Japanese obi, nagoya style, painted with two noh masks on soft satin silk. The base color is a gentle pink/wisteria color with earth-tone. Taisho/Early Showa.

9.5 feet long hand-painted Japanese carp banner (Koi-nobori) for Boy's Day. Here on this banner, a mighty little boy named Kintaro, is hitching a ride on a carp. Kintaro may be a creation from a theater play (jyoruri and kabuki) of the Edo period – although he is said to be a childhood figure of the 10th century samurai, Sakata no Kinsuke - he is extremely strong and still a popular hero figure for Japanese boys. Kintaro (Kinta) figures are often seen carrying an ax, wrestling with bea...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, an extremely fine and beautiful Mughal - style silk rug executed in the “tree of life pattern,” with various pairs of fauna and flora in the center medallion, and flanked by additional flora and geometric motifs in the border areas. Woven with a veritable kaleidoscope of rich but subtle shades of mint, peach, burgundy, brown, cream, taupe, and burnt orange colored silks, this is a very elegant and sophisticated piece that can be used either as a floo...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a good Thai repousse silver box with burlwood lining, depicting the Thai and Burmese kings in battle during the sixteenth century. Sourced directly from Chiang Mai Thailand in 1990, this is a substantial box of good quality silver. The exterior has been allowed to patinate for 20 years and has taken on the usual dark grey patina typical for sterling silver, but the interior is completely pristine as it has never actually been used. A new owner may prefer to ...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a very fine and unusual Kangxi Period (1662-1722) porcelain dish of European form, depicting two gentlemen discussing business alongside a boat dock while an attendant stands nearby with tea. This particular dish is extremely well-painted with a proficiency that rivals even some of our better mark and period pieces, and is executed in a very rich palette of four different shades of cobalt blue. On the reverse, there are stylized branch motifs along w...

This Chinese antique wood carving was possibly part of an architectural structure or possibly from a piece of furniture. The wood is approximately 1.3 inches thick and retains much of the original finish though it is obviously worn in some areas. The tradition carvings of 2 dragons chasing the pearl is very well done. The piece is about 5 inches high and 17 inches long.

Noh Mask (noh-men), Hanakobu Akujyo (Akujou), bumpy nosed fierce old man. Besides the distinctive nose, he has a deep V-shaped crease between his eyebrows and the veins on his temples to his forehead, piercing bulging eyes, teeth painted in gold, with a tan colored horsehair beard and mustache. Not an ordinary face of an old man, he appears to possess something supernatural. This men(mask) is very lightweight. Written on the reverse side is "Hana kobu Aku jyo" in gold. His mask is large for ...

Nepalese Middle Hills Shaman Mask. 12 x 8.75 inches, 30.5 x 22 cm.

From our Japanese Collection, a fine and very attractive mid-century silk thread composition depicting a Shinto shrine nestled within a treed riverbank, with a foot-bridge and boats in the foreground. The composition uses rich but tasteful shades of burgundy, brown, cream, dark green, a touch of soft pink, and other subtle earth tones. The piece evokes a relaxed charm.

Size and Condition: Framed dimensions are 25 inches wide, 19 3/4 inches tall. There is some minor scuffing to the ...

From our Chinese Polychrome Collection, a beautiful pair of pith paintings, circa 1840-1860, each representing a lady of high stature, possibly royalty, being attended to by her servant. One is reclining upon an opium bed with a large screen while her servant lights her pipe; the second sits upon a throne in a dragon embossed robe, also backed by a large and well-painted screen, and is being presented a ruyi scepter by her servant. Both pieces are extremely well-painted and represent very fine e...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a very fine Kangxi (1662-1722) Mark and Period porcelain dish depicting a distinguished gentleman and an elegant lady exchanging glances under the willow tree of a fenced pavilion. Cross-hatched motifs decorate the border, along with four vignettes of peaches signifying longevity. The reverse is decorated with what appears to be stylized mountains on the outer rim, with the six character Kangxi mark of the period contained within double circles in th...

Japanese tabako-ire (tobacco pouch) decorated with an embroidered dragon chasing a flaming pearl. The dragon's body extends around the front and back of the pouch. The fierce head with open jaw is located on the front above the silver alloy dragon-form kanemono (clasp). An ivory accent adorns one of the two interior compartments. A circular ivory and repousse metal dragon kagamibuta netsuke is attached by 10 strands of metal chains secured by a dragon decorated squared silver guard. These h...

Woo Jong Taek (born 1973) paints with ink and watercolors on both sides of the paper, combining the ancient techniques of Goryeo Dynasty Buddhist painting with modern techniques to create compositions that are deeply contemplative meditations on our modern times, casting the 21st Century everyman as Bodhisattva, offering us a thoughtful way to see our world. Woo is in touch with Korea's ancient history while he is also informed by the modern minjung 'people's movement' in art. His paintings are ...

Woo Jong Taek (born 1973) paints with ink and watercolor on both sides of the paper, combining the ancient techniques of Goryeo Dynasty Buddhist painting with modern techniques to create compositions that are deeply contemplative meditations on our modern times, casting the 21st Century everyman as Bodhisattva, offering us a thoughtful way to see our world. Woo is in touch with Korea's ancient history while he is also informed by the modern minjung 'people's movement' in art. His paintings are a...

Miyazaki Shikki (lacquer wares) box, 10" x 12 5/8" x 4", new condition, circa late 1900s. The red is actually darker than shown in the pictures.

The high humidity and temperature in Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu (southern island, Japan) is perfect for drying lacquer wares. During the Pacific War, there was a group of people who migrated from Okinawa to Miyazaki. Among them were the artisans and workers from the Ryukyu Lacquer Ware. It was at a time that over 200,000 casualties were re...

Oban diptych by Taiso Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) titled “The Story of the Strong Woman Takashima Oiko of Omi Province” from the series "A New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures." The print depicts Takashima Oiko leading Saeki Urinaga home in an effort to strengthen him for a wrestling match. The artist's signature and Taiso seal are at the lower left. The lower left margin contains the date of "Meiji 22" (1889). The title cartouche is at the upper right. Published by Tsunashima Kamekichi. T...

Unusually large Tibetan copper and silver or silverplate mihrab form reliquary, or portable shrine box, decorated in repousse on the cover with a pattern of abstract scrolls. The back, sides, and side handles are copper. Also called a “gau,” these prayer boxes were used to hold protective amulets, personal deities, and written prayers. A strap or belt could be attached to the side handles when traveling. Otherwise, they were usually placed on the home altar. 9” high x 8” across at t...

A very elegant Japanese sand-cast iron tea kettle and brazier (furokama, fuuro-kama) of unusually small size (making water for one person). The round brazier (Furo) has an opening on each side; the kettle with a tapering top is finely cast with romping horses, loose ring handles and delicately shaped top with simple knob. The brazier with cast mark 'Nanbu, Morioka, sei(?) mitsu(koi) dou. Nanbu and Mizusawa of Morioka in Iwate prefecture (northern Japan) has been famous for cast iron wares. Mor...