Antique Japanese fubako, box for holding letters. Made of lacquered wood with a design of young pine and blossoming plum branches. Both box and lid are decorated in maki-e gold and silver lacquer over a delicate nashiji on a black lacquer ground. The interior has clouds of dense gold nashiji and two mon on the underside of the lid.

Age: Edo Period (18th/19th century)

Dimensions: 10 1/4" long x 3 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese ikebana basket. Woven of split bamboo in a round, footed form. The handle is made of a piece of bamboo that has been carefully curved to give the whole basket a lovely hourglass shape.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 16 1/2" high x 7 1/2" wide

Antique Japanese small zushi, traveler's shrine which opens to reveal a seated figure of the goddess, Benzaiten. She is the guardian of the people of Japan and is considered the goddess of all things that flow: water, music, time, words, eloquence, and knowledge. In Japan, she is one of the 7 Gods of Fortune (or 7 Lucky Gods). In the Shinto religion, she is a kami (a divine being) and is often depicted with the likeness of kami Ugajin on top of her head. In Sanskrit, her name is... Click for details

Antique Japanese standing figure of Bishamonten, chief of the Four Heavenly Kings (Shitenno) and protectors of Buddhism. He is the distributor of treasures and wealth, protector of warriors, healer of illnesses and guardian of the north. Dressed for war, he stands on the back of an evil spirit. He holds a Buddhist staff in his right hand and a small pagoda representing the divine treasure house in his left hand. Made of lacquered and gilded wood. With glass eyes.

Bishamonten is... Click for details

Antique Japanese zushi (traveler's shrine) with double panel doors which open to reveal a standing figure of Jizo Bosatsu (O-Jizo-Sama). Jizo is the protector of travelers and firefighters as well as the guardian of the souls of all children. He stands on a lotus base with a Buddhist ring staff (shakujo) in his right hand and a jewel in his left. The doors of the shrine are painted with tennin, celestial beings on either side. Made of wood with lacquer and gold gilt.

Age: Edo... Click for details

Antique Japanese Buddhist temple banner made of silk and woven with gold gilt paper weft (ginran or kinren) in a dynamic design of a pair of water dragons each facing the center where a burning pearl (woven with silver leaf) floats on a golden cloud. Dragons and pearls together in Buddhist art symbolize the endless cycle of transformation. The flaming pearl is one of the Eight Treasures and represents pure intentions as well as the sacred wish-granting pearl of the Buddhist faith. The back... Click for details

An antique Japanese Ikebana basket in a Cornucopia open flared mouth design tapering to a four post square base. Finely woven using a two tone caramel colored split bamboo with binding weaves forming frogs and turtles. Each post has inset caterpillar weave and the base has a cross slatted split bamboo that was signed by the artist. The handle is comprised of three delicate bamboo branches each of differing sizes representing a child, an adolescent, and an adult. The bindings along the rim... Click for details

A Japanese antique Ikebana Suiban Takekago (basket) made of woven bamboo with its perimeter intertwined with split bamboo. A removable copper insert for the run-off of water. Mixed chestnut color highlights and smoked bamboo. Flat woven bottom with parallel bamboo slats.

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 18 1/2" Long by 12 3/4" Wideb by 2 3/4" High

Antique Japanese kogo box (for incense). Round in form and made of lacquered wood. Decorated with a scene of a garden gate and a wild thicket of grasses, vines and flowers under a full moon. The gate and flora are made with maki-e lacquer and shell inlay while the full moon is made of silver. The interior and bottom of the box is covered with gold nishiji on a black lacquer ground.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" wide x 1 5/8" high

An antique Shigaraki jar created and fired in this famous kiln region of Japan that was heavily potted. The skin shows the characteristic pock marks and imbedded fieldspar with a natural ash glaze. Originally used for tea storage, it has become a fine example of Japanese Wabisabi or understated elegance as well as an epitome of Mingei folk art.

Age: Edo Era (1750-1800)

Dimensions: 15 3/4" High by 13 1/4" Diameter