A very rare example of an Antique Japanese iron samurai chest armor (dou) with Fudo Myo-o. Made in the five plate, four hinge go-mai chest armor sendai or yukinoshita style. On the breastplate, Fudo Myo-o, one of the five myo-o or Lords of Light stands with sword in hands, the flames of his nimbus swirling around him as he stands on churning waves. Fudo is a fitting subject for samurai armor as his name means "the unmovable or unshakable one". With his fierce appearance he guards the Law of... Click for details

Antique Japanese figure of the seated Amida Nyoria (Amitaba) Lord Buddha. He is seated on a lotus throne, his hands in his lap in Dhyan Mudra (meditation). Carved of wood with gilt lacquer and traces of pigments on the lotos throne. His hair atop his subtle ushnisha is arranged in sweeping striations instead of the tight curls more commonly seen. His heavily lidded eyes are inset with glass or crystal and his facial expression radiates a calm stillness.

Age: Edo Period... Click for details

Antique Japanese ceramic Oribe-ware fan-shaped dish. Glazed with a crackle white slip, deep olive-green and brown glaze and decorated with a pair of birds. Slab construction with fabric texture. Cut outs to suggest the ribs of the fan. Stands on three small loop feet. Signed and with tomobako.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 9" long x 11 1/4" wide x 2" high

Antique Japanese large Buddhist altar table. Made of carved and lacquered wood and decorated with many petalled chrysanthemums. The kiri blossom in the center is the mon used by the Toyotomi clan. Dramatically curved legs and flanged top. Covered in a warm gilt lacquer finish. The table top is lacquered black.

Age: Late Edo Period

Dimensions: 31 1/2" high (34 1/2" high including flanges) x 82" long x 18 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese bronze usubata (container for ikebana flower arranging). Charming bronze frog with bumpy skin except for his belly and under chin which are smooth. Out of his mouth comes the stem of the water container portion of the usubata. Inside the inverted conical container is a rounded form with ridges for holding flowers and branches in place. The Japanese legend of Gama Sennin ("Toad Immortal") is based upon Chinese Liu Hai Gama Sennin "Toad Immortal" - Liu Hai: The Sage with the... Click for details

Antique Chinese large porcelain vase. Decorated all over with a basket texture and a pair of dragons with a flaming pearl and cloud-like mist. The body of the vase is glazed a celadon green while the dragons remain a very pale bluish white. The dragons represent the endless cycle of transformation and the flaming wish-granting pearl is one of the Eight Treasures and represents pure intention.

Age: Republic Period (1912-1949)

Dimensions: 22 1/2" high x 13" wide

Antique Japanese hikeshi banten, fireman's coat. Made of cotton and stitched over every inch using a sashiko quilting technique. Fires were common in Japanese urban areas due to the dense population as well as construction material (primarily wood and paper). Fire brigades were made up of samurai class (buke hikeshi) as well as common class (machi hikeshi) and their primary goal in containing a fire was to knock out the surrounding buildings so the fire had no more fuel. These special coats... Click for details

Antique Japanese zushi shrine for travelers. Doors open to reveal Aizen-Myōō, one of the Wisdom Kings. Venerated in Japanese Esoteric and Vajrayana Buddhism, Aizen-Myōō is known for transforming worldly lust into spiritual awakening. In his six hands he hold attributes including a bell which calls awareness and a vajra which represents the diamond that cuts through illusion. In Sanskrit, his name is Rāgarāja which was translated into Chinese during the Tang Dynasty as Àirǎn... Click for details

An antique Japanese Ikebana basket made with split and large slatted bamboo and Wisteria branches for the handle and mouth. Its design is a flattened Ovid form that is almost purse-like in shape. The top of the basket is woven along the Wisteria mouth in a free-form style that undulated along the wavy movement of the mouth. The base is a raised twisted rope foot. The handle evokes an image of a mythical creature standing on both sides of the basket with other gnarly creatures sitting along... Click for details

An antique Japaese tray in the form of a banana leaf in green natural Urushi lacquer with its original Tomobako. Beautiful artist rendition of a folded top to the leaf that has an edge which naturally cuts up. Fully carved and lacquered both top and bottom. Age: Meiji/Taisho (1900-1920)

Dimensions: 23 1/2" Long by 10 1/2" Wide