19th Century Sculptures and Carvings

A very special antique collection - this long strand of Japanese hand-crafted natural wooden (perhaps Rosewood) Buddhist Juzu mala beads with customary larger "Guru" beads. These rosary-type prayer bead necklaces were often used by Buddhist monks in temple rituals and worn by Samurai as amulets of protection. This particular piece features a wonderful, naturally organic patina acquired over years of handling and use. Likely originates from the late Edo period (1603-1868) or early Mejia Period (1868-1912). This juzu bead...

This is an old carved large wooden penis statue made in Japan. It was made during the Edo period (1800s-1860s) and is made of cedar. In the Tōhoku region of Japan, there has long be...

A lovely antique pair (2) Japanese hand-painted six-panel folding screens byobu- each conceived in an attractive birds, trees, and blue waters motif. Likely given as a wedding gift...

Antique South Indian Chola-Style Bronze Goddess Sculpture on Lotus Base Exquisite bronze sculpture depicting a South Indian goddess in the elegant C...

These are a very good PAIR of antique Chinese foo or lion dog sculptures, sometimes called temple lions, made of a brass-bronze metal alloy, with excellent detail, dating to the early 19th century, Qing period or possibly earlier back to the 18th century. They are a male and female pair, the male with the slightly larger head. These pieces are very well cast with good detail and wear, showing a very good depth of colour. Both dogs have a small hole on the top of the head for incense to be placed. Each piece weighs about 700gm unpacked Overall a lovely pair of antique Chinese Foo Dogs...

An Exceptionally Fine Example of a Chinese Export Hand Carved Bovine Ivory Walking Stick of small proportions, last quarter of the Nineteenth Centu...

Museum Piece. Please view our video. Call or message us for additional details. Japan, an early “Christian” granite stone lantern with weathering from great age, and dating to...

This item is a stone carved penis statue made in Japan. It is a very rare relic of folk belief made in the late Edo period (1800s-1860s). Since ancient times, there has been a cultu...

Late Edo Period Dolls representing Sannin-kanjyo which means the three court ladies. They support and care for the emperor (Odairi-sama) and the empre...

Meiji period okimono sculpture of Oni. This is an exceptional okimono sculpture created in the late 19th century during the imperial Japan in the Meiji era period, back in 1880. The...

Antique mid Qing hand carved black hardstone snuff bottle. Produced in China towards the end of the 19th century. Beautiful shape with strong body and shoulders. Very well hollow...

A Very Fine Quality Chinese Export Hand Carved Religous Pagoda of traditional architectural form and generous proportions, late Nineteenth Century. The overall structure beautifull...

A Massive Japanese Patinated Bronze Sculpture of a Tiger, Meiji Period. Signed. Measuring an impressive 44 inches in length, this extraordinary sculpture is a striking example of t...

Late Qing, pre-1891 carved soapstone figure, Chinese. Elegantly carved of a wise man holding a baby & a peach on a carved rocky outcropping soapstone attached stand. Unmarked. 7 5/8"...

Antique wooden Zushi (miniature shrine, the "house of the Gods") with wooden figurine of Daikoku - from Tohoku area., Japan. Manufactured circa 1860s - 1900s (late Edo to Meiji perio...

An ideal garden ornament, sturdy weather proof planter display base or a rock solid all weather stone base for a special sculpture. From China, comes this large 20.5 inch rectangu...

The ultimate jumbo 13" diameter antique door knocker, Circa 1860 ! Rare Japanese Find- Imperial Family Crest- Auspicious "Long Life And Happiness" Two halves of of an iron chrysan...

Rare one-of-a-kind collection Japanese Connoisseurs Collection of Five (5) Fine Antique Smoking Pipes, Kiseru. You dont need to be a conn...

