Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (247)

Antique Japanese silver and gilt Kanzashi; a hairpin with a humorous design of an old lock placed on "kinchuku", a moneybag, with coral beads. With a clear message, it will be a great gift to someone special. Length 7". Meiji period (1868-1912).

Antique Japanese warrior dolls, musha ningyo displayed for the Japanese Boys Day. Clad in armor is a beautiful young widow, the Empress Jingo with her faithful retainer/high ranking minister, Takenouchi no Sukune. He is holding her baby Ojin (Oh-jin) who was later known as “The God of War”, the 15th Japanese emperor, Emperor Ojin. These are all original dolls including the baby.

Some old records indicate that in 300 AD, God came down to talk to Empress Jingo in her sleep...

Japanese samurai dolls are part of the display used for Boy’s Day on every 5th of May in Japan. The dolls are figures of historical heroes or legendary people to inspire the boys of the family (probably husbands are also included today) with their manliness and hopefully discipline and bravery to go along with them. Samurai’s Yoroi armor, Kabuto helmet with swords, bow with arrows are popular items chosen today for the day.

This is a large, very impressive musha ningyo (warrior doll)...

This is “kataginu” (shoulder cloth), only the upper part of kamishimo without a trouser. Kami-shimo simply means top and bottom in Japanese. It was a high ranking samurai’s formal attire when they attended official meetings at the Edo castle. It was worn over kosode (kimono with small sleeves) with trousers. The shoulders are arch shaped and this was the style that developed in the late Edo period (1603-1868). Longer trousers (approx...

Three Japanese Jyokan (ladies-in-waiting) hina dolls are a part of the hina doll set displayed for the Hina Matsuri Festival, Japanese Girls Day in March, also called the Peach Festival. This day is reserved for the girls of the family wishing for their well-being for the coming year. Late Meiji to Taisho period, early 1900’s.

When the peach blossoms start to open by breaking through the snow from February to March, it is the announcement of the arrival of spring...

Japanese Kanzashi hairpin, maki-e on hand carved wood. A dadaiko (large drum used for court music) and maku (outdoor fence made out of cloth) under the maple trees. They are pictorial subjects from chapter 7 of The Tale Of Genji, Momiji no Ga (An Autumn Excursion)...

The Kanzashi hair accessory has been the main jewelry for Japanese women. This antique comb and hair pin set has a wonderful design of turtles in the bay area on one side and landscape on the other side. It is a classic design in gold makie on tortoiseshell with coral inlay. Hair Pin is 5 3/4" long, comb 3" long and 1" in width. Meiji period (1868-1912).

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...

The Japanese samurai dolls are part of the display used for Boy’s Day on every 5th of May in Japan. The dolls are the figures of historical heroes or legendary people to inspire the boys in the family (probably husbands are also included today) in their manliness and hopefully discipline and bravery to go with them. Samurai’s Yoroi armor, Kabuto helmet with swords, bow with arrows are popular items chosen today for the day.

Very large doll for this kind...

A Japanese bamboo pipe case with a cut relief design of a bearded old man with a fan, Okina from Noh play, Meiji period. Length 9".

A pair of Japanese lacquered iron abumi (stirrups) decorated in gold lacquer on a roiro ground with Ni-o, also known as Kongo Rikishi with delicate scrolling background, the interior in red lacquer. Edo period (probably 17th century). 11 1/8" high, 4 3/4" wide, 12" long.

A pair of Japanese lacquered iron abumi (stirrups) decorated with gold lacquer on a roiro ground. It has butterfly family crests (mon) in the center of a scrolling leaf and flower border, the interior in red lacquer.

The butterfly design was a favorite among the aristocrats and was seen in their belongings, ox-carts and attire during the Heian period (794-1192). They were also seen in armor of the Heike (Taira family) before power was shifted to the Genji (Minamoto family) samurai...

Japanese altar cloth, uchishiki, decorated with sets of kara-shishi (Chinese-lions), peonies, rocks and clouds. Silk with cotton liner, some soiling and some stains 27" x 29" (68.6cm x 73.7cm)

The lion is the king of beasts and is considered a messenger for Monju Bosatsu. They are often found guarding either side of a Shinto Shrine in Japan. The peony is the sovereign of the flowers, which symbolizes wealth and honor...

Marked “Hichozan” and “made by Maru(circle mark) hei”. Hichozan was a large organization located in Kyushu, the southern island of Japan. The organization did not make any porcelain itself but had large workshops decorating blanks from other factories...

Beautiful Kyoto Nishijin silk obi, decorated with flowers, ribbons and mirrors. Gold is genuine and used in two different methods; strips of gilt paper (machine cut) and gold leaf wrapped around the silk threads. Some gold leaf are natually missing from the strips of paper - this did not show up in most photos (see enlargement photo). This obi looks older (clean) than shown in the photos. Circa 1920-1940. Dimensions: 12 3/4" x 170"

This is a beautiful old Chinese necklace made out of genuine natural corals. The color is salmon pink. Approx. 63.5cm (25 inches) long and weigh 66.3 grams. The measurements of the center coral are: 1.4cm x 1.7cm in diameter. Circa 1930.

Note: In our photos, orange/brown tone had shown up a little too strong and hid a pink tone.

This is a large antique fukusa, Japanese gift cover, 34 inches long and 26 inches wide, without including the tassels. The lid of the wooden box (hiro buta) that carried gifts was often placed upside down to display the gifts. The length of the Fukusa may have been adjusted for the tray.

The design of this Fukusa is based on the old Japanese folk tale, Yoro(Yohro) Waterfall. The waterfall was known as the Fountain of Youth and instead of water falling, Sake wine was falling. Whoever d...

This is an antique fukusa, Japanese gift cover with cranes. A pair of crane is a symbol of longevity and harmony. The embroideries on this fukusa are particularly beautiful. One small hole in the front (smaller than the one in the back) did not show in the photos.

24 inches x 26 1/2 inches
Sioze silk front and back.
Circa: Early Taisho period (1912-1926)
Occasion: Wedding or related

At the time of gift giving, the fukusa gift cover was used only with limited pe...