Japanese kogo, or incense container for tea ceremonies, in the form of a small bird with very fine maki-e or sprinkled gold lacquer exterior. Each feather of the bird is highly detailed in low relief maki-e lacquer. The pupils of the bird are done with very fine red lacquer for contrast. The interior of the box is finished in gold nashiji, sometimes called pear skin due to the resemblance to the Asian pear. The base is also finished in nashiji lacquer and has the artist's calligraphy signature... Click for details

A very large Japanese lithograph print by artist Masami Teraoka (b. 1936), titled 'Namiyo at Hanauma Bay'. Depiction of a nude geisha floating in the rolling ocean waves, with her kushi comb barely hanging onto her wet hair and holding snorkeling headgear in her hands. With artist signature, chop, and panels of calligraphy inscriptions. The print is embossed with publisher's mark in bottom right corner.

Circa 1985

Dimensions: 45" W x 35" H (frame), 35 3/4" W x 24... Click for details

Japanese 4 panel byobu folding screen painting of a tall tree branch with ripe persimmons against a gold leaf ground. With artist's signature and red chop.

Dimensions: 72" L x 36" H

Japanese incense box in the form of a flattened drum with realistic wood grain pattern in gold flake togidashi maki-e lacquer and high relief lacquer to resemble iron studs along the sides. The top of the box is done in low-relief maki-e gold lacquer with the image of a mother hen and father rooster pecking for food with their three infant chicks. The crest and waddle of each rooster are done with touches of red lacquer. The interior box and bottom are done in dense nashiji lacquer gold flakes. ... Click for details

Japanese lacquer incense box with low-relief designs of plum blossoms in maki-e lacquer on finely sprinkled nashiji lacquer ground. The plum branch pattern is continuous along the sides of the box. The base and interior of the box are finished in fine nashiji lacquer, and the space where the lid and base join together is done with silver.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" x 2" x 1 3/8" H

A round moon shaped Japanese kogo or incense box with sprinkled gold lacquer maki-e motif of an anthropomorphic rabbit pounding mochi. The rabbit wears a decorative robe with scrolling vine motifs. The interior of the box and foot are adorned with nashiji gold flake on black lacquer ground.

The subject comes from the tale of the rabbit who lives on the moon and prepares an elixir of immortality with a mortar and pestle similar to those used to pound mochi. People in East Asia have... Click for details

Japanese gold lacquer inro with five compartments, decorated in low relief landscape scene of lakeside mountains, cottages, pagodas, pine trees, and bridges in gold lacquer and accents of silver. The reverse side shows a tiny man in a boat traversing the waters. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). Underneath the bottom compartment is an artist's signature with red chop. With some losses.

Inro (seal basket) are small decorative... Click for details

Japanese boxwood ojime bead carving of a skull, finely detailed with realistic cranial fissures, missing teeth, pierced eye sockets and nasal cavity, with tiny handmade chisel marks visible under the jaw. The ojime is a cord fastening bead, used to secure an inro container to the wearer's obi or sash.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 1 1/2" x 1" x 1"

Antique Japanese small kobako (incense box) with inside tray. The outside is decorated with a scene of a garden fence, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas and daisies in gold lacquer on a nashiji ground. The interior is covered in fine nashiji. The small tray stands on tiny feet and has a pavilion scene with twisted pines all in gold lacquer on a matching nashiji ground.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4" high x 6" wide x 4" deep.

An exquisite antique Japanese large box made of keyaki (elm) wood burl and decorated with a design of a bamboo garden gate, tall grasses, chrysanthemum blossoms and the moon. Very high raised maki-e lacquer in gold and red with shell inlay. Tied with it's original tassel and with tomobako. Provenance: from a family living close to Kyoto's Imperial Palace.

Meiji Period (Mid 19th century)

Dimensions: 10 1/4" high x 10" wide x 12" deep.