Japanese Satsuma, a fine and monumental 18" Meiji period charger Ozara with rare motif: Captain fisherman and his fish. Depicting a tale of Urashima Tarō* (see below), Signed Jyukan pottery by Chinjyu Makoto, in a lovely gold gilt and red detailed hand-painted composition Age: 1880-1900. Dimensions: 18 inches diameter and includes owner's signed wooden presentation box, tomobako. Hand made and hand painted. Finest quality. Provenance: Old Southern Japanese collection. Urashima Tarō (浦島 太郎?) is a Japanese legend about a fisherman who holds a fishing pole and rescues a turtle and is rewarded for this with a visit to Ryūgū-jō, the palace of Ryūjin, the Dragon God, under the sea. He stays there for three days and upon his return to his village, finds himself 300 years in the future. Finest quality. Largest size. Original collector box tomobako included. Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee. We are members of the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) specializing for ten years now in old and authentic Japanese stone...

Description: A fine depiction of Guanyin, possessing the regal tranquillity that the Chinese Bodhisattva of compassion has come to be visually associated with. Marked by an urna signifying her spiritual enlightenment and crowned with a diadem depicting the Buddha Amitabha, the figure is immediately recognisable as Guanyin. Her androgynous figure is gracefully poised in the Lalit asana or “royal ease”, the pose classical in representations of the deity. The figure is asymmetric, with the weight of her supple form falling upon her left hand placed against the base, her right knee raised and left pendant. Her right hand rests upon her raised knee, delicately pinching at her draped attire. At first unassuming, this gesture may be suggestive of the Apana Mudra, the seal of purification. This Mudra is associated with physical wellbeing, fecundity and the cleansing of the body. Though she is adorned in the princely garb of dhoti, she bears features of idealised feminine beauty as prescribed in Asian art. With plump cheeks and near pouted lips, her full face gazes down upon the viewer with an empathetic and half-lidded gaze, upholding her title as ‘One who hears the cries of the world.’ Notes on the item: Guanyin is the Chinese interpretation of Avalokiteshvara, the Indian Bodhisattva of compassion. The term “Bodhisattva” is derived from the Sanskrit “Bodhi”, meaning ‘awakening’ or ‘enlightenment’, combined with “Sattva”, meaning ‘spirit’ or ‘being’, referring to one on the path to achieving enlightenment. Bodhisattvas in Mayahana Buddhism are recognised as figures who have effectively achieved enlightenment yet relinquish their accension to nirvana in order to remain amongst mankind in the ultimate act of compassion to aid as spiritual guides. As such, the Bodhisattva inhabit a liminal space between samsara and nirvana; enlightened beings that maintain a relationship with humanity that buddhas cannot, as attaining Buddhahood necessitates the abandonment of all worldly attachments, including mankind. Guanyin’s very name, ‘One who hears the cries of the world’ highlights this role as a compassionate figure who acknowledges the suffering and strife of man. Along with Mahāsthāmaprāpta, a fellow bodhisattva, Guanyin serves as an attendant to Buddha Amitabha, with these three deities recognised as the Three Sages of Western Pure Land Buddhism, a sect of Mayahana Buddhism popular in East Asia. Avalokiteshvara is commonly posited to have been adopted from Indian Buddhism into China as Guanyin around 200-400 CE, however it was the Tang dynasty (618-907) which saw the popularisation of the deity. By the Ming (1358–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, Guanyin held the position as the most popular female deity in China. The unique state of religion in China held no monolithic canon regarding Buddhism and saw the assimilation of several belief systems, primarily Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Consequently, Guanyin became a deity to be revered beyond Buddhism alone, appointed as both an official imperial deity and Daoist deity in the 12th century. Guanyin may also be seen to fulfil the role of idealised femininity as prescribed by Confucianism, with the scarcity of female Chinese deities perhaps accounting for the gradual gender shift Guanyin underwent. The Indian Avalokiteshvara is unequivocally recognised as male, whilst the supposed gender of Guanyin remains contentious. Although there is a clear shift from the masculine Avalokiteshvara towards a more feminine representation, it is unclear if Guanyin is understood to be entirely feminine, to inhabit qualities of both genders or to be elevated beyond gender entirely, embodying neither. Depictions of Guanyin are highly androgynous, which some believe lends credence towards Guanyin symbolising the unity of dualistic forces as recognised in Daoism, displaying the anthropomorphism of yin and yang. Comparative Analysis: Market comparisons of similar Qing Dynasty polychrome figures of Guanyin include lot 767 (no.2) From Christies ‘Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art,’ New York, 25 March 2022, with the price realised USD 52,920 (Estimate USD 20,000 – USD 30,000). Christies also auctioned a comparable polychrome Guanyin...

