This is a rare antique Japanese porcelain Maneki Neko (beckoning cat) in a side sitting pose with its left paw raised to bring happiness and good luck to its owner. It was entirely hand painted and features a Botan (Peony) flower as its main collar decoration. Its peaceful face is beautiful and serene and its fox-like raised ears shows that it is listening to the surrounding sounds.

An interesting feature is its open base and holes through each ear suggesting that its main purpose when... Click for details

Japanese Edo Period scroll painting of a yamabushi, a mountain ascetic hermit or holy man. Often believed to be endowed with supernatural powers, the yamabusi follow the Shugendo doctrine, a religion that places heavy emphasis on feats of endurance. Throughout history, they have participated in battles along side samurai. In this painting, the warrior/sage is leaning on a walking stick. He is dressed only in leaves and animal skins. A hyotan gourd tokkuri flask hangs from a chord slung... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Cha Tansu (tea chest) made of Kuwanoki (Mulberry) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. The tansu was made using solid Kuwanoki burl wood in front and solid Kuwanoki wood on the case and back. The sliding doors open to a spacious storage area while the lift-out door opens to a split shelf area for book storage. Two drawers feature lock plates in the form of stylized Cherry Blossoms.

There are secret locking tabs that lock the left and right drawer of the set of three... Click for details

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacked chest on chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails. Alll original hand made iron hardware. Sho Chiku Bai (Pine, Bamboo, Plum) motif on the handle backplates. Interior of drawers feature side handles for ease of carrying. Upper section has lift-up side handles and bottom section has swivel side handles both designed to let a bamboo or wood pole through the handles allowing two... Click for details

An antique Japanese Kyodai Kesho Bako (mirror & make-up box) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Four drawers and a hinged cover that hides a mirror stand and a bronze hand mirror. The cover flips open to reveal a holding base to which the mirror stand is held in place. A brocade cover protects the bronze mirror which is decorated with the family Mon (crest) and a landscape scene with a large Wisteria tree as... Click for details

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original wiped Urushi lacquer technique finish with original hand made iron hardware including Gumbai handles. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery with hardened wood nails.

Contemporary uses for this chest include making a lovely side table or a useful and functional bedside stand and cabinet.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 21 3/4" Wide x 22 1/2" High x... Click for details

Antique Japanese screen painting of a beautiful woman or man, possibly a taikomochi or male geisha smoking a long pipe, leaning on a padded lacquered stand and wearing elegant flowing robes patterned with flowers. In the background stands a ink painting of a mountain landscape. The right hand panel is painted with a standing kimono rack, lacquered black with gold butterflies. Hanging from the rack are two exquisitely embroidered kimonos in the manner of the classic "who's sleeves?" subject... Click for details

Antique Japanese 2-panel byobu screen. Covered with small squares of pale gold leaf. That this is antique is told by the size and quality of the gold leaf squares.

Dimensions: 35 1/4" high x 51 1/2" long

An antique 2 section tall Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Beautiful original finish of fine Shunkei-Nuri (lacquer) in front and a wiped lacquer technique on the top and sides. In addition, the handmade iron hardware is original with Warabite handles. Top section has two sliding doors with 5 drawers below. The bottom section has 8 exterior drawers, 2 sets of sliding doors and 2 small drawers behind the hinged door.

Age: Mid... Click for details

Japanese antique rectangular kesa or priest/monk's outer vestment cloth. This asa (hemp) kesa is a yellow/gold color and finely woven with a design of phoenixes and clouds.

Often described as a mantel or robe, the kesa is worn draped diagonally over the left shoulder and under the right armpit. It is meant as a reminder of the Buddha's own simple patched garment, kesa are formed from many fragments of the same cloth. Within each garment, the fragments are typically organized in a... Click for details