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...

Bronze incense burner depicting a house on stilts. The house is slightly stretched so that it case be seen from one side. The roof can be separated from the foundation to insert cand...

Dark brown patina bronze figure of a standing kappa with its right leg leaning on a cucumber. The figure is put on four-legged rattan-like bronze stand. The kappa (??) is a aquati...

Bronze intended for hanging (? dô kakenanaike, « hanging bronze ») depicting a hawk, placed on a branch. The inside is hollow so a bouquet a flowers can be put inside and thus, serve...

Japanese bronze representing two mice, one of them pulling a treasure bag. The mouse or the rat (both called nezumi in Japanese), one of the zodiac signs, is a symbol of fortune. T...

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...

Japanese Taisho period bronze sculpture of an eagle with spread wings atop a rock formation. The piece was made during the early 20th century. In great...

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 fine Japanese silver bonbonniere box in the shape of a karabitsu, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan. The small bonbonniere crafted of silver in the form of a karabitsu, a storage ...

Extraordinary bronze okimono with dark brown patina representing a Japanese Chin playing with a ball. High-quality work executed by a master craftsman, e...

An extraordinary baluster-shaped bronze vase with multiple patinas carved with a lizard watching a frog. The details are finely chased and the lizard's eyes are gilded. Signed "Akich...

This beautiful baluster shaped bronze vase has a rich dark patina. The entire body is adorned with abundant foliage, blossoms and swallows in relief casting. Every flower is highligh...