Extremely detailed pair of bronze statues of guardians to the Buddha called Niō or Kongōrikishi. While Buddhism usually promotes pacifism, the Nio guardians are said to have justified the use of physical confrontation to fight back against evil. Nio are typically placed on either side of a temple door. One statue, named Misshaku Kongo or Agyo, has an open mouth to represent the first sound in the Sanskrit language "a", symbolizing birth and overt violence. The other statue is called... Click for details

Antique Japanese rootwood burl kashibachi, or serving dish for sweets. It is hand-carved from a beautiful hardwood, all in one continuous piece, and has very interesting twists and gnarls throughout. Meiji period (1868-1912) Size: 12.72" height, 16.5" width

Antique Japanese raincoat made of hand-woven indigo cotton with sixteen panels, dyed using a technique called ikat, in which bindings are applied to the cotton threads in any desired pattern and dye is applied over them. The bindings resist the dye, leaving behind patterns in the original color of the threads. The raincoat has two sides: One has white stripes and the other has an attractive design of white arrows and crosses. The raincoat has a cloth loop and grommet closure in front and a... Click for details

Japanese hand warmer made from bronze, with a handle and a floral-patterened openwork lid depicting three men playing the Japanese board game Go. The sides of the hand warmer show beautiful scenery with trees, mountains, three figures in a canoe, and one figure standing over a bridge. Signed on bottom. Meiji period (1868-1912) Size: 5.5" tall, 7" diameter

An impressive Japanese Soto zen calligraphy by the noted calligrapher, Gesshu Soko (1617-1696). Gesshu was known for his research and interpretation on Dogen's work, Shobogenzo (The Treasury of the Dharma Eye). The calligraphy is a famous zen phrase which translate as: The moon reflected on the water while the breeze amidst the pines blow in this eternal evening. What is the cause or purpose on this pure twilight. The scroll comes with an inscribed box by Awakawa Koichi (1902-1977) who was known... Click for details

An energetic and bold zenga painting depicting the wish fulfilling jewel known as a hoju in Japanese. The jewel represents the energy of the dharma and often is used for the hope that people's wishes can be granted. Signed Shunbokuzan. Provenance James Coburn Estate.Age: Edo Period Size: Length 49" Width 22.75"

Beautifully hand-carved Japanese Bugaku theatre mask, meant to be worn whilst performing the solo, rejoiceful Genjoraku dance. This dance references the practice of snake-eating for medicinal purposes in central Asia and would often be performed as celebration of the return of an emperor to the palace. The mask has movable eyes, jaw, and eyebrows, stringy hair, bulging veins on its forehead, and an upturned nose of a tengu demon. Its eyes are golden, a common feature on demons, and it also has... Click for details

Antique Japanese Noh mask of the O-beshimi fierce deity, or mythical tengu. "Beshimi" means "mouth clamped shut". This mask is hand-carved from kiri wood, and inside you can see the chisel marks left behind by the artist. There are visible traces of white gesso in the crevices of the face, which was used as a filler to cover the wood grain. Edo period, 19th century Size: 9.5" tall, 7" wide

Lithograph page titled "Entrance To A Temple At Hakotadi" taken from the expedition of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's expeidition of Japan and Ryukyu, published between 1880-1890 by Sarony & Co NY. Commodore Perry (1794-1858) played a huge role in creating connections between Japan and the West. This lithograph depicts three monks, one kneeling before the other two, and one holding a spear in front of a beautiful two-story temple. A ship can be seen floating in the water beyond the temple's fence.... Click for details

Woodblock print titled "Girl By Twilight" by Japanese artist Rakutei, also known as Takahashi Shotei circa 1951, published by Shima Art Co. A young woman stands under a tree in a deep purple, blue, and red kimono, gazing at a village that lies beyond a bridge. The silhouettes of several villagers can be seen illuminated from their windows. The young woman's bright and beautiful form are contrasted against the dark night. The print itself is signed and it set against a handmade frame, made from... Click for details