An antique Japanese Daruma wooden mold used for making paper mâché dolls. Likely 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 bottom reveals the three holes used to connect the mold to a turning wheel for ease of applying the paper mache. Knife cuts and natural cracks from wear show how the mold... Click for details

This is a vintage large rare Maneki Neko (beckoning cat) made in the Tokoname kiln region of Japan. Entirely hand painted and hand made, it is a very large size to bring an abundance of good luck to its owner. Designed as a coin bank, its original paper coin stopper is still intact. Raising the left paw, it is beckoning family, friends and happiness its way. Its right paw is holding a gold coin bringing also fortune and prosperity upon its owner.
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Antique Japanese woodblock triptych print of a large samurai battle scene by the artist, Yoshitora Utagawa. Active during the late 19th century, Yoshitora Utagawa was best known for his dynamic battle scenes as well as prints of samurai, firemen, kabuki actors, beautiful women and foreigners. He was born in Edo but the exact year of his birth and death are unknown. He studied with the great print artist, Kuniyoshi Utagawa but later left his school and changed his name to Mosai. This... Click for details

Japanese Antique small and charming censer. The lid is pierced for incense smoke and the finial handle is in the form of a mouse. The round-form body of the censer has three small handles and is decorated with raised medallion reserves each with a different animal: rabbit, ox and tiger.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/2" high x 3 1/4" wide

Antique Japanese kimono, made of silk and printed with a design of shells decorated with flowers and mist. The large shells float on an intricate design of small chrysanthemums on a purple ground. Beautiful yellow tones with details in burgundy, green, white and black. Lined with white and yellow cotton with sleeves that are lined in red silk.

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 58" high x 49" wide

Antique Japanese six-panel byobu folding screen painting of a pair of pheasants (male and female). Near the pair of colorful birds, a stream flows over rocks. Exuberantly blossoming cherry trees and peonies rise from the rocky earth. Another pair of smaller birds fly together through a golden mist. Painted in mineral colors and with gold leaf on paper.

Age: late Meiji Period (circa 1900)

Dimensions: 59 1/2" high x 145 1/2" long

Antique Japanese wooden temple carving of a dragon in swirling clouds. Beautifully carved of heavy keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with intricate details. The large dragon clasps the sacred wish-granting pearl in one claw. Around him are billowing rivulets of clouds. Some of the details of his face are painted with red mineral pigment and his eyes are made of reverse painted glass. Dragons have long been used in Buddhist art symbolizing the endless cycle of transformation.

Age: Edo... Click for details

Ancient Japanese Neolithic Jōmon Culture large ceramic vessel. The dramatically flared rim and other raised decorations indicate that this vessel was likely created for ritual use rather than as a food or cooking container. Clay was mixed with materials such as fibers, micha and crushed shells to give it an adhering quality. The walls of vessels were built up using a coil technique. The wet surface of the clay was smoothed before rough cords were impressed into it creating a distinct... Click for details

Antique Japanese ozutsu tanegashima matchlock rifle with intricate silver and gold inlay of a dragon in swirling clouds. This wide cast iron barrel is further decorated with a three character mark and the crest of the Tokugawa shogunate. The black lacquered wooden handle has brass fittings and several gold lacquer Tokugawa mon. This type of ozutsu (hand canon) was used on ships for protection against pirates, on horseback, and as assault weapons to blast through doors. Often bales of rice had... Click for details

Antique Japanese long tanegashima matchlock rifle with intricate silver and gold inlay of a dragon in swirling clouds. The cast iron barrel is further decorated with a five character mark and the crest of the Tokugawa shogunate. The burl wood handle is set with elaborate brass work incised with designs of a rabbit, bamboo, flowers and birds.

The underside of the barrel has a maker's inscription that reads:
摂州堺之住
野田長右衛門作
Work of Noda... Click for details