Catalog: Archives (152)

This is a very unique and beautiful Gin (silver) Kanzashi from Meiji Period (1868-1912). It has Samurai's Kabuto helmet and the plum blossoms resting on an open fan which moves to adjust the angle as the bells on the chains jingles. You can only imagine what the occasion was for. The first four photos were taken after it was polished, the rest were taken before. It truely looks beautiful now 5-6 months after being polished...

Fierce looking old Samurai ningyo (Japanese doll) in rare museum quality. His head is carved wood and the face resembles kabuki actors or Jyoruri ningyo (18th to 19th century puppet theater dolls) from the Edo period (1603-1868). It is definitely a work of art.

The Suoh, the outfit that the doll is wearing, was worn by different ranking samurais at various periods in history. The fabric is made out of Asa (Japanese hemp) and the rest is silk...

What is unusual about this Uchikake is that the fabric has a plastic coating. This is the only one that I have seen with this type of finish. This gown will survive nicely in the high traffic area or you can even hang it by the fireplace in your home. The color is orange. There are some areas that the plastic is missing (last picture). This is something that I did not see until I started to view these pictures (shown in last picture). Other than that, the condition is like new...

NEW BOOK: This is the most popular quarterly antique magazine published in Japan. It is from Gakken, Gakushu Kenkyu-sha. This is their 23rd edition, published on Sep 15, 2001. I had a chance to purchase one of these series a year ago. Within a year I looked for others and purchased the next two books when they were available.

"Picture tells all" describes this book. You can enjoy this book without knowing the language. It shows the details in the pictures...

We learn how people lived in the Edo period (1603-1867) from the dolls (ningyo) that were left to us today. They are called Fuuzoku (customs and manners) ningyo or Ukiyo (floating world) ningyo. There are basically two types of dolls of young men among them.

Wakashu ningyo is one of them. Wakashu was used to refer to young men who had yet to experience the ceremonial rite of passage of becoming a man, commonly at the age of 12 in the old time...

This Bizen yaki is an older pottery, the uninterrupted history of more than one thousand years, from Okayama prefecture, Japan. Bizen pottery is one of “Rokkoyou”, six famous potteries from Japan like Seto, Tokoname, Echizen, Shigaraki and Tanba. These types of hand made plates are mass-produced from the very end of Edo to early Meiji, early to mid 1800s...

Nobori Japanese banners, carps, warrior’s Yoroi and Kabuto (helmet), Musha-ningyo dolls and samurai swords are all the part of the display used for the Boy’s Days (renamed to Children’s Day), May 5th, in Japan. Culturally, the Japanese emphasize anything to do with children. The Girl’s day with hina dolls is in March. This Day is to wish for their son's health and future welfare. It is also to inspire boys in their manliness and hopefully bravery, discipline and honor codes come with it...

Beautiful Black Japanese silk kimono Uchikake (Wedding Gown): In Japan, there is a popular term that describes a very loving couple. They are called an Oshidori Couple. It must have come from seeing pairs tagging along so closely together near ponds or lakes. Many folk tales were told in different regions associating their affections for each other.

Here is a strikingly beautiful view of an Oshidori couple, flying over a pond and plum trees in a dark background...

A Japanese lacquered agiro pipe case (kiseruzutsu) finely decorated with a cockerel and hen, signed Shinsen (?). The pouch is tooled leather with iron and silver cockerel and hen inlaid with a gold clasp. The ojime is shaped as Daikoku's mallet in unknown material. The actual color of pipe case is closest to the photo #11. 19th century, late Edo period. Dimensions: Pipe case, 8 1/2 " long, tobacco pouch, 5 1/4 " x 3 "

It is hard to make out the second character of the signature. I...

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. As he finally realizes the time and is ready to return,...

This type of tissue holder is called "Hakoseko". This is to be placed between Obi and Kimono with the chains dangling in the chest area. Hakoseko is still being used today for very special ceremonial occasions, but it is very difficult to find an old quality piece like this. Obviously, this has been stored for years without being used. The condition is new with some faint storage stains. It came with a paper bag filled with straws instead of tissue papers. From Taisho to early Showa,...

The black dye changed its color to a dark gray which is nice in its own way. It is a formal wear with 5 mon (family crest). Top half of the lining is done with a white silk and the bottom half is done with the same black silk from the front. The design from the front goes throughout the inside lining! The bottom is lightly padded which makes this kimono into a great decoration piece. Beautifully hand sewn, again it is the work of art itself. The design is done in Yuzen dye and in excell...