Antique Japanese Bronze Temple Bell (Bonsho). Inscribed on body with name of location, temple and date. The first 4 lines (from the right side of the 2nd photo) say: 門々不同八万四　Mon-mon fudо̄ hachi-man-shi 為滅無明果業因　I metsu mumyо̄ ka gо̄in 利剱即是弥陀号　Riken soku ze Mida gо̄ 一聲称念罪皆除　Isshо̄ shо̄nen zai kai jo I found a translation in the Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics (1914): The 84,000 doors*, each different fro...

Superb Taisho Period C. 1915 Japanese tea ceremony bronze flower vase. Placed in the tokonoma of a Japanese Tea House with a single flower it evokes the essence of wab sabi and the soul of the tea ceremony. Lovely art deco bulbous shape with wave diaper on the base. The lip is contoured simply but elagantly. Excellent condition. 11" high and 6" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

Antique Japanese bronze okimono, animated in a recumbent pose. The tanuki clothed in Buddhist monk robes, curled and withdrawn for rest. A strand of prayer beads is visible out from underneath his crossed front legs. The sculpture is skillfully cast with a bronze dark russet patina, essentiated by the chasing of the hair and the smooth surface of the folds. The artist has also rendered in detail of the tanuki's paws, which is the underside of the sculpture signed "Yoshiyama".

Me...

A bronze Tanuki dressed in robes and holding a Nyoi (priest scepter) sits yelping into the air, as if surprised at being discovered for his true nature. Dating from the Meiji or possibly Taisho period, it is 10 x 8 x 9-1/2 inches (25 x 21 x 23 cm) and on the base has written in red “4th year” followed by a series of letters to which I have yet to discern a meaning. Likely Meiji 4 (1871).

A timid looking creature in dilapidated straw hat sheepishly approaches carrying his ledger and bottle for a refill. A comic image of the Tanuki with his famous beer belly reputation for heavy drinking. One can guess he will be asking for tonight’s bottle on credit as he gazes up, shoulders hunched, pleading. It is 16 cm (6 inches) tall and in excellent condition signed on the back in a silver inlayed cartouche Chikusen.

Finely detailed bronze tea house koro or incense burner. Very unusual daruma window in relief. Taisho Period c. 1920. Roof is superb. Condition excellent. 5" tall by 4 1/2 " wide. Ask for shipping quote.

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. It is apparent that a variety of reasons lay behind the creation of these sutra mounds. Clearly these mounds wer...

Antique Japanese large bronze suiban, or shallow dish for the display of viewing stones and small plants. The legs have been wonderfully casted to resemble gnarled vines, or perhaps a Buddha's hand citron fruit. One side of the suiban displays a raised dragon flying through incised winds. The other side shows two lounging tigers. The entirety of the suiban has a beautiful, natural patina due to antiquity. Late Edo Period - Early Meiji Period (circa 19th Century) Size: 6.5" height, 19.5" le...

Antique Japanese low bronze suiban, or shallow tray to be filled with suiseki or viewing stones, sand and bonsai. It has an interesting shape with sides decorated by waves and sea shells. The feet are also sea shells. Size: 2" height, 14.25" length

Wonderful unusual round bronze suiban or ikebana flower vessel from the late Taisho Period c.1920. Subtle silver inlay fence and small flowers in relief. Excellent condition, no dents or cracks. 10" diameter and stands on tripod legs 2 1/2" tall. Ask for shipping quote.

Elegant signed Keisen bronze vase with carp undulating and frolicing about. With original paulownia signed box. Characters on box read: "Daruma seiyu koi bori doki kabin" meaning daruma holy playing carp bronze flower vase. C. 1950. excellent condition. Ask for shipping quote.

Antique Japanese bronze ikebana vase, meant for artistic flower arranging, with unusual curling handles reminiscent of spiraling vines. Artist's signature incised in the bottom.

Size: 12.5" W x 9" H

An antique Japanese large bronze shrine vase cast in a loss wax technique. Depicting waves of a rough ocean with sea spray floating in the air, the female turtle carries a hatchling on its back while facing downward with its mouth open to expel evil spirits. The male turtle is jumping above the waves with its mouth closed to retain the good spirits. All three turtles have their wisps of sea algae growing from their shells as a symbol of the parents old age and the hatchling's life beginning. ...

Japanese Bronze Sculpture of a Mermaid in a Whirlpool. An exquisite example by the important artist Isihara of the type of Japanese art that was having a major influence on Art Nouveau. A rare example of this artist's work. 9.5 inches (24 cm) long. Excellent Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

Antique Japanese Bronze sculpture extremely well modeled and superbly executed with stunning details depicting a young Japanese philosopher Kinjiro Ninomiya Sontoku carrying a bundle of firewood on his back and an axe through the back of his belt. The interior of the base is entirely inscribed in Japanese characters.

CONDITION: Very good quality workmanship with excellent natural dark patina, the right hand, carved of bone, is possibly a later replacement.

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A white bronze sculpture of crashing waves supporting three glass orbs; an elegant form carrying good fortune from old Japan. It is 49 cm (19-1/4 inches) long and in overall excellent condition. Set it in the window and watch the orbs blow colorful prisms across the room.

An exquisite dark bronze image of the deity Benzaiten playing a four stringed lute known as a Biwa signed in a cartouche inset into the base and dating from the early 20th century (Later Meiji to taisho period). The figure is 20 x 16 x 18 cm (8 x 6 x 7 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Benzaiten (or Benten) is the Japanese embodiment of Saraswati, the hindu god of the arts. Benzaiten is depicted a number of ways in Japanese art. She is often depicted holding a biwa (a traditional ...

Superb bronze scholar holding a caligrapgy brush and an undulating scroll with the character `Kotobuki` (congratulations) in faded silver. The folds of the robe and face and brush are of the highest bronze craftsmanship. Signed on the bottom "Shuro" one of the leading craftsman of the late Taisho Period C.1920. Roughlt 7" tll by 5" wide. Table included. Excellent condition. Ask for shipping quote.