Art Gallery
A small gallery of the Japanese fine art and antiques previously sold to customers. Click on video to view and each item for more details.
Framed Woodblock Print
A custom fitted wood frame modern Japanese woodblock print (ukiyo-e) by the famous artist Hiratsuka Unichi (平塚 運一). He lived from 1895-1997 CE. He was one of the prominent leaders of the (sōsaku hanga 創作版画) creative prints movement in 20th century Japan. He worked only in a black and white format after World War II.
Copper-Silver Alloy (shibuichi) Sword Handguard with Extensive Gold Inlays
This is a handguard (tsuba) is made of the finest copper-silver alloy (shibuichi). It was made to fit a Japanese long sword (katana). The openwork design is of finely decorated hand drum ringed by six flowers with the very fine details of pine trees in mist inlaid in gold. The composition and workmanship are all characteristic of goldsmiths (kinkō) employed by the lord of Kaga Province. The handguard likely dates from the mid to late Edo Period circa the 18th to mid-19th centuries.
Traditional Japnese Tea Bowl
Ceramic Plate
This is a large antique ceramic plate with the designs of two dragons coming out of clouds.
Short Sword (Wakizashi) by Hiromasa
This is an antique short sword (wakizashi) by the master swordsmith Hiromasa who worked in Sagami Province currently Kanagawa Prefecture. The temper pattern (hamon) is very dynamic and shows a style which randomly extends to other parts of the blade besides the edge (hitatsura).
Short Sword (Wakizashi) by Masahiro
This is an antique short sword (wakizashi) by the master swordsmith Masahiro who worked in the castle town of Saga in Hizen Province currently Saga Prefecture.
Very Large Antique Handguard Openwork Handguard (Tsuba)
This is a very large antique Japanese sword handguard (tsuba) made of very well forged iron. The bold openwork design is that of many peddled Chrysanthemum flower. The craftsmanship of this handguard is magnificent. It has been apprised by the highly regarded Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings (NTB) to be the work of an armorsmith (katchushi) during the early Edo Period circa the early to mid-1600s.
Accessory Knife Handle (Kozuka)
This is an antique accessory knife handle (kozuka) made of the copper-gold alloy (shakudō) or a long sword (katana). It has a large gold (kin) inlay of three dragons with a soft golden color high above the fine fish roe textured surface (nanako-ji). The knife handle is likely the work of the Mino Kinkō School during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period to the early Edo Period approximately between 1568-1670 CE.
Dagger (tantō) with Signed Scabbard
This is an unsigned dagger (tantō) in late Edo Period mid-19th Century mounts with silver and gold fittings and a fine lacquer work on the scabbard (saya). The scabbard on reverse side is signed: “Matsukawa Sōminsai + kaō” (松川叟民斎「花押」) who is the artist who did the picturesque lacquer design on the frontside of the scabbard.
Lacquer Display Cup and Stand
This is large antique Meiji Period lacquer display cup and stand. The black lacquer cup is decorated with gold in the design of the 5-7 Paulownia flower (go-shichi no kiri). This type of Paulownia flower seals (tōkamon) is a common national seal of the Japanese civil government and more specifically the office of the prime minster of Japan.
Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei) by Katsushika Hokusai
The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami-ura)' from a complete set of traditionally made woodblock which includes original 36 prints along with 10 that were added in later editions of the set.
Fuchi-gashira Set
This is a fine antique set of matching metal caps (fuchi-gashira) that are at either ends of the handle of the Japanese sword. The base metal of the set is the copper-silver alloy (oborogin) with a smooth texture. The set was likely made by a goldsmith (kinkō) artist of the Itō School during the mid Edo Period circa the early to mid 18th century. The upper part (fuchi) is signed Tadayasu + kaō (尹泰「花押」). The design is of the famous Chinese Poet Rihaku crossing a bridge in the scenic countryside. He lived from 701–762 CE during the Tang Dynasty.
Tsuba
This is an antique handguard (tsuba) made of forged iron with black lacquer applied to the surface. The small open work design is likely that of stars. Specialized chisels were used to carve into the plate surface to give it a unique texture. It was made by an armorsmith (Kachūshi) during the late Muromachi Period circa early to mid-16th century. The handguard has an iron rim that is raised above the surface of the plate.
Wakizashi by Yoshimichi
This is a short sword (wakizashi) in plain wooden storage scabbard (shira-saya). This short sword was judged to be the work of the 1st Generation Yoshimichi and dates to the early Edo Period circa the Shōhō Era from 1644-1648 CE. The blade is in a wonderful art polish shows the details of temper pattern (hamon) and forging pattern (jihada) very clearly. The temper pattern a variation of the straight (suguha) is characteristic of Yoshimichi School and is called sudareba which literally means bamboo blind in Japanese. The temper pattern of the tip (boshi) is of the uncommon and very specific mishina style.
Lacquered Wooden Statue
This is large antique lacquer wooden statue. This is an interesting Japanese Buddhist statue of Tamonten (Snskrit: Vaisravana) the guardian of the north. He is the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings and is blessed with infinite knowledge. He is also known as a protector of warriors.
It is made from a sold piece of very heavy hardwood. It dates from the middle of the Edo Period circa 18th Century and is likely an example of primitive (folk) art of that period.
It is made from a sold piece of very heavy hardwood. It dates from the middle of the Edo Period circa 18th Century and is likely an example of primitive (folk) art of that period.