An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with auspicious Paulownia leaf lock plates and Warabite handles. The original finish was done in a wiped Urushi lacquer technique for both the drawer fronts and the tansu body.

It was used in a wealthy Japanese home to store personal effects, ephemera, writing tools, and other miscellaneous sundries...

Ohara Koson
Three small birds on a twig of a red maple
Size: Approximately 17.5 x 12.5 cm. 6.75 x 4.875 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 440).
Reference: AK.18 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design.

This Toba-e E-maki appears to be a 19th century Gi-ga follower of the later 18th to early 19th century Osaka "Manga-ka" Nichosai (Matsudaira Heisaburo). His humorous images of Hell were quite popular, known as Kakuyu painting.　Overall the genre has many names, Gi-ga being all encompassing, Toba-e being descriptive of this particular style, and Kakuyu-fu being the style of Nichosai. It ends with a simple stamp which reads Fish (Gyo/Sakana). It is 11 by 174 inches (28 x 442 cm)...

Silver damask iron box, gold details. Japanese work of the Edo period bearing the coat of arms of the Saka-I clan. I once read that this clan was responsible for security in Edo in the 18th century (to be checked). The essential feature of this box is the finesse of the iron that makes it. The blacksmith managed to hammer a wall as thin as paper. Which is a technical feat requiring a exceptionnal mastery of iron...

Japanese kakiemon dishes late 17 ° circa 1700. Porcelain enamelled with deer. D:18 cm. In a perfect state. Very rare set of 8 to the same model. For sale individually or by several the price is for one.

Han-gappa (short jacket) made of kuzdu-fu whose wefts are kudzu fiber and warps are cotton. Kudzu is one kind of leguminous plant. The collar is made of imported wool. Han-gappa made of kudzu-fu was worn in summer and other ones with lining was for winter. The design of the straps show it was made after Tenpo era (1830∼1844）in Edo period, according to the "Kinsei Fuzoku-shi" Buttons are made of the horn of the water buffalo...

Okame standing in blue over-kimono with a sweet and cheerful facial expression. Her garment falls open a little, showing a red colored underkimono or liner, indicating her profession. Cradled in her arms is a large matsudake mushroom...

Kozuka in sentoku inlaid with silver and gold butterflies. Length 95mm. Edo period.

A male figure sitting in ceremonial kamishimo dress of a striped hakama (pants) and a golden kataginu (vest) over a red kimono, his head shaped like the top of an erected penis.

Soft molded earthenware, painted in cold-applied colors and gold and silver.

Japan, 1960s or earlier.

H 4 in.

Colors and metal pigments chipping, otherwise good condition. Because of the cold application, the colors are fragile and easily wash away.

Rare subject matter

A comic scene in ink on paper of boys herding oxen by Nagasawa Rosetsu spreads across these two low screens. The central characters, one in the lead the second astride one of the behemoths crossing a bridge is distracted by a butterfly floating by above while the beast in front steps on its own rope, pulling his head back to the viewer with a quizzical expression. Other oxen and boys populate the background...

Grasses grow on the sides of this Tokkuri and accompanying Guinomi by Karatsu legend Maruta Munehiko, each piece enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The E-Karatsu Tokkuri is 11 cm (4-1/4 inches) tall. The E-Karatsu Guinomi is 7 cm (2-3/4 inches) diameter, 6 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall. Both are in excellent condition.
Maruta Munehiko was born the second son of Maruta Masami in Saga prefecture in 1961...

Ohara Koson
Roaring Tiger
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.25 x 7.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1900s-1923.
Koson signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Daikokuya.
Reference: K41.6 and cat. 134 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
"A tiger roars as it stands on a mountain ridge and looks over the crescent moon far below...

Antique Japanese Ryukyu Cha Tansu (display and storage chest for tea items). Lacquered black and inlaid with Mother of Pearl (Raden) in intricate and extraordinarily fine designs of noblemen and scholars in pavilion gardens. The upper portion has a compartment with four sliding panels. Below this are two open shelves inlaid with larger designs of birds on a blossoming dogwood branch...

Hiroshi Yoshida
Temple in the Wood
Date: 1940.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image. Titled and signed in pencil.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating self-printing by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned paper. Corner margins have heavy creases.
Dedicated in top margin: "Captain and Mrs Tibbitts, Wishing a Merry X'mas and a Happy New Year - Gozo and Shiori"

From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of the features of the landscape where he grew up.

Born in the port city of Shimoda, Sakiyama studied art in Osaka and then later went on to open his own kiln that he named “Hidaka” (High Sun)...

Japanese iron helmet inlaid with silver and gold. Made by 6 riveted iron plates. The dragon and cloud inlay is damascened (nunome zogan), the water drops in silver are in strong relief. At the front is riveted a circular steel plate representing a dragon. Signed by Shige Katsu. At the beginning of the 17th century, a Myochin Shige Katsu was working for the Date clan in Sandaï, it is certainly him. The shikoro has been added, it is in chiseled iron with clouds, I think it is older than the bo...

Exceptional fushi in shakudo inlaid with gold and sentoku ,recounting the legend of the warrior Hide Sato victorious over the giant Mokume. As a reward, the Dragon King Ryu-Jin presented him with a precious bell, an always hot cauldron and an inexhaustible sack of rice. We see these three objects carried by the servants of Ryu-Jin emerging from the waves. Exceptional quality.Important note that the gold parts are solid gold in pieces and not just gilded. 35x27mm. Sign. Good condition. I have...

Antique Japanese large hanging Buddhist temple lantern made of gilt copper. Elaborately designed with a three dimensional hexagonal form and decorated all over with pierced scrolling filigree featuring chrysanthemum blossoms and swirling mist. Smaller friezes display ocean waves. Raised roundels with peonies decorate the feet. The interior is lined with rice paper.

Age: Late Meiji Period (circa 1900)

Dimensions: 29" high x 33" long x 31" wide