In Asian culture, woodblock prints were extremely popular options of art. Today, you still find people around the world interested in this type of art, being unique, detailed, and beautifully colored. One particular artist of woodblock prints is named Chikanobu. While there are a number of interesting factors surrounding this artist, the most fascinating is his split personality, which resulted in varying styles of work. For starters, Chikanobu was known to create Kabuki theater triptychs. Typically, these woodblock prints were designed using vibrant colors such as purple and red. Included in these productions were various style figures that you would expect from the Utagawa School but little creativity or originality. However, Chikanobu’s other genre was related to history, specifically during the late 19th century. Many of these pieces have become exceedingly popular to include “Snow, Moon, and Flowers”, and “Shin Bijin”. Read More…

Suzuki Harunobu’s career of painting woodblock prints began in 1725 and lasted until 1770. As a student of Shigenaga, he soon became one of the most cherished of all Ukiyo-e style artists. In fact, historians tell us that Harunobu was an innovator. In 1765, he has credit for being the first artist to produce full-color prints, which meant the older style of two and three-color prints was put to rest. The other issue surrounding Harunobu that makes him unique is that he ventured away from standard techniques, coming up with new, innovative methods of painting. In addition, this artist was known for painting a large variety of things ranging from contemporary style beautiful women to classical poems. Just as many other famous artists from this period, Harunobu became involved with painting exotic women in the Shunga style. He was so detailed and skilled at what he did that a number of other artists began to imitate Harunobu’s style, actually allowing him to become known as an incredible master. Read More …

Yixing Teapots and Tea Sets were just added to our site this weekend. The tiny air pockets in the fired clay provide insulation and enrich the aroma and taste of the tea. With continued use the yixing tea pot will absorb the flavor of the tea… again enhancing the aroma and taste. Yixing tea pots date back to the Sung Dynasty.

These adorable frog and lizard figures are from the Golden Pond Collection by Green Tree. These products originated in Dehua, China … one of the finest ceramic capitals of Asia with over 3000 years of ceramic history and culture. A process of 8 working procedures all fired at differnet temperatures is how the hand painted finish is achieved on these wonderful collectible pieces.

Each piece has a felt bottom to protect both the ceramic piece and the surface where placed. Comes complete in a gift box. Handcrafted in Dehua, China.

Back in stock again, we have the most amazing porcelain Foo Dog pairs available. These are by far the best we have seen. The colors and the design will definately draw your vistors’ attention. And the are good for Feng Shui. These sold out very fast last time we had them.

We just finished adding some new Sushi Set designs to our site. Some of them also have matching noodle and rice bowls as well as Sake Sets.

We just added dozens of new Sake Sets to our site. These are all new designs that were not available before.

Added to our site today:

Beijing Silk Embroidery. Over a hundred different designs in stock. Choose from a great selection of Dragons, Koi, Landscapes, and our famous 100 Children.

Also added today are a wide variety of carved gourd pieces from Peru. Choose from carved baskets, boxes, and marachas.

We just added nearly a hundred different handcrafted ocarina whistles and flutes to our website. Each is molded and painted by hand and feature a variety of classic

Also added today are a wide variety of carved gourd pieces from Peru. Choose from carved baskets, boxes, and marachas.

We just added our largest shipment ever of Sandalwood and Painted Chinese fans to our site. Choose from over 50 different designs with even more on the way. We have everything from Dragons to Landscapes.

Just added today…

An amazing selection of high quality Mammoth Ivory Netuke. Great designs including Geisha, Doctor’s Ladies, and more.

The Japanese art of Ukiyo-e developed in the city of Edo (now Tokyo) during the Tokugawa or Edo Period (1615-1868). These two names refer to the relatively peaceful 250 years during which the Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan and made Edo the shogunal seat of power.

The social hierarchy of the day, officially established by shogun rulers, placed the merchants, the wealthiest segment of the population, at the lower end of the scale. With their political power effectively removed, the merchant class turned to art and culture as arenas in which they could participate on an equal basis with the elite upper classes (warriors, farmers, and artisans). It was the collaboration among the merchants, artists, publishers, and townspeople of Edo that gave Ukiyo-e its unique voice. In turn, Ukiyo-e provided these groups with a means of attaining cultural status outside the sanctioned realms of shogunate, temple, and court.

Although Ukiyo-e was initially considered “low” art, by and for the non-elite classes, its artistic and technical caliber is consistently remarkable. Reading the images demands an extremely high level of visual, textual, and cultural literacy. From its earliest days, Ukiyo-e images and texts frequently referred to themes from classical, literary, and historical sources. At the same time, Ukiyo-e constantly expanded to reflect contemporary tastes, concerns, and innovations over the two and a half centuries of its development. The result was an art that was both populist (of and for the people, readily accessible, plentiful, affordable) and highly sophisticated. In summary, Ukiyo-e presented both the historical and all that was current, fashionable, chic, and popular. In the hands of the Ukiyo-e artist, the ordinary was transformed into the extraordinary.

Just in…

A great selection of spiritual and ritual items from Nepal and India. Included in the shipments are Tibetan Tingshas, Singing Bowls, Table Chimes and more.

Just in from Mexico and Guatemala is an assortment of purses and handbags. Classic color and patterns add distinction to these great additions to your outfit.

Added to our site today is a great selection of Silk Brocade Pillow Covers from China. Each cover is hand-crafted and accented with emroidery in classical asian designs.

We just added a great selection of Incense Burners to our site. The selection includes some amazing Brass and Bronze burners and also some very rare Yixing Zisha clay burners. Cloisonne, Agate, and porcelain burners are also available.

Today we added over 100 different Hardwood Netsuke and Boxwood Netsuke to our website. we also added a new line of carved wood tea scoops created by our netsuke carvers.

We just added over 100 new Snuff Bottles to our site today. The additions included Peking Glass, Porcelain, Enamel over Glass and Brass, and more Carved Stone bottles.