Edo Folk Art

2-342,Japanese Folk Art carved gilt wood mask on brass base.

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...

Rare Modern creative Kokeshi doll by Hideo Ishihara, Japan This rare whimsical sosaku kokeshi was created and signed by the award winning master, Hid...

Antique rare & ancient artifact, a foot, wearing a sandal, the bottom of the foot has been carved with the sandals bottom as well.

Early American Pre-Historic Human Effigy stone pipe, woodland period, 2500 BP Formerly in the Harold French collection, Amboy, Indiana (photo) All st...

A fine 18th century, late Ayutthaya period Siamese (Thailand) life size standing Buddha temple figure in carved and gilded teak. The base of the figure is a tapered plug fashioned to...

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...

Six foot carved fish trade sign. The Atlantic mackerel is hand-carved with gills, fins, tail, eyes, and snout. "Fresh Fish" is painted in red letters on one side. Great distressed fi...

Japan, 17th Century (circa 1600-1700) Carved Japanese Cedar (Sugi) A refined and deeply atmospheric seated Buddhist figure, carved in Japan during the Edo period, circa 17th century...

A rare large and most impressive rustic midcentury Japanese Ainu hand carved Ussuri Brown Bear sculpture. Indigenous Ainu Peoples, probably Ashikawa, Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, mid-20th century, anonymous artist. This exceptional example of traditional Kibori Kuma (木彫り熊) was finely hand carved, chiseled, sculpted and painted from a massive block of solid Japanese hardwood, using old primitive techniques with customized knives and chisels, the artisan would sit on the hut floor, using their feet as a vice to hold the block of wood, carefully manipulating and turning, wood chips flying, skillfully carving to create this beautiful piece of art! This massive scale realistic rendering showcases the artisan's exemplary skills, workmanship, and artistry, the bears aggressive naturalistic appearance comes to life, evoking power, strength, and natural bounty, lending to its fierce dramatic presence. Modeled as a wild Ussuri brown bear standing on four legs, head slightly tilted up as if about to expel a ferocious roaring growl, having inset black glass eyes, mouth agape with jagged teeth exposed, the bold muscular body with distinct richly textured chip-carved fur, this sculpture captures the essence of Ainu reverence for nature, this sacred animal, and their deep connection to the land. No apparent signatures, typical of folk art work. - DIMENSIONS: (approx) 19.5" Wide x 11.375" Tall x 13.25" Deep; Wight: 18.75lbs - HISTORY / BACKGROUND: The Ainu are an aboriginal hunter/gatherer/fisher people who once inhabited many of the islands that bound the southern half of the Sea of Okhotsk north of the main Japanese island of Honshu and Southern Russia. Their land was contested by the Japanese Empire and the USSR for centuries, with the Meiji era Japan colonisation of Hokkaido taking place in the 19th century. Colonisation dispossessed the native Ainu people of their lands and property. Widespread discrimination enforced against them, including their forced relocation into mountain areas and the prohibition of the use of the Ainu language decimated their economy with the eventual aim of the extinction of Ainu culture and its replacement by Yamato Japanese culture. The history of the Ainu bear...

3-541 Japanese Art Deco Folk Art hand carved sculpture of a lioness and its gazelle prey.

A visibly old hand-carved Nandi Cow from India. This wood sculpture features a wonderful age related patina and has been hand-painted with a mix of white and...