the signature used by Deme Mitsunaga, the founder of the house of Genkyu so mid 17 em...

A seated Jizo Bosatsu sculpted voluminously from a high-quality granite and finished in lacquer and gilt. Momoyama/early-Edo Period ca. 1550–1600. Old loss to much of the lacquer/gilt finish.

Height: 16.1 cm
Width: 13.7 cm
Depth: 8.0 cm
Packaged weight: 2.5 kg.

WOMAN

Wood carving, Showa period, 20th century, Japan, approx. H 19cm (7.48in)...

Antique Japanese suiseki, a stone for contemplation. The art of suiseki viewing stones emphasizes an appreciation for the natural formations. Each stone tells a story not only of it's geological creation but of it's path through time, how it has been shaped by other elements like wind and water. Viewing a stone such as this, a person can feel transported to a world where the stone is a mountain (or a sleeping dragon) and the viewer is quite small...

An antique Japanese Daruma wooden mold used for making paper mâché dolls. Likely retired from duty and lacquered to preserve its years of production and service. The worn lacquer is a testament to its display and use that extended beyond its useful life and paid tribute to the former artisans that supported the craft. The bottom reveals the three holes used to connect the mold to a turning wheel for ease of applying the paper mache...

TALISMANIC FOXES

A pair of aged stone carving foxes with such stern faces against evil spirits in 'a-un' (inspiration and expiration, or alpha and omega) relationship, coming from a ruined temple as 'kenzoku' (disciples or followers) of its guardian deity, Edo-Meiji period, 19th century, Japan, Taller: approx. H 21cm (8.26in). Covered in moss as is, since weathered for long years...

SUPERMAN

Quite a primitively powerful and sacred, and scarce stone carving as upper part of 'Konseishin' as Japanese phallic god attached with such lovely cotton red bib, which had been probably stuck into the ground next to 'hokora' (small shrine) to enshrine as originally. 19th century, province of Gifu, Japan. approx. H 15cm (5.90in)...

YIN-ZEN-YANG

Sacred hermaphroditic ironstone created from Abekawa river in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, as a scarce existance of Japanese spiritual art form called ‘Suiseki’ (or 'Kami'). Supernaturally stable like "enshrined" with such flat bottom surface, with completely no processing by human hands. Profound and heavy as is. approx...

Standing Ziujin, a Shinto guardian deity. Yosegi-zukuri joined-block wood construction, the eyes of inset crystal. Late-Muromachi Period ca. 1550. Old repairs and traces of polychrome.

Overall height, including dais: 68 cm
Height of figure only: 60 cm
Width of dais: 20 cm
Depth: 14.5 cm.

A large-scale Shinto piece with notable presence. Highly uncommon.

Shishi (lit. Chinese lion) ranma with chrysanthemums on the back sculpted in two pieces of wood. Early-Edo Period ca. 1650. Minor old loss and traces of polychrome, with desirable patination overall.

Length: 39.8 cm
Height: 16.6 cm
Width: 13.3 cm

A fiercely expressive piece with outsized presence. Highly collectible.

Seated Buddha, yosegi-zukuri joined-block wood construction. Kamakura Period ca. 1250. Old loss, and the lower-front block comprising the lap an old replacement ca. early-Edo.

Height: 46 cm
Width: 29 cm
Depth: 21 cm.

An exceptional Buddha fragment with significant age. Highly collectible.

A Rare Spirit Stone (Ishikami), Natural Rootwood Embracing Stone. A unique creation of Mother Nature with minor modification to the root wood grown around a stone to emulate a standing Daruma, the Patriarch of Zen Buddhism wrapped in his robe. These kind of quite rare “spirit stones”are always been highly appreciated by the Japanese. Very good, old patina; it has a very pleasant feeling to the touch. Edo, 18-19th century. H 10,5 cm. Condition: Perfect.

Standing Kongo Rikishi. Yosegi-zukuri joined-block wood construction and the eyes originally of inset crystal. Nanbokucho~Muromachi Period ca. 1400...

A large and very impressive Bronze model of a male lion cast in naturalistic style as is common for Japanese export bronzes from this period. Glass eyes. Marked with a seal: Kyomitsu zo: made by Kyomitsu. Meiji, late 19th cent. ca. 1890. L 56 cm, H 30 cm. Condition: Excellent.

. The bronze is very thick yellow, the casting is made in several parts, the arms are cast separately and welded, the ribbons too. The finish is very neat. The old patina is beautiful. The base is cast separately, the walls are thin unlike the statue, but it is indisputable that the two were made together. On the base and at the bottom of the statue are incised characters that date it. I do not know what the exact time is, but I can do research on request. The glory is added later...

Bronze cast with lost wax. Beautiful casting, thick, neat finish. In places spared by the rag pest of the previous owner, you can see a beautiful old patina far too rare. The face is pleasant and beautiful. the examination below guarantees us an old bronze. The Japanese usually carved their religious statuary out of wood. It is not frequent to come across bronze works. There are 2 traces of tin solder on the back which was to maintain a glory now lost. Height: 255mm Weight: 2450g

Buddha in gilded lacquered wood. In the middle of the forehead is inlaid in mother-of-pearl the eye of the spirit. Le buddha is placed on a lotus-shaped plinth and leans against a glory sculpted with volutes. The base and the glory are from the Edo period.The Buddha is probably older, it is constructed differently,having a thick solid layer of reddish-brown lacquer visible where the worn gold powder has gone and is much more worn.The face and torso are atypical of those of the Edo period...

Small statue of the face of Okame. Her round, full cheeks and Heian period hairdo give her head the silhouette of a penis. Her open mouth is in the form of a stylized vagina. Shunga of sorts.
Cast bronze with dark brown patina. Good details.

H 3 x D 2.25 in.

Few casting flaws, otherwise excellent condition

This type of erotic statues are regarded as funny rather than erotic. In Japan they are called waraimono, ‘something (or someone) that makes you laugh’.