Catalog (414)

Beautiful silk Japanese wedding gown in excellent condition. The design on this gown shows fans painted (woven in this case) with clouds and plum blossoms floating on a golden river. The background color shifts back and forth gradually between dark blue and white pearl color. It seems that everything is floating endlessly, leading us back to the ancient town of Heian-kyo (old Kyoto) where the ladies in layered kimono hid themselves behind fans and screens, and the lovers spoke by exchangi...

Beautiful Japanese wedding gown with fans and flowers. The gown looks better in real with details, new condition. It measures 51 1/2" from sleeve to sleeve and 72" in length.

It has been awhile since Hakata dolls have become one of the popular collector's items in Japan. Hakata doll was originated by a roof tile maker in the early 17C during the construction of Fukuoka castle. Hakata is located on the Kyushu island (southern island), famous to other porcelain makers such as Satsuma, Imari, Nabeshima and Hirado. This is a very impressive Noh dancer doll from their collection. The dimensions: 13 1/2"w x 14 1/4"h.

The condition of this Japanese Wedding Gown is new. The measurements are: 52" x 72L

Please see my other Uchikake gowns.

Japanese Boy's Day display set with a helmet (Kabuto) and a screen. The lacquer screen is very shiny like a mirror. See Photo #10.

The dimensions of screen is 21 1/4"H x 50 3/4"W (extended). Screen box: 23" x 25 3/4" x 1/2"H Helmet Box: 15" x 13 1/4" x 10"H

Japanese Shoki (demon queller) doll for the Japanese Boy's Day. The story of Shoki came from ancient Chinese folklore. He was known to cure ailing emperor of the Tang Dynasty when he was plagued with nightmares. Shoki showed up in the emperor's dream and chased the demons away. This store was later adopted by the Japanese. Shoki became to be the only non-Japanese figure displayed in early Japanese Boy's Day festival since the Edo period (1603-1868). Circa 1970 to 1990, 12” tall on ...

Japanese Shoki (demon queller) doll for the Japanese Boy's Day. The story of Shoki came from ancient Chinese folklore. He was known to cure ailing emperor of the Tang Dynasty when he was plagued with nightmares. Shoki showed up in the emperor's dream and chased the demons away. This store was later adopted by the Japanese. Shoki became to be the only non-Japanese figure displayed in early Japanese Boy's Day festival since the Edo period (1603-1868). Circa 1970 to 1990.

The doll is f...

A wonderful cabinet or desk top wood box. It looks nice enough to place in your living room. New condition. Dimensions: 7 1/2 inches wide x 9 1/2 inches tall x 8 1/2 inches deep

Kasuri (Japanese ikat) roll with rabbits, flowers and geometric designs. The measurements: 14 1/4" width x 454"

The three sitting dolls are 3 1/4 inches and the two standing dolls are 4 inches in height.

Cute Japanese hina ningyo, ladies-in-waiting, Jyokan doll. The dolls are 3 3/4 inches in height.

Cute Japanese kimekomi hina dolls, three servants ningyo (dolls). 3 3/4 inches in height. There is one faint hairline crack going across the top of one doll (shown in the photo #6).

This is a vibrant and beautiful Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) design by Yumi Katsura, a top bridal ware designer from Japan. Her name and ‘Japon’ are woven on a large black square located on the lower part of the center edge. After graduating from college, Yumi Katsura studied in France and in 1964, she opened the first bridal ware rental shop in Japan. She designs ready-wear and haute couture bridal gowns both in western and kimono style and currently has her shop in Paris along ...

Japanese Uchikake (wedding gown) in red and soft gold color. Because of the heavy use of silky gold thread in design, the gown, over all, looks orange than red, thick and the liner with the design of chrysanthemums. Approx. 40 to 50 years old), almost in new condition.
Dimensions: 51"W x 70 1/2"L (sleeve 40 1/2")

Japanese wedding gown with a pair of oshidori (Mandarin ducks), flowers and maple leaves in the background colors of red and gold. This is a newer gown in very pretty cheerful colors and it's in excellent condition like new.

Dimensions: 51"W x 74 1/2"L

This is an a beautiful Uchikake (Japanese wedding gown) covered with embroideries on satin. The workmanship shown in this gown is truely amazing. It is in new condition.

The pair of loving birds are Oshi-dori (Mandarin ducks) which are popular subjects relating to weddings. The theme of this gown is probably from Chapter 5, "Lavender" (Waka Murasaki) in "The Tale of Genji". When Genji was traveling the countryside for the first time, he saw a beautiful young girl crying. She was cr...

