A Mashiko ware tea bowl (chawan) by Hamada Shoji. The bowl is glazed in a style known as kaki yu or persimmon color glaze which is often seen in Mashiko wares. Hamada Shoji along with Yanagi Muneyoshi and Barnard Leech were part of the mingei movement in the late 20th century. The movement emphasized the simple minimalist beauty found in daily objects made by unknown artists. Thus, Shoji never signed his works, where he too wanted people to simply appreciate his ceramics, not his notoriety. Age:... Click for details

Beautiful Japanese antique pulley made out of keyaki wood with all original finish and wonderful patina. This piece is enhanced by its trapezoid shape and utilitarian qualities. Age: Edo Period. Size: 14.75" h x 9.5" w x 5" d

Rather unusual zenibako where the fittings seen on the box are typically done in iron, the fittings of this zenibako are carved from the wooden pieces that are used for this box. The top section of the box contains the characters: Kin Senryo, or 1000 Ryo of Gold and underneath the lid is a lacquer decoration of a Tensho period gold coin. A traditional lock and key comes with the zenibako and a manju netsuke with an ojime decorated with images of mice. Age: late 19th to early 20th century. Size:... Click for details

Antique Japanese vase decorated with scroll vine motifs around the mouth of the vase and animal like figures near the mid-section of the vase. The glaze used for this piece is emulation Jun ware which was developed in the Song Dynasty in China and in Japan, Song dynasty style glazes captivated connoisseurs and tea masters. The popularity and preferences of these glaze still continue to this day. Age: 19th-20th century. Size: Height 14" Diameter 7"

A simple yet artistic Seto ware jar. The jar is done in a creme base with a brown and green color drip glaze surrounding the piece. The style of glazes is reminiscent of the expressions seen Japanese earthenwares of Seto, Tanba, or Kyoto. The work contains a signature-like inscription on the bottom which reads, Sanshun. Age: 19th-20th century. Size: Height 9" Diameter 9.1"

Antique Japanese tall banner for Boy's Day celebration, two mon (family crests), scene depicting a noted scene from a noh play called Takasago. The two old couples represent the wish for a couple to be together till the end. The rake represents raking in fortune and the broom for sweeping away misfortune and bad energy. A crane above and an ancient turtle below, both also symbolic of longevity. The banner is painted in mineral pigments on cotton. 190" high x 26 1/2" wide.

A large antique Meiji period Kutani plate decorated with motifs of peonies set in the center of the plate surrounded by gold scrolling vines and stylized flowers. The pink peonies are done in an unglazed-like style while the blue peonies are done with glaze. The underside of the plate is decorated with scrolling vines set in a green background. Additionally, the center of the back contains the inscription, Dai Nippon Kutani sei, or produced by Dai Nippon Kutani. Inscriptions of this type of... Click for details

A set of 7 fluted plates decorated with various plants symbolic to Japanese culture and motifs often seen in Japanese porcelains known as Imari ware. The plates contain an inscription, kigyoukuhoutei no chin, that often is associated with a specific type of Imari ware known as Daiseiji Imari ware. The motifs, designs, and at times the inscriptions take inspiration from Chinese Qing dynasty porcelain wares. Age: 19th century. Size: height 1.25" diameter 8"

An antique Japanese Karatsu ware tea container or chaire with motif of donkeys painted on the side of the piece. One side is painted in a indigo blue color with a fine tip and on the other side is brown done in thicker lines. The motif of donkeys in Japanese art may infer to the literati taste of a rustic and simple lifestyle. The motif is not often seen in ceramics, but mostly in paintings influenced by Chinese works. Also typically with painted Karatsu (e-Karatsu), motifs of reeds or geometric... Click for details

An antique Bizen ware figure of Daikoku, one of the seven fortune gods in Japan. Daikoku is holding a mallet (uchide kozuchi) which Daikoku often holds. On the other hand, he is holding a two legged radish. The word radish in Japanese, daikon, is somewhat synonymous to Daikoku and a legend exist of how the two legged radish became associated with Daikoku. Age: Meiji Period. Size: height 6" width 3.3" length 4.75"