Nice little teapot in satzuma earthenware. Decorated with a landscape of madarin ducks, symbol of marital happiness. Original handle in woven bamboo fibre. Signature of the artist, I did not look for it but I can do it on request. Perfect condition. Width about: 11cm

Meiji Period (1868-1912) Japanese Red Raku Teabowl (Chawan) for tea ceremony.

Raku pottery is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremony since as early as the 16th century.
The seal of the potter is stamped at the bottom.

Size
2.184in. (5.6cm.) high;
4.875in. (12.5cm.) diameter;
225g weight.

Condition
Good considering the age.
There are small chips and small gold repair at the rim...

Antique Japanese iron tsuba (sword hand guard) decorated with mixed metal gold and silver inlay. One side show a scene of a small dog playing with a grass hopper amidst grasses and flowers. In the distance are mountains topped with gold. The reverse side is signed by the maker and shows a scene of a small sleeping dog curled up in the bamboo by a stream.

Age: Late Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: 3" long x 2 7/8" wide

Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) Antique Japanese Tea Cup with inscribed poem and signature

Rengetsu Otagaki (1791-1875) was a Buddhist nun who is widely regarded to have been one of the greatest Japanese poets of the 19th century.
She was also a skilled potter and painter and expert calligrapher and adorned her ceramics with poems written in her unique calligraphic style.
The cup style and the the glaze is consistent with authentic Rengetsu work.

Size
Width 8cm...

Dragon candlestick in bronze forming crucifix. Japan edo. This cruciform shape is unknown in Japanese art. I think it is a household crucifix for a Japanese Christian family who would have liked to have a discreet crucufix in their house. A non-Christian visitor would never have suspected that this three-candle dragon was a representation of Christ on the cross...

Koi frolic, splashing gold and silver waves as they leap and battle for the top of this stacking food dish dating from the later 19th century. The design is striking! Outside is polished black loaded down with gold and silver maki-e with applied kirigane cut gold squares. Inside is festive red. The box (assembled) is 25 x 23 x 38 cm (10 x 9 x 15 inches). Some minor dings but overall, very nice condition for something which has seen use.

Antique Japanese small lacquer safe box with hinged door and 3 small interior drawers. Decorated on all sides including the drawer fronts with detailed harakusa (octopus vine) design in fine maki-e lacquer on a dense nashiji ground. The drawers are covered on all sides in fine nashiji gold flakes. Hardware is made of silver and incised with a similar scrolling vine motif.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 3 1/4" high x 3" wide x 5 3/4" deep

A voluminous ink landscape built around two scholars viewing the cascade dropping into the canyon on this huge scroll by Tanaka Hakuin enclosed in the original signed wooden box dated Meiji 45 (1912). Performed with rich black ink against the sheer white paper, the mountainous crags and leafy forms built up in layers of gray and black. The scene is mounted in patterned silk with white piping in the Mincho style popular among literati painters in the era, and features huge bone rollers...

A very versatile and innovative artist, Sakata Jinnai produces pieces such as the vase seen here in his easily recognizable trademark style. Many of his pieces are earthy and primal in compositions, often inlaid with gold or partially painted in “makie” using various lacquers for dramatic effect. Waves and contours also feature prominently in his work; inspired, he says, by cosmic energies and architectures of the universe...

Maiwai is a kimono having been given to fishermen from a fish boat owner on the occasion of the large catch. It is seen along the Pacific Ocean, from Aomori to Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture. The motif of the picture in the lower part is “Gonin-dachi Kashima Odori”, five people performing Kashima dance which is the group folk dancing originated from Kashima-jingu Shrine in Ibaraki Pref. The design is katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and vegetable indigo dyed and pigments...

An antique Japanese Funa Bako (ship safe box) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. The safe door opens to 5 drawers where valuables were kept. The heavy weight of the case combined with a buoyant interior allowed the crew members to attach a rope to the handle and throw the safe overboard during a pirate attack...

An antique Japanese Ryo Biraki Tansu made of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and the natural Urushi lacquer. The two hinged doors hide 6 drawers of varying sizes. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 1/2 Wide by 21 1/4" High by 17" Deep.

Ivory okimono of a toad carrying an orchestra of five monkeys.
Four monkeys is playing instruments such as the shamisen (long-necked lute with three strings), the shime-daiko (small drum) and the flute. The fifth monkey is larger and is singing while holding a book in his left hand and plugging his ear with the other...

An antique Japanese hibachi (brazier) cast in bronze and hand crafted with a dragon and thunder bolts flying amidst the stormy clouds on one side and a crouching tiger with its playful partner hanging from a bamboo limb in a forest of bamboo on the opposing side. The handles feature converging phoenix birds with their tails as the apex...

A set of five porcelain tea cups by Ninnami Dohachi decorated with bamboo and poetry by Nukina Kaioku (Suo) enclosed in a superb custom period kiri-wood box with rosewood edges. Each cup is 2 inches (5 cm) tall, 2-1/2 inches (6 cm) diameter. There are old gold repairs to two of the cups, otherwise are in fine condition.
Nukina Kaioku (1778-1863) was born into a samurai family in Awa, on the island of Shikoku a patron of the Hachisuka clan...

An antique Japanese Yosegi Ko Tansu (marquetry small chest) from the Hakone region made of various natural colored woods with Kusunoki (Camphor), Katsura (Fir) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) structure and drawer backs. Beautiful craftsmanship is evident in the unique one-of-a-kind design of this piece. 6 drawers of varying sizes allows for easy organizing and storage...

Japanese Antique small and charming censer. The lid is pierced for incense smoke and the finial handle is in the form of a mouse. The round-form body of the censer has three small handles and is decorated with raised medallion reserves each with a different animal: rabbit, ox and tiger.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/2" high x 3 1/4" wide

A wispy bearded sage clutches his staff, robes draped loosely about his emaciated frame as he peers ahead in interest, a curious smile on his wizened visage. The figure is beautifully crafted with a slightly textured patina and signed on the base Seiko. Slight wear to the base reveals the pure gold of the underlying bronze. It is 36.5 cm (14-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent original condition.