Japanese uchikake (wedding gown in kimono shape) in red and gold, thick Shioze silk, very new condition. 52" (sleeve to sleeve) x 75" long

Japanese uchikake (traditional wedding gown in kimono shape), embroidered flying cranes, thick red satin, new condition. 53" (sleeve to sleeve) x 73" (6'1") long

Silk Japanese obi, tapestry weave with a considerable use of genuine gold (Rinpa style as indicated) and some silver (it is either treated or some other metal). This obi is fukuro obi; the design on one side continues 9 feet from one end, 46 inches in a simpler geometric design before it ends with 18 1/4 inches long complicated design at the other end. The reverse side is a plain black satin silk without any design. Total measurements: 12 1/4" wide x 14'4" long.

Beautiful Japanese obi with a woven design of Mt. Fuji above golden clouds. The design has more details than shown in the photos. The length shown in the photos was adjusted to 6'2". The total length of the obi is 14'6" long and 12 1/4" in width. The silver sky (touched up with brown painting) end when the obi is folded in half (7’1”) is followed by the other design in the same silver background. The front side is entirely coated -- which makes this obi more desirable for decorative ...

Miyazaki Shikki (lacquer wares) box, 10" x 12 5/8" x 4", new condition, circa late 1900s. The red is actually darker than shown in the pictures.

The high humidity and temperature in Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu (southern island, Japan) is perfect for drying lacquer wares. During the Pacific War, there was a group of people who migrated from Okinawa to Miyazaki. Among them were the artisans and workers from the Ryukyu Lacquer Ware. It was at a time that over 200,000 casualties were re...

This doll is a Hakata clay doll, “Matsukaze” design by the well known Japanese artist, Yoshio Matsuoka.

Matsukaze is a story of two beautiful sisters who met and fell in love with a young courtier in exile at the seashore of Suma Bay. The sisters were “shio kumi”, the saltwater bearers who made their living by ladling seawater (before it was boiled down to salt). Matsukaze is the name of the older sister and literally means “wind through the pine trees”. Matsu (pines in...

Decorative Japanese summer kake fukusa with a pair of carps(koi). Circa 1960-1980. Dimensions: 30" x 25 1/2" (76.5cm x 64.5cm) The condition is clean all and all with some small stains in the lower right corner and some faint storage stain (shown in the photos).

Decorative Japanese summer kake fukusa (gift cover) with a pair of carps(koi) in the water. Circa mid Showa, 1960-1980. Dimensions: 22" x 19 3/4" (58.5cm x 50.2cm)

Hand spun, hand woven Japanese Tsumugi silk obi. This obi was made from a full obi roll without being cut; the front fabric was turned into the back and the sides of obi were simply sewn together without padding inside. The design area covers exactly half of the front. New Condition (almost). Dimensions: 11 3/4" x 10'8" (128")

Wonderful chagama, cast-iron hot water pot for Japanese tea ceremony decorated with a heron on each side, late Show period, 1970-1980. Signed Seiko (Sato).

Kama: 8 3/4" high x 8 1/2" diameter (22cm x 21cm)
Box: 9 11/16" x 9 7/8" x 9 1/4" (25.3cm x 25cm x 23.5cm)
opening: 4 1/8" (10.5cm) diameter

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.

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.

This is a beautiful Japanese wedding gown (Uchikake) in high quality; it is soft but hangs well. This wedding gown looks more like a Noh costume. The colors are deep purple and light green in a gold background. The gold is not as shiny as shown in the photos unless it is placed under a bright light. The gown was made in the famous Nishijin textile district of Kyoto, Japan and the gown in this quality is very difficult to find in today's market. The price for this gown is the same price for ...

This is a striking Japanese uchikake, wedding gown. The design on this gown is the sacred pine tree, “Yogo no Matsu”, and golden clouds. Pines in gold or gold clouds are often painted on silk screens or used as the background for a noh play stage. The wall paintings in the Kyoto Nijo castle, Kyoto, which were painted by Kano, Tanyu (1602-74) when he was in his mid 20s, are quite famous.

There is no visible image of God in Shinto religion, the oldest form of religion in Japan. Natur...

Japanese Kyoto-yaki plate, artistically hand painted pine trees by Kohyo Yamazaki (1890 - 1979), wall hanging. Dimension: 10" in diameter, 1 5/8" deep.

A heavy Japanese Banko plate with bamboo, made by a Japanese Banko ceramist, Yamada Touka. There are holes on the back which makes it good for decoration.

