Catalog (414)

This is a beautiful vintage kasuri kimono in new condition. The color is dark Japanese indigo blue (aizome) and white. The fabric is thicker and loosely woven, all hand sewn. Dimensions: 47 3/4" (sleeve to sleeve) x 52" long

This is a very elegant and high quality Japanese silk obi from Nishijin, Kyoto. The dimensions of the obi are 12 1/4" wide and 160 3/4" (13'4 3/4") long. About two-thirds of the front (104" long) is woven with gold. There are 2 full designs of an ox-cart with pine branches in the center area – only one of them is shown in the first photo – the other one is on the other side.

Silk textiles, particularly when they are woven with gold, can look very different in depending on the envi...

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. The culture there was developed to serve the best for the emperor...

Wearable art: Beautiful Shibori hand tie-dye work on silk haori (short kimono jacket). It is lined with a white silk with some basting stitches still intact. This haori will make a gorgeous jacket.

This is a beautiful kimono, hand Tie-dyed Japanese silk haori jacket in excellent condition. Japanese haori makes a great jacket. There are numerous storage stains (faint brown spots) on the white lining which did not affect the front at all.

This is a Japanese clay doll, Mingei folk art of Japan. Samurai Warrior doll in armor for the Japanese Boy's Day in May. 9 inches high and 6 inches wide. Signed at the bottom. Circa 1930 to 1950.

Quality Japanese Hina Ningyo with unique faces. These Jyokan dolls are a part of the Hina doll set displayed for the Japanese Girls Day, Hina Matsuri Festival, also called the Peach Festival, held in every March. The peach blossoms are often associated with a woman’s beauty and inner strength. When the blossoms start to open by breaking through the snow from February to March, it is the announcement of the arrival of spring. Being a farming country until recently, it meant the beginning fo...

Japanese Wedding Gown with embroideries, some stains. There is no trace of being worn on this Uchikake wedding gown. The outer fabric is white (creamy, light tan) silk and the liner is also high quality silk which makes it very light in weight. There are some color migrations from the embroidery yarns. You can look at it as a bokashi (gradual shading), with the color change right around the embroideries. The one on the left shoulder is visible and the coloring spreads to the front shoulder...

New Condition, hand sewn. I don't have a close up photos here, but I think this is hand woven. The katazome (stencil dye) cloth for the liner in the shoulder area. (I will try to take some close up photos sometimes later). Dimensions: 45 1/2" sleeve to sleeve, 23" shoulder and 36" long.

Beautifully hand sewn ka-gasuri summer kimono, partially lined with black and blue cottons, the color is dark blue to almost black, new condition with basting stitches. This is another Tsukurioki kimono. Tsukurioki means that it has been left unused after it was made into a kimono. These Kasuri kimonos have been associated with old women from the country-side, definitely for the non-fashionable group. These kasuri kimono are very durable, many were made to be worn as casual work clothes. I ...

This kasuri kimono appears to be hand woven (to my eyes) and another Tsukurioki kimono in new condition. Tsukuri-oki means that it has been left unused after it was made into a kimono. This was caused by the drastic changes in their clothing especially after the World War II. In modern days, Kasuri kimonos have been associated with old women from the country-side, definitely for the non-fashionable group. These kasuri kimono are very durable, many were made to be worn as casual work clothes....

These kasuri kimono are very durable, and made to be worn as casual work clothes. I hope you can see the tiny round patches used to strengthen the areas where the sleeves meet the body. There are no company or designer's labels on these kimonos, but the quality of the workmanship are superior. The fabric is still very starchy and stiff. It will take some washings before it becomes soft. The more washing it goes through, the more the fabric will become softer and show the true colors of a be...

Lovely Japanese Musician Dolls, high quality dolls made in Kyoto. The faces of the dolls are different from each other and they have more delicate feature than shown on the photos. Their clothings are made from beautiful brocades specially woven for dolls. The color of red is deeper than shown here. The size of the two dolls are 6 1/4 inches tall and the other three are approx. 5 inches tall. Circa 1930 to 1950.

Antique Japanese Doll by Kyoko: Dancing Sanbaso Ningyo Doll. This gorgeous doll with a face of Ichimatsu ningyo (doll) is approximately 18 inches tall on a 3/4 inch stand. The dimension of the stand is 13 inches x 10 inches x 3/4 inches. The crane is hand painted on the fabric. There are some fabric damages on the left side of her upper kimono (cloth) as shown.

Old Hakoseko (Japanese tissue holder) for times when women wear formal kimono. They are placed in the chest area with the chains of the kanzashi hair ornaments hanging from the obi belt. The colors of the embroidery are soft and shinier (silk threads) than shown in the photos. The background is in a soft creamy color (shioze silk). The color of interior is reddish orange. Kanzashi is gold plated, thick and heavy (approx. 1", 2.5cm in diameter) with an interesting butterfly design chiseled i...

Old Hakoseko (Japanese tissue holder or purse) for times when women wear formal kimono. They are placed in the chest area with the chains of the kanzashi hair ornaments hanging from the obi belt. The beautiful embroidery work (very delicate) on this hakoseko did not show up in the photos. The red color is a much softer tone; this is truely an elegant piece. The dimensions of the wooden box: 5 1/4" x 5" x 1 1/2" Early Showa, 1930 to 1950

Beautiful Kutani porcelain vase; hand painted with a scene of Chinese men in the rocky mountains in underglaze blue. The glaze has slightly blueish tint. Signed Kutani. The dimensions of the vase is 9 3/4 inches in height, 5 3/8 pounds in wood box (appears solid). The dimensions of box: 9" x 9" x 11 1/2". Circa, mid 1900s.

