Japanese antique giver of joy diety elephants, Shingon and Tendai sects, made of boxwood male and female elephants-headed with human body holding another. Well-carved, with inlaid eyes, hollow body. Giver of joy and prosperity. Small restoration.

Edo Period, circa 1800s
Size: Height 4" Width 2 1/4" Depth 2"

Closely resembling a historically important tea bowl made by one of the forebears of the art of tea and Raku pottery, Chojiro, this piece gives one a sense of the deep origins of tea culture.

Fired in the kilns of one of Kyoto’s best known Raku-yaki potters, Sasaki Shoraku III (1944-). The Shoraku line began when the grandfather of the current potter established a kiln near the famous Kiyomizu temple, nestled at the foot of the eastern mountains in Kyoto...

A rare antique Japanese Niigata Kiri Children's Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. It features a stylized Chrysanthemum design on each plate which represents the Mon or family crest of the original owner and Gumbai handles. The iron fittings were all hand made and the chest was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

These children's chests are not often seen in Japan...

Japanese Meiji period Artia Imari porcelain charger decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and brilliant polychrome enamels and gilt highlights with a central reserve holding a kirin and butterflies on a white background surrounded by three red-ground floral panels set against cobalt blue. Three underglaze blue leaves are spaced around the exterior. A single spur is on the base. Very good overall condition...

Kuniyoshi
Exiled Nichiren in Snow at Tsukahara, Sado Island
Size: Approximately 13.75 x 9.0 inches.
Date of first printing by Iseya Rihei: 1830-35.
Here is a rare limited edition (numbered 182) of this famous design...

An antique Japanese Kiri Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Using hand made iron fitting and Kakute style handle pulls. Construction includes straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails. Two drawers behind the small hinged Kobiraki door.

A secret box can be found hidden behind the bottom small drawer in back of the hinged door...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu or personal storage chest made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hand made iron fittings and Warabite style handle pulls accent this chest. With a Kobiraki hinged door, it hides 3 small drawers behind. It was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hand made iron fittings with Warabite style drawer pulls. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Original use was for the family storage of ephemera, small valuables, letters, documents, etc...

Japanese bamboo and wisteria branch gourd-shaped basket, beautifully woven, with open container for holding floral arrangement at largest node. wisteria branch base.

Circa 1930s
Size: Height 17" Width 13" Depth 8"

Pair of Japanese iron tsuba (sword guard), mounted on a stand, dating from the 17th/19th century with Hidden Christian motifs. The first tsuba composed of three iron interlocking circles, the image of the Cross can be seen. The second iron tsuba has a very delicate wire design in the interior representing the Crown of Thorns, also has a cross in the overall pattern.

Provenance Private Collector
Dates 17th-19th century
Size w/stand H 9 1/4" x W 2 1/2" x D 2"

An antique Japanese bronze okimono statue of a Japanese Ama or pearl diver walking to her boat in the wind. The artist conveyed the wind intensity by the way that her headscarf has unraveled as she keeps it atop her head. Her feet nearly reach the water embankment as she readies herself for the work ahead. The artist, Kyoi Masatsune - 京井政常,signed his name with a hallmark near her feet.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912).

Dimensions: 25" High x 10" Wide x 12" Deep

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu also known as a merchant chest made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods,most likely from the Nigata area of Japan. Featuring a Ryo Biraki (hinged double door) design it has a split level shelf where documents and merchant books were stored. Gumpai style handles and hand made iron fittings decorate this chest.

Merchant chests such as these were primarily displayed in a prominent location in the store...

Noren made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable dyed (probably kakishibu) and all hand-sewn. It has "Yotsume" family crest. In excellent condition. The second half of the 19th century. 122cm x 126cm

Japanese antique bamboo basket, with beautiful handle attached at the lower sides and bound with special decorative stylized knots. Hexagonal body of woven herringbone pattern. Feet at bottom are made of special decorative knots that are attached to ribbed shaped splines. Signed at bottom. The characters are: 寿雲斎作 "Made by Juunsai (寿雲斎)". Overall excellent condition.

Mid Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)
Size: Height 16 1/2" Width 11" Depth 10 1/2"

Four Japanese Tsuba dating from 16th/17th century with display stand.
-iron circular tsuba with gold incised patterns on edge with interior incised groves.
-iron clover shaped tsuba with interior heart shaped openings, applied gold groves of trees.
-iron persimmon shaped tsuba with moon showing through a cherry blossoms and leaves. Back side has bamboo with gold leaves. Overlay uses silver, gold over raised iron bamboo and cherry tree...

Cranes soar before the red orb of the sun over festive young pines on these five ceramic bowls covered outside in red and black lacquer from the Nagoya studio of Toyoraku (also Horaku) dating from the mid to later 19th century, late Edo to Meiji eras...

Japanese antique branch handled bamboo basket, branch undulating and with branching knobs, baluster vase shaped base ending in circular flattened bottom.

Circa 1910s, late Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Size: Height 23" Width 9 1/2" Depth 9 1/2"

Japanese antique wisteria branch handle with branch also at the rim of the basket opening. The branch has great texture with it's knobs and twists. Alternating wide flat bamboo with narrower bamboo slats on a bulbous body, ending in a circular base.

Circa 1920s, Late Meiji Period
Size: Height 20 1/2" Width 9 1/2" Depth 9 1/2"