Banko polychrome enamelled terracotta teapot, representing on each side masks from the Japanese folklore. Handle in wicker work. On the spout, Hyottoko, a comical and childlike character. He is recognizable by the shape of his elongated mouth with two red dots (he blows fire with a bamboo pipe), his white scarf with blue dots around his face and his eyes of different sizes. During local festivals like in Miyazaki, he appears in traditional dengaku dances and plays the role of a clown ...

The Liberty and Co. was established in 1875 by Arthur Lisenby Liberty with the intention of selling goods and furniture from all around the British empire. By the end of the XIX th century, and with the growth in popularity of the arts and crafts movement, the well implanted business diversifies. Most of the items sold were now custom made for Liberty and are sold in the numerous shop of the firm. This specific line occurred by the year 1905 and was fully made of hardwood in Japan. Wit...

Bronze with a brown patina representing a snail with a very interesting pose. Its angular pose suggests that it could be exposed in such a way that he would mimic a real snail going up or down a wall. The texture of the shell and the skin are rather realistic and emphasize the expression of snail’s long globular eyes. A hole in its mouth could be used to turn the whole sculpture into an incense burner. Foundry stamp at the base of the tail Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912) Length: 7.5 ...

It is a very convincing bronze sculpture of a mouse with a light brown patina, represented with an astonishing set of detail on its eyes, nose and fur. She is seated on her rear paws and holding a hazelnut on her front paws, it is perforated so the whole sculpture could be used as an incense burner. Even though rats have a poor reputation in the west they are omens of good luck and prosperity in Asia. Foundry mark on the rear of the nut Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912) Length: 8 cm �...

Detailed tiny mouse in cast bronze, represented lying on a hazelnut. The texture of its fur and the finish of its eyes and nose is pretty impressive, the tail is curving on the left side of the subject. Even though it is a bad omen in the west, mice are beloved animal in Asia and especially in Japan where they are thought to be symbols of good fortune and prosperity Small foundry stamp on the bottom of the hazelnut Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912) Length: 7cm – Width: 5 cm - Height: ...

Mask of the Noh Theater representing the character of Shishiguchi. This finely carved from wood mask shows a face with powerful features, with polychrome pigments to enhance its fierce expression. Its height: 25.5 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: Shishiguchi means litterally "The Lion's Mouth" This mask is mainly used to interpret the spirit of the lion in a scene of "Shakkyo", a Noh play from which all the lion dances of Kabuki theater are originating.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion in Kyoto)
Print size: 5.625 x 3.875 inches.
Publisher: Shobido Tanaka.
Date: 1930s.
Koitsu seal and title at lower right.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-SB-11.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along top edge only to 7.125 x 5-inch unused original greeting card.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
Print size: 5.625 x 3.875 inches.
Publisher: Shobido Tanaka.
Date: 1930s.
Koitsu seal and title at lower right.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-SB-13.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along top edge only to 7.125 x 5-inch unused original greeting card.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Nagao Pass
Print size: 5.625 x 3.875 inches.
Publisher: Shobido Tanaka.
Date: 1930s.
Koitsu seal and title at lower right.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-SB-20.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along top edge only to 7.125 x 5-inch unused original greeting card.
Condition: Excellent.

A finely carved pair of coconut bowls with inserts of pure silver (with silver stamps). Decorated on the corpus with good-luck symbols and the attributes of the Eight Immortals. Both with a later Danish owner’s inscription reading: “G. Kina 24/12/1925.” China, Qing, 19th cent. most probably Daoguang period. H 5.5 cm, D 13 cm. Condition: Perfect.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Arashiyama
Print size: 5.625 x 3.875 inches.
Publisher: Shobido Tanaka.
Date: 1930s.
Koitsu seal and title at lower right.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-SB-4.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along top edge only to 7.125 x 5-inch unused original greeting card.
Condition: Excellent.

An interesting and stylistically unusual, gilt bronze image of the bodhisattva Vajradhara sitting in Dyana-asana with hands in vajrahuṃkara-mudra, holding bell and vajra crossed in front of his chest. He wears a broad crown on his head with flanging tassels. High lotus seat with large, flat, double petals. Tone of gilding very fine. Eastern Tibet, 17th cent. Sealed. H 17 cm. Condition: Very good. Hole in top of hair knot and some rubbing to gold.

This piece has patterns painted with very precise technique. The motifs are peony and pine tree. Size: 18.2cm(D) Certification: written by Noriki Shimazu the famous researcher with Asian antiques in Japan.

This piece is very interesting shaped plate, it's called Gunbai which means a military leader's fan or Sumo referee's fan. It has some repairs with gold. Size; 16.3cm / 10.8cm Certification: written by Noriki Shimazu the famous researcher with Asian antiques in Japan.

Chinese Neolithic Pottery Jar - Siwa Culture (c. 1350 BC)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar dates to the Siwa culture (c. 1350 BC), one of the later Chinese Neolithic cultures overlapping the Bronze Age. It has been fired to an attractive orange-red and has a burnished surface making it smooth to the touch and a pleasure to handle. It has a wide body with a relatively small flat base. There are two loop handles joining the shoulder to the mouth which is of the form sometimes referred to ...

Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Glazed Pottery Jar (AD 25 - 220)

This pottery jar of "hu" form was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is made from a relatively highly-fired reddish pottery. It has simple incised decorative bands surrounding the body of jar. The outer surface is coated in a pale amber-coloured glaze.

Height 17.5 cm. It is in very good condition with no restoration or repair and just a chip to the vul...

Chinese Han Dynasty Glazed Pottery Jar (206 BC - AD 220)

This pottery jar of "hu" form was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is made from a relatively highly-fired reddish pottery and has simple incised decorative bands surrounding the jar at its shoulder. The whole surface, including the base and inner mouth, is coated in an attractive amber-coloured glaze that is very finely-crackled. The flat base has marks where th...

Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Glazed Pottery Jar (AD 25 - 220)

This pottery jar of "hu" form was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a relatively highly-fired reddish pottery. It has simple incised decorative bands surrounding the body of jar. The outer surface is coated in a pale amber-coloured glaze.

Height 17.5 cm. It is in very good condition with no restoration or repai...