Catalog: Archives (152)

A Japanese kanzashi (hair ornament) - two pronged brass pin decorated with impressed stylized waves and flower heads, applied with natural coral and silver cherry blossom, 6 5/8 inches.

Beautiful man's short jacket, hand painted on Asa(hemp). It is in excellent conditon, very rare to find this quality in this condition. This type of kimono is becoming very scarce every year.

Very intricate high grade gold hira-makie decoration with Aogai shell inlay and tiny gold leaf squares (kirigane)on tortoiseshell. A beautiful example from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912), Japan. It is 7 inches long and in superb condition.

Very impressive Japanese clay doll, 17 inches tall oiran geisha ningyo (doll). When the hina dolls were limited only to a few wealthy people, these clay dolls were for regular people (more than 90 percent of the population)...

This is an interesting collection of 54 Japanese hair ornaments dating back to the Meiji period (1868 to 1912), in lacquer, ivory, bone, tortoiseshell (bekko), coral, jade, crystal, celluloid and metal; all displayed in a glazed frame. Additional free Kanzashis are added to this collection (see the last enlargement picture). Dimension: 21 3/4" x 25 3/4"

This item will be shipped from Japan. Please allow two weeks for the delivery to the US...

Kogai hair stick: 6 1/2" long. The metal is brass with silver petals. The orange flowers are coral. The decoration is both hammered into the metal with a dye and engraved using a chisel. This dates from the late Meiji or Taisho period.

When you look at an obi like this, you know why the name "Nishijin" is so known. This is a very formal obi, the biggest obi that I have seen, 13" wide and 154" long. Just a perfect piece for the formal dining room. It is large enough to cover two formal dining room tables. The colors are pastel, very gentle. When this obi was woven, the gold thread was woven in together. Every dot and line that you see in these pictures is the gold thread. It is a thick textile without a thick padding...

This is an antique fukusa (Japanese gift cover) that the design came from the old folk tale called Urashima Taro. It is the story of a man who rescued a turtle from a group of cruel children. The turtle, who happened to be a princess of a dragon palace in disguise, returns later to thank him. The turtle invited him to tour the undersea world to her palace. He spends many days wined (with sake, I suppose) and dined, forgetting the time...

This is a set of small but very unique Keshi bina musician dolls or they may be called as Kawari bina (different or strange looking). By placing them casually, you can create an interesting group. The size of the two dolls are 4 inches tall on 1 1/2 inches stool (new lacquered wood), the other three are approx. 3 inches tall.

When the peaceful life of Edo (1600-1868) continued without any major battles for years, the people's life in general became more affluent...