International Shipping Notice
How We Pack Your Tansu
Each piece is carefully inspected, cleaned, and wrapped with protective plastic wrap.
Styrofoam padding is placed at the bottom of the box, and the tansu is carefully positioned on top.
Additional Styrofoam is added around the tansu to protect all sides.
The piece is fully surrounded with Styrofoam and enclosed securely in a box.
The boxed item is placed on a pallet and secured with poly banding straps for safe transport.
Arrives safely, ready to add warmth, history, and Japanese craftsmanship to your space.
Blue-and-white Taishō-era takamakura with guardian shishi decoration
This antique Japanese takamakura (高枕, high pillow) is crafted in hard-fired white porcelain and decorated in rich cobalt underglaze. The gently curved top is framed by a scrolling border and checkerboard panel, while the sides are modeled with vertical ribs that both lighten the form and add strength. Intended to support the neck rather than the head, such porcelain neck rests were favored in the early 20th century for preserving elaborate hairstyles and for their cool, hygienic surface in summer.
Each end is painted with lively shishi (lion dogs) amid stylized clouds and sacred jewels, their swirling fur echoing the cloud scrolls around them. Vent openings below and a clearly stamped maker’s mark on the underside attest to careful kiln production. Visible age lines and an old stabilized crack add to the wabi-sabi character of this Taishō-era piece, making it a striking addition to any collection of Japanese porcelain or traditional sleeping implements.
A fine example of a Japanese porcelain takamakura, ideal for bringing authentic Taishō-era charm to a bedside, tokonoma, or curated display.
We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.
All vintage and antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.