Antique Japanese small tansu with 5 drawers of various sizes. Made of kiri (paulownia) wood and still in it's original condition. Iron hardware includes hirute shaped drawer pulls and each drawer has a lock plate. The sides of the chest have a deep reddish lacquer finish. The deep patination is from hundreds of years of careful use.
Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)
Dimensions: 25" high x 25 3/4" wide x 13 1/2" deep
19th century Japanese wooden nyoi - a Buddhist scepter - with scrolling finial. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge. Dense sakura (cherry) wood with beautiful texture, simple elegant carving, wonderful patina to the surface from being handled, old ink spots in places, very pleasant to hold...
Pair of beautiful gold hanging Shinto Shrine lamps. Made of copper Ca. 1930. Excellent condition. Height of each lamp: 13"; diameter: 10". Ask for shipping quote.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of red skinned demon with large bat type ears. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.26 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask, appears to be of Nogaku type. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.1 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask, probably that of Kentoku. Excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.13 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of a bat with large ears and characteristic snout. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.05 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Shishiguchi - a lion mask used in scene 2 of the play Shakkyo. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.23 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned green skinned demon. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.15 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Beshimi. Excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.01 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned demon Hannya, its mouth wide open. Excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.33 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Emi-men. Uncommon image, excellent face with a wide smile, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.07 inches.
19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned green skinned demon. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.27 inches.
18th century netsuke of a recumbent cow and a calf who licks the face of its mother. Strong early carving excellently captured mood of the scene, superbly carved to the last detail, their hooves bent beneath their bodies, the cow wearing a halter with a length of rope lying across her back, eyes are inlaid with dark horn. Beautiful wear consistent with age, yellowing on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono and picked up oil from the body of the owner...
Early 19th century lacquered wood netsuke of a boy climbing onto a huge double gourd. Nice subject (most probably a reference to a rebus), excellent face with a wide smile. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and later wood start showing. Wear consistent with age, wonderful patina. Length 1.85 inches.
19th century netsuke carved out of burl wood, its natural shape resembling reishi fungus (Fungus of Immortality, and with low relief carving of a snail on its top. Very clever piece, excellent carving of the mollusk and its shell. Signed on the stem ISHIKOKU (alternative reading is Sekitani). Himotoshi is formed by a natural branch on the bottom. Head of the fungus length 1.95 inches.
19th century netsuke carved out of burl wood, its natural shape resembling a mushroom or a reishi fungus (Fungus of Immortality. Very clever natural piece with practically no carving, superb patina, very pleasant to hold. Length 2.57 inches.
TAKEDA DOLL
Japanese traditional folk doll dressed in such characteristic textile with embroidery, representing the poses of Edo period's popular Kabuki actor playing the famous scene. Late Edo period, 19th century. H 32 x 15 x 26cm (12.59 x 5.90 x 10.23in).
Slight discoloring due to aging as is...