Catalog (414)

Japanese twin pronged kanzashi with an agate ball. Late Meiji/Taisho period. Kanzashi is 6" long and the diameter of the ball is 3/4".

In the old days of Japan, agate was treasured as one of the sacred treasures. The Seven Sacred Treasures of Japan (Shippo), which originally came from the Buddhist surta, are gold, silver, ruri (lapis lazuli - blue stone with purple tint), shako (sea shell), agate, pearl, and maie (sea shell). Some are replaced with coral or crystals (old glass) depe...

Beautiful Japanese ginbari cloisonne vase. At 9 1/2", this is an unusually large and desirable example among the same group. It probably dates from the Meiji period (1868-1912) when the art of Japanese cloisonné enamels reached its highest point. Technological improvements enabled artists to create wonderful examples, including one of the most desirable techniques called "ginbari" (silver foil foundation) shippo as you see it here.

In this vase, the impressed silver foil ground acc...

Large silver geisha kanzashi (hair pin) with a family crest of three Kikyo (bellflower) blossoms within the kikko (tortoiseshell) hexagonal frame. Unique kanzashi for an elaborate hairdo. This kanzashi looks better than the photos shown. 9" long, late Meiji/Taisho period.

*The hexagon motif is a typical example of a pattern that was first popular among the courtly associates as a decoration on clothing, furnishings, carriages, and the like, and was later adopted as a formal her...

Japanese antique gift cover, fukusa, with the design of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Shichi Fuku Jin), tsuzure-ri tapestry weave with wide borders (1 3/4"). The liner is made of chirimen crepe silk, Meiji period (1868-1912), 26 1/4" W x 29 1/2"L

This is a beautiful fukusa even with obvious stains. It shows the quality and professional workmanship everywhere. This fukusa is woven in tsuzure-ori. With tsuzure-ori, the weaver weaves over the drawing with their finger nails that ar...

Beautiful old Japanese woven silk uchikake gown in new condition. The size of this gown is small (much shorter) and light in weight. We are not sure how gowns in this style were worn but our humble guess would be that they were either made into jackets for upper class women (style is similar to kosode from late Edo period), Noh custumes or wedding gowns (though the sleeves are short). Subtle but beautiful, will make a great wall decoration. Dimensions: 47 1/2"(120.7cm)W x 61"(154.9cm)L, sle...

During the Edo Period, there was a time when puppet play became the most popular form of entertainment among the common people. At one time, they were so popular that Kabuki actors even began mimicking the movement of the puppets.

The era of Ningyo Joruri (puppet play later called Bunraku) began in 1684 when Takemoto Gidayu, a narrator, opened a theater in Dotonbori. He was joined by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, the genius playwright who was often called "the Shakespeare of Japan."

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During the Edo period, the women of the Samurai class carried a pouch in their chest area (right above the obi belt) when they were dressed up in formal kimonos. The pouch was folded into a skinnier shape and accented with a nice tie. Carried inside were the beni ita (today's lipstick), a mirror, tissues, kanzashi, coins, etc. The chains were added to the kanzashi (hair ornament) sometime later. The shape of the pouches became similar to a box and some were made fancier by adding embroide...

A Japanese sake ewer (kurojoka) shaped as a minogame (mythical tortoise with a tail that symbolizes long life) covered with mottled brown, gray and yellow glaze, probably from Satsuma province in southern Kyushu Island.

Kuro (black) joka is a container that is used to heat "shochu" wine which is made from sweet potatoes. Shochu, started in Kagoshima area has been a cheaper wine for common people. It is different from "sake" wine which is brewed rice wine. Recent trends show the nation...

Japanese antique fukusa, a gift cover embroidered with "The Old Couple of Takasago" on wool (rasha, felt like), padded and lined with orange crepe silk, Meiji period (1868-1912).

The story of the old couple, Jo and Uba, came from the Noh play, Takasago, which was written during the Muromachi period (1336-1573) by Zeami. Jo and Uba were spirits who resided in an old pine tree which was two trees that grew together over the years. They were seen in the moonlight raking and sweeping old pine...

A Japanese tobacco pouch, ojime and pipe case (kiseruzutsu) - a leather pouch with an impressed name/hallmark of a famous sake on the inside of the flap with a gilt bronze clasp of a Chinese man and go (Japanese chess, originally Chinese) table. The ojime is a Bizen type pottery bead modeled as a two headed karako (Chinese boy), lucky god Ebisu or Daikoku. The kiseruzutsu (pipe case) has a hand chiseled textured design on the exterior of an unknown material. Tobacco pouch, 3” x 5”, ki...

A Japanese silver two pronged kanzashi (hair pin) with a cut rock crystal in center within a filigree gilt chrysanthemum, partially gilt body; original wooden box (tomobako) and a label that is written "Gold-silverwork", the retailer's name Kinji Shibuya, Akita city and their two digit phone number. Meiji/Taisho period.

Kanzashi: 6 3/4" long
Box: 9" x 2" x 1"

Set of five handmade copper chataku (coaster for sencha tea cups) with recessed centers, each applied with gold and silver powders. Meiji period (1868-1912).

Old Chago, Japanese tea leaf measuring scoop made out of bamboo. Taisho period. 6 1/4" x 2"

A Chinese informal robe with mandarin collar, decorated using couched silver threads, with auspicious symbols of baskets with flowers, double eternal knots, scattered fruit and flowers and a central floral roundel above stylized waves and water, all on a dark blue silk ground (near black); lighter blue lining. Circa 1900 - 1920.

The pine, bamboo and plum blossoms are all auspicious motifs found in nature. The evergreen pine symbolizes the strength and devotion of men; plum blossoms are the purity, subtle beauty and inner strength of women. Bamboos are often used to describe the personality of men and women; for example, a person being as straight (honest) as bamboo, it could also mean flexible (bendable) to a large extent. When pine (matsu, SHO), bamboo (take, CHIKU) and plum blossoms (ume, BAI) are put together, they a...

Old Japanese nobori banner, a spectacular wall hanging decor piece, circa 1920-1940. Dyed on thick cotton is the farewell scene of *Kusunoki Masashige with his son, Masatsura at Sakurai station. The scroll handed to his son is a will written for the family before he headed to the last battle.

This type of picturesque banner has been used for the Japanese Boy’s Day since late Edo period. Some are still made today but the quality has changed; most of the new noboris are printed. The whit...

This is a Japanese Nishijin obi made in exceptionally high quality. The obi is old but almost in perfect condition. It is beautiful to look at even without using a magnifying glass. The soft colors have an earth tone and the use of the dyed threads tells us that this is a superior work of Kyoto Nishijin. The scenery is of the mountains of Kyoto but if you look closely, you might notice that there is a foreign look to some of the structures. The size of each structure is 1" to 2.5". The...

Very attractive Japanese Yogi (bed comforter) with a pattern of chrysanthemums and scrolling vine, rice paste resist Katazome stencil dye. The cotton is not as thick as the other yogi. Excellent condition, It is an another "tsukurioki" (it had not been used after it was made - t just sit in the storage as a spare bedding for guests. One of the photo shows where the cotton wadding was taken out before the shipment. The seam at the center of the liner was opened. This will be left open ope...