Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (157)

Japanese cotton obi from mid to late Showa period, 1980s(?). This obi was sold from the Mitsukoshi Department Store (2 logos attached at the corner). 100 percent cotton, new condition with some color loss. 12 1/4" wide x 141" long; it weighs approx. 1.2 pounds.

Exquisite set of Japanese Dairi bina (hina), the emperor and the empress dolls from early to mid Showa period. This is not a large set of dolls. The measurements of the wood box are 17” wide x 12 3/4” tall x 13 1/2” deep. We should add the approximate sizes of dolls. The label indicates that they are from Matsuzaka-ya, a major department store. Matsuzaka-ya started as a kimono store in late 16th century, pre Edo period...

This is a fairly large set of “hayashi” doll, court music entertainers, all dressed in samurai’s attire with a sword. Three seated dolls in the front row are approx. 5 1/2” (14 1/2 cm) tall x 9 1/2” (23-23.5 cm) wide, excluding hat and stand. The taiko drummer is 11 1/4” (29cm) wide, a little bigger. Two in back row, seated on stools, are 7 1/2” (19cm) tall x 9 3/4” (25cm) wide. The stands are lacquered wood.

The warrior’s armor and helmet, samurai sword, spears, banners and paper carps (later cloth) in the sky are all tools used to showcase boy’s day in Japan. This tradition started early Edo period (1603-1868) by samurai families wishing their son’s good health and studies to be honorable samurai.

This set is made in Kyoto, Japan and is called “Kyo-armor”. Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for over 1000 years...

This is a beautiful Japanese wedding gown (uchikake). Featured on brownish orange (when you looked at it where the gold does not take over, the basic color looks more like brownish red) silk are flocks of white cranes and stylized water in roundels of gold. The tone of the gold is rich but soft. The design is unique, elegant, artistic and well executed with excellent workmanship. The condition is almost new...

Japanese Fukagawa vase with raised persimmon. Fukagawa is located in Saga (Arita/Imari area) in sourthern Kyushu ireland and has been well known for its quality white porcelain. The signature indicates that this was probably made in early 1900s. The measurements are 6 1/4 inches high and 5 1/4 inches wide in diameter.

Japanese Boy's Day samurai Yoroi and Kabuto (armor,helmet) set. Musha ningyo (Samurai dolls), Yoroi and Kabuto (helmet), swords, banners and carps are a part of the display used for the Boy's Day in Japan. Culturally, the Japanese emphasize anything to do with children. The Girl's day with hina dolls is in March. The warrior's set like this will inspire boys in their manliness and hopefully bravery, discipline and honor codes come with it.

All the fabric used marked as pure silk...

Japanese folk art, farmer's clay doll: This man is Ninki Danjyo, the villain of the Kabuki play. The more awful the villain is, the lovelier the princess looks and the nice guy more angelic especially in Kabuki plays. Danjyo, with his magical power, is trying to transform himself into a rat...

An exquisite old Japanese hair comb, lacquered on wood (kiri, boxwood?), practical yet ornamental with make design of wisteria like flowers. It is almost like new, never been used condition. The shape of this comb is unusual, irregular from one side to the other side. The shape is called Shin-bashi shape/style. Shinbashi is located in Minato-ku in Tokyo. The shape came out in early Showa period (end of 1928 to beginning of 1986). 4 1/2"

Finely hand carved Japanese Obidome in the shape of a Hannya Noh mask with horns and shiny metal eyes. A Hannya mask in Noh represents a mad woman who turns into a demon out of jealousy. She is vicious and haunts the “other woman” to death. The term, 'Hannya' is used today by a husband who happens to come home late without good enough excuses...

Beautiful peonies on a soft pure silk (sho-kinu, 100 percent silk) kimono roll. Hand dyed design (Yuzen zome) went through to the reverse side. The fabric (marked as Tango chirimen) is treated with some new chemical for easier maintenance, wrinkle free, washable (?), etc. Some designs are dyed to be matched for the wider width. Gentle, pale (smoky) purple color, 14 1/2 wide, full roll (enough to make a kimono).

Very large Samurai doll from the late Showa period with beautiful brocade costumes. This is a hero or musha ningyo doll for Boy’s Day (May 5th) in Japan. Some dolls are made to depict a hero or warriors from the past. This doll is a quite impressive size of 22” in height without the hat and 15” in width

Elegant Japanese kimono wedding gown (Uchikake) designed by Hanae Mori. The gown displays the designer’s logo without a signature; her butterflies and initials are woven all over the red liner. Hanae Mori is truly the first and most famous international Japanese designer of the 20th century. She not only contributed to the Japanese clothing industry but to many other areas since the rebuilding time of Japan after WWII...

This is a beautiful dark blue Japanese Uchikake (wedding gown) made in Nishijin, Kyoto. The label states the name of Nishijin and the use of pure gold. The gown is woven with fans and Gosho (palace) flower carts which is one of the favorite motifs used for Japanese wedding gowns. They are remainders of the Heian period (794-1192) which was the last graceful era of the aristocrats. The gown is meticulously hand sewn to perfection as most Japanese kimonos are...

This Japanese doll looks like a woman from Ukiyo-e (pictures of the "floating world") wood block prints. She is sensual and inviting; posing to fix her hair with a hair pin. To do so, she would need to tilt her head sideways and gently pull out the hair pin so she wll not make a mess of the hairdo...

Japanese Kimekomi hina ningyo (dolls), Dairi bina, emperor and empress doll. Kimekomi dolls were originally carved out of willow trees growing on the riverbank of the Kamo River in Kyoto. They were made using the leftover material from Kamo Shrine. Today, the dolls are made out of paulownia sawdust mixed with glue. This method was developed by Kanabayashi Mataro (1897-1984). Each section is divided by grooves and each block is covered with brocades. These Imperial Hina Dolls are dressed in the...

Japanese Uchikake (wedding gown) with Imperial Carts, flowers and gold color “maku” (outside cloth divider). The divider is used as a street on this gown leading the wagons to the large area at the bottom half. The background colors from the top are orange, light pink to dark gray at the bottom. The liner is red. The condition is excellent, like new.
53" W x 75 1/2" L (sleeve length 41")

Japanese armor Yoroi and Kabuto helmet in classic style, wearable, adult size from early to mid Showa period (1926~1989). The armor is lined with hemp in most area. Dimensions: 67" tall. Box: 16 1/2" x 16 1/2" x 24"H