Islamic Antiquities

Antique japanese red and black lacquered Bamboo Food Carrier or Box, front side can be open Dimensions: Height 18'' x width 15.5" x depth 11". ...

This is a tokyo, a traditional architectural bracket block, made of zelkova wood and thought to have come from an old Japanese temple building. It is believed to date from around the...

This is a part of a structural building material that was used in an old Japanese temple. It is said to be reclaimed wood that was used in the lecture hall of Yakushiji, a famous tem...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable Chinese export Circa 1920's Mahjong set with the original hand carved box and additi...

An important Cambodian Khmer gray standstone statue of Vishnu, Angkor Wat period, 12th Century CE. Khmer Empire, c. 12th century. Finely sculpted standing in samabhanga posture, the ...

A small shrine with a gentle, natural wood grain. Its simple yet well-proportioned form reveals traces of its use as a place of daily prayer. The doors open like double hinges, and...

A Japanese antique storage jar from the late Edo period, originally used for preserving food or materials. The surface displays a rich interplay ...

Antique small chest of drawers from Edo period (1603-1868), Japan. If you look closely at the top surface, you can see writing on it. ...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable Chinese export Circa 1920's Mahjong set with the original hand carved box and additi...

A likely 12-14th Century Northern Indian temple fragment of a female figure or consort known as an Apsaras. Carved in Red Sandstone, the female figure is appropriately attired in bel...

This celadon vase features a gently rounded shoulder, a tall, slender neck, and a broad, flaring rim. Two small loop handles are applied to the shoulders. The body is finely incised ...

This complete Edo-period samurai armor is an exceptional example of the refined martial elegance and ceremonial grandeur associated with Japan’s warrior aristocracy. Every component reflects a precise harmony of functionality, symbolism, and prestige. At the heart of the set is a superb suji-bachi kabuto, constructed from multiple riveted iron plates arranged with flawless symmetry and enriched by a beautifully aged patina. It is crowned with a gilt tehen no kanamono, and the imposing maedate presents a pair of antler-like blades framing a gilded sun disc an emblem of celestial authority and divine lineage. The Fukigaeshi feature extraordinary gilt dragon ornaments, carved in high relief. Dragons, ancient symbols of protection and power, were reserved for armor of the highest rank, strongly indicating that this set belonged to a Daimyō or high-ranking retainer. The menpō, lacquered in deep black, includes a natural-hair moustache and an articulated jaw (resseibō), lending the face a vivid sense of character. Below it, the shikoro is composed of finely lacquered blue-and-gold plates, meticulously laced with silk. The okegawa ni-mai dō cuirass is finished in a dark brown lacquer and laced in deep indigo silk, complemented by elegant orange ceremonial tassels a hallmark of formal presentation armor. The sode (shoulder guards) retain their rare bear-fur trimming, an expensive and status-laden material symbolizing courage and noble rank. Completing the ensemble are beautifully made kote, haidate, and suneate, each executed with rich fabrics and refined lacquer work. A butterfly mon (chō-mon) appears on the leg guards an elegant symbol of transformation, adding a poetic contrast to the armor’s martial presence. The extensive use of gilding, the rare bear-fur details, and the prominent dragon motifs confirm this as a piece created for the highest echelons of samurai society. It is a masterpiece where ceremonial artistry, symbolism, and authority converge. Artistic and Historical Significance This armor epitomizes the Edo-period ideal, when arms and armor transcended their battlefield origins and became expressions of identity, dignity, and cultural refinement. The interplay of dark lacquer, golden ornamentation, and natural materials embodies the spirit of bushidō discipline, inner strength, and beauty through restraint. Whether displayed in a private collection, gallery, office, or interior setting, this armor commands attention. Its presence transforms any space, making it a truly museum-worthy centerpiece for collectors of Japanese, military, or historical art. The set includes its traditional stand and storage box. As with all antique armor...