Rare Japanese four drawer gyosho bako, or peddler's chest, constructed of Sugi (cedar) wood, with iron hardware and mounts, iron rings on the sides for carrying. The chest is trapezoidal in shape and tapers towards the top of the chest. Original finish and condition. With key included. Exhibited at the Palo Alto Cultural center

19th century Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 26" w x 12 1/2" d x 26 1/4" h

Unusual Japanese single section isho tansu from the Sendai region, made of solid Keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with burl front panels. The iron hardware and mounts have floral motifs throughout. The corner plates have scalloped edges, the drawer pulls are mokko (melon) shaped with chrysanthemums mounts, the round lock plates are incised with Kiri leaf mon and two are outlined with scrolling vine motifs. The safe door opens to reveal three inner drawers for small valuables...

Kawase Hasui
Katada in Ohmi
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Hasui oval seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing) from Yonezawa Area. Drawer fronts are made of kiri (paulownia) wood, frame is made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood. 4 large drawers and 2 small drawers. Iron hardware includes round lockplates with butterfly mon (family crests) of the Taira Clan.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high x 35 1/2" wide x 15 3/4" deep.

A Japanese copper writing box used for paper and writing supplies. The lid is engraved with grape leaves and grape clusters. The border is nail studded. The interior is beige velvet.

Date: Taisho c1920

Dimensions: 11" X 9.25" X 2.75"

Antique Japanese rare plique-a-jour cloisonne vase. This is a very early plique and in perfect condition. Intricate enamel design of a blossoming tree and a blue bird flying through a light blue sky with little clouds. The design is made with fine silver wire and enamel. Plique-a-jour is made when the inside metal armature has been etched away until the enamel is held in place by the wires only. The effect is a beautiful jewel-like translucency...

A Nihon Matsu tansu with hinoki (cypress) wood drawers. The round lock plates on each drawer feature a bird and bamboo leaf motif. There are 4 large drawers with spacious interiors and on the right lower side is a safe box door with key with two interior drawers.

Date: Meiji c1900

Dimensions: 51" X 45" X 17.5"

Artist: This signature has been read "Choka" or "Akiyo". These prints are sometimes attributed to Nishimura Hodo.
Boat On a River at Night
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Red Takemura seal at lower left
Size: 10.0 x 7.25 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Scuff at upper right. Small smudge on mountain.
- A rare print similar to Shoda Koho's Hasegawa night scene, "Country Scene with Moon".

A large round Ottoman Empire hammered copper tray with verdigris patina throughout. The Qajar-themed artwork depicts various men, women, and animals. Figures are shown playing music, some on horseback in battle skirmishes or hunting with their swords, bows and arrows, and spears. The figures are shown in a repeating pattern against a floral scroll ground...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Woman returning in autumn evening
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15 x 6.75 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Shotei seal at left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
No. 205 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. M-5 in Shotei catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

A delightful Japanese wood tray in the shape of a lotus leaf. Chiseled Katabori with raised veins and stem and stippled leaf rolled back on sides. The back of the tray is as detailed as the top with an intricate pattern of veins and curved stem. The tray is used in the tea ceremony.

Date: Meiji Period circa 1890

Dimensions:12" X 9" X 1"

Nagoro banana leaf tray lacquer over wood. The black lacquer shines through the red to reveal the ribs and veins of the leaf. In the literati tradition, banana leaves were used by scholar recluses as paper to write calligraphy. Later, this motif was incorporated into other forms of art making the image one of the symbols of the literati aesthetics.

Date: Tiasho circa 1920

Dimensions: 16" x 6" X 3/4"

A rare, large architectural Buddhist temple carving of a Dragon (Ryu), with reverse glass painted eye. The high relief carvings show the dragon's body coiled behind clouds of smoke and waves. Its serpentine body reveals his 3 appendages with classic three claw anatomy. The relief is solid keyaki "zelkova serrata" wood with the original red patina. The dragon which symbolizes the heavenly realm has control of rain, fire, and earth...

An Ai Kakiemon dish decorated with a repeating pattern of Hosoge, flowers of Precious appearance, which in this case would appear to be representations of auspicious Pomegranate fruits constructed from Ruyi, Acanthus style leaves and other disparate elements. The ring of Hosoge pierced by a circlet binding them together with a central motif of a gobenka...

Leaf images in various seasonal shades decorate the raw earth of these expertly crafted dishes by legendary artist Kitaoji Rosanjin, the set enclosed in a double box, the inner box the original age darkened kiri-wood box signed by Rosanjin, the outer box later covered in black lacquer showing the esteem for which both this dish set and box were afforded. On bottom is the star mark, indicating these were made for use in his restaurant...

A finely potted Hirado dish featuring three figures wearing capes and carrying heavy packages upon their backs descending down a high mountain trail. Inferred by the small gnarled Pine trees on the wayside. Although no particular scene is identifiable the figures are in Hokusai “style”. The reverse is painted with a Karakusa arabesque and has a single spur mark within the base of the footring. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century...

A finely potted six sun sized dish decorated with a traveller clutching his hat and leaning into a cold wind before a snow covered Mount Fuji. The design would appear to be derived from a print of travellers in the Mishima pass, one of the 36 views of Mount Fuji. The reverse painted with a Karakusa arabesque with a single spur mark to the base. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century. The dish measures 18.2cm in diameter and stands 3.4cm high at the rim...