Highly unusual Buddhist shrine with the image of a horse looking back. The horse has a ‘brocade’ cover over his back and is standing behind a mesh wire fence, the way they would be kept in temple compounds.

Polychromed wood with some gold details. The roof of the shrine is a separate piece and can be detached, which allows for taking apart the zushi.

Japan, Meiji period, 19th century.
Height of zushi ca...

The best sake related piece I have ever seen by Koinuma Michio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled very simply Tokkuri. The draping curves and weep of color is superb, and sets this above all others. Michio has long been inspired by archaic forms, and this is reminiscent of the roughly 5000-year-old Jomon Venus (a National Treasure) unearthed in Chino, Nagano prefecture...

A set of plain candle sticks, called shokudai, used for hanging on a wall (like sconces). Each stick is made of bamboo. On top of the stick is a forged iron hook to hang it from a horizontal beam or slat on the wall, together with a candle pricket. On the bottom is an iron sheet dripping saucer with pricket. Mingei.
Japan, Edo period, early 19th century. Very rare pieces.

L stick 1: 15 in.; depth saucer 3.5 in. L stick 2: 16 in.; depth saucer 3.5 in...

Simple wooden shishi (or lion) dance mask with movable ears and jaw. The ears and eyebrows are stained black. Behind the ears a row of small holes have been made, used for attaching the garment (the body of the lion). Mingei.
All light wood, wooden joints (ears on sticks for manipulation by hand).
Japan, 19th century.

H 6.5; D 9.5 inches.

Nice patina, minor traces of usage: small chip at one of ears, short and unimportant crack in skull. All in all very good condition.

Ohara Hoson (Koson)
Carp jumping for insect, wisteria above
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.625 x 10.75 inches.
Date: 1931.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Publisher's seal in right margin...

The inside of the cup is lined with smooth dark glaze which gleams gold along the rim, while the glistening white outside has been carved away, every divot and ridge a tactile pleasure. It comes enclosed in a wooden box titled Kanka (Quiet, as in: the silent elegance of a flower in bloom). This is a phrase coined by the Edo period Confucian scholar Dazai Shundai in his treatise on The Purple Grass Garden (Shishienko)...

A rare antique Japanese Sado Kasane (stacking chest on chest) Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Original natural Urushi lacquer finish. Hand forged and hand made iron hardware featuring two Phoenix birds representing immortality on the upper large drawer lock plates, two sea turtles symbolizing 10,000 years of longevity and a crane meaning 1,000 years of long life on the lower drawers...

An antique Japanese Sendai Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original natural Urushi lacquer with hand forged iron hardware including the lock plates featuring Peonies and a door lock plate featuring a large radish...

An antique Japanese Kobako (personal storage box) made entirely of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. Hand forged iron hardware with Hirute handle and ring drawer pulls...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cyrptomeria) woods. The finish is an original natural Urushi lacquer. Unusual lock plates each featuring auspicious symbols with the upper design showing a lucky crane (for 1,000 years of longevity) and the lower design showing a lucky sea turtle (for 10,000 years of long life). The three central symbols represent Sho Chiku Bai (Pine, Bamboo & Plum Blossom)...

An antique Japanese Kyushu Kimono Tansu in a single section made of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original natural Urushi lacquer finish. Hand forged iron hardware including the top view mums design on the lock plates. Three large and four small drawers to organize storage.

A stunning tansu that would work well in any room decor.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 46 1/2" Wide by 25 1/4" High by 16" Deep

Paul Jacoulet
La Gerbe D'Anthurium, Angur, Mer du Sud (The Spray of Anthurium Flowers, Angur, South Seas)
Date: July 15, 1951.
Fewer than 150 impressions made. This example has no edition seal visible. Jacoulet's fancy PJ seal is covering another seal on the back.
Size: 18.625 x 14 inches.
Ivy seal. Carver: Maeda. Printer: Honda.
Reference: No. 118 in The Prints of Paul Jacoulet by Richard Miles.
Condition: Excellent color. Light creasing in margins...

Antique Japanese small Gigaku performance mask. Gigaku (literally meaning "skill music") is an earlier form of Japanese theatre that was brought over from Korea and China in 612. Gigaku reached a high point during the Nara Period and continued it's popularity until it was eventually replaced by Bugaku theatre. Traditionally performed outdoors at a temple, Gigaku masks were carved with exaggerated features in order for them to be seen by an audience seated at a distance. There are 14 characte...

A Very rare an extraordinary antique Japanese Kuruma tansu (wheeled chest) made of kirinoki (paulownia) wood. Extremely rare design, Most possibly a tansu from the Akita Castle.
All original including the finish and hand forged iron fittings. Top hinged lid over a thin flat compartment, sliding door compartment locked door reveals inner drawers, bottom sliding door compartment has key that reveals small drawers. There are iron rope rings on each corner to help roll this chest form pla...

An antique Japanese casante (stacking chest on chest) tansu in 2 sections made of kiri (paulownia wood). Original hand forged iron hardware with oversized round handle plates. As always beautiful joinery including straight dovetails and age consistent hardened wood nails.
Originates Sakata Shonai, Japan

Age: Meiji period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 34 1/3" wide x 45 1/4" high x 16 1/2" deep

A pair of circular make-up boxes in nashi-ji lacquer adorned with a floral pattern and an aoi go mon motif (three mallow leaves in a ring) on the lid. This motif is well-known for being the mon (family crest) of the famous dynasty of the Tokugawa shoguns. The bottom of the lid and the top of the box are lined with silver. The interior is in nashi-ji lacquer.

These two boxes were probably part of a wedding trousseau of which one of the pieces, a square incense box with identical orna...

Japanese lacquered gold and silver hira maki-e biwa shape box (kobako).

Japan, Edo period

Length 7,67 in – Width 3,14 in – Heigth 0,7 in

The biwa is a japanese short-necked fretted luth, often used in narrative storrytelling. The biwa is chosen instrument of Benten, goddess of music, eloquence and poetry.

Tadamasa Ueno (Torii Tadamasa)
Kumadori Ju-hachi Ban. Makeup for Asagao Senpei from Sukeroku. Eighteen Famous Kabuki Plays.
Date: 1940. First edition.
Size: 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Seal E (1932-42) at lower left margin.
Signed and sealed at upper left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Fading. Formerly matted over image edge.