Early 18th C Edo period Japanese byobu painted screen of scholars in retreat. It is composed of 2 panels. The screen has a predominate gold leaf ground on gofun paper. Paint composition is a mineral rimpa paint. The subject matter is a belief of mythology made real. Shu-ton (a scholar's attendant) found a longevity turtle that is believed to be 1000 years old. This turtle is also known to be a messenger to the gods. The expression on the master's face reflects wonderment. He is able to find an ...

Japanese 17th century Momoyama Period six panel Byobu painted screen of the Tale of Genji. This remarkable screen is in great form painted with rimpa polychrome mineral paint on gold gilt gofun paper. The composition is complex and it allows the viewers to have a bird's eye view of the scene and events amidst swirling clouds. The exaggerated foliage and scale of the courtly figures are dynamically composed with tranquility and balance.

The Tale of Genji is a masterpiece of Japanese lite...

An antique Japanese 4-panel screen painting. Each of the flowers shown has a meaning known as the Language of Flowers, depicting Love, Loyalty and Family. Painted with mineral pigments and raised gofun on gold leafed paper.

Date: Taisho Period

Dimensions: 67 1/2” high X 96” wide

A 19th Century Japanese six panel screen of Nara preparing for the Matsuri Wakakusa Yamigaki festival. This elegant bird's eye view of the city of Nara in the Edo period depicts a scree of village life in preparation for the traditional rice festival. Dancing and drinking are on display and the excitement fills the air with anticipation. The Nara temple is the major sponsor of the activities. The temple is open to patronage and veneration. This festival celebrates the rice harvest for the city. ...

A comic scene in ink on paper of boys herding oxen by Nagasawa Rosetsu spreads across these two low screens. The central characters, one in the lead the second astride one of the behemoths crossing a bridge is distracted by a butterfly floating by above while the beast in front steps on its own rope, pulling his head back to the viewer with a quizzical expression. Other oxen and boys populate the background. All is performed in very soft gray tones with abbreviated detail as if viewed through...

An unusual Japanese six panel screen of Ducks, Egrets, and Pheasants. Painted with rimpa paint on an unique mix of gold and silver leaf gofun paper, which gives the screen an incredible look and balance of cold and warm tones, depending on lighting. The painting composition shows influences of natural history and the importance of empty space.

Date: Meiji Period (early 19th Century)

Dimensions: 67” high X 147 1/2” wide

An antique Japanese scholar's table made of Kokutan (Ebony) and Bamboo. Beautiful original Urushi lacquer finish and constructed using Japanese joinery for strength and durability. Beaded Ebony contains the Bamboo that decorates the stand and leg structure creating an elegant refined presentation. The stand has beautiful negative cutouts on the apron front and back. Used on a Tatami floor for writing and calligraphy.

Age: Meiji Period (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" Wide by 11 ...

An antique Japanese scholar's Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. 3 side by side drawers above and below sliding doors where documents, brushes and paper were stored. Behind the doors is a split level shelf where books were kept with 2 small drawers to the right side. Age loss to some of the handle backplates.

Present day use for this chest would work well as a side table or larger bedside nightstand.

Age: Meiji period: ...

An antique Japanese scholar's desk made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute handles. Full moon design to each leg. Constructed using through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 31 1/2" Wide by 14 1/2" High by 14 1/4" Deep

A fine antique Japanese scholar rock. The patterns seen on the rock appear like the jagged rocks seen in Northern style Chinese landscape paintings. These rocks were often used for contemplation and promote the ideals of the literati. Age: 20th century Size: Length 7" Width 1.75" Height 5.5"

A hardwood carving of a gnarled pine bristling with needles over clouds in what appears to be some type of dark rosewood. Beautifully crafted, it is 19 x 15 x 5.5 cm (7-1/2 x 6 x 2 inches) and is in excellent condition, dating from the later 19th to early 20th centuries at the height of the Sencha tea movement.
Sencha, as we know it today, started to gain popularity during the 18th century with the rise in Literati thought in Japan. This is partly due to the influx of Chinese at the fall...

The turret of a lonely outpost rises from the mountain peak formed by this small Japanese scholar rock set into a hand carved wooden base and enclosed in a wooden box titled Ko jinkaku (Small Armored Tower). The stone is 7 inches (18 cm) tall, 5 x 3 inches (13 x 8 cm). It likely was put together in the early 20th century.

Japanese vase with a scenes of seven sparrows flying among crysenthemums in beautiful hues of purple, orange, green, blues and yellows. Vase contains a signature on the bottom with the name, Kinkosan. Some old repairs. Age: Meiji period. Size: Height: 12" Diameter: 8"

Japanese vase with a view of a temple near a lake within the mountainside. The way the bamboo is painted and the serene setting is seen in similar pieces done in Kutani and Kyoto wares. Vase contains a signature on the bottom set in a cartouche with the name, Shintou. Age: Meiji/ Taisho period. Size: Height: 7.25" Diameter: 2.75"

A superb Japanese antique satsuma vase with eggshell white crackle underglaze, incredibly detailed artwork of a pheasant perched upon a gnarling branch with berries, wonderful intricate gilt banner design along the top, narrow neck with gilt rim, gilt ring along the foot, signature on bottom - Ryozan of the Yasuda Company.

19th century Meiji Period

Size: 8.25" H, 5" W

Japanese Satsuma vase with various scenes from different periods in Japanese history and one view with Chinese scholars or sages. The views are framed with a motif of flowers and fans. Bottom of the vase contains a name that is impressed in the clay. The top part of name is unreadable, the bottom contains the name Satsuma ware. Age: Taisho Period. Size: Diameter: 2.75"

A small but highly detailed Satsuma vase decorated with Sino-Japanese motifs. On one side of the vase is literati scholars enjoying a conversation bordered with a detailed geometric pattern. On the other side, is depicting a peony set near a bamboo and rush gate, small repairs on neck. Age: Meiji Period Size: Diameter 3" Height 6.25"

Antique Japanese beige ceramic crackleware satsuma pilgrim vase, Meiji period 1868-1912. It is beautifully painted with two different scenes. The front and reverse are painted with a wheat plant in a field of chrysanthemums. The sides have cherry blossoms blooming in a stylized wave pattern. The mouth of the vase is square shaped, the base is rectangular. It measures 10" tall, 7.25" widest 2" deep.