Stunning and unique pair of matching horse sculptures. With a combined experience of almost 30 years in the antiques trade, we were thrilled to once again find beautifully hand-crafted and decorative antiques that we had never seen before. From the density and the weight we can see and feel that these highly decorative horse sculptures are made of a tropical hardwood. Like, for example, with antique mirror frames or church sculptures these horses too were first covered with a mixture of chalk and glue so that the paint would hold longer. And, as so often is the case with antiques, the colors that were used for painting these horses are so much more beautiful than anything you find in this day and age that they truly are an absolute joy to look at. From the colors, the wear, the materials and the techniques that were used to create these horses we can see that these are 19th century antiques. However and unfortunately we lack the knowledge to be able to tell you from which country these highly decorative and sizeable works of art originate. We just can't find matching style horse sculptures anywhere on the worldwide web. They could be Chinese or Nepalese, but they could also be Persian or Arabian. We just have not been able to find out. What we do know is that they are definitely antique, they are in beautiful condition (with some wear, consistent with their age), they are highly decorative, probably unique and they have a look and feel that will instantly change the atmosphere of the room they are in. Mind you, our sharp price for this wonderful pair of horse sculptures...

From our recent Japanese acquisitions, a rare find Antique Original Japanese temple "blossoming lotus" flower bud stem including its original red lacquer display base. This finely hand carved wood and lacquered gold flower stem was made for a Buddhist 19th century temple altar. Its flower blossoms and leaves symbolize the stages of the path toward enlightenment. The individual parts of each lotus is carved separately then joined in an arrangement and inserted in altar vessels. Also called "Jyôka" , it is placed on or next to an altar in a Buddhist temple. Made with meticulous techniques. In Buddhism, the lotus is an important symbol of divine enlightenment because it blooms into beautiful flowers while growing in mud. Tsunehana means "a flower that continues to bloom forever" and "a flower that does not wither." For this reason, the flowers represented are in different stages of their life, unfolded lotus leaves, buds and full flowers, thus symbolizing the journey towards Buddhist enlightenment. This lovely Japanese antique gilt Lotus flower is an early survivor, circa 1840, and a hard to find treasure that was originally placed on or around a temple altar. This ensemble consists of a single stem, the top most flower, and the bottom leaf- all mounted in the original square red lacquer display base. A gold gilt 3.5 inch long tortoise "minogame" is affixed to the base as seen in the photo. Its attractive original old patina coupled with much of the original gilding remaining present is just the way we like to find them. Dimensions: With original red lacquer display stand Height, 17 inches height and 9 inches in width. The lotus flower stem alone measures 16 inches in height. Provenance: acquired from a Kyoto Japanse monk and collector History of the Japanese turtle "minogame" One of the most famous is the mythological giant turtle...

Laying Foetus From our Japanese collection, we are pleased to offer this Japanese Edo Period Skeleton Netsuke. The Skeleton Netsuke is carved from Boxwood depicting a skeleton in t...

A lovely and cute hand-carved antique, Heavy and Faty Chinese Carved Hetain White Jade with russet markings, very pure and clean in the body contents with the mutton fat appearance,...

A magnificent Chinese carved spinach green jade chilong dragon sculpture, resting on fitted hardwood stand. Rich deep bright green color with molten shades of lighter pale green, exceptionally carved, with intricate detail throughout. The mythical beast lying ready on all four, head raised, mouth ajar with teeth exposed, wings by its side, spiral scroll incised on hind legs. Provenance: Estate of Ali A. Abssi (1934-2020) and Florence Hall Abssi (1919-2014), founders of the Ishtar Gate...

From Japan comes this seldom found , one of a kind large granite stone display base featuring four sets of altar steps- an impressive and spiritually significant object for displayin...

