Antique Japanese fine lacquered kogo box for holding incense. Comprised of 3 stacking compartments, the lower of which has a gilt copper lining. The overall shape is that of a textile knot (musubi) with ornate patterns in gold takamaki-e on black and nashiji lacquer. The sides of the box are further decorated with a landscape of trees on a rocky outcropping, a village of thatched roof huts, and low hills near a lake, all on a fine nashiji ground. With signed kiri wood tomobako.... Click for details

Antique Tibetan tsakli card painted with the figure of Canda-Vajrapani. The fierce deity is one of the earliest bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism. Considered the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha, he symbolizes the manifestation of the Buddha's power. On this card, he is shown with vajra in hand, a tiger skin around his waist, surrounded by his flaming nimbus. The back of the card has Tibetan writing that reads, ཕྱག་རྡོར་གཏུམ་ པོ་ "Phyag rdor gtum... Click for details

An antique Japanese 2 section Kyoto Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and HInoki (Cypress) woods. The upper and lower sections feature sliding doors behind which removable shelves allow for split level storage with 5 drawers for organizing small items. The small hinged door to the upper right features a secret sliding locking panel that opens and closes the door. Side horizontal ribs for additional strength and visual design. Mortise and tenon Japanese joinery was used in its... Click for details

Antique Japanese small bronze tsuridoro, Buddhist hanging temple lantern. Finely incised with designs of clouds, waves, scrolling vines and hollyhock leaves. A handle for hanging is attached by a chrysanthemum bud finial.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 6 1/2" high (including handle) x 4 5/8" wide roof (2 3/8" wide body)

An antique Japanese merchant desk (Choba Tsukue) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress). Beautiful natural burl grain to the drawer fronts. Hand forged iron Hikute handles with 3 drawers to either side balanced by a center drawer.

Merchant desks were an invaluable piece of furniture for any Japanese store. The desk delineated the merchant from the customer allowing him to write business records and receipts.

Age: Meiji Period (1890-1910)

Dimensions: 39" Wide by... Click for details

Antique Japanese horagai, conch shell trumpet made from the shell of Charonai tritonis and outfitted with a wooden mouthpiece. Horagai were used by samurai during war times to communicate location to each other over mountain terrain. They are also closely associated with Yamabushi, warrior monks of the Shugendo tradition. The Japanese conch shell horagai is special in that it can produce a range of 3 to 5 different notes. Today, horagai are still used by monks during ceremonies such as the... Click for details

Antique Chinese carved bamboo brush pot. Shaped in an oval form and carved with two standing figures on one side and a man with a donkey on the other. Carved all over with scholarly writing.

Age: 18th/19th century

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

Antique Japanese safe box with hinged door and 3 interior drawers. The outside is beautifully decorated all over with raised gold and colored lacquer scenes of birds and morning glories, grape vines, and pomegranates on a black lacquer ground. The door opens to reveal drawers decorated with butterflies on a nashiji ground. The inside of the door, with peaches. The inside of the drawers is lacquered black.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 1/4" high x 7 3/8"... Click for details

An antique Japanese Tohoku Mizuya Tansu in 2 sections made of Burl Keyaki (Zelkova), Aka Matsu (Red Pine) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Two sets of large doors separated by a middle set of 4 drawers with Mokko handles. A lift-out door hides additional storage space where tall narrow items were stored. Original wiped Urushi lacquer finish.

Age: Meiji period (1870-1890)

Dimensions: 65 3/4" Wide by 55 5/8" High by 21 5/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Tohoku Todana Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original wiped Urushi lacquer finish. With two sets of vertical ribbed sliding doors, the upper section has triple level storage and the bottom section has a split level storage separated by shelves.

The Todana Mizuya was used in northern Japan as either a kitchen chest or a linen cabinet making it a versatile and functional cabinet for the Japanese home.

Age: Edo period... Click for details