This is a good quality kasuri fabric; it has a body but is not stiff, medium in the thickness, 13 3/4" in width x 34 feet (408") long. White kasuri area is light blue color, not white as it appears in the photos. This will be sold by yards.

Beautiful hand painted (dyed) iris on soft 100 percent silk. Some designs are dyed to be matched for the wider width. This is probably from mid Showa, 40 to 60 years old, no color loss. The spots and the design that run sideway are part of the woven design. Full roll and good quality silk. I will get the measurement.

Beautiful hand painted Fukagawa Vase from Arita, Japan. It has a landscape of rural scenary of Japan on a matte finish. Fukagawa company is well known for translucent white porcelain. The under glazed blue signature at the bottom reads "made by Fukagawa" and there is an artist's signature on the lower half of the vase. Mint condition, circa mid 1900, 9 1/4" in diameter and 6 3/4" tall.

A stylish cloisonné (shippo) beaker vase by Ando, 10” in height, circa 1950 – 1970. It has the original box with a pamphlet issued by the Ando Cloisonne Company, the leading cloisonné company in Japan. The note briefly introduces the company, how their cloisonné are made (with photos) and a photo of the very famous enameled mirror discovered in *Shoso-in.

*The Shoso-in was originally the storehouse of the Todaiji temple. It has 9000 rare articles well preserved from the 8th t...

Fine Japanese cloisonne box and tray by Ando of Nagoya. The Ando company, established in Nagoya in 1880, is the only cloisonne remaining workshop in Japan originating from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) that is still active in the creation of cloisonne enamels. They retain the highly esteemed distinction of being appointed by the Imperial Household.

The two pieces presented are executed in musen or wireless enamel technique. The musen technique is finely executed, depicting a grand a...

Unique Japanese Uchikake (wedding gown), embroidered in thick light blue silk, the liner is red silk without padding except at the bottom hem. The embroidery and gold couching (some silver) work are all done by hand. The pattern is from ancient Chinese "Shokko nishiki". The colors of silk looks different on different parts of the gown. We laid the gown under the sun light when we took extra photos. The light changed everything. It picked up the gold from gold threads (threads are wrapped in...

Hakata ningyo, unglazed Japanese ceramic doll, signed by the well known Hakata ningyo artist, Genzo Soda. The words "early spring" is written next to the artist's signature. This could be the name of the doll or the time of the year that this doll was made. Mr. Genzo Soda is designated as an intangible cultural property holder of Fukuoka prefecture and is the recipient of numerous awards such as the Japanese Prime Minister's award, International Trade and Industry Secretary’s award, Fu...

Japanese gosho ningyo (doll) from the Noh play "Shojo". 11" tall on 1/4" wood stand. The box: 8 1/2" x 13 5/8" x 5 3/4" deep, Kiri(boxwood) stand: 5 5/8" 7 3/4" x 1 1/4"

A set of yoroi and kabuto for Boy's Day in Japan. The condition is almost new except the color (salmon pink) of strings is not so reddish (dull, faded color). There is a straight crack along the wood grain on the lid - did not show up well in the last photo. Total height is 30 1/2". The dimensions of wood box are 16 1/2" wide x 13" long x 12 3/4" high.

Japanese kimono with Kikko turtle shell design, mid Showa, new condition. 49 1/4" wide x 57" long.

Elegant Japanese Cotton Jacket with sashiko hand stitches, slits on the sides, new condition. The small stitches go through from the front to back or back to front. The stitches on the front were sewn right along the stripes that they do not show up much but it gave a nice, gentle texture to the front. Dimensions: 37" wide x 39" long

This is a beautiful Japanese obi. The style of obi is maru obi which is the most formal obi in recent years. It is made out of one long fabric that is folded in half. The dimensions of the obi are 12 3/4" wide and 13'3" (159") long. It is a large obi but very soft and light for its size – it weighs 3.5 pounds. The colors are all gentle including the gold threads. The design includes flowers (chrysanthemums and others), bamboo and a palace wagon over the multi layers of fans. This is a ...

This is a very attractive large Chinese wood box with one large and three small shishi(lion-dog) on the porcelain. Old Chinese porcelain was used for this box. It has more of an antique look than in the pictures here. Actual measurements are 8 inches wide x 10 1/4 inches long and 6 inches high.

Interesting Chinese lunch box with an old porcelain in lid. This porcelain may have been a part of an old vase once. Measurements: 7 1/8 inches x 4 3/8 inches x8 1/4 inches high. Mint condition.

