Rare large Japanese locking bar tansu made of solid gorgeous quartered sawn Keyaki (elm) hardwood. Finished in its original translucent lacquer finish with a black lacquer frame and dark red lacquer front, top, and sides. The unusual configuration of the chest has not one but two symmetrical hinged safe doors on the left and right sides, two recessed drawers in the center with a locking bar running vertically in front of them, ornate hand-forged iron plates and mounts with Kiri leaf mon, and... Click for details

Japanese incense box in the form of a flattened drum with realistic wood grain pattern in gold flake togidashi maki-e lacquer and high relief lacquer to resemble iron studs along the sides. The top of the box is done in low-relief maki-e gold lacquer with the image of a mother hen and father rooster pecking for food with their three infant chicks. The crest and waddle of each rooster are done with touches of red lacquer. The interior box and bottom are done in dense nashiji lacquer gold flakes. ... Click for details

Japanese lacquer incense box with low-relief designs of plum blossoms in maki-e lacquer on finely sprinkled nashiji lacquer ground. The plum branch pattern is continuous along the sides of the box. The base and interior of the box are finished in fine nashiji lacquer, and the space where the lid and base join together is done with silver.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" x 2" x 1 3/8" H

A round moon shaped Japanese kogo or incense box with sprinkled gold lacquer maki-e motif of an anthropomorphic rabbit pounding mochi. The rabbit wears a decorative robe with scrolling vine motifs. The interior of the box and foot are adorned with nashiji gold flake on black lacquer ground.

The subject comes from the tale of the rabbit who lives on the moon and prepares an elixir of immortality with a mortar and pestle similar to those used to pound mochi. People in East Asia have... Click for details

Japanese gold lacquer inro with five compartments, decorated in low relief landscape scene of lakeside mountains, cottages, pagodas, pine trees, and bridges in gold lacquer and accents of silver. The reverse side shows a tiny man in a boat traversing the waters. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). Underneath the bottom compartment is an artist's signature with red chop. With some losses.

Inro (seal basket) are small decorative... Click for details

Antique Tibetan thangka painting of Green Tara, one of the manifestations of the bodhisattva of protection. The central figure of Green Tara is flanked by bodhisattvas while the Amitabha Buddha is seated directly above her head. Below Tara are a fierce deity with mortal attendants carrying offerings. Thangka translates to “that which can be rolled up”, as traveling monks could easily carry them from place to place to use as a teaching tool.

18th century... Click for details

Japanese boxwood ojime bead carving of a skull, finely detailed with realistic cranial fissures, missing teeth, pierced eye sockets and nasal cavity, with tiny handmade chisel marks visible under the jaw. The ojime is a cord fastening bead, used to secure an inro container to the wearer's obi or sash.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 1 1/2" x 1" x 1"

Japanese 2 section Mizuya (kitchen chest of drawers) made with Hinoki (cypress) wood frame and Sugi (cedar) panels, with natural hardwood burl front drawers panels. The top section is configured with two small and three very small drawers below a large interior compartment. The sliding panels are decorated with carved wood accents and copper pulls with floral medallions. The bottom section holds the largest interior compartment behind sliding panels. The sides of the chest are slatted... Click for details

Antique Japanese small kobako (incense box) with inside tray. The outside is decorated with a scene of a garden fence, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas and daisies in gold lacquer on a nashiji ground. The interior is covered in fine nashiji. The small tray stands on tiny feet and has a pavilion scene with twisted pines all in gold lacquer on a matching nashiji ground.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4" high x 6" wide x 4" deep.

An exquisite antique Japanese large box made of keyaki (elm) wood burl and decorated with a design of a bamboo garden gate, tall grasses, chrysanthemum blossoms and the moon. Very high raised maki-e lacquer in gold and red with shell inlay. Tied with it's original tassel and with tomobako. Provenance: from a family living close to Kyoto's Imperial Palace.

Meiji Period (Mid 19th century)

Dimensions: 10 1/4" high x 10" wide x 12" deep.