An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of a rare Keyaki root burl (Zelkova Tamo), Kirinoki (Paulownia), and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hardware including Gumbai drawer pulls and sliding door handles featuring a gold inlay flying dragon amongst the sea and clouds. Multiple merchant drawers are hidden behind the sliding doors with an open space storage area where merchant books and records were stored.

The sliding doors ingeniously hide a secret set of... Click for details

A two section antique Japanese Isho Biraki Tansu (stacked clothes chest with hinged doors) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original bronze hardware and a center Kuwanoki (Mulberry) wood door decorative overlap. Very well constructed with thick wood, straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. The doors open to four removable kimono trays.

Originally used for kimono and clothes storage, the classic design works well in any home decor. It functions as a clothes... Click for details

Antique Japanese ceramic figure of the moon faced Otafuku. Her name was once Uzume and evolved into Okame which means "tortoise", a symbol of longevity. Otafuku or Okame is considered the goddess of mirth, a cheerful woman who's name means "abundant good fortune". A bringer of victory and success, she is good-natured, good-humored, good-hearted, generous, kind, serene, and patient. She is smart, strong-willed and competent as well as powerful enough to easily frighten away evil spirits.... Click for details

Antique Japanese tsuba (hand guard for samurai katana) decorated with a monkey peeking though the bamboo rails of a cage or gate. Often occurring in Japanese folk tales, the monkey generally symbolizes a trickster. Since tsuba were often a warrior's source of personal expression, it is likely this monkey held specific significance to the blade's owner.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" high x 2 7/8" wide x 1/8" thick (1/4" thick including monkey).

An antique Japanese Ranma (transom) that was highly detailed and hand carved out of Akita Suginoki (Cryptomeria from the Akita region) with a Hinoki (Cypress) frame. It features a landscaped Shinto shrine grounds complete with the shrine complex, pine trees, clouds, a Torii gate, a Pagoda, and a beautiful footbridge. The image is carved on both sides to show the front and back of the complex.

The Ranma was used in Japan typically above the Fusuma sliding doors between rooms to provide... Click for details

Antique Japanese lacquer box for incense. Decorated with scenes of flying geese over gently swirling water and marsh grasses in maki-e lacquer on a black lacquer ground. On the reverse side, pheasants and chicks peck among flowers. The interior of the box is fitted with a separate tray decorated with seven children playing with three dogs in maki-e and color lacquer on a black ground. The tray stands on 4 small feet and the sides are decorated with tiny scrolling vines and butterflies. The... Click for details

An antique Japanese Gifu Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest from the Gifu region of Japan) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Kaki (Persimmon) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite handles and the incised decorative sliding door handles. Mortise and tenon joinery with horizontal side supports and sliding doors with Persimmon runners for strength and aesthetic beauty.

Upper display open shelf unit used to showcase seasonal decor if guests were present or... Click for details

A Japanese ranma (transom) with a Hinoki (Cypress) frame and an Akita Sugi (Akita Cryptomeria) wood hand carved bamboo and plum blossom theme in a highly detailed three dimensional relief. Most likely mounted in a wealthy Japanese home or a fancy Ryokan (country inn). Its main theme is a majestic Plum Blossom tree (known as Bai) accented with Bamboo (Chiku). The ranma was often mounted above the Fusuma sliding doors between rooms to allow the air to circulate freely. This allowed each room... Click for details

Antique Japanese bronze vase molded with a pair of phoenixes in flight. Signed on the bottom. Also called hou-ou, the pair of mythical birds together are often symbols of fidelity but also represent fire, sun and justice. When used in reference to the imperial household, the phoenix represents the empress.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 13" high x 8 1/2" wide

Antique Japanese screen painting in 6 panels. Painted to resemble a samurai encampment space divider. The simple graphics of the curtain-like camp divider are painted in black and white and displays the kamon (crest) of the Takiyama Family. Narrow slits between the white and black sections of cloth were for the wind to pass through, preventing the curtain from becoming a sail. Thick striped rope securely ties the curtain to tall stakes in the ground. This screen was intended to be used... Click for details