Japanese Bunraku Samurai Puppet, Meiji Period

A spectacular Japanese cast, carved, and parcel gilt bronze sculpture, okimono, of a kneeling samurai archer, signed Kiyotsugu (died 1894), Meiji ...

An attractive and esoteric Japanese carved and gilt wood figure of Fukukenjaku Kannon, Amoghapasa, Meiji period or earlier, Japan. Fukukenjaku Kannon is portrayed in an usual six...

A very fine and detailed Tokyo School cast bronze okimono (decorative sculpture) of a smiling farmer, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The e...

A striking pair of Japanese gilt bronze komainu by the renowned Japanese sculptor, Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913), Meiji period, Japan. The pair well cast, and robustly modeled. They ar...

A well cast pair of Japanese mixed metal okimono figures of Buddhist guardians, known as Nio or Dharmapala, protectors of Buddhist faith, Meiji Period, Japan. The smiling bronze g...

A fine lacquer decorated carved boxwood netsuke of a Noh dancer in a Hannya role, unsigned, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The boxwood netsuke finely carved as a kneeling Noh dancer dressed in striking geometric patterned robes. The actor holds an opened war fan behind their back in one hand, a Shinto wand slung over the shoulder in the other. The war fan, tessen, decorated in red lacquer with a golden rising sun at the center. Tessen were sturdy fans used by samurai as protective devices, and sometimes as weapons. The wand, called an onusa, is a traditional Shinto ritual implement comprised of folded paper streamers, shide, attached to a wooden wand, often used in purification rituals. Here, the shide are crafted from silver maki-e, with the handle of the natural boxwood. The actor wears a fierce and unearthly hannya mask...

Japanese Meiji period puppet for the traditional Bunraku ningyo joruri puppet theater. The piece has a carved wood head and is adorned with richly detai...

This is a spectacular piece. Mesmerizing. Bunraku, also commonly known as Ningyo Joruri, is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, founded i...

A Japanese Meiji period bronze elephant sculpture on its original burl-wood base. Old repair to the tail; some paint chips to bronze trunk; unsigned.

The charming figure, carved from a single piece of wood is exceptionally carved showing the male figure with humorous expression holding two Rabbits one by the ears and the second under his arm. A third Rabbit stands at the feet of the male looking up, each rabbit with a different expression. The male figure is wearing traditional Japanese attire with his hair tied back stood upon a naturalistic base. The figure dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1900. Notes The Rabbit is one of the 12 animals to feature in the Japanese Zodiac signs which follows the Chinese astrological system along with the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Such division is connected with the Jupiter cycle around the Sun, which lasts about 12 years. As 2023 is the year of the Rabbit...

Antique Japanese Kneeling Samurai Warrior, Circa 1870-1880. Japanese Meiji period samurai with detailed presentation of robes and helmet.

Two rare Japanese Izumo clay dolls of Emperor and Tenjin, Nara Prefecture, Meiji period. Material and simple execution impart a flavor of antiquity and great decorative power. Empero...