Mingei Arts

Daruma-zō is a generic term for Daruma statues or sculpture as shown in this Daruma Riding a Deer. This is a heavy Bronze piece (Weight: 3 lbs.), with beautiful detailing on Daruma’s robe and the body of the deer. The piece is in excellent condition, naturally patinated, no dings, no scratches or no breaks. The [...]

This is an exceptional and very unique Japanese Iron and mix metal (bronze, gold and silver) inlayKomai screen. In 1855, the Komai family originated a form of damascene used to ornament swords and other types of artifacts, for which the family gained the highest respect for their fine decorative metalwork during the Meiji period. The Komai family held the office of sword-mounters to the Japanese [...]

There are thirteen different methods that are utilized in metal casting, depending on the type of product to be made, and the intended form of expression required. Cast in one of these ways, the range of manufactured goods extends from table ornaments, flower vases, censers, panels, and bronze sculptures to large statues of Buddha. Some [...]

Culture Day, (Bunka no hi), was established in 1937 in Japan for which the day is set aside to promote the appreciation of culture, freedom, and peace. Every year the Japanese government gives out Bunka Kunsho (highest rank of Japanese Cultural Awards) to distinguished artists, scholars, or citizen who made remarkable contributions to the Japanese culture, arts [...]

The Tsuba though first a utilitarian hand guard for the swordsman, are also an art form that for years have been admired for their beauty. This marriage of utility and pure art is not unique in the fine arts of Japan. This very quality is inherent in all forms of art and crafted objects coming from Japan. [...]

Metal fittings on traditional Japanese furnishings may be generally broken down into the categories of locks (jomai), hingers (chotsugai), various pulls, pole-carrying handles (sao-toshi), latches (tone-kanagu), decorative hardware (kaziri-kanagu), and sash hardware (obi-kanagu). The piece shown is a sliding-panel finger-hold (tekake). Through all historical periods flower-shaped escutcheons were used with both furniture (tansu) as well [...]

This carved metal and open work patter is referred to as Sukashibori. They were often used to represent the “halo” for Buddha statues, a technique in which part of a metal sheet are cut out to create an open design. The design is sometimes cut out with a fretsaw, in which case the edges of the cut [...]

The pair of Japanese miniature reclining bronze horses (“Taisho” mare and foal) shown are vintage bronzes from the Late Edo Period. The mare is finished in Classic Bronze, and the foal is in Chocolate Bronze, which are the most desirable bronze finishes among collectors. Condition: Excellent. Dimensions: 2-3/4”L x 1-1/2”w x 2-0”h (larger-mare) — (smaller-foal) 2-2/4”L x [...]