Beautiful Japanese inro with a swimming highly detailed koi fish on each side. Each koi is delicately carved out of tortoise shell with glass eyes and details in gold lacquer. The body of the info is original lacquer in gold with with gold details and raised tendrils of water. 4 individual pieces (3 compartments), signed on bottom "Kyushi", Edo Period Early 18th century. Original condition. Size: 2 3/4" high x 2 5/8" wide 3/4" thick

A beautiful Japanese hand-embroidered silk wall hanging with a scene of two elegantly fighting roosters. Each one surrounded by nicely detailed dandelions and chrysanthemums. Forbidden stitch work used in the center of each flower. Pine tree branches overhang the scene with interesting fine detail. The bottom left is embroidered with a red jar bearing artist's signature.

Early Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 70" H x 45" W

Antique Japanese okimono gilt bronze rooster crafted in the shokado method of casting comprised of bronze, gold, and silver. The cockerel's feathered body is finely chased and carved, delineating each feather with gilding and blackened patinated silver this is infused into the finish.

Detailed gilt feet, beak, and eyes using the same technique except the red lacquered Comb of the cockerel...

Introduced to Japan through the Portuguese in 1543. Intended for use by mounted samurai, these pistols where called horsemen cannon's (Bajo zutsu).
They proved however to be totally impractical weapons to fire, since the rider had to ignite a piece of chord to the lock, while aiming the chamber and at the same time controlling his moving horse. None the less, owning a pistol remained a symbol of a samurai family's power, rank, and wealth...

A gorgeous Japanese isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Sendai region, with a red lacquer Sugi (cedar) frame and Keyaki (elm) front drawers in its original, rich honey finish. Each drawer opens with mokko (melon) style handles on lotus back plates, and is adorned with elaborate scrolling vine iron locks. The bottom safe box holds three red lacquer front drawers, and hides away a secret back compartment.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 46.5" L x 23.5" W x 34.5" H

Japanese 17th/18th century scroll painting of a buddhist priest, outlined in a very rare style of incredibly tiny calligraphy mantra. The mantra repeats "Amida Butsu Nam Mo". The meditating priest holds a strand of mala beads and a willow branch and is seated upon a green lotus throne on clouds. The figure is most likely "Dengyo Daishi", the monk who brought Buddhism into Japan...

Rare Japanese kakiemon ware porcelain jar. Of a tapered melon shape, with circular floral enso motifs of bamboo, blossoming cherry branches, hydrangea, kiri leaves. The Imperial dragon and phoenix paired to represent the emperor and empress. With overglaze green, red, and blue on white bisque ground. The domed lid topped with karakusa (octopus vine) and kiri leaf pattern.

19th century

Dimensions : 7.5" W x 10" H

Japanese six panel byobu (folding screen painting). Hand-painted with imagery of realistic swimming fish and flowers with gold flecks. Signed in stylized calligraphy with 2 red chops.

Late Meiji/Early Taisho Period

Dimensions: 109" L x 53.75" H

Antique Japanese 2-section choba tansu (merchant's chest) from the Matsumoto region. Made with Keyaki (elm/zelkova) dramatic burl hardwood front panels. The upper section features a pair of sliding panels, with an open shelved compartment inside over two small drawers. One drawer has a slot above it to deposit money inside. There is also a secret hidden compartment, holding a small treasure box with kanji inscription. This style of chest is quite rare...

Japanese hirado ware porcelain figure of a puppy . The entire body is hand carved with realistic fur pattern, the body in white underglaze with the eyes left bare. The puppy's paws and toes are fully carved to the bottom of the piece, which is left bare from the white glaze. The bottom is pierced with an air hole from when it was originally fired in the kiln.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 7 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 5" H

Antique Japanese Scroll Triptych, signed Sumiyoshi Hirosada (1793-1862) , 7th head of the Sumiyoshi line of painters. Three paintings: One painting is of two men meeting on a mountain path, pines and blossoming plum trees dot the hillside and the rooftops of a fishing village can be seen emerging through the mist. Another scroll depicts a lady seated at her writing table by her pavilion window. Outside, the moon shines above pine covered hills...

A pair of mounted panels painted with battle scenes from the Tales of Heike. One panel appears to take place during the battle at Dan no Ura. This painting of samurai contains the signature crest of the Heiki clan (the butterfly). The other panel is a portrait of the famous monk warrior, Benke, on horseback in the Shichi-henge form (where he carries many weapons)...

"Diary March 5th '79" is a photographic silk screen print of a child holding a blanket in one hand with her other hand in a sling on a light ground of traditional woodblock technique. This is one of a series of "Diary entry" prints the artist is most famous for in which he depicts photographed scene from daily life. Born in 1940, Tetsuya Noda is considered to be Japan's most important living print artist...

"Diary June 3rd '78" is a photographic silk screen print of a child holding a blanket on a light ground of traditional woodblock technique. This is one of a series of "Diary entry" prints the artist is most famous for in which he depicts photographed scenes from daily life. Title, signature and date in pencil. Sealed with thumb print. Born in 1940, Tetsuya Noda is considered to be Japan's most important living print artist. He is a professor emeritus at Tokyo University of the Arts...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of keyaki (elm) wood burl with heavy iron hardware. The upper most portion of the chest has a large full width drawer above a compartment with sliding panels. The middle of the tansu has a horizontal row of three small drawers. The bottom portion of the tansu has a series of three drawers stacked in a vertical row and held in place with a locking bar...

Antique Japanese bronze sutra container of a pagoda form with very tall finial and calligraphy inscription. The bronze shows beautiful green patina inside and on the foot and the lid shows old corrosion. The burial of sutras in sutra mounds began in 1007 when Fujiwara no Michinaga had a gilt bronze sutra container inscribed upon its burial at the Kinpusen sutra mound in Yoshino...

A Japanese antique merchant (Choba) tansu made of thick quartered sawn keyaki wood with keyaki burl wood doors. The wonderful hardware is hand made iron. The casing is crytomeria. The tansu's top section has three top drawers. The mid section has sliding doors with an interior shelf and adjacent two drawers. The lower section has 4 small drawers and below them 3 more smaller drawers. Beautiful original finish in great condition.

Date: early Meiji 1870's

Dimensions: 36" tall...

A rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (herbal medicine pharmacist chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Includes swivel side carrying handles which when flipped up allowed a wood or bamboo pole to slide through allowing two attendants to carry the chest about. Sliding doors allowed access to a storage area where herbal books, customer notes and prescriptions were stored. Total of 86 drawers make up this tansu.