The 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 parent's wish (at the time that they were made) to inspire their sons in manliness, discipline, bravery and the honor codes which are associated with them.
Japanese antique nobori banner, hand painted on cotton, a tiger in the bamboo grove. The style of the painting is derived from ancient Korean paintings of tigers. It is a style that became popular in Japan from the 16th century and you will see many screens and scrolls of tigers painted in this manner. The popularity of these paintings in this style continued throughout the Edo period(1608-1868) and into the Meiji era. The quality of the artwork tell us that this nobori is likely to have b ...click for details
Japanese cloth taken from an old futon bed cover, decorated with an auspicious motif of pine, bamboo and plum blossoms. 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 b ...click for details
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.
Japanese Kanzashi hairpin, makie on hand carved wood. Dadaiko (large drum used for court music) and maku (outdoor fence made out of cloth) under the maple trees are pictorial subjects from chapter 7 of The Tale Of Genji, Momiji no Ga (An Autumn Excursion). There is a famous scene frequently illustrated from this chapter; Genji, a young and handsom grandson of the emperor, danced 'Sei Kai Ha", Waves of the Blue Ocean, with a maple branch on his crown ... which made all court ladies dro ...click for details
Antique Japanese inro, makie designs of phoenix (ho-o bird) on black lacquer. These large inro are sometimes referred to as sumo wrestler's inro, written "Kahei nuri". The last letter (kao like) is probably "nuri" which means painted or coated with. To roughly quote the Wrangham Index of Inro Artists – according to Soken Kisho, Kahei was a mysterious makie artist that lived in Kyoto during the 18th century. He was prominent enough to have his work called Kahei–nuri ...click for details
Antique Japanese netsuke, a sagemono; a legendary figure of Chokwaro and his horse. Chokwaro is said to have lived in China at the end of the 7th century when he traveled through China on his horse which carried him thousands of miles without food or drink. The horse was kept in a gourd when not required by Chokwaro. To revive the animal, Chokwaro simply wet the end of the shrivelled gourd and the magic beast came to life. The netsuke is made from stained ivory and dates to 19th century. 3 1/8 ...click for details
This is a stunningly beautiful Hakata ningyo (doll) made by a Hakata ningyo artist. It is not one of the mass produced Hakata dolls. The softness of the colorings and detail in her kimono (in Kyoto Yuzen dye) did not fully come out in the photos. This doll was modeled after oiran, a courtesan from the Edo period, or we may simply call her Genroku bijin (a beautiful woman from Genroku era in Edo). The doll has a Kosode (kimono with small sleeves worn during the Edo period - 17 to mid 19th ...click for details
A woven antique Japanese men's wallet decorated with
geometric design created with brocaded silk ribbon.
Inside, hand stitched with Sashiko stitches on silk.
The shakudo clasp is tomo-e shaped and inlaid with
copper and silver. Silvered metal (brass?) netsuke in
the shape of a tongue cut sparrow attached with three
colored metal chain. Circa, early 1900s (Taisho period). Dimensions: 5 1/4" x 3 1/8"
Beautiful aizome (Japanese indigo dye ) cotton cloth decorated with auspicious motives of crane, turtle and sho-chiku-bai (pine, bamboo, plum blossoms) in katazome (stencil dye). You may be still wondering where the bamboo is in this design. It's here as scrolling bamboo canes, instead of the regular design of scrolling vines. Three rolls of 13.5" (width) x 130" (length) thick cotton are partially hand sewn together. The condition is excellent condition with little color los ...click for details
