About Giuseppe Piva Japanese Art
A third-generation antique dealer, Giuseppe Piva is specialised in antique Japanese art and is know among collectors worldwide, having contributed to enrich the collections of many museums and institutions. The gallery of is located in the heart of Milan and participates the Asia Week New York, the most important venue for Asian art. The gallery is specialised in samurai arms and armor, folding screens, lacquer, and rare works of art.
Established in 20051stDibs seller since 2018
Contact InfoFeatured Pieces
Inro by Mochizuki Hanzan (1743-90?) Edo Period, 18th century
Located in Milano, IT
Mochizuki Hanzan (1743-90?)
Edo Period, 18th century
Decorated with inlaid colored ceramic with a stag and maple leaves
Height: 8.4 cm
Sealed Hanzan
Mochizuki Hanzan (1743-90?...
Category
Antique 18th Century Japanese Lacquer
Materials
Wood
A Hizen Katana in koshirae
Located in Milano, IT
A Hizen Katana in koshirae
Signed 肥前國河内大掾藤原正廣
Hizen kuni kawachi daijō Fujiwara Masahiro
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Early Edo Period (1615-1867)
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NBTHK Hozon Tōken
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Nagasa [leng...
Category
Antique 17th Century Japanese Arms, Armor and Weapons
Materials
Steel
Suda Kokuta (1906-1990) 露, Tsuyu (dew)
Located in Milano, IT
Suda Kokuta (1906-1990)
露, Tsuyu (dew)
Kakejiku: ink and slight color on paper
Signed with seal Suda Kokuta and dated in black pencil "1989"
104cm x 61cm
The single Chinese ...
Category
Late 20th Century Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paper
Suji-bachi kabuto and menpo Signed by Myōchin Muneaki and dated 1853
Located in Milano, IT
Suji-bachi kabuto and menpo
Signed by Myōchin Muneaki and dated 1853
Signature: Kaei 6 - Ushidoshi Oshu Nihonmatsu-ju Myōchin Ki (no) Muneaki saku
Made in 1853 by Myōchin Ki Muneak...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Metalwork
Materials
Iron
Hon-kozane ni-mai do tosei gusoku
Located in Milano, IT
Hon-kozane ni-mai do tosei gusoku
Samurai armor in revival style
Edo Period, 17th to 18th century
Signature on kabuto: Jōshū jū Saotome Ietada
Kabuto [helmet]: A russet iron (tetsu sabiji) sixty-two plate kabuto, each mounted with twenty-five small tapered standing rivets (ko-boshi) of decreasing size; the front plate, larger than the others, is fitted with two lines of rivets, while the rear one is left empty, for a total of 1.550 rivets.
The typical "Saotome-byo", an extra rivet which is almost an additional signature of the Saotome armorers, is visible inside.
Maedate [helmet crest]: Kuwagata (stylized horns) with shakudo kuwagata-dai (support) fitted with three hanabishi (flower-shaped family crest) and a large gilt-wood peony
Menpō [mask]: A russet iron (tetsu sabiji) ressei-men (mask with fierce expression)
Dō [cuirass]: Ni-mai dō (made in two parts) with hon-kozane (true scale) construction. Stencilled leather plates with engraved shakudo borders, fine pierced kanamono (application) bearing a hanabishi.
Sode [shoulder guards]: Large type (ō-sode), with fine kanamono and decorations.
Kote [sleeves]: In russet iron, with a hanabishi on the back of the hand (tekko).
Haidate [thigh guard]: Of hakama type (full trousers), made of tied rectangular iron plates.
Suneate [shin guards]: Finished in black urushi lacquer.
Accessories: A saihai (commander’s baton); high-level kara-bitsu (storage box)
With its large sode (shoulder guards) and old-fashioned construction, the style of the armor is reminiscent of the medieval suits...
Category
Antique Late 17th Century Japanese Arms, Armor and Weapons
Materials
Iron
Sujibachi kabuto 62-plate samurai helmet Haruta school, Edo period
Located in Milano, IT
Sujibachi kabuto
62-plate samurai helmet
Haruta school, Edo period
17th-18th century
A lamellar helmet consisting of sixty-two plates joined with five rows of rivets. The surface is...
Category
Antique Mid-17th Century Japanese Metalwork
Materials
Iron
Jizai Okimono A russet-iron articulated figure of a hermit crab
Located in Milano, IT
Jizai Okimono
A russet-iron articulated figure of a hermit crab
Myōchin school, Edo Period
18th-19th century
Length: 19.5 cm
With a large, realistically rendered, spiralling t...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Metalwork
Materials
Iron
Dangae do tosei gusoku A blue-laced samurai armor with cuirass of double style
Located in Milano, IT
Dangae do tosei gusoku
A blue-laced samurai armor with cuirass of double style
Edo Period, 18th century
Kabuto [helmet]: Black lacquered eboshi-nari kabuto, in the form of this ...
Category
Antique 18th Century Arms, Armor and Weapons
Materials
Iron
Kogo in the Shape of a Deer
Located in Milano, IT
Hiramaki-e lacquer, nashiji and fundame
Edo period, 19th century
Length: 10.5 cm, height: 6.5 cm
Since the Heian period, The theme of deer and autumn plants has been ut...
Category
Antique 19th Century Japanese Lacquer
Materials
Wood
Tōkanmuri Kabuto Samurai Helmet in the Shape of a Court CAP
Located in Milano, IT
Tokanmuri kabuto
Samurai helmet in the shape of a court cap
Momoyama to early Edo Period
17th century
The wearing of helmets that reproduced the shapes of traditional ...
Category
Antique 17th Century Japanese Metalwork
Materials
Iron
Sogonari Kabuto Samurai Helmet Shaped as a Human Head Early Edo Period
Located in Milano, IT
Sogonari Kabuto
Samurai Helmet shaped as a Human Head
Early Edo Period (1615 - 1867).
Three-plates kawari kabuto covered with tawny hair to ...
Category
Antique Early 1700s Metalwork
Materials
Fur
Okitenugui Kabuto Samurai Helmet Shaped as a Head Towel Saika, Early Edo Period
Located in Milano, IT
Okitenugui kabuto
Samurai helmet shaped as a head towel
Saika, early Edo period, 17th century
The Haruta armorers who moved to Kii province in the early 17th century, took the name from the village where they worked, Saika, near Wakayama, possibly on request of the local daimyo, Asano Yukinaga, a great armour amateur. Specialised in the construction of plate helmets, they produced mainly two typologies of kabuto: one with six plates covered with a chrysanthemum-shaped plate on top and one shaped as a “head towel”, called okitenugui. The latter type of kabuto employs very heavy plates crafted in a curved manner and was improved in order to make it resistant to firearms.
This okitenugui kabuto features some distinctive decorations of the Haruta school, including the application of cut-out iron elements, including eyebrows, washers and lozenge-shaped decorations on the sides. The ring on the top, however, is a rare feature and could be used to hold a small war flag.
Category
Antique 17th Century Metalwork
Materials
Iron