Very unusual largeJapanese rope embroidery on silk, the image is a pair of phoenixes, male and female, with the moon waxing and waning (full and crest). This is a privileged image made specially for the court. The pagoda shrine is central to the image centered around the imperial Tokugawa crest symbolizing the divine rule from heaven.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 40" W x 62 1/4" H (entire frame), 36 1/2" W x 58 1/2" H (embroidery without frame)

Antique Japanese kesa, Buddhist monk's traditional outer garment. Made from rich fragments of silk donated by wealthy devotees, kesa are traditionally made of square and rectangular swatches of material symbolizing the Buddha's patchwork garments. In contrast with this idea is the material itself, made of fine woven silks. The textile that makes up this kesa is woven with a multi color design of flowers with squares of a different silk woven with swirling clouds.

Edo... Click for details

The Hannya (般若) mask in Noh theater represents a jealous female demon. She possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic gold eyes, and a leering mouth with jagged teeth. The mask is all hand-carved with open eyes, nostrils, and mouth so the Noh performer can see, breathe, and speak. There are also two pierced holes at the temples to be secured against the head with cord. The Hannya is lacquered in a ruddy flesh tone, with black hair and blackened teeth, red and gilt lacquer eyes, red lips,... Click for details

Japanese bronze incenser in the form of Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune. Hotei is clothed with open robes, holding a gunbai fan, seated on top of his large sack. Hotei's name literally means "Cloth Sack", for he can be attributed by the large cloth sack he carries with him during his travels. He is also known as the Laughing Buddha due to his carefree happy nature despite being a wanderer with few material possessions.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions:... Click for details

Japanese set of 10 blue and white sobachoko or soba cups. With cobalt blue underglaze floral motifs and ocean landscapes, double ring below the inner rim, and a floral medallion in the center of the well with single ring. The foot is slightly recessed and left unglazed except for the center.

17th/18th century Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 3" W x 2 1/4" H

Japanese 4-panel screen painting depicting a scene of ducks swimming along the edge of a pond or stream. Tall grasses and rocks rise from the water. Painted in mineral colors on gold ground.

Showa Period (circa late 1940's)

Dimensions: 34 1/4" high x 60" long

Antique Japanese 2-panel screen painting of a scene with a songbird on a gnarled, moss-covered rock. A stream runs around the rock. Blue and white irises grow on it's banks. Painted in mineral colors on gold leaf.

Dimensions: 43 3/4" high x 36" wide Meiji Period c1900

Japanese lacquer tray with low relief depiction of a peacock in fine gold maki-e lacquer, with maki-e lacquer chrysanthemums, against a nashiji gold flake ground. The peacock's face and the "eyes" of the feathers are inlaid with finely ground shell. The edges of the tray are of a mokko melon shape and the reverse of the tray is all in nashiji lacquer. With display stand.

Dimensions: 13 1/4" L x 9 3/4" W x 3/4" H (without stand)

Japanese framed print by Masami Teraoka (b. 1936), titled "31 Flavors Invading Japan: Today's Special - Ready to Lick". Pencil signed and numbered 235/500 on lower back of print.

Circa 1985

Dimensions: 25 1/4" L x 21 1/4" H (entire frame), 16 1/2" L x 11" H (artwork only)

Antique Japanese kogo, or incense box, used in traditional tea ceremony. The box is squared in shape with the lid ornately done in maki-e gold and red lacquer chrysanthemums, resembling the front cover of a story book with the revealed inner "page" done in silver. The interior of the box and base are done in nashiji gold flake lacquer, sometimes called pear skin for resembling the texture of the Asian pear.

Edo period, late 18th century

Provenance: From TZ Shiota of San... Click for details