Japanese antique pair of small Inari Shinto shrine foxes made of pottery with traces of Mica in the clay. Originally painted, these foxes still have traces of bright pigment. Also called Zenko, these good spirit Kitsune (foxes) are specifically associated with the Goddess, Inari.

Believed to be both messengers and guardians, Kitsune served Inari in her role as the Goddess of agriculture, specifically rice. Part of the folklore surrounding the fox is it's ability to shape shift into... Click for details

Antique Japanese Zenga scroll painting of a scholar's cane or staff. Elongated vertical composition with calligraphy. Painted in sumi ink on paper. The seal with white on red says: 巨福山主 Kofuku Sanshu "Chief Priest of Kofuku" (Kofuku is the "mountain name" of Kenchō-ji temple in Kamakura) The lower seal with red on white says: 曇華 Donge So, these are the seals of Sugawara Donge (original name Sugawara Jihō) [1866-1956] (The don means cloudy/overcast; ge means... Click for details

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a rugged mountain landscape. A house is nestled between trees and rock formations. A tiny figure in the lower mid-left climbs toward the house. Tanaka Hakuin (1866 - 1934) Hakuin was born in Suruga Province (present Shizuoka Prefecture) in 1866. His real given name was Keizaburo. Hakuin is a pseudonym. In 1883, when he was 17 years old, he went to Kyoto and became a disciple of Tanomura Chokunyu, master Nanga style painter. Hakuin was good at painting... Click for details

Antique pair of Japanese menuki. These small but detailed elements of a traditional samurai sword were originally made to hide the pins (mekugi) that hold the back end of the blade (tang) to the hilt (tsuka). Made in pairs, they were positioned on either side of the handle. These menuki are especially fine and depict two men, likely sages by their long hair. Probably they are the friends, Kanzan (the Zen poet) and Jittoku (a servant at a monastery). They are made of bronze and mixed... Click for details

Antique Japanese ikebana basket for flower arranging. Made of light color split bamboo woven into a rounded form. Contrasting dark and twisting wisteria vines make up the handle and pierce the undulating form of the basket.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 15" high x 12" wide x 11" deep

Antique Japanese wedding kimono Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made heavy gauge iron fittings and thick wood construction for strength and durability including straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Specially commissioned chest for use as part of a bride's dowry to store her formal wedding kimono, her formal after wedding kimono and her informal wedding celebration kimono. The two small bottom drawers were used to store her wedding... Click for details

Antique Japanese round hibachi made of kiri (paulownia) wood and lacquered with highly raised maki-e design of irises and hydrangeas. Exuberant blossoms in gold and black lacquer with shell inlay. With a copper insert. This hibachi was originally used as a household brazier.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 9" high x 15" wide

Pair of early Edo period carved Baku mythological elephants. These would have been built into the design of a temple, displayed high up by the beam construction. Hand carved with great care from a single piece of Keyaki hardwood (zelkova wood).

Baku are Japanese supernatural beings that dispel evil spirits and devour nightmares when the mouth is open and retain good spirits when the mouth is closed. They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art, and more recently have... Click for details

Stunning original 92 drawer Japanese Kusuri Tansu (apothecary chest). Originally used to store herbs and spices for healing the body. Made of 100% hinoki wood (Japanese Cypress wood). Has a warm natural finish. Hand forged pulls located on each drawer.

Edo Period C. early 19th Century

36 1/2" high X 38" wide X 9" deep

An antique Japanese Kansai Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Beautiful original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron fittings including the Warabite handles. Sliding doors hide a spacious area that was used to store business books and records while the 11 drawers held all things suitable for a merchant e.g. writing brushes, inkstone, receipts, valuables and money.

Each side has handles for carrying about the chest. The swivel... Click for details