Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (247)

A set of 10 lidded Hirado Japanese porcelain 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 tomobako (original box), inscribed "Hizen Hirado yaki", Kodai (ancient), Prunus, Sansui ga (oriental style painting of mountains and water). Late Meiji/Taisho period, early 1900s...

Antique Fukusa, a Japanese gift cover with a pair of cranes and pine Tree. This type of silk fukusa was used as a gift cover at the time of a gift-giving ceremony held prior to a wedding. This was one of the rare occasions that the recipients were expected to keep the fukusa as a gift since any return associated with a wedding was considered a bad omen.

The crane and pine trees are both regarded as the symbol of harmonious marriage and longevity in Japan...

The fabric is thick, silver brocade that appears to be taken from a Japanese woman's old obi from late Edo period. The liner is cotton. During the Edo period (1602-1868), there was a custom that the family of a deceased woman would donate her favorite kimono to the temple; some beautiful temple cloths were created from those wonderful fabrics. The custom was likely to have continued after the period...

This kind of Kanzashi is called Gin (silver in Japanese) Kanzashi. The body is usually made out the stronger mixed metal as this one. The darkened metal flowers are tarnished silver, I believe. The bira bira Kanzashi started to become fashionable in late 18th century, Edo Period and this set is from late Meiji to Taisho period, early 1900s. The chains are very light weight so you can wear as a set if you like...

Old Kyoto Nishijin obi. This obi is one of the 5 favorite obis from my collection - we have over 200 obis. It is almost impossible to find a obi like this today. The owner of the store in Tokyo where this obi was purchased once said that single good obi was coming out from one household when they go out knocking on the doors in the old town. The store had gone through changes since and no longer carries antique textiles...

Antique Japanese samurai doll, a flag-bearer sitting on a chair, 15 inches tall to the top of his head. This is a popular retainer doll paired with a general doll for the Japanese Boy’s Day. All the retainer dolls are usually not handsome; some look quite funny contrary to the handsome general dolls. You can even see a size difference for some in the set; there will be a big handsome general doll and a small retainer doll with a funny face to enhance the difference...

Takeda dolls are modeled after the characters from 17th to 19th century Japanese theater. They are known for exaggerated postures and often with a vivid facial expression of the Kabuki actors or Jyoruri puppets on stage from the period.

This doll is holding up a "takafuda" bulletin board in one hand and a brush in the other. "takafuda" was an official bulletin board for Tokugawa government (1603-1868) to announce any regulations, or changes etc...

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...

Antique Japanese warrior doll, 20" Empress Jingyo ningyo(doll) set. Clad in armor is a beautiful young widow, Empress Jingo doll with her faithful minister, Takenouchi no Sukune, holding her baby Ojin. Over time, many of the baby dolls were lost or intentionally thrown away by later generations, probably because of the lack of historical understanding. An old Samurai holding a baby is simply inconceivable and uncharacteristic of a Samurai warrior...

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.

A set of old Japanese wooden combs with a cloth comb holder. These are hair styling combs used when most women had the hairdo of today’s geisha. Each comb had a different function which was basically to comb, style and clean the hair. The combs here are all hand cut and it appears that some were added later. All combs are cleaned.

The outside of the folder is covered with a fabric called sarasa. Sarasa is a Japanese term for the Indian Chintz which was first introduced to Japan in t...

Antique Tansu cover (yutan) with a family crest of crane. There are few Yutans left in original shape like this one. The fabric is a loosely hand woven cotton and is made to fit over the tansu (cabinet), the size of 40" by 18". This cover can be dissembled into a flat cloth of 27 inches by 118 inches. The condition of the fabric appears to be in new condition with two holes between the 72" to 74" location. The color is uneven in some area; small areas show blue than green, some uneven co...

Old Japanese teppo (pistol) style candle holders which appear to be made from old pieces. Each piece is 21 inches long and quite heavy. These will probably work well along the wall of a country style room.

This panel was taken from Japanese "futon" bed cover. It is decorated with a chagama and other utencils used in the tea ceremony. They are drawn in the paste resist dying technique called tsutsugaki. The green area appears to be dyed with two colors, "ai" indigo blue first then yellow dye. The fabric (cotton) is loosely woven with one repair as shown in the photos. Meiji Period(1868-1912). Dimensions: 61" x 48"

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 ...

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

Japanese makie lacquer sake wine Dishes with an auspicous design of Sho-Chiku-Bai (pines,plums & bumboos). This design is a happy ceremonial symbol for the gold taka-makie (raised design) designs with kirigane (small gold leaf squares) on brownish red (with purple tone) lacquer. Each piece is very thin and light and in new condition. There is no wear to the gold and lacquer except one small repair on one dish. This type of set is often used as a set of three. Each dish is numbered 1 to 5 i...

The carps and nobori Japanese banners, warrior's Yoroi and Kabuto helmets, samurai dolls and swords are 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 to inspire their boys in manliness, discipline, bravery and the honor codes which are associated with them.

Originally, Nobori was used in the battle field to identify the troops, some were to show the warriors where their taisho (general) was. The others were to ...