An antique Japanese 1 section tall Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron and bronze hardware including the Hirute style handles. It features 2 pairs of large sliding doors and a lift-out door behind which were kept store records and books. 12 exterior drawers were used for storage and organizing. A small pair of sliding doors near the bottom hides two small drawers where valuables were kept.

Age: Meiji P...

A vintage mid century 2 section Kamo Isho Tansu made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware including the central Peony flower lock plates on the doors and the arabesque back plates to the drawer handles. Constructed using dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Behind the hinged doors of the upper section is housed 6 full width Kimono trays and two Obi trays with 3 small drawers for fashion accessories like Tabi, Kami-kazari and Himo. The lower section has 3 lar...

Pair of six leaves screens with decoration of horse-races on golden relief paper. The decoration offers a multitude of characters combining all the social classes gathering in the sanctuary of Kamo to Kyoto, to attend the taking place horse-race the fifth day of the fifth month : the Kamo Kurabe-Uma (加茂競馬).

This race count twenty riders in costume of Heian period split in two teams. She begins on the cherry trees side symbolizing the spring, and finish on the maple trees ...

Child Jesus as a Good Shepherd ivory statuette on a pedestal. He is naked and his face is gently leaned. His hairs are sculpted in fine strand of hair shaping curls. His almond eyes and his fixed look suggest a mystic and pensive attitude. The Christ child is seated, he is in a deeply meditation. In accordance with the classic representation of Salvator Mundi (“Savior of the World”) he holds a globe in his hands and lean on his visage his other hand, index finger and his middle finger...

A well carved bamboo brush pot with beautiful patina. The main side showing figures in a garden setting, the backside with two animal cartouches and a poem in Chinese characters, as well delicately engraved in French and romanized Chinese. Condition: the base reinforced with leather, some tears and cracks and tiny losses, rim with flee bites. Dimension: height: c. 15.5, diameter: 11.1 cm.

Rare hat made of rice straw and indigo dye cotton cloth which is hand-spun. It was worn by a hunter or a worker in the mountain. From Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku. Generally in good condition. The first half of the 20th century. L:52cm (indigo cloth 42cm ), W:32cm

Wood Sumikiri-bon with red urushi. Summikiri means a tray whose four corners are cut. Four sides have painted in Negoro style which has partly black urushi. Used and some scratches and chips in both sides . Late 19th to early 20th century. 36.5cm x 36.5cm x 3.5cm

Antique Chinese unusual double-gourd monochrome porcelain vase. The body with circular reserves in the center of either side of the vase. On one side is a highly raised and detailed scene of noblemen and a horse with a carriage and attendants. In the background is a pavilion roof and mountains. On the other side, a maiden sits in a garden beneath the moon with two attendants. All the genre scenes are painted with exquisite detail in gold and the negative space (like the rest of the vase) i...

Ancient Chinese jade figure of a kneeling anthropomorphic creature. Angular face with large, almond-shaped eyes and two dragon-like curling ear/horns. The body of the figure appears human with hands resting on bent knees and feet tucked under. Carved of pale green jade with orange rind and striations. The back is pierced for a chord to suspend or sew to clothing. Considered precious, carvings like this one were passed down through generations before finally being buried with the owner. <...

Antique Chinese small bronze handle fragment from a ritual bronze vessel. Made with swirling cloud motifs and dragon-like creatures. Beautiful patination. With custom metal stand.

Age: Song Dynasty

:Size H 4.5" x W 2.75" x D 2.5" (on stand)

Ivory netsuke representing a bamboo shoot (takenoko).

Netsuke constitute the major part of Japanese ivory of great quality. Since the Japanese costume (kimono) had no pockets, the objects were passed under the belt and the netsuke, held by a cord, was used to hold them.

From imaginary animals to natural and domestic elements, the subjects represented in netsuke are varied. The netsuke could represent elements of daily life. Netsuke carvers supplied for posterity ...

An eye-catching combination of brown-black colors and old expertly applied gold repairs on a classic Japanese E-Karatsu tea bowl dating from the middle of the Edo-Period (1603-1868).

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for.

It comes...

Antique Chinese belt hook of an unusual anthropomorphic figure with the head and wings of an owl but with human-like arms and legs. The opposite "hook" portion is another animal head. Made of bronze and mixed metal with inlaid swirling motifs and inset with carnelian eyes.

Age: Warring States ( 475BC-221BC)

Dimensions: 3 3/8" long x 1 1/8" wide x 1 1/4" high

This is the pinnacle of production for imperial artist Seifu Yohei III, a large Taihakuji porcelain vase with carved designs enclosed in the original signed wood box. Museum quality would be an understatement. Seifu III was known to have made few large works, so this is a very important piece, and Taihakuji was his most appreciated style. Here we see two pheasants in a blossoming tree overlooking a large crag, with clouds brimming about the rim, all in carved relief. It is signed on the base D...

Cranes rest in the boughs of a massive blue pine overlaying the white clouds billowing on the pink tinged body of this large vase by Seifu Yohei III enclosed in a signed wooden box annotated by Seifu IV. An identical vase held in the collection of the Ashmolean is visible on page 19 in the book Sandai Seifu Yohei (Seki Kazuo, 2012). Seifu III was known to have made few large works, so this is a very important piece. It is signed on the base Dai-Nippon Seifu Zo. It is 46 cm (18 inches) tall, 26...

An antique Japanese single section Kimono Tansu (chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Front corner reinforcements on all drawer fronts with two side handles on each side for carrying this tansu from room to room. Constructed using thick straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: Late Edo Era (1800-1868)

Dimensions: 36 1/2" Wide by 28" High by 17 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite stye handles. 5 exterior drawers for storage and organizing with 2 sliding doors behind which store records and books were kept. Hinged door secures 2 small drawers where valuables were hidden away. Horizontal side slats provide strength and a visual design element complimenting the sliding door slats. Through mortise a...

Hiroshige Ando (Utagawa)
The Monkey Bridge in Kai Province (Kōyō Saruhashi no zu)
Date: ca. 1841–42 This edition early 20th century.
Size: Large vertical diptych at 29.0 x 9.625 inches.
Publisher: Bears Tsutaya Kichizo seal on front. This edition published by Adachi (seal on back).
Condition: Slight creasing at top corners. A couple of faint foxing spots near bottom.