Over 400 years ago, a Japanese Overlord named Toyotomi Hideyoshi mounted an attack on Korea in order to invade China. This war would, in later years, come to be known as the ‘ceramic war’ and without it, antique Japanese china may very well not exist in the way that it does today. 
From this war came [...]

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Once upon a time, that which we now label as the ‘Kimono’ was actually just a word for ‘a thing to wear’, which is its literal translation in Japanese. In light of this, it may be beneficial if you were to consider ‘kimono’ to simply mean ‘clothes’, and then you should be able to understand [...]

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If you didn’t realize it, Japanese woodblock prints, or Ukiyo-e, have been around for a very long time. What is even more interesting is that, as time flowed past, this very significant Japanese art-form evolved, not just in terms of perfection.
Today, it is common to find Japanese woodblock prints that are, essentially, pictures of scenery [...]

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Simply put, a puzzle box’s complicatedness depends entirely on the number of predetermined steps that it would take to open it.
Today, the most common variety of puzzle boxes are the commercial kind that only require anything from four to ten moves to open. Needless to say, these are very simple, and most people can figure [...]

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…there exists an art, and one that is rooted firmly in the culture of ancient Japan. Few truly comprehend the full length and depth of this relationship, bar those who have studied the matter deeply.
Of course, trying to sum up the historical development of these antique swords as well as their cultural significance in a [...]

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Laced with patterns and motifs that distinguish them and set them apart, antique Japanese vases are of a style and shape unto themselves.
Appealing as they are, there are two reasons that normally lie behind the choice to purchase antique Japanese vases. Either it is desired for the aesthetic appeal, or, intended to be part of [...]

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Japanese porcelain plates are almost synonymous with the vibrantly painted scenery, portraits, or patterns, which they bear on their faces.
Historically, the very oldest ceramic pieces found in Japan date back all the way to 10,000 BC. Naturally, these pieces were nowhere near as sophisticated or artistic as the antiques from more recent history, but it [...]

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Japanese bowls and pottery is a diverse field, but amongst the various facets that they encompass, Rakuyaki (or ‘Raku ware’, as they are known today) stand out for their uniqueness and historical importance.
Just as so many things about Japanese items, Raku is more than just the name of a type of pottery that is used [...]

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Having a Japanese samurai sword that rests on its traditional wooden stand would definitely appeal to some as a tasteful decoration, and is really just an example of how Japanese antiques have found a place in many an admirers’ collections.
But is that the only thing that these magnificent relics of a bygone era are to [...]

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New to You Japanese Antiques

One of the best side-effects of a global marketplace is the exposure to fine art and unique pieces from all corners and cultures of the world. Along with the booming interest in Asian art, Japanese antiques have caught the attention of home décor professionals, art collectors and amateur appreciators alike. The [...]

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