Done in a style reminiscent of Japanese Mingei art, this striking yet functional folk-craft piece is the creation of Chikuunsai Tanabe III. Made entirely of traditional materials, the red lacquer is quite eye-catching and is sure to liven up any setting.

As the name suggests, Chikuunsai (1940-2014) is from a line of woodworkers—“Chiku” in this case meaning bamboo. This family of generational artists currently stretches to the 4th generation—the 4th being known for his large...

Japanese ribbed melon shaped vase with tall neck decorated with five shield form panels holding dragons chasing flaming pearls below a central horizontal red ground band filled with yellow and white chrysanthemums. The decoration is set against a tan background. Green counter-enamel base and interior. Circa 1920. 6 7/8” high. From a Prescott, Arizona collection.

Square dish with straight rims, with elegant indentation on each corner. In the center two cranes (or similar birds) walking on rocks underneath a pine tree near the sea. On the inside of the rims a continuous border of heart-shaped flowers, on the outside a border with diamond pattern, broken by one cartouche on each side, containing a house. The top of the rim decorated with a karakusa-border.

White porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue decoration. No mark on back, but 25 tiny spur marks...

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Meguro Fudo Temple, 1931
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Black, round Watanabe 6 mm seal at lower left, indicating a lifetime edition made between 1946 and 1957.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei #263.
Condition: Two original drying pinholes at left margin. Top margin has a few faint, diagonal marks.

Sambaso dancer with the typical high hat (striped eboshi) with a sun disc (round circle) on each side. In his left hand he holds suzu jingle bells; his right hand, on his back, holds a fan. Single block carving (ichiboku); keyaki (zelkova) wood, carved in a faceted way, resembling ittobori, and stained dark brown.

Japan, Taisho era, 1910s-1920s.
H ca. 18 inches.
One repaired crack from the bottom going up into his left shoulder, some scuffs and chips at edges, several tension ...

Antique Chinese tomb pottery figure of an ox with bridle and harness. Modeled with large eyes and a friendly expression, this ox was made to loyally serve it's owner in the afterlife. Made of terra-cotta with traces of brown, black and white slip pigment.

Age: Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" high x 13 1/4" long x 4 1/2" wide

Antique Japanese bronze usubata (container for ikebana flower arranging). Charming bronze frog with bumpy skin except for his belly and under chin which are smooth. Out of his mouth comes the stem of the water container portion of the usubata. Inside the inverted conical container is a rounded form with ridges for holding flowers and branches in place. The Japanese legend of Gama Sennin ("Toad Immortal") is based upon Chinese Liu Hai Gama Sennin "Toad Immortal" - Liu Hai: The Sage with the To...

Antique Chinese large porcelain vase. Decorated all over with a basket texture and a pair of dragons with a flaming pearl and cloud-like mist. The body of the vase is glazed a celadon green while the dragons remain a very pale bluish white. The dragons represent the endless cycle of transformation and the flaming wish-granting pearl is one of the Eight Treasures and represents pure intention.

Age: Republic Period (1912-1949)

Dimensions: 22 1/2" high x 13" wide

Antique Japanese hikeshi banten, fireman's coat. Made of cotton and stitched over every inch using a sashiko quilting technique. Fires were common in Japanese urban areas due to the dense population as well as construction material (primarily wood and paper). Fire brigades were made up of samurai class (buke hikeshi) as well as common class (machi hikeshi) and their primary goal in containing a fire was to knock out the surrounding buildings so the fire had no more fuel. These special coats...

Antique Japanese zushi shrine for travelers. Doors open to reveal Aizen-Myōō, one of the Wisdom Kings. Venerated in Japanese Esoteric and Vajrayana Buddhism, Aizen-Myōō is known for transforming worldly lust into spiritual awakening. In his six hands he hold attributes including a bell which calls awareness and a vajra which represents the diamond that cuts through illusion. In Sanskrit, his name is Rāgarāja which was translated into Chinese during the Tang Dynasty as Àirǎn Míngw�...

An antique Japanese Ikebana basket made with split and large slatted bamboo and Wisteria branches for the handle and mouth. Its design is a flattened Ovid form that is almost purse-like in shape. The top of the basket is woven along the Wisteria mouth in a free-form style that undulated along the wavy movement of the mouth. The base is a raised twisted rope foot. The handle evokes an image of a mythical creature standing on both sides of the basket with other gnarly creatures sitting along t...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Momiji (Maple), Sakura (Cherry) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Made with hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. With 8 exterior drawers, 2 sliding doors behind which is a storage space with a removable shelf and a hinged door that hides 4 small drawers. constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery with hardened wooden nails. Pair of side handles to each side for ease of placement in a room.

Age: Meiji p...

Kawase Hasui
Moon Over Kiyosumi Garden
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1938.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6 mm round seal lower right corner, indicating a lifetime edition printed between 1946-1957.
Reference: Hotei #424.
Condition: Excellent.

Chinese carved Wood Rice Cake Mold, early 1900's, 9 1/2" high, 3 1/2" wide, 2" deep, deep hand carving of Long Life and Happiness Chinese Characters, with nice dark brown natural wood shape, and old polished finish. Brass hook on top for hanging on the wall for decoration. The condition is good.

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) in three sections made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Two sliding doors to the top section behind which are three small drawers to the right and a split level shelf to the left.

Originally used for daily Kimono and fashion accessory storage, its contemporary function includes using it as a dresser dra...

An Arita porcelain whistle in the form of a reclining Chinese boy. Decorated in Kakiemon-type underglaze blue, green and iron-red enamels. Circa 1680 ~ 1700.

A similar whistle is illustrated in Christiaan J. A. Jorg’s ‘Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections.’

Approximately 7.4 cm long. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

Within the UK payment by bank to bank transfer is preferred.

Customers resident in China...

A rare Japanese Sometsuke Mukozuke dish, the design of a partially folded fan taken directly from Chinese porcelain made especially for export to Japan during the late Ming Dynasty, Tianqi Period, 1621-1627.

Modeled in the form of a partially unfolded fan and decorated with a figure on a riverbank, the river and a solitary boat before him. The naturalistically modeled back is plain and has three thickly potted circular feet. Mukozuke were used to serve the kaiseki meal, part of the for...

The figures are expertly carved and depict members of the Buddhist pantheon, unidentified by the writer. The material used has a marine origin and is most likely walrus tusk. They are darkened from age and have achieved a pleasing colour. The lotus stands are separately constructed and as they have been produced from a cross-section of the tusk they exhibit the dentine found within. At the least 19th century.

PLEASE NOTE THAT DELIVERY CAN BE MADE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM ONLY.

App...