Japanese antique large votive plaque, Ema, painted with a beautiful black, prancing horse. Made of wood and painted with mineral colors. The frame is lacquered black with decorative copper hardware.
The word "Ema" literally means "horse painting". These votive plaques are usually found at Shinto shrines and were intended as a means to show thanks for a blessing or to ask for good luck. Writing on the back of the ema usually gives the specifics of a prayer. Through time, ema have become... Click for details

Japanese antique carving of Bodhidharma, the monk founder of Zen Buddhism. Made of a large bamboo section and intricately carved to show Daruma's intense expression. He stands with flowing robes and large nimbus against a textured background. Made to hang on the wall.
Daruma figures represent perseverance and are believed to bring good fortune.

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 35 3/4" high x 6" wide x 2 1/2" deep

An antique iron Chagama (water kettle for tea) in the form of Mt Fuji. Mountain forest trees are depicted in relief on both sides. Baku style ears each hold the iron handles. Bronze lid has a rotating finial for fast cooling and handling.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8" High by 9 1/2" Diameter.

Japanese antique pair of Inari Shinto shrine foxes made of painted pottery. 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 the human form. It is believed that Inari Okami herself sometimes took the form of a Kitsune.... Click for details

Japanese antique gyosho bako (peddler's box) decorated with a large mon (family crest) in red lacquer on a black urushi lacquer ground. The front of the box has a door that opens to reveal three small drawers. Extensive bronze hardware includes corner bracing along all edges and carrying handles.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 12" high x 11 1/2" deep x 6 1/8" wide

Japanese antique wide-mouthed pottery jar from the Shigaraki area. This stoneware kame (wide mouthed bowl) was made using the local sandy clay from the bed of Lake Biwa. Shigaraki ware is identified by the embedded granules of feldspar. Mineral and ash glaze is dribbled and spattered over the surface leaving long, uneven drips. Depending on how the vessel is positioned during the firing process, if it falls over or if it is leaning on another piece, fragments of nearby pottery can stick,... Click for details

Japanese antique bashōfu robe. Made all of woven banana fiber, this type of kimono was traditional to the area of Okinawa (Ryusou) Ryukyu Island during the early 1900s. The material has a pleasing structure and is woven with vertical and horizontal stripes in a dark brown color.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

An antique Ko Tansu (small chest), traditionally used personal secures storage. Made from Kiri (paulownia) wood and is reinforced with hand-forged iron hardware, including elaborate corner bracing, stylized lock plates, and classic warabite-style drawer pulls.
Front of the chest features a pair of hinged doors with diamond-form lock hardware that opens to reveal an interior with four smaller drawers, ideal for storing documents or valuables. Below, there are two deep drawers for... Click for details

Original Japanese choba tansu (merchant’s chest) crafted from sugi wood (Japanese ceder) with hand-forged iron hardware. This functional piece features a striking symmetrical layout with two sliding doors, multiple drawers of varying sizes, and a locking safe compartment (kura-dansu style) in the lower right corner—traditionally used to store currency or important documents.
Sliding doors are fitted with circular finger grips, and one drawer retains the original iron key with... Click for details

Japanese antique hikeshi banten, fireman's coat. Made of indigo dyed cotton and stitched over every inch using a sashiko quilting technique. Fires were common in Japanese urban areas due to the dense population as well as construction material (primarily wood and paper). Fire brigades were made up of samurai class (buke hikeshi) as well as common class (machi hikeshi) and their primary goal in containing a fire was to knock out the surrounding buildings so the fire had no more fuel. These... Click for details