Presenting a lovely antique Indian Dhokra horse and rider sculpture. Probably from the late 19th or early 20th century as is evidenced by its natural patina and clear evidence of age. It depicts an Indian Warrior with a sword in his right hand mounted on his horse/steed. The warrior is in classical and ancient Southeast Asian Indian attire and he holds the horse’s reins in his left hand. The body of the horse is a series of lines (in the Classic Dhokra Style) and it has a tribal headdress...

Pair of Qing dynasty architecture carving panels, detail carvings with warriors riding horses.

A wonderful, gem of a piece. The piece has a beautiful feel and heft to it. The laughing or jolly Buddha is known in China as Budai or Putai, Bodai in Vie...

Waling cane from the Meiji Period (1868-1912). This is a fabulous antique walking cane created in the imperial Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912), circa 1880's. The cane was ...

This item is a giant wooden penis that was used in old Japanese houses from the late 19th century to the early 20th century (Meiji to Taisho eras). This i...

A wonderfully sand stone-carved Asian deity figure / sculpture likely from Cambodia. The detailed head is likely that of the divinity deity Shiva, sometimes referred to as the smiling God-King. The features are clearly reminiscent of the carvings found at both Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom...

Extraordinary pair of fine glazed porcelain Foo dogs came to us out of an estate here in Savannah, Georgia, belonging to an old general that long ago brought them from Thailand. Used...

Historic Stone Peach Lantern Hand carved from early 20th century Please view our video. Japan, an early tall hand carved Peach motif lantern “Momo” stone, 55 inches high and 23 in...

Antique Southeast Asian cast bronze buddha head sculpture with verdigris patina mounted on a black base wood stand. Bronze Sukhothai style Buddha bronze head with green patina, from ...

A most impressive fine quality large antique patinated bronze South Asian Buddha head. Add a touch of relaxed warmth, elegant tranquility and harmony with this rare striking authentic life-size Buddha head. Almost certainly originating as a full-body Buddhist monastery temple statue, dating to the 19th century or earlier, likely Tibetan or Nepalese, finely detailed throughout with special attention to realistic proportions, facial features and serene expression, depicted with slightly angular closed eyes, thin arched eyebrows flanking wisdom eye, elongated pierced ears, and traditional curly snail hair with cranial protuber-ance (ushnisha) rising from the top of the head, indicating his vast wisdom. PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION: Acquired from the highly reputable auction house, J. Garrett Auctioneers, Dallas, Texas. Turtle Creek & Dallas Estates catalog. Garrett was pleased to present the contents of a fine Turtle Creek estate. Property seized from JMJ Development, the Dallas development firm controlled by Tim Barton and set to become the first Mandarin Oriental hotel in Dallas. DIMENSIONS: (approx) 14" Tall, 10" Wide, 8" Deep CONDITION REPORT: Beautifully aged warm rich dark patina. Strong, sturdy, stable, structurally sound. Wear consistent with age, use, handling and exposure, including scattered oxidation and buildup, small minor holes around the neck from where the neck would have attached to the body. --- We here at Lynx Hollow Antiques have a special fascination with religious antiques, and have an extensive collection, crossing all religions, regions and periods. From Thai Ayutthaya, Burmese, or other Southeast Asian Buddha and Buddhavista figures, ancient Chinese and Japanese carving, relics, important temple or church architectural salvage building elements, early Santos, icons, altar tables, tabernacle, to primitive folk art paintings...

A tall 88 Inch antique classic tea motif lantern with all original pieces. Please view the video. The Zendō-ji Gata lantern Ishidōrō (禅導寺型石灯籠) is a unique design and very special ...

19th Century Chinese hand-carved gilt wood panel featuring a battle scene depicting both standing and horse-mounted sword-drawn warriors engaged in combat.

Unusual antique Victorian quality hardwood walking stick having an unusual quality hardwood antique Victorian walking stick with a carv...

Japanese Meiji period netsuke. of a Yamabushi. This is an exceedingly beautiful and intricate carved netsuke, created during the imperial Japan in the Meiji period, back in he 1890....

