Japan bronze Tanuki Taishô era

Okimono bronze sculpture of a toad. The toad or the frog (kaeru) is associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both “toad” or “frog” and “to return home” in Japanese. This me...

Insects (mushi) occupy an important place in Japanese culture. Hunting for insects is a popular pastime, especially among children. Using plastic nets and cages, they catch cicadas and beetles to observe them. Between 1830 and 1832, Hokusai composed an untitled series of ten large horizontal prints...

An elegant pair of Japanese cast and lacquered bronze pagoda lanterns, Taisho Period, circa 1920, Japan. The lanterns a true pair, with mirrored decorations and lantern doors opening in opposite directions. The lanterns of traditional toro form, cast in bronze, and lacquered. Each lantern comprised of three parts - the "roof", the "fire box", and the pedestal. This type of pedestal lantern is called a dai-doro, as opposed to the hanging lantern type, tsuri-doro. The hexagonal roof of the lantern, reminiscent of temples or pagodas, features a wonderful, dense cloud pattern with three heart-shaped cutouts, known as inome, or boar's eye. The roof topped by a hoju, the Buddhist flaming Jewel of Wisdom. Each of the six corners feature a fantastic shachihoko, mythical beasts with the face of a tiger and body of a fish. Bells are suspended from the shachihoko. The globular body of the lantern features four pierced panels with the three leaf hollyhock mon of the Tokugawa clan surrounded by a karakusa pattern of scrolling vines. One panel serving as a hinged door with a lock stylized as the Three Jewels...

A Japanese great and remarkable bronze okimono, on a wooden base, depicting an Oni, dressed as a priest, accompanied by a young oni. The main Oni is portrayed standing and smiling, ...