DASING Japan Art Warehouse currently has 186 pieces online, including tea ceremony utensils, Ko-Imari porcelain, maki-e lacquer and metalwork from the Edo to Shōwa periods. Each comes with its history and a record of its craftsmanship, awaiting the discerning collector.
Results for “Shishi Lion” Clear search
Takaoka casting is one of Japan's renowned traditional metal-casting crafts, with a history of more than 400 years, and is known for its precise workmanship and excellent quality. This lion head is made mainly of metal, carefully cast and finished, with a smooth surface and finely handled details, showing the consistent standard of Takaoka casting.
Ceramic lion figures made by the Yonago-yaki workshop in Vietnam, with distinctive forms and bold colours in a strongly Southeast Asian traditional craft style. Hand-fired and finished in vivid red, blue and gold, they have striking visual impact and suit home decoration, feng shui display or collecting. The pair take the traditional form of guardian beasts, carrying symbolic meanings of dignity and good fortune. Their exaggerated facial expressions, curling manes and powerful limbs all reflect the ingenuity of the craftsman and a distinctive sculptural artistry.
This Japanese Shigaraki-style vase with carved relief is a ceramic masterpiece that combines the primal tension of the earth with elaborate three-dimensional craft. It inherits the rustic spirit of Shigaraki ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns; the body has a fine feldspar-grain feel and a warm, earthy texture. Most striking is the lively three-dimensional carving on the body: dense, layered carved peonies and karajishi (Chinese lions) climbing over the shoulder complement each other, symbolizing “wealth and protection” — a visually commanding piece with a strong presence.
A large flower stand in the form of a shishi guardian beast, made in Japan's Shōwa period and modelled on the traditional Japanese mythical beast, the shishi (as in the shishimai lion dance and the shishigashira lion head). It is painted all over in vivid vermilion, with a golden mane and a black back; the strong colour contrast gives it great visual impact. In Japanese folk belief the shishi symbolizes warding off evil and misfortune, guarding the home and inviting blessings and good fortune; since ancient times it has been widely used in shrine festivals, traditional performing arts, good-luck displays in shops and the decoration of large residences. This piece shows the shishi in a crouching pose, its four legs steady and strong, its expression dignified yet with a touch of humour and liveliness, fully showing the character and appeal of Shōwa-era folk craft.
A fine bronze incense burner in the form of a lion, using the traditional lion motif as a symbol of strength and protection. It is functional and also has artistic and collecting value, a piece worth treasuring. The whole burner is finely modelled, particularly the lion's facial expression and mane, showing the high skill of traditional craftsmen.
An old large Japanese Arita ware (Arita-yaki) plate, both practical and decorative, fitted with a metal hook for use as a wall decoration. Its style is elegant and elaborate, fully painted with auspicious subjects including lions playing with a ball, phoenixes and peonies — motifs symbolizing wealth, rank and peace. The painting combines: the dual techniques of iro-e (overglaze enamels) + sometsuke (blue painting); a typical Arita nishiki-de composition of multiple panel-style patterns, strongly decorative; and a central peony design, naturally and delicately shaded, with clearly layered flowers and leaves and a strong hand-painted feel.
This pair of Chinese blue-glazed guardian lions is a ceramic artwork of great visual impact and classical Eastern aesthetics. What is most captivating about the blue-glazed lions is their finely modelled, lively form and spirit. The male rests a foot on an embroidered ball, symbolizing power and a secure foundation, while the female plays with a cub, signifying many descendants and protection of the family. This traditional “male on the left, female on the right” arrangement is not only a visually balanced aesthetic but also carries age-old hopes of guarding the home, dispelling ill fortune and gathering wealth and blessings. Standing an impressive 41 cm tall, with raised relief of curled manes, bells and cloud motifs, they show rich gradations of light and shade beneath the layered peacock-blue glaze, as if every line of muscle held vitality poised for action. In contemporary high-end interior design, this magnificent yet steady blue easily stands out against calm wooden furniture or cool-toned concrete spaces, becoming the focal point that defines a room's atmosphere. Whether placed on either side of the entrance to a large residence to convey the dignity of the household, or in a private collection room as an artistic focal point, this pair of guardian lions, with their distinctive classical spirit, create a quiet and noble guardian scene for your home, bringing the warmth of classical craftsmanship and contemporary living aesthetics into perfect dialogue across time and space.
This vintage Japanese blue-and-white covered jar is distinguished by its elegant sometsuke (blue-and-white) decoration of mandarin ducks playing on the water and lotus-pond flowers, and by its octagonal form, crowned with a three-dimensional lion finial; from form and painting to finial, it carries a distinct classical Eastern artistic character. The body is octagonal, with full shoulders tapering naturally toward the base, and each facet presents the blue-and-white design from a different viewing angle. The main scene on the front shows a pair of mandarin ducks gliding on the water, surrounded by lotus leaves, flowers, water plants and branches that complete the lotus-pond view. The blue alternates between deep and pale, with both heavier cobalt outlines and soft, ink-wash-like shading. The shoulder is encircled by a band of large lotus-petal / ruyi-style motifs that clearly separates it from the main scene, while the lower part is finished with continuous pendant leaves and geometric patterns, giving the piece a complete decorative rhythm from top to bottom. One of its most striking details is the deep blue lion finial on the lid. The lion adds a sculptural dimension and raises the piece from an ordinary blue-and-white covered jar to a display object with auspicious and protective symbolism.
A small jewelry cabinet made in Kobe in 1952, crafted in STERLING SILVER. The double-door body is finely engraved with flowers and foliage, and the doors, hinges and clasps show layers of classical metalwork. Over the years the silver has naturally oxidized into varied tones and signs of use, making the delicate engraving stand out more vividly in light and shadow.
Wearing an ornate jeweled crown, draped in celestial robes and necklaces, the figure sits in the "royal ease" posture, one leg raised and the other hanging naturally, capturing the graceful, relaxed pose of Water-Moon Guanyin. The face is lowered with a calm expression, and the bronze-toned finish is naturally deep and steady — well suited to a tea room, study or quiet space.
Every piece has weathered centuries. We bring an exacting, professional approach to antique art to every handover and delivery.
We keep searching all over Japan for antiques and vintage pieces with character — ceramics, tea ceremony utensils, vases, wood carvings, furniture and Shōwa-era goods — and bring them across the sea to DASING.
Items are photographed as they are, showing color, texture, detail and actual appearance as closely as possible, so buying online comes closer to seeing them in person.
Antiques often show wear, oxidation, kiln flaws, repairs or other signs of age. We show these as fully as we can in photos and item descriptions, so you can understand each piece before deciding to buy.