This masterfully carved celadon jade figure represents the epitome of Chinese artistry and craftsmanship. The sculpture features a beauty dressed in flowing traditional attire, capturing the essence of grace and elegance. She is depicted holding a plate that presents a branch bearing three peaches, a symbol of longevity and prosperity in Chinese culture. The jade used for this carving is of a refined celadon hue, adding a layer of sophistication and tranquility to the piece. The intricate detailing on the flowing dress and the lifelike representation of the peaches attest to the skill and precision involved in its creation. This celadon jade carving...

A Chinese Bronze Seated Guanyin, 19th Century Guanyin is the Buddhist bodhisattva associated with compassion. In the East Asian world, Guanyin is the equivalent term for Avalokitesv...

A fine antique Chinese red cinnabar lacquer lidded round box carved with a scene with a young boy and a seated elderly bearded sage within a rocky landscape with trees. The "dragon's...

An unusual Japanese carved wood, lacquer, and gilt decorated portrait sculpture of a shogun, Edo Period, early 19th century, Japan. The unidentified shogun (possibly Tokugawa Iey...

A Japanese carved sculpture of Daikoku. Magnificent sculpture of the god of the fortune Daikoku WITH OVER 100 YEARS OLD, created in Japan during the Meiji period, circa 1890. The ca...

A rare 19th century hard to find Japanese Usubata Flower Planter Cart "Norimono", Late Meiji Period. Japan, this handsome quality old style "garden cart" ikebana planter is an exceptionally rare find and an authentic old work of Japanese art. Brilliantly designed and a handsome plant presentation with removable ikebana vase inserted into an openwork wicker basket set on a wheeled cart...

A large and magnificent near life-sized Chinese carved and lacquered wood figure of a Buddha, Qing Dynasty, 19th century or earlier, southern China. The figure likely represents one of the Five Tathagatas, also known as Dhyani Buddhas or Wisdom Buddhas. More specifically, either Amitabha or Amoghasiddhi. Amitabha is the Buddha of infinite light, and represents the wisdom of observation and recognition. Amoghasiddhi is the Buddha of accomplishment, and represents the wisdom of perfected practices. The size and scale of the Buddha indicates it was made for temple worship. The large Buddha is portrayed seated in vajrasana, or full lotus position, with the soles of both feet facing up. His elegant hands, with impossibly long and slender fingers, perform shuni mudra, the gesture of bestowing patience. His right arm is bent at the elbow, the right hand raised to heart level. The left arm resting gently in his lap, the left hand at navel level. The Buddha is dressed in voluminous robes that wrap around his shoulders and body, and tied at the waist. The heavy fabric draping and pooling elegantly all around his robust body. His broad chest and right arm exposed. The Buddha's face is both solemn and beatific - his expression seeming to change depending on the angle of view. The most notable feature of his face is the large urna to the center of his forehead, set between a pair of painted, high arching brows over heavily lidded almond shaped eyes. A strong nose is set above a small mouth pursed in an ever so slight smile. Long pendulous earlobes touch his shoulders. The Buddha's hair arranged in the typical fashion, with "spikes" representing tight curls. A prominent ushnisha rises from the crown of his head, covered by more hair, and topped with a rounded protuberance. The Buddha is constructed from several blocks of wood, joined, carved and lacquered a deep red-brown with gold flecks...

A gorgeous Japanese bronze temple shrine Buddha. The small piece has a beautiful aged patina and a wonderful, surprisingly hefty feel to it when held in...

Rare and Hard To Find Temple Pedestal, 19th Century From Japan , a hard to find solid inscribed and well carved round top temple pedestal - perfect for displaying your indoor or out...

