An incredible monumental Japanese solid cast bronze Peace Bell custom iron stand with clapper. Inscription with dated, location and donor of bell. Bell is in excellent original condition with no repairs or damage. The sound is absolutely stunning lasts for a very long time 世話人 Sponsors (or Caretakers)
[7 names]
高岡市 鋳物師 老子次右 Takaoka City Caster: Oigo Ji[emon] context seems likely to refer to 衛門, as part of the name Oigo Jiemon, a famous caste...

A 2 Section antique Korean Nong (clothing chest) made of Genko Wood. Nickel hard mounts with center door medallion and stylized butterfly hinges. Side handles and a desk style bottom section.

Age: Yi Dynasty (late 19th Century)

Dimensions: 38 1/2" Wide x 36 1/2" High by 18 3/4" Deep

Antique Japanese Bronze Temple Bell (Bonsho). Inscribed on body with name of location, temple and date. The first 4 lines (from the right side of the 2nd photo) say: 門々不同八万四　Mon-mon fudо̄ hachi-man-shi 為滅無明果業因　I metsu mumyо̄ ka gо̄in 利剱即是弥陀号　Riken soku ze Mida gо̄ 一聲称念罪皆除　Isshо̄ shо̄nen zai kai jo I found a translation in the Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics (1914): The 84,000 doors*, each different fro...

Antique Japanese Shinto mask in the likeness of a fox (kitsune). Carved of wood and lacquered dark brown, this mask is made with a movable lower jaw operated by a wooden mouthpiece. Most likely used during ceremonial dance associated with Shinto religion.

Japanese folk lore tell of many variations of the role of the fox including those closely related to guardians of Shinto Shrines. The goddess of agriculture and fertility, Inari-san herself at times takes on the form of a white ...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant Chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Shunkei Nuri (lacquer) on the front with a wiped lacquer technique on the top and sides which accentuates the beautiful grain pattern of the woods. The backs of all the drawers were made using very thick wood. The hand made iron hardware is also original including the stylized Gumbai handles and the bronze sliding door handles. Natural aged dark patina surr...

An antique Japanese 3 section Kimono Biraki Isho Tansu (stacking chest on chest with hinged doors) constructed entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hinged doors open to 3 removable kimono trays. Spacious storage behind the sliding doors in the top section with 3 additional side by side storage drawers. Bottom section has 2 large drawers for additional storage space. Each section can be separated for use in different rooms of the home. Retaining its original finish, it would both be funct...

Antique Japanese carved boxwood jizai-okimono of a dragon. Literally meaning "decorative object, moves at will", this jizai-okimono is made up of many separately carved moving pieces. There are differing theories about why these articulated creatures came to be made, the most accepted being that the armorers who normally created suits started crafting jizai-okimono as a way to show off their skills to daimyos in hopes of being chosen next time their armor needed to be replaced. During the Me...

Rare Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Shizuma Uchida (1906-2001) titled "Chichibu Mountainous Region." The title and signature of the artist are in black ink at the lower right with the artist's red seal below. The bottom margin is pencil-signed "S. Uchida," titled in kanji, and numbered 6/20. Paper: 11 1/2" x 14 3/4" (image: 10 1/2" x 14"). This image is undated, but the artist was known to have been active as a printmaker in the 1930s. Very good overall condition. ...

On behalf of a Dutch collector

Here is another stunning chawan, a Nogime (hare's fur) Tenmoku tea bowl from the Jian Kilns - made in the Southern Song era (Chinese: 南宋; 1127–1279). Such tea bowls were one of the first tea bowls in Japan, which came together with the first tea from China.

Little refined iron bearing clay, with iron oxide, thrown into the typical tenmoku shape. The bowl was tilted a little in the sagger so the flat pool of glaze inside is a little til...

Antique Chinese hardwood ruyi scepter, naturalistically carved in the gnarled form of a lingzhi mushroom. A ruyi (meaning "as desired" or "as you wish" in Chinese) is a symbol of power and good fortune. Larger ruyi were held by nobility as scepters, smaller ruyi acted as a talisman. Because of it's many medicinal uses and it's power to balance one's qi (life force), lingzhi fungus is often seen in Chinese art as a symbol of health and longevity.

Republic Period (1912-1949)