Antique Japanese scroll painting depicting 13 Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Wisdom Kings. The deity at the very top is Dianichi-nyorai (Vairocana) with his hands in dhyana mudra. The 13 figures are (not in order of appearance): Shaka (Sakyamuni), Monju (Manjushri), Fugen (Samantabhadra), Jizo (Ksitigarbha), Miroku (Maitreya), Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru), Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta), Amida (Amitaba), Ashuku (Akshobhya), Dainichi (Vairocana), Kokuzo (Akasagarbha), and Fudo... Click for details

An antique Japanese Tohoku Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the rounded Kakute style handles with Sho Chiku Bai back plates. The full moon lock plates have an incised open fan design. In 2 sections, the upper portion has two full width drawers and the bottom section has a full width drawer, a partial width drawer and a security hinged door hiding 2 small drawers. Secret hiding space behind the... Click for details

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Famed Gifu region horizontal slats comprising the pair of sliding doors and the sides of the tansu. Comprised of 5 drawers of varying sizes, a spacious area behind the door pair and two small drawers to store valuables behind the hinged security door.

Constructed using through mortise and tenon joinery.

Age: Meiji... Click for details

Antique Himalayan tsha tsha (small votive plaque) depicting White Tara seated on a lotus throne. White Tara (the Mother of all Buddhas) is worshipped as the embodiment of the maternal aspect of compassion. Her seven eyes allow her to see all suffering.
Tsha Tsha were cast of clay mixed with ground incense and sacred ash. They were dried in the sun and painted with polychrome pigments. Small votives like this one were left as offerings at spiritual sites along a pilgrim's route. This... Click for details

Antique Himalayan tsha tsha (small votive plaque) depicting a red bodhisattva seated on a lotus throne. Tsha Tsha were cast of clay mixed with ground incense and sacred ash. They were dried in the sun and painted with polychrome pigments. Small votives like this one were left as offerings at spiritual sites along a pilgrim's route.

Age: 18th century

Dimensions: 3 3/4" high x 3 1/8" wide x 1 3/8" deep

Antique Tibetan pair of offering bowls. Each bowl is carved of burl wood and has an ornate silver foot decorated with cabochons of coral and turquoise. The silver bottom of each bowl is incised with a scene of mother and baby fu lions. The bowls have interiors that have been lined and edged with silver.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions of each: 2 1/2" high x 6 1/4" wide

Antique Japanese sarugaku performance mask in the form of a monkey. Sarugaku, which literally means "monkey music" was one of the oldest Japanese theatre arts and consisted of many different types of performance including comedy, dancing, mime, singing and various acrobatics. The performers wore masks usually portraying human characters but this one is distinctly primate. The high point for sarugaku was during the Muromachi period when, along with dengaku (ritual shrine dancing), the... Click for details

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant box) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Upper carrying handle and hinged door that hides 4 drawers of varying sizes used by a merchant to store writing paper, receipts, money and calligraphy brushes.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 10" Wide by 12 1/4" High by 14 3/4" Deep

A vintage Japanese Kamo Isho Tansu (Kimono storage chest) in 2 sections made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original metal hardware including the stylized Gumbai handles and the Plum blossom arabesque door lock plates. Upper section has a pair of sliding doors behind which lies two small drawers, a split level shelf and a pair of hinged doors that hide 4 removable Kimono trays. The lower section has 3 side by side drawers and 3 full width drawers.

The upper left drawer under... Click for details

An antique Japanese Tansu called Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Unique double upper drawer merchant chest style in a smaller footprint. A combination of 6 drawers of varying sizes and a pair of sliding doors that hide a convenient storage area. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. It would make an elegant side chest or night stand.

Age: Meiji Period ... Click for details