Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (247)

A pair of Chinese candlesticks of European form decorated with sprays of flowers on a green cloud scroll background, gilt copper mounts. The bases are marked "CHINA". The dimensions are 11 3/4" tall and 4 1/4" in diameter at the base. Circa 1900 - 1920.

A set of 10 Hirado porcelain lidded bowls decorated in underglaze blue with mountain landscape on one half and prunus on the other. The interior has a central floral roundel and wave design on the rim. Each marked Hirado, Kasho. The original wood box, tomobako, inscribed "Hizen Hirado yaki", Kodai (ancient), Prunus, Sansui ga (oriental style painting of mountains and water). One bowl is damaged - 9 sets plus a lid. Late Meiji/Taisho period...

Hand stitched Japanese short jacket, 36" wide x 33" long.

Two characters on this Japanese banner are Yoshitsune (Minamoto family) and Noritsune (Taira family). It was towards end of the Genpei War (1180-1185), Yoshitsune (Minamoto family) flying high on the top escaping the attack of Noritsune (Taira family). Yoshitsune was said to hopped eight boats at this scene...

This is an impressive set of Emperor and retainer dolls for the Japanese Boy's Day. The decorations for this day include Carps, Yoroi and Kabuto (Samurai's Armor and helmet), swords, arrows and some famous hero and legendary figures from the past. The Emperor doll is 17 inches tall and 15 inches wide (sleeves stretched as shown), the retainer is 11 inches tall. Circa Taisho to early Showa...

Beautiful Shusu (satin silk) Uchikake kimono from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912). All hand sewn with embroidery and gold couching work - overlaying of threads (real gold wrapped around thread) rather than going in and out of the base fabric.

The dimensions are 50 inches between from tip to tip of the sleeves, 60 inches long and 29 and half for the sleeve length. All the edges and openings are generously stuffed with raw silk...

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:

Nobori banners, carps, warrior's Yoroi and Kabuto helmets, samurai dolls and swords were all a part of the display used for Boy's Day (renamed Children's Day) on May 5th in Japan. They reflect the parents' wish to inspire their sons in manliness, discipline, bravery and the honor codes which are associated with them.

Originally, nobori were used on the battlefield to identify the troops; some were to show the warriors where their taisho (general) was, others were used to shift the troops...

Antique Japanese silver kanzashi, the upper design part is gold plated with finely engraved three oak leaves. *This was one of the most popular crests among the warrior samurai class particularily among close devotees of Shinto. Top quality hand cut metal work. Circa (we think) Meiji period (1868-1912). 6 3/4" long and 1 3/8" in width.

*The Elements of Japanese Desgn by John W. Dower

Old kasuri (Japanese ikat) kimono worn on celebratory occasions. The fabric, which is woven with asa(hemp) and dyed in indigo (aizome), is coarse and stiff yet lustrous with an almost transparent look. The pattern is geometrical and pictorial; with flowering wisteria branches, stylized pines, Chinese style clouds, fans and phoenix-like birds. It shows some weakened area from neck to shoulder lines and the lower part of the kimono. There is a seam at 21.5"/22" from the bottom hem...

Japanese antique folk hina dolls, zuishin, the imperial guardsmen and escorts from the Heian period (794-1185). They are often called Daijin minister dolls. The dolls used to belong to the Hina festival (Matsuri) for Girl’s Day. The size of the dolls are 10" tall to the tips of the arrows.

Old Japanese Kogai, a hair pin made of tortoiseshell(bekko). It is 6 1/4 inches long, from the Meiji period (1868-1912).

This is an old silk fukusa from Meiji period (1868-1912). This type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony. Lined with a deep red crepe silk, this fukusa is almost in perfect condition.

Pine trees are considered as sacred in Japan. Here, an ancient pine tree is mostly done with the gold couching, overlaying of threads (wrapped in gold) rather than going in and out of the base fabric...

Beautiful Katazome stencil dye work on thick, lightweight, coarsely woven cotton. It is decorated with auspicious motives; crane and long-tailed turtle in the framework of sho-chiku-bai (pine, bamboo, plum blossoms), the symbols of longevity and happiness. Bamboos, canes and pines are hidden, actually all over here in the form of scrolls. Three rolls of 13.1/2" (width) x 123 1/4" (long), roughly 98cm wide x 313cm long...

Japanese samurai dolls, Yoroi and Kabuto (armor and helmet), swords, nobori and carps banner are all a part of the display used for the Boy's Day in Japan. The quality set like this will give a wonderful, rich flavor as a decoration to your home all year around. There is no Maruhei label label on the box but we are pretty sure that this was made by the Maruhei in Kyoto. The similar set that we had seen had the Maruhei label that indicates the set was made in early Taisho period (1912-1926)...

Fukusa, Japanese Gift Cover, Pine, Bamboo and Plums on Fans: This type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as "Yui-noh" which is held prior to a wedding. This is an elegant old satin silk Fukusa in excellent condition...

Each plate has the design of a single chrysanthemum (kiku) shifted towards the left side of the plate … but they were carved in a way that each has a life of its own. None of them look the same. The design is sharply cut into thick layers of black urushi lacquer – tsuikoku. It is known to be a difficult job – this later lead to Kamakura bori(carving) which is a technique of lacquering on carved wood. The plates are very light. It indicates a high quality, matured wood inside. The edges ...

Rare quality nobori Japanese banner for Boy’s day; beautiful hand-dyed work of the samurais on cotton. The nobori banners were originally used in the battlefields to shift the troops and to show the warriors the location of their generals. The designs on the banners were much simpler then and some were quite large. They must have had a scaring effect on the enemy when they saw so many flying banners in the sky approaching towards them.

When Ieyasu (Tokugawa) took a control an...