Beautiful Japanese Wedding gown. The measurements are 52" wide and 73 1/1" long. The colors are red, blue, purple, green and orange. The condition is excellent, as new as it can get. Please e-mail or call me for questions.

Beautiful Japanese Satsuma mint dishes with Japanese price tags on the back. They are signed and in new condition, circa 1950 to 1960.
SIZE: 4 3/4 inches x 3 1/8 inches x 3/4 inches deep

Hakata doll was originated by a roof tile maker in the early 17C during the construction of Fukuoka castle. Hakata is located on the Kyushu island (southern island), famous to other porcelain makers such as Satsuma, Imari, Nabeshima and Hirado. This handsom groom is 7 1/2" tall and almost in mint condition. She is 8" tall in excellent condition with some minor stains on her right arm area as shown in one of the picture.

This gown has an exceptionally beautiful red. It is satin but feels almost like velvet. The condition is new, probably never been used. The bottom padding was still covered with a white cloth when this Uchikake was purchased (Enlargement 5). The measurements are 53" wide and 73" long.

Beautiful black Japanese wedding (Uchikake) in new condition, basting stiches still intact along the sleeves and other areas. The design is from the Heian Era (794-1192AD), imperial cart in pine trees. The gown is particularly well made and look better than our old photos. The colors are beautiful (no color loss), vivid yet elegant.

Shell shaped Japanese lacquer container. This is not something that was made quickly or should I say, "well layered". It comes with a beautiful luster, indescribable. It is beautiful.

The measurements: 8 2/3" x 8 1/4" x 3 2/3"H

Taiko bashi (arched bridge) in very beautiful red! The condition of this Japanese wedding gown is very new. The measurements are: 51"w x 71"long

Please see my other Japanese wedding gowns.

Hand painted (dyed) long silk roll, long enough to make one full kimono; 14 1/4" wide x 44' long. The designs do not repeat, some are to be matched for the width. The base color is a soft creamy color with a slight color change on the edge. 100 percent pure silk. The detail is as it follows; 46" cream, 13" small design, 74" cream, 6 1/2" small design, 37" cream, 16" medium size design, 94" cream, 25" half design on one side, 58" cream, 21" large half design, 42" small cream, 8" small desi...

The beautiful green color did not show up well in the pictures. I think it is much prettier. Both sides of the sleeves are soiled at the bottom area (see Enlargement6). The picture is lightened to show the area of stains. Actual stains do not show up as much in the large picture blending in with designs in the darker green (see Enlargement 1).
Dimensions are:

This gown had been used as a rental. The condition is not new like most of my other gowns are. Some large stains are shown in the lower collar area (see Enlargement 9) and several small stains in the other areas - shown in the other enlargements. It is a whitish creamy color. Dimensions are: 51"w x 71"h with 41" sleeve length
Great decorating material.

Japanese Arita porcelain vase with peonies, the flower of riches and honor. It symbolizes wealth, fortune and power as well as beauty in the highest form. It is signed 'Shuhou' on the bottom and the box. Hand painted with reddish brown (thick), gold and under-glaze blue-beautiful work. This is a large, solid vase, The actual weight 7 pounds without the box. Dimensions: 10 inches in diameter and 10 1/2 inches tall. Impressive Kiri wood (paulownia) box. Circa, mid Showa.

Newer Japanese bridal hair ornaments with roses and chrysanthemums. The butterflies on the chrysanthemums are attached with springs and are pretty flimsy; there are crawling snails on the rose leaves. Beautifully detailed as you can see. Your hair may look little too busy if you are to wear these all at once unless you have a huge dimensional hairdo as they used to (or they still do for the special occasions) back in Japan. You might want to divide the set into separate pieces and use th...

This beautiful shibori (tie-dye) is already cut to make a haori jacket. The skinny pieces under the arms are cut and attached by someone who knows what he is doing. It has not gone through Yunoshi, the process to stretch shibori using steam. The size of this gown is extremely small at this moment because a regular kimono roll (for short kimono) is used to make into shibori fabric. 36 inches x 16 1/2 inches long with 9 inches hemming tacked inside. The fabric is a good silk, an older sil...

This is a full set of quality Karuta game cards, traditionally played on New Year's day in Japan. It consists of 100 famous Waka poems from the Heian Period selected by FUJIWARA no Teike later in the 13th century. These poems are called Ogura Hyakunin (100 people) Isshu (one neck or head). The life and history of the old time is passed on to the new generations over the years through the beautiful waka poems in the karuta (origin "carta", Portuguese card) game.

The way that the game ...