Japanese Pair of Imari Porcelain Lovable Cats Sculpture, Signed Base

From our recent Japanese Acquisitions trip to Kyoto. A fine pair of antique curious Japanese cast bronze sensuous cats beautifully handcrafted in an attractive and unusual style. Cats were originally domesticated because they hunted mice that would eat stored grains, protecting the food stores. It was a beneficial situation for both species, cats got a reliable source of prey, and humans got effortless pest control. This mutually beneficial arrangement began the relationship between cats and humans which continues to this day. In Japan, there are also cats described as Maneki Neko, also referred to in English as the good fortune or good luck cat...

Beautiful pair (2) old Japanese vintage gilt pheasant bird sculptures. Marked Japan on bottoms. From our recent Japanese acquisitions in original condition with original attractive gilding present. Japan, an attractive and iconic pair (2) pheasant sculptures with original gilt patina. One is poised with vertical tail and thehy other in a seated horizontal position. The pheasant is considered Japan's national bird. This creative simple adaption makes a compelling contemporary pair of sculptures. Fine original used condition with original gold gilt patina appropriate to their age. Original gilt patina from age. Dimensions: 7 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide Photographed in natural day light. Quality: Excellent quality and fine craftsmanship by Japanese specialized artisans Provenance: authentic Japanese examples (see labels). Lifetime guarantee of authenticity. All of our Asian works of art come with our lifetime authenticity guarantee. About Japan's Green Pheasant In Japanese culture, the green pheasant is unofficially considered the national bird of the country owing to its references in ancient folk tales of Japan. The green pheasant was said to be a messenger of the Sun Goddess...

Unique one-of-a-kind Studio Creation- an unusual opportunity Tall, old and all handmade and hand painted rabbit sculpture handcrafted and hand paint...

Fine Pair (2) Quails In A Monumental Size Japan, a fine huge pair 2) of antique quail sculpture hand-carved and red lacquered, Taisho period. Fine old carvings with traces of aged...

Japan antique handmade, hand carved temple low writing table finished in red and black lacquer - signed. A beautiful simple master work from an old private Japanese collection. Cr...

Japanese Classic Garden "Sun And Moon" Lantern With Cicada On Handle - Hard To Find, Signed Japan, unusual large antique lantern design in an attractive craftsmen form perforated pa...

Beautiful pair of turquoise blue ceramic cat figurines. This is a left and right matching pair of Asian blue art pottery cats, ceramic cat statues t...

This is a vintage piggy bank of manekineko cat. It is made with porcelain and it was made around 1980s in Showa era. The maneki-neko is a common Japanes...

Pair Of Japanese Bronze Frog Sculptures. Our large Japanese bronze frog statues or sculptures will make a lovely addition to your garden room or atrium or entrance hall. Frogs, are c...

Set of three Japanese Imari Graduated porcelain bowls, 19th century. Sizes are 7.25" x 2.5" - 8.25" x 3" - 9.5" x 3.5".

A lovely pair of Chinese export porcelain figures of court ladies with nodding heads, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The elegant ladies dressed in gorgeous traditional robes...

Sculptural signed Okimono from the Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912). Very rare, unusual and large sculptural assembling of a dysplaying piece of okimono. Created in Japan during the imperial period of the Meiji (1868-1912). This extraordinary okimono was carefully carved depicting a group of three intricately and realistically rendered carousing skeletons (Gaikotsu) in relax and resting position, drinking and smoking. Two of them, probably males representations are resting on a wicker sofa. The third, is a woman seated in a lower stool offering drinking cups of sake on a round tray. A small rectangular bench is arranged in the scene. The composition is displayed on a four-legged carved wood platform with an inlaid red plaque engraved with the artist's signature. The level of detail and the quality of the carving is truly exceptional. Has an exact measurements of 209.55 mm by 196.85 mm by 127.76 mm (8.25 x 7.75 x 5.03 Inches). After an extensive collection of data, comparables and references to this piece, we have only been able to find only three okimono sculptures like this with similar themes and the same quality of work. References Note: A similar carving of four skeletons playing an animated game of dominos, signed Shutaro in an inlaid rectangular red plaque, was sold in London by Christie’s South Kensington in October 14 2014, Lot 120 Sale 5546. References Note: A similar carving with four skeletons in an otherwise typical victorian scene of a photographer and three sitters signed Shutaro in an inlaid rectangular red plaque, was sold in Edinburgh at Lyon & Turnbull in November 7, 2018. References Note: A similar carving with five skeletons seated, playing cards and drinking, was sold in London by John Nicholson Fine Art on September 26, 2018. Meiji period, is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji. It was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era, upon the accession of Emperor Taisho. Okimono, is a Japanese term meaning for display an ornament; art object; or decorative object, usually displayed in a tokonoma or butsudan "Buddhist altar". It is an ornament or figure, especially one placed in a guest room. An okimono may be a small Japanese...