Catalog (414)

Breathtakingly beautiful Japanese silk wedding kimono gown, Meiji/Taisho period, lined with the contrasting color red, very soft silk. It has a beautiful, rich texture woven in a mixture of flat, diagonal and shusu satin ori (weave). Under the sun, you can see the diagonal lines of woven gold threads crossing inside (photo #5). Gowns made in the early Meiji period are not only shorter but the colors are darker with a combination of earth tones (Shibui) comparing to brighter modern gowns. ...

This type of fukusa is a cover placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony such as "Yui-noh" which is prior to a wedding. It has a peaceful, ordinary outside view seen through an elegant blind (shown at the top) and a silk room divider (left side) which are both remainders of the Heian Court (794-1160). Cranes and plums represent longevity, harmony and women’s beauty along with their strength. Combined with a gold bag and mallet of Dai-koku symbolizing wealth, there is no...

Old Hakoseko (Japanese tissue holder) for times when women wear formal kimono. They are placed in the chest area with the chains of the kanzashi hair ornaments hanging from the obi belt. The colors of the embroidery are soft and shinier (silk threads) than shown in the photos. The background is in a soft creamy color (shioze silk). The color of interior is reddish orange. Kanzashi is gold plated, thick and heavy (approx. 1", 2.5cm in diameter) with an interesting butterfly design chiseled i...

This type of tissue holder is called Hakoseko. They are still being used for very special ceremonial occasions. The older one in this quality is now a collecter's item. Hakoseko will be placed between a kimono and an obi sash with the chains dangling from the chest area. Circa, early to mid 1900s. Dimensions: 4 1/2" x 2 3/4"

Lovely Japanese Musician Dolls, high quality dolls made in Kyoto. The faces of the dolls are different from each other and they have more delicate feature than shown on the photos. Their clothings are made from beautiful brocades specially woven for dolls. The color of red is deeper than shown here. The size of the two dolls are 6 1/4 inches tall and the other three are approx. 5 inches tall. Circa 1930 to 1950.

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. The designs of this obi are ancient Chinese mirrors, which covers f...

Beautiful hand painted Fukagawa Vase from Arita, Japan. It has a landscape of rural scenary of Japan on a matte finish. Fukagawa company is well known for translucent white porcelain. The under glazed blue signature at the bottom reads "made by Fukagawa" and there is an artist's signature on the lower half of the vase. Mint condition, circa mid 1900, 9 1/4" in diameter and 6 3/4" tall.

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...

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 a vibrant and beautiful Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) design by Yumi Katsura, a top bridal ware designer from Japan. Her name and ‘Japon’ are woven on a large black square located on the lower part of the center edge. After graduating from college, Yumi Katsura studied in France and in 1964, she opened the first bridal ware rental shop in Japan. She designs ready-wear and haute couture bridal gowns both in western and kimono style and currently has her shop in Paris along ...

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"

The beautiful green color did not show up well in the pictures. I think it is much prettier. Both sides of the sleeves are soiled at the bottom area (see Enlargement6). The picture is lightened to show the area of stains. Actual stains do not show up as much in the large picture blending in with designs in the darker green (see Enlargement 1).
Dimensions are:

This is a Rikyu doll, one of the Hakata clay doll made in the Fukuoka, Japan. Rikyu (Sen Rikyu) is a 16th century influential tea master who perfected the Cha-no-yu, way of tea. He served two historically powerful figures, Nobunaga (Oda) and Hideyoshi (Toyotomi), and eventually being forced to commit Seppuku by Hideyoshi. Sen Rikyu is a given name by the Emperor. 10 inches tall.

The term "Jyuban" came from the Portuguese word "gibao" (sleeveless garment). Jyuban is an undergarment worn under a kimono. You might be surprised to discover a piece of art, sometimes breathtaking bold in Juban. The condition of this old kimono is new. 100 percent pure silk. The measurements are 49" wide x 56-1/2" long.

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. Most of the blanks were made at Mikawachi where the Hirado kilns were located. They also ordered underglaze decorated wares that they could supply to their clients. These bowls fall into that category and were made for Hichozan, by the H...

