A rare example Japanese zunari kabuto (samurai helmet) made all of iron with a mixed metal (gold & silver) design of a dragon amongst swirling clouds. The eyes and whiskers of the dragon are inlaid gold and it's body coils all the way around the hachi (dome). The mabizashi (visor) is edged in bronze and decorated with more wisps of clouds. The underside of the visor shows traces of original red lacquer. The shikoro (neck guard) has five layers and shows traces of black lacquer.... Click for details

Antique Japanese gunbai, war fan belonging to a high ranking samurai officer. Made of lacquered wood with shell inlay and with 2 large cut outs. This fan would have been used to shade from the sun and to signal troops. Though this shape of fan was not used as a weapon, it could have come in very handy in battle and there are legends of samurai heroes fighting with nothing but their war fans. The art of fighting with a war fan is called tessenjutsu. This fan comes with a custom metal... Click for details

Antique Japanese drum with handle. Lacquered black on sides and wooden handle. Decorated with Tachibana mon (Mandarin-orange flower) in red lacquer on one side and black lacquer on the other.

Age: Edo Period (early 19th century)

Dimensions: 15 3/4" long x 8" wide diameter x 2 1/4" deep

Antique Japanese bajo jingasa, lacquered military hat for a high-ranking horseman. Carved of wood with an upturned front rim and rounded dome. Decorated all over with intricate shell inlay in black lacquer. The underside is lacquered red with four hooks for chords. On custom metal stand.
The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru ) used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood, paper, bamboo, or leather and usually treated... Click for details

Antique Japanese Kasuga-dōrō 春日灯籠 stone lantern carved of granite. The hexagonal umbrella (Kasa 笠) roof has squared corners and the central light box (Hibukuro 火袋) is carved with a small round window, an opening in the front and one in the back. The tall post sits on top of a lotus base. Kasuga-dōrō like this one are named for the similar lanterns that line the path to the Kasuga shrine in Nara.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Period (circa 1900-1920)

Dimensions: 68"... Click for details

Antique Japanese tall Kasuga-dōrō 春日灯籠 stone lantern. Carved of granite with beautiful lichen and age. The large gem-shaped finial (Hōju/hōshu 宝珠) sits on a lotus Ukebana (請花) atop a hexagonal umbrella (Kasa 笠) roof with upward curling corners. The central light box (Hibukuro 火袋) is carved with openwork lattice windows, an opening in the front and one in the back. Highly raised fu-dogs, flowers and birds decorate the fire box platform (Chūdai 中台) as well as the... Click for details

Antique Japanese tall stone ishidourou. Made with an elegantly simplified rounded form in 6 sections. Carved of granite with natural form base. The tall domed umbrella section (Kasa 笠) covers a squat and rounded light box (Hibukuro 火袋) which is carved with a sun shaped opening in the front through to a crescent moon shaped opening I the back.

Age: Meiji/Taisho (circa 1900's-1920's)

Dimensions: 66" high x 34" wide x 26" wide (base)

Antique Japanese stone sekitō (pagoda) with three tiers. Made of granite and carved in 7 stacking pieces. The central square section is carved with a seated Buddha on four sides. The top spire is carved with 9 tiers between lotus petals. The surface has a beautiful patina and is covered with areas lichen and moss.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: 75" high x 24 1/2" wide x 24 1/2" deep

Antique Japanese small zushi, a shrine made for traveling. Carved of wood and lacquered black on the outside, the tiny doors open to reveal the figure of a praying abbott standing on a lotus pedestal. The interior of the shrine as well as the abbott himself are all lacquered gold and he holds a tiny strand of glass prayer beads. There is a tiny metal hook on the top of the zushi.

Age: Edo Period 1603-1867

Dimensions: 4 5/8"H x 2"W x 1 3/8"D

An antique Japanese Daruma wooden mold used for making paper mâché dolls. Retired from duty and lacquered to preserve its years of production and service. The worn lacquer is a testament to its display and use that extended beyond its useful life and paid tribute to the former artisans that supported the craft. The original removable base was made with a concave divot to allow ease of rotation of the mold when in use. Knife cuts and natural cracks from wear show how the mold was... Click for details