A formal Japanese maru obi with auspicious designs; containers for an old shell matching game, hand drums, fans, ho-o Chinese phoenix bird and kiri leaves. It is made with a thick silk brocade and thick padding. The gold color (genuine gold) is particularly beautiful in this obi. Excellent condition. This obi will make a beautiful addition for your home. Dimensions: 12 5/8” wide x 13’6” (162”) long

Gorgeous antique kimono in the best condition. Lined with red gauze silk, it is completely reversible. The color of the black silk has changed over the years to a very dark brownish gray evenly. The colors of the design are very classic Japanese colors as Imari red (brownish red) and same earth tone in every other colors. There is one tiny hole (1/16" in size) right by a family crest, Mon. There is no color loss inside.

The term "Jyuban" came from the Portuguese word "gibao" (sleeveless garment). Jyuban is an undergarment worn under a kimono. You might be surprised to discover a piece of art, sometimes breathtaking bold in Juban. The condition of this old kimono is new. 100 percent pure silk. The measurements are 49" wide x 56-1/2" long.

It is a beautiful kimono in excellent condition. The black dye changed it's color to a current black which has a tint of brown. The silk is in a super good condition. The design is the favorite design of Kakiemon, the hoo bird and the leaves of the paulownia tree. The hoo bird has been associated with the Empress in Japan and her crest is an elegantly designed paulownia leaves.

This is an old man's silk Jyuban, an undergarment worn under a kimono, a luxury from the past. Strange, but you will find quite a work of art in the undergarment, much more than finding them on the outer kimonos. The carps are tie-dyed. Other than a faint stain right above the right side carp, it is in excellent condition. This stain wil not show up unless you look at it under the sun. The measurements are 52" in width and 53" in length. No lining.

This standing Court lady is in extremely in good quality. She is probably from the Taisho Period (1912

The Hina dolls palace is for the Japanese Girl's Day, Hina Matsuri festival. The Hina doll set that I grew up with was displayed in the steps style, which is a common way of displaying 15 dolls with furniture. I have never seen this type of Hina Goten (Palace) until I found several of these recently. It tells us how different things used to be (and still is to some extent) according to regions. The hina dolls were modeled after the Imperial Court from the Heian period (794-1192). The cos...

This is a Hina Goten (Palace) doll house for the Girl's day in Japan, also known as Hina-matsuri or Sekku. Traditionally it is the day to celebrate and honor the young girls in the family. I remember my days playing with our antique hina dolls. Unfortunately, ours were all destroyed over the years. I guess that our temptation was a little too strong to play around with these attractive removable attachments, including the swords.

The Hina house was not a very common style in many areas...

Quality, Japanese lacquered wood kimono hanger. The hanger comes in the box with the old tissue paper inside. The writings on the box and the tissues (old with lots of storage stains - appeared new in the photos) indicate that it was "Made by Wajima", pre WWII. Wajima lacquer has been know for the best for it's superior quality. Very light (kiri wood inside?). Taisho to early Showa, 1920 to 1940. The condition is new (stayed in the box without being used). 25" long, 5/8" in diameter. ...

Japanese farmer's folk art, clay doll from early Showa: 10 3/4"h x 6"w Artist's signature on her back, dated in the 15 years of Showa Period (1940). Excellent condition.

Japanese folk art, farmer's clay doll: Ooishi Kuranosuke, a historical hero as a leader of the 47 Ronin (samurai without their master) who avenged their master's death and then all committed Seppuku suicide. Artist signed and dated (in 1942) on the back. Measurements are: 12 3/4"h x 7 3/4"w at the widest

All the clay dolls are somehow 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 ...

Japanese clay doll, Kabuki doll with a dragon. 13"h x 9 1/2" at the widest.

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 still very limited to a few wealthy people in early 1900s, these clay dolls were for the regular people. They were made by o...

Japanese folk art, farmer's clay doll: 11 1/2"h x 5 3/4"w

All the clay dolls are somehow 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). By the end of 19th century, these dolls were made all over Japan. 90 percent of the Edo population were farmers who could not afford nor were allowed to have hina dolls dressed ...

Japanese Kyoto Nishijin silk obi roll. This is a soft, medium thick, high quality silk fabric with genuine high grade gold leaves woven in. Stamped Kyoto Nishijin and nishiki with a couple seals for passing quality checks. Some stains at the end (very left edge) - not likely to affect. The base silk is cream color. 28 1/2" x 163".

Orange Fukusa, Japanese gift cover from mid Showa, 1930 to 1960. Some color loss but in excellent condition otherwise, no damage, stains or tear. The photos shows it little newer than actual. 19 1/8" W x 20 3/4" L

This type of fukusa is a cover placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as "Yui-noh" which is prior to a wedding. A pair of cranes on the rocks by an ocean may symbolize the couple's long journey together. This is a wonderful work of art, beatiful dye work is enhanced with embroideries that are so skillfully added. Taisho to early Showa, 1920 to 1940.

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 haori (short jacket) roll 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 silk wit...

This is an old Japanese man's obi sash (belt for a kimono) with designs on both side. Many of the sashes are found with some damages, so they are often cut out and used to remake something else. Top quality silk in new condition, no damages.

WEARABLE ART: This skirt is made out of an old Japanese man's obi belt, chrimen crepe silk with hand tie-dye "shibori". Freshly made out an obi from early 1900 to 1940. Medium size with elastic waist.