An impressive depiction of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of compassion, whose name bears the meaning ‘One who hears the cries of the world.’ The rather androgynous figure is adorned with beaded jewellery and the princely regalia of a dhoti, draped across her body and spilling out over to partially obscure what she is resting upon. The goddess’ profile exhibits idealised features of Asian artistic convention; her face is soft and rounded, with full lips and relaxed eyes that provide a serene quality of youthfulness to the figure. Adhering to Chinese iconography of Guanyin, the figure is marked by an urna on her forehead, denoting her own enlightenment, as well as a diadem displaying Buddha Amitabha, the spiritual teacher of Guanyin. Seated in the Lalit asana pose, translated as ‘royal ease’, the figure exudes a fine example of the relaxed majesty typical in the characterisation of Guanyin. Whilst the figure’s left hand is placed restfully upon the left leg pendant, the right is raised in the gesture shuni mudra, the second finger held gently against the thumb. Otherwise known as the seal of patience, this gesture indicates the figure as one intended to bestow this virtue, along with compassion and understanding, upon the beholder. Notes on the item: Guanyin is the Chinese interpretation of Avalokiteshvara, the Indian Bodhisattva of compassion. The term “Bodhisattva” is derived from the Sanskrit “Bodhi”, meaning ‘awakening’ or ‘enlightenment’, combined with “Sattva”, meaning ‘spirit’ or ‘being’, referring to one on the path to achieving enlightenment. Bodhisattvas in Mayahana Buddhism are recognised as figures who have effectively achieved enlightenment yet relinquish their accension to nirvana in order to remain amongst mankind in the ultimate act of compassion to aid as spiritual guides. As such, the Bodhisattva inhabit a liminal space between samsara and nirvana; enlightened beings that maintain a relationship with humanity that buddhas cannot, as attaining Buddhahood necessitates the abandonment of all worldly attachments, including mankind. Guanyin’s very name, ‘One who hears the cries of the world’ highlights this role as a compassionate figure who acknowledges the suffering and strife of man. Along with Mahāsthāmaprāpta, a fellow bodhisattva, Guanyin serves as an attendant to Buddha Amitabha, with these three deities recognised as the Three Sages of Western Pure Land Buddhism, a sect of Mayahana Buddhism popular in East Asia. Avalokiteshvara is commonly posited to have been adopted from Indian Buddhism into China as Guanyin around 200-400 CE, however it was the Tang dynasty (618-907) which saw the popularisation of the deity. By the Ming (1358–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, Guanyin held the position as the most popular female deity in China. The unique state of religion in China held no monolithic canon regarding Buddhism and saw the assimilation of several belief systems, primarily Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Consequently, Guanyin became a deity to be revered beyond Buddhism alone, appointed as both an official imperial deity and Daoist deity in the 12th century. Guanyin may also be seen to fulfil the role of idealised femininity as prescribed by Confucianism, with the scarcity of female Chinese deities perhaps accounting for the gradual gender shift Guanyin underwent. The Indian Avalokiteshvara is unequivocally recognised as male, whilst the supposed gender of Guanyin remains contentious. Although there is a clear shift from the masculine Avalokiteshvara towards a more feminine representation, it is unclear if Guanyin is understood to be entirely feminine, to inhabit qualities of both genders or to be elevated beyond gender entirely, embodying neither. Depictions of Guanyin are highly androgynous, which some believe lends credence towards Guanyin symbolising the unity of dualistic forces as recognised in Daoism, displaying the anthropomorphism of yin and yang. Comparative Analysis: Market comparisons of similar Qing Dynasty polychrome figures of Guanyin include lot 767 (no.2) From Christies ‘Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art,’ New York, 25 March 2022, with the price realised USD 52,920 (Estimate USD 20,000 – USD 30,000). Christies also auctioned a comparable polychrome Guanyin...

This **beautiful antique bronze Thai Rattanakosin Buddha statue** is a rare and exquisite piece of **19th-century Rattanakosin period** craftsmanship, originating from Thailand. Made...

A delightful Thai Rattanakosin Period lacquered and gilt cast bronze figure of the Buddha in royal attire, mid 19th century, Thailand. The charming figure depicts the Buddha in dhyanasana, the gesture of meditation. The Buddha sits serenely in half lotus position, his hands resting comfortably upon his lap, one on top of the other. The Buddha is dressed in elaborate robes, cast with floral and foliate designs in high relief. Over his robe, he wears the regalia of Thai kings, with a heavy cape...

