Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Metalwork (16)

Antique Japanese hairpin, Bira Kanzashi with coral, flowers in a basket, 6 1/4" long.

Elegant silver hairpin with gilded bird, possibly a nightingale on the branch of a plum tree. The plum blossoms are made out of small corals. 7 and 7/8” long, Meiji/Taisho.

Japanese silver pipe with brown bamboo body, the mouthpiece with design of engraved bamboo. Length: 7 1/2" Circa 1900, Meiji period.

A fine silver kiseru (kizeru) pipe with natural bamboo body, the ends finely engraved with a dragon and tiger in the bamboo grove. The color of the central bamboo section is dark (almost black) with purple tint. The eye (eyes) is inlaid with gold (very small though). Circa 1900. 7 1/4” (18.8cm)

A Japanese silver two pronged kanzashi (hair pin) with a cut rock crystal in center within a filigree gilt chrysanthemum, partially gilt body; original wooden box (tomobako) and a label that is written "Gold-silverwork", the retailer's name Kinji Shibuya, Akita city and their two digit phone number. Meiji/Taisho period.

Kanzashi: 6 3/4" long
Box: 9" x 2" x 1"

A set of Japanese bira-bira kanzashi (hair ornament) with silver and gold plated peonies, foliage, coral beads and dangling chains. Meiji period. This set has been recently cleaned by a jeweler. Kanzashi 8 1/4" long, chains 4" long.

A pair of lacquered iron abumi (Japanese stirrups) decorated in fine gold and nashiji (pear skin) lacquer on a roiro urushi, black lacquer ground. Each carries a Tokugawa aoi crest (three hollyhock leaves in a circle) within scrolling leaf background, the bottom constructed with wood pieces within an iron frame which made it lighter, thus gave a better control. Edo period (17th/18th century).  9" high, 5 1/4" wide.

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...

A pair of Japanese lacquered iron abumi (stirrups) decorated in gold lacquer on a roiro ground with Ni-o, also known as Kongo Rikishi with delicate scrolling background, the interior in red lacquer. Edo period (probably 17th century). 11 1/8" high, 4 3/4" wide, 12" long.

A pair of Japanese lacquered iron abumi (stirrups) decorated with gold lacquer on a roiro ground with dragonflies (some with aogai inlay) within scrolling leaf background, the interior in red lacquer, different necks, some chips, cracks (on red) and retouching. Edo period (17th/18th century). 11 1/2" high, 4 3/4" wide, 12 3/4" long.

Large silver geisha kanzashi (hair pin) with a family crest of three Kikyo (bellflower) blossoms within the kikko (tortoiseshell) hexagonal frame. Unique kanzashi for an elaborate hairdo. This kanzashi looks better than the photos shown. 9" long, late Meiji/Taisho period...

An elaborate Japanese coral, silver, and gilt kanzashi (hair pin) formed as a peony spray with butterly shaped pendants hanging from silver chains. The body is made out of stronger mixed metal, Meiji/Taisho period. Kanzashi 8" long, chains 3 1/4" long.

Beautiful Japanese tama (ball) kanzashi with a pink agate ball above a twin pronged gilt mixed metal pin in the original box with a seal. Taisho period. Length 6 3/4"

A Japanese silver kanzashi (hair pin) with pierced and engraved circular design of peacock, original box with printed seals, Taisho period. Length 6 9/16", 1 1/12" in diameter.

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

I thik this is Japanese (?) candlesticks dated from the Meiji period (1863 - 1912). Some holes. The biggest one is shown in the enlargement #7. These are generally caused by too much dampness in Japan. 17 1/2" high.