A six panel screen with mineral colors, and gold leaf clouds meandering though out scenes depicting a view from the Tale of Genji. The chapter that would be closely associated to the screen is Chapter 19, Usugumo, translated as Wisp of Clouds. The scene is showing Prince Genji wearing a white informal court robe, lined with red and is selecting robes for the visit of Lady Akashi.

Age: Late 18th to Early 19th century, Edo Period

Size: Length 109" Height 47.5"

A large sized Imari porcelain tripod censer decorated with motifs of peonies, wonderfully drawn karashishi or Chinese style lions, dragons,and phoenixes. Large censers are often used in Buddhist temples, where extra censers would be used during ceremonies. Age: Edo Period. Size: Height 7" Diameter 10.25"

Japanese food container, at times known as a jikiro, where food items are placed inside the container. In tea ceremony, the object is used to place sweets inside. The object is done in black lacquer with makie decorated with a motif of a peony. Inside the container is decorated with gold in the style known as Nashiji, or pear skin. Age: 20th century. Size: Diameter 8" Height 4.75"

A bronze brazier, also known as a hibachi. The workmanship of the brazier is intricate with one side showing a motif of Chinese stye lions mingling among peonies and the other, geese flying over reeds in a marsh. The sides are demon or beast like shaped heads with an insert to put rings to decorate the piece. Age: Meiji Period Size: Diameter 8" Height 13.25"

A letter open done in mixed metal with motif of cranes, chrysanthemums, magnolia-like flowers, and other flowering plants. The letter opener contains a signature that is difficult to read. Age: Meiji Period. Size: Length 13" Width 1.5"

A pair of hirobuta or trays used to place kimonos in, made from Cherry bark and paulownia. The style of using cherry bark to produce various objects is a distinct style seen in the Akita- Kaunodate region, where they are famous for the art. One piece contains a motif of deer and autumn grasses, while the other is a woman preparing silk fabric while staring at the moon. The motifs are done in cherry bark and mother of pearl.

19th century

Dimensions: (Deer motif tray): 3.25"... Click for details

A large sized hanging scroll of a landscape in the literati style by Okuhara Seikou (1837-1913). Seikou was one of the few female artists who specialized in the literati tradition (known as Bunjinga or sometimes associated with Nanga). An inscription can be found on the top left of the painting where a short Chinese poem is describing how the guests are approaching through the mists found among the hills of the landscape. Interestingly, at the end of the inscription the artist signs that she... Click for details

Beautiful Japanese antique Buddhist temple bell made of bronze or brass with repousse design of scrolling vines and chrysanthemums, long double-linked chain of hand foraged copper, both chain and bell all with lovely green patina, Meiji Period. Size: approximately 75" long including chain when hanging.

A Japanese shrine lantern often seen hanging outside of shinto shrines. Generally there are devotional lanterns that are donated to the shrine and lanterns that are part of the architecture and design of the shrine complex. This lantern would be the latter, where it was part of an Inari Taisha shrine. The lantern contains the distinct crest of the inari shrines and each panel is decorated with a cut out design of scrolling vines. Age: Meiji to Taisho Period. Size: Height: 18" Width: 15.5"... Click for details

A pair of bronze temple lanterns with a cross pattern design in the section where the light would be placed. The pair may have been used in a small shrine within a temple altar complex. Age: 20th century. Size: Height: 15" Diameter: 8.5"