A rare antique Japanese Sado Island Kasane Tansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles, decorative lock plates and front of drawer corners. The two upper full width drawers have lock plates that each feature the lucky Phoenix bird while the two lower drawers 3/4 width drawers shows an auspicious crane above and a good luck sea turtle below both representing longevity. The corner hardware and the handle...

An antique Japanese low Tansu with two full width Kimono storage drawers made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. Unique scalloped lock plates decorate the drawer fronts. Straight dovetail Japanese joinery with hardened wooden nail construction. Side swivel carrying handles allow a long pole through them for ease of carrying the tansu between locations.

Contemporary placement include u...

Swirling free standing bronze dragon reaching upward supporting a golden rutilated quartz energy ball. Three claws on each of the four feet. The dragon has an arching twisted body with an open mouth. Original patina with natural variation of bronze tones.

The Japanese see dragons as benefactors and protectors of mankind. Dragon tattoos symbolize bravery, wisdom, and strength. Overall in wonderful original condition.


Late 19th to Early 20th Century

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Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku-ware and especially in works produced by the Tamamizu kiln, such as the 300+ year old ceremonial tea bowl seen here. The first in this line of potters was Yahē (1662 - 1722), an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (1615 - 1768) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho). Though he is the first potter of this branch, he is sometimes referred to as Tamam...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nihon Matsu Kasane (stacking) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original natural Urushi lacquer finish. Hand forged iron hardware with lock plates that feature a quarter moon with a butterfly and Chrysanthemum knobs, Warabite handles with upper Pine tree and lower Plum Blossom Atari, and side handles on both sections. Constructed using Japanese straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

The Nihon Matsu Tansu is po...

This is an antique Japanese 3 section Isho Kimono Tansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Each section interlocks by way of a dual carrying handle/locking bar connection. Constructed using Japanese straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. The top section features a shelf for additional storage while the center section has three Kimono trays behind the front doors with two large drawers for additional storage in the bottom section. It was made with remo...

Rare Korean stoneware vase from the Silla period, 5th or 6th century. Undulating decoration incised with a comb and pierced with typical triangles. The upper part is covered with an ash glass. A similar but smaller and unglazed model is housed at the Minneapolis Institute. Good condition. Height: 34cm

Slightly distorted cylinder shaped (tsuzu) tea bowl with straight walls, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife around the foot ring.

The bowl was partly covered with black iron oxide glaze of the non glossy type (preferable!) and then covered with a black glaze in the style of a Seto-guro bowl. On the other half it is decorated with two oxcart wheels. This beautiful Chawan was made in the 19th century during the Edo Pe...

This is a Japanese antique indigo dye and Bengala dye hemp-Umakake Tsutsugaki-type dyeing. A very impressive and charming pattern of wheel crests, treasure balls and checkers. There is a slight stain, but it is not noticeable. There is no damage. It's in very good condition. Size:Length:440cm(173.2inch) / Width:67cm (26.3inch)

Old rattan/bamboo splitting knife used in basket making. The blade still carries a sharp edge and is still quite serviceable. L: 65cm/25.5 (blade is 18.5cm/7.5in). Good condition, the blade has some surface rust but is till sound and solid.

Good silk textile with tiger embroidery- all the threads are silk except the black. This was acquired in 1991 and has been sitting in a box ever since then. W: 69cm/27in x L: 149cm/58.5in

Small painting of the 11-headed Kannon standing on a lotus dais, flanked by Bishamonten and Fudo Myoo.
In the front two red colored Nio are guarding the deities.
Inscription on the central base reads: Ichijoten (name of the temple hall), junsan koichi hongu.
The inscription on the bottom reads: Kazusa Shibayama Tenozan Kanon kyoji.
Rollers cut off and framed in mounting.

Black ink and colors on paper.
Japan, Edo period, 19th century.

Painted area: 22 7/...

Unmarked bronze seal or scholar's weight? It represents a fantastic animal firmly camped on its legs. The artist has given it an interesting mischievous expression. It is in cast bronze, the finish is of the highest quality as well as the chasing. The perfection of the line of the hairs is the work of an excellent chiseller. The movement of the head which turns to the right makes the body tilt to the left while the tail compensates to the right only an excellent sculptor can make such a realism....

Considered auspicious symbols of wealth, status, and good fortune; foo dogs—commonly referred to as shishi or koma-inu in Japan—are often seen in pairs guarding shrines, straddling the doorways of shops, and protecting public buildings. Here we have a fierce guardian adorning an incense cady (kogo). Rendered in fine celadon porcelain that Sozan was so renowned for, this pieces would be a rare addition for any collector interested in Sozan’s body of work.

Suwa Sozan I (1852—1...

Japanese Taisho to early Showa period Satsuma earthenware charger finely decorated in polychrome enamel and gilt with a single large foliate form cartouche set against a black background that extends to cover the back walls. The cartouche features a landscape scene with temples set among high mountain peaks. A bridge over water holds a single figure. The decoration is set against a cream colored finely crackled glaze background. Koshida workshop mark to the base. Potted with three small holes in...

Massive Japanese Arita porcelain punch bowl decorated in underglaze blue with four alternating dragon and phoenix panels surrounded by a dense background of floral and geometric forms set against a white ground. The center features a treasure ship among kiri (pawlonia) crests, flaming pearls, and patterned balls. The outer wall holds four floral sprays set between bands at the rim and foot. A double foot ring base dates the bowl to circa 1870 (early Meiji period). 20 1/4" diameter x 7 1/4" high...

Beautiful old classic Lao shoulder clothe, all natural dyes with hand spun silk threads. I picked this up on my first trip to Laos in the mid 1990s, at the Talat Sao Market, Vientiane and would date this to the 1970/80s. The fabric is incredibly soft and supple and may be worn (it is amazingly warm) as a scarf or hung as wall art. It has a few loose threads on the selvedge but otherwise in excellent condition with no holes or tears. W: 38cm/15in and L: 243cm/8ft. Free shipping via...

Kuwata Takuro makes the most characteristic pottery we have ever seen, and when you look at this spectacular piece it is easy to understand why.

This is his Ki-Ji Kinsai Chawan which comes with his originally with his seal, calligraphy and fingerprint signed wooden box.

Takuro surely needs no introduction. He was born in 1981 in Hiroshima and graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Kyoto Saga University in 2001. After that he started studying under Susumu Zaima in 20...