Featuring Seven Japanese Macaques Form our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this Japanese Bronze Monkey Group by Shosai. The Japanese Bronze Group displaying a male father monkey and his infants playing around and being mischievous with Persimmon fruit. The monkeys modelled as Japanese macaque monkeys (snow monkey). The bronze okimono is beautifully patinated with a highly lifelike and naturalistic casting signed to the underside Shosai 正齊鋳. The Bronze group dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1885. Japanese macaque (snow monkey) is a terrestrial Old World monkey species that is native to Japan. They are known as snow monkeys because some live in areas where snow covers the ground for long periods each year hence their nickname. No other non-human primate lives further north or in a colder climate than the snow monkey. Individuals have brownish grey fur, pinkish-red faces, and short tails. Two subspecies are known and their conservation Status is of least concern. In Japan, the species is known as Nihonzaru ニホンザル, 日本 (Japan/Nihon) and saru 猿 (monkey) to distinguish it from other primates, but the Japanese macaque is the only species of monkey in Japan. The Japanese macaque features heavily in the religion, folklore, and art of Japan, as well as in proverbs and idiomatic expressions in the Japanese language. They are often seen in paintings, block prints and represented in all manner of carvings from Okimono to netsuke. Many of these art forms reside in the world’s most famous museums and collections, some of the most prominent pieces by artists such as Mori Sosen and Kawanabe Kyosai. In Shinto belief (Japan’s indigenous religion/nature religion) legendary mythical beasts known as raiju sometimes appeared as monkeys and kept Raijin (the god of lightning/storms) company. In another well known tale the three wise monkeys who warn people to “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” can be seen depicted in relief over the door of the famous Tosho-gu shrine in Nikko. Meiji Period was an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations across the board. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era. Cultural Art during the Meiji Period was of particular interest to the government and they overhauled the art export market which in turn promoted Japanese arts via various world’s fairs, beginning in Vienna at the world fair in 1873. The government heavily funded the fairs and took an active role organising how Japan’s culture was presented to the world including creating a semi-public company named Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha (First Industrial Manufacturing Company). The Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha was used to promote and commercialise exports of Japanese art and established the Hakurankai Jimukyoku (Exhibition Bureau) to maintain quality standards. For the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the Japanese government created a Centennial Office and sent a special envoy to secure space for the 30,000 items that would be displayed. The Imperial Household also took an active interest in arts and crafts, commissioning works by select artists to be given as gifts for foreign dignitaries further emphasising the high quality and importance of Japanese art. Just before the end of the 19th century in 1890, the Teishitsu Gigeiin (Artist to the Imperial Household) system was created to recognise distinguished artists. These artists were selected for their exceptionally high quality wares and talent in their own industry. Over a period of 54 years Seventy artists were appointed, amongst these were ceramicist Makuzu Kozan and cloisonné enamel artist...

A wonderful serene Japanese Amida Nyorai Buddha statue/sculpture with gilt decoration - likely applied as temple or shrine blessing or offerings. The B...

A Special Antique Interior Lighting Choice- One Of Kind And Over 100 Years Old Japan, a well loved antique heavy bronze shrine lantern with attractive Hoju jewel finial, heart shape...

Fabulous Antique Chinese Foo Lion incense burners originally purchased in Bangkok, Thailand. Patinated bronze with cloud-like tails and fierce open...

A lovely Thai lacquered and gilt cast bronze figure of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, portrayed in Maravijaya, Rattanakosin Period, early to mid 19th century, Thailand. The B...

Antique Chinese Hand Carved Wood Gilt Dragon in Shadow Box. Chinese shadow box features a hand carved wood and gilded Dragon from the Qing Dynasty. It is mounted in a massive and de...

19th Century carved wood panel with lotus bud motive. An Architectural Element from a Buddhist Monastery in Northen Thailand. A Lotus Bud representi...

These exquisite Japanese Meiji period sculptures depict two patinated bronze monkeys, showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of the era. The larger monkey, seated with a contempla...