It is a beautiful kimono in excellent condition. The black dye changed it's color to a current black which has a tint of brown. The silk is in a super good condition. The design is the favorite design of Kakiemon, the hoo bird and the leaves of the paulownia tree. The hoo bird has been associated with the Empress in Japan and her crest is an elegantly designed paulownia leaves.

This is a fairly large set of “hayashi” doll, court music entertainers, all dressed in samurai’s attire with a sword. Three seated dolls in the front row are approx. 5 1/2” (14 1/2 cm) tall x 9 1/2” (23-23.5 cm) wide, excluding hat and stand. The taiko drummer is 11 1/4” (29cm) wide, a little bigger. Two in back row, seated on stools, are 7 1/2” (19cm) tall x 9 3/4” (25cm) wide. The stands are lacquered wood.

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. It ...

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".

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. With tsuzure-ori, the weaver weaves over the drawing with their finger nails that ar...

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 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). There is a famous scene frequently illustrated from this chapter; Genji, a young and handsome grandson of the emperor, danced 'Sei Kai Ha", Waves of the Blue Ocean, with a maple branch on his crown, which made all the jaws of court ...

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. Plums are often asso...

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. 1.5 times longer) were chosen for special occa...

Japanese hair comb and Kogai hair pin in a Wakasa-nuri Lacquer finish on wood, circa early 1900s. Wakasa-nuri lacquer is a unique urushi lacquer technique that uses stones (coarse to soft) to scrape and reveal different layers of lacquer coatings which are painted on wood using many different colors. The dimensions of the comb are 1 1/4 inches and 3 1/4 inches, pin 5 3/4 inches long.

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 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

A Japanese tissue or cloth holder for a tea ceremony, finely woven with a diamond design, the interior lined in leather, all held together with an ivory clasp carved as a lion's head (shishi) mask, Taisho period.

Japanese Arita vase of ovoid shape decorated in underglaze blue with a continuous design of a small boat on a tranquil lake beside a large rocky outcrop, the base marked Arita kiln, with illegible artist's signature, Taisho period. Height 13"

The warrior’s armor and helmet, samurai sword, spears, banners and paper carps (later cloth) in the sky are all tools used to showcase boy’s day in Japan. This tradition started early Edo period (1603-1868) by samurai families wishing their son’s good health and studies to be honorable samurai.

This set is made in Kyoto, Japan and is called “Kyo-armor”. Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. The culture there was developed to serve the best for the emperor...

Beautiful Japanese obi with a woven design of Mt. Fuji above golden clouds. The design has more details than shown in the photos. The length shown in the photos was adjusted to 6'2". The total length of the obi is 14'6" long and 12 1/4" in width. The silver sky (touched up with brown painting) end when the obi is folded in half (7’1”) is followed by the other design in the same silver background. The front side is entirely coated -- which makes this obi more desirable for decorative ...

A set of yoroi and kabuto for Boy's Day in Japan. The condition is almost new except the color (salmon pink) of strings is not so reddish (dull, faded color). There is a straight crack along the wood grain on the lid - did not show up well in the last photo. Total height is 30 1/2". The dimensions of wood box are 16 1/2" wide x 13" long x 12 3/4" high.

Japanese Boy's Day display set with a helmet (Kabuto) and a screen. The lacquer screen is very shiny like a mirror. See Photo #10.

The dimensions of screen is 21 1/4"H x 50 3/4"W (extended). Screen box: 23" x 25 3/4" x 1/2"H Helmet Box: 15" x 13 1/4" x 10"H

A Japanese bronze vase with red splashed green patination with gold powders, the squat body with tall everted neck, signed on the base Shiho; signed tomobako. Taisho/early Showa period. Height: 7 1/2"

An elegant ceramic obidome (obi clasp) with silver mount (guaranteed) formed as a leaf, glazed in mottled tones of red and blue, with a hand woven silk cord dyed in the same colors; all contained in original box from Matsumasa, Kyoto. Taisho/early Showa period.

The actual colors are gentle; red in blue/purple tint with a soft blue color. What did not show in the photos are the exact matching colors of the ceramic leaf and silk cord. It is a work of art from the Kyoto area; ceramic possib...

Japanese Kyoto-yaki plate, artistically hand painted pine trees by Kohyo Yamazaki (1890 - 1979), wall hanging. Dimension: 10" in diameter, 1 5/8" deep.