Catalog (414)

Old Japanese Tsumugi fabric, silk pongee with a dragon design, 14 1/2" x 110". There is a 4 1/2" cut half way (location of the cut is 55" from one end), damage on the edge (runs on 30" from one end) is shown in photos #1, 9, #10.

This is the most formal and elaborate style of obi called maru obi. The designs run through the entire obi from one end to the other on both sides. The dimensions: 12" wide x 12'5"(161") long. The cost of making one maru obi is substantially higher than a typical obi. The design here include chrysanthemums, wild flowering plants of autumn, fans and Genji wheel that implies the presence of graceful aristocrats from the Heian period(794-1185). The chrysanthemums by the water (old bridges here)...

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. The beautiful details are packed in the small dolls - photos could n...

A beautiful silver work with turquoise stones. The total of eleven large turquoise stones (oval cabochon cut) are mounted on the delicate silver filigree. Beautiful work. No damage to the stones; no cracks or chips. There is a “silver” mark on the silver clasp of the necklace.

The design is auspicious with the good luck charms such as a Chinese characters “shou” (coin-like small design) and bat. Both symbolize happiness, longevity and likely is to protect the wearer from evils by ...

This is an exquisite older "Hakoseko"! This is to be placed in the chest area between Obi and Kimono with the chains from Kanzashi dangling. Hakoseko is still being used in Japan only for very special occasions now. These older kinds are becoming very difficult to find. It is lined with orange silk with a mirror and thick brown "Washi" tissue papers still remains inside. The fabric is a beatifully woven silk, with the shiney red silk and metal (turnished silver?) threads. Circa, early t...

Old Japanese clay doll, a lovely standing girl with a flower bouquet, 14" tall from early 1900s. This doll is signed and dated (the date that sold or given to) at the bottom, March of the third year.

This type of clay dolls are somehow all originated from the Fushimi clay doll of the Kyoto area. Fushimi dolls were originally sold as souvenirs to the pilgrims on the road of Fushimi Kaidou from Kyoto to Fushimi Inari Shrine in the early Edo period (1600-1868). When the hina dolls were...

Beautiful Japanese Wajima lacquer stand with gold maki-e painting on a nashi-ji (pear skin) background. The designs are scrolling vines with stylized chrysanthemums and paulonias, which are the crests of the emperor and empress. The style of sparkling nashiji lacquer work and the theme were popular in the Taisho period (1912-1926) to the beginning of the Showa era, sometime after the return of the throne to the emperor.

The stand was made for a Tokonoma as a base for a flower arrangement...

The delicate ladies in waiting Japanese hina dolls for the Japanese Girl's Days in February. They are extremely beautiful with delicately detailed gofun (crushed shell with paste) faces and hands. The photos could not caputured it. Their face, hair, hands and costumes are superior to many other "Jyokan" dolls, obviously the work of first rated Kyoto made dolls. The standing dolls are 8 7/8" tall. One of the sleeves on the standing doll is soiled (enlargement 8). Circa Taisho to early Sho...

Old Japanese Kutani dishes placed in the carved wood tray. Each dish is hand painted and signed at the bottom, "Gyokuzan". The diameter of the tray is 14 inches. Some gilt wear at the rim of some dishes.

This unique antique Japanese vase with four handles has a creamy grayish colored body with crackles and numerous pinholes. A couple of crackles are missing (shown in the photo) at the foot. It is 11 1/2 inches tall, circa early 1900s.

Strikingly beautiful Japanese Nishijin obi. The style of the obi is the most formal and expensive style which is called maru obi; the design covers front and back, from one end to the other end. This is an older obi than it looks. The colors are vibrant yet elegant. The design is for the joyous occasion with cranes, hand drums, flowers, pines and repeated pattern of waves (sei kai ha) in gold.

Measurements:

This is a beautiful antique Japanese Imari bowl in excellent condition, no chips, hairlines, nor repairs.
The measurements of this bowl is 8 1/4 inches in diameter and 3 1/2 inches high and very solid (heavy). Signed.

Old Kyoto Nishijin obi. This obi is one of the 5 favorite obis from my collection - we have over 200 obis. It is almost impossible to find a obi like this today. The owner of the store in Tokyo where this obi was purchased once said that single good obi was coming out from one household when they go out knocking on the doors in the old town. The store had gone through changes since and no longer carries antique textiles. The designs of this obi are ancient Chinese mirrors, which covers f...

Amazingly beautiful antique Japanese obi. This is a very high quality Nishijin obi. The condition is new with basting stitches. Very fine gold threads are woven into the base silk adding a subtle but shinny look to this obi (tan color comes from this). Crystal clear sky to turquoise blue, beautiful earth tone shades of purple to pink and moss green, you must see to believe this beauty. The high quality gold was woven extensively throughout (not only in the design area) and it shines by pick...

Antique Japanese man's silk juban, an undergarment worn under a kimono. We can find true works of art hidden in this type of old kimono. The term "Juban" comes from the Portuguese word "gibao" (sleeveless garment). The design of hyotan sake (rice wine) gourds is out-lined with hand tie-dye. Interesting patterns inside the gourds. This is an old gown but the condition is like new except that the tie-dye has stretched out over the years. Circa, early 1900s. The measurements are; 52 1/2...

This is a beautiful old Japanese maru obi with the design throughout on front and back. It is the kind of obi that we no longer see them produced. The white area is rich white satin and is whiter than shown in the photos. 12-1/4" wide x 154" long. Early 1900.

This is a beautiful example of an old Kyoto Yuzen dyeing. In this kimono, you can see the white lines around the designs, the very characteristic of Yuzen dye. This is where the rice paste is used to resist the dye and is later washed off. The dye on the silk bleeds. By outlining or covering the design area with the paste, the dye artists can work with the design more freely in detail than in the older pre-Yuzen method, which simply uses dip dying and/or embroidery. This is the revolutionar...

Please see Trocadero#38274 for details.