Catalog (143)

A highly attractive, hammered silver vase of rounded body rendered in parallel hammered bands and opened neck. Stamped silver mark in the bottom. Showa, c. 1950. H 17 cm, D 12.5 cm. Condition: Perfect. Natural patina.

A rare and interesting, rectangular incense burner (koro) of Seto ware covered in a wet, curry-coloured glaze running thin at places, leaving the raw core exposed. Japan, probably early Edo, c. 1650. H 6.5 cm, L 10.5 cm, W 7.5 cm. Condition: Excellent with slight wear from use.

A Rare Spirit Stone (Ishikami), Natural Rootwood Embracing Stone. A unique creation of Mother Nature with minor modification to the root wood grown around a stone to emulate a standing Daruma, the Patriarch of Zen Buddhism wrapped in his robe. These kind of quite rare “spirit stones”are always been highly appreciated by the Japanese. Very good, old patina; it has a very pleasant feeling to the touch. Edo, 18-19th century. H 10,5 cm. Condition: Perfect.

An interesting modern water dropper (suiteki ) for ink painting of sculptured form with a rough Bizen feel to it. The maker name Shozo impressed on the bottom and inscribed tomobako storage box. Water droppers are part of a scholar’s painting tools. Size: H 7 x 8 x 8 cm circa. Perfect condition. -------Saito Shozo Born 1952 in Ashio, Tochigi Prefecture, Kanto region. He studied ceramics at the Prefectural Ceramics Center of Mashiko, He built his own kiln in Ashio Town.

A cute Kutani ware incense box and cover (Kogo) in the form of a mandarine duck (Oshidori) in typical Kutani color pallet: green, yellow, blue and black. The bottom part with Kutani stamp at the base. Enclosed in an inscribed old tomobako. L 8,5 H 5 cm. Late Meiji to early Taisho. Good condition.

A very attractive and fine cast iron incense container (kogo) for use in tea ceremony decorated with a motif from the Ten Ox-herding Pictures of Zen Buddhism. Inside covered in gold. Signed by Suzuki Morihisa (1920–1981), a 14th generation of cast iron-makers from Morioka who later taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tokyo. A frequent exhibitor at the Nitten. With original signed kiri-tomobako and artist's information paper. Showa period ca. 1960. H 3 cm, D 7,2. Condition: Perfect.

A finely carved boxwood image of a standing Luohan (Arhat), one of Buddha’s disciples. The figure is shown turned slight to one side while holding a wish-fulfilling scepter (ruyi) in the crook of his right arm. The carving is coated in a deep, transparent reddish lacquer. Qing, 18th cent. H 18.5 cm. With fitted, old Japanese storage box. Condition: Excellent with only one minor age crack caused by the drying wood.

A large and very impressive Bronze model of a male lion cast in naturalistic style as is common for Japanese export bronzes from this period. Glass eyes. Marked with a seal: Kyomitsu zo: made by Kyomitsu. Meiji, late 19th cent. ca. 1890. L 56 cm, H 30 cm. Condition: Excellent.

Tea caddy (chaire) of Shigaraki ware with characteristic, mottled, beige glaze over brownish, rough corpus. Lid of finely worked ivory. Signed with potter’s mark in the bottom. A heavy silk storage bag (shifuku) with stylized flower pattern comes with the piece. Showa, circa 1960. H 8 cm, D 6 cm. Condition: Perfect.

The bronze has a fine dark patina. Very fine, expressive sculpture in naturalistic style characteristic of human representation in the Post-War period. - Signed: Yoshiaki. Japan, ca. 1960–1970. H 22.5 cm. Condition: Excellent. *****Tachikawa Yoshiaki (1918 - 2017). He began his training as a sculptor at the College for Fine Arts in Tokyo in 1940 where he remained for a period of 4 years. He received the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition Membership Award in 1978. He has participated in numerous e...

A great stoneware vessel of oblong shape on an elevated foot decorated with all-over tetsu-yu, mottled iron-rust glaze with irregular brush lines in black red and green. This is absolutely one of the best Buichi's piece! H. 17 x L 17 x W 11 cm. Showa Period. Very good condition. **** Kawai Buichi (1890–1989), was a nephew of Kawai Kanjiro, Japan’s most famous potter of the 20th century. He began his training as a potter under his uncle in 1928 in Kyoto. In 1949 he joined the National Pa...

Scroll painting, black ink on paper depicting Orchids and Rock. Attributed to Ike no Taiga (1723–1776). Sealed and signed Kiuka ( one of the many “go” or style name of Ike no Taiga (1723–1776) was born and lived in Kyoto during the Edo period, he was a prolific painter, calligrapher and a literati with a strong passion for classical Chinese scholar painting technique; he is one of the representative name of the Nanga school of painting though he did many decorative paintings. His work...

An unusual and charming votive image of carved wood depicting Guanyin seated in her grotto on Putuo Island with the secondary figures, the Dragon Maiden and Sudhana attending her on either side. Above a small grotto with the seated image of a Buddha and flanking it on both sides are the four popular companions from the Journey to the West (Xiyou ji), the monk Xuanzang, Sandy, Pigsy and Monkey. In the water below a pair of nagas and a large fish. On the back of the sculpture is a place for relics...

A bronze figure depicting the City God, (Chinese: Cheng Huang). Cold gilding and rest of coulors. The City God is one of the important Gods of Daoism, he is a kind of guardian deity of the City, a heavenly magistrate responsible for the protection of the territory, the safety and prosperity of the locality. Temples dedicated to Chenghuang were built allover China and annual processions of the God were carried out. Ming Dynasty. H. 29 cm. Condition: Very good, just some wear to gilt.

Kato Tsubusa Celadon Asymmetrical Vessel in Seihakuji Glaze Of irregular shape, with some sharp cut and other stretched edges, standing on 3Three small feet. The light blue glaze pooling inside the tray. Size, L 28 w 16 h 12,5 cm. Enclosed in inscribed and signed storage box ( the lid of the box has water marks). Condition: Excellent. *****Kato Tsubusa, born in 1962, a well-established ceramic artist from Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture. After graduation in 1979 he experimented with po...

A large and imposing bronze image of the Songzi Niangniang (‘The Lady who Brings Children’), a primary Daoist deity. Fine expression and details. Covered with a dark brown patina all-over. Ming dynasty, most probably Wanli period (1573–1619), a time when it is known that large number of Daoist images were made. ****H 38 cm. ****Condition: Generally very fine. Minor remains of cold gilt and colouring. One tip of a finger broken off.

A great hammered silver vase with small knobs around the shoulders, soft hammer marks covering the surface of the vase. Signed on the bottom with a chiseled signature by the artist, Shiro, together with Mitsukoshi stamp, Silver and Sterling. Enclosed in the original tomobako, the original box, inscribed Silver vase on the exterior of the lid and signed and sealed on the inside. Size: H 20 x W 22 cm. Condition: perfect, with good silver oxidation patina. **** Sekiya Shiro (1907-1994) was b...

A fine 20th century Japanese Deco style bronze vase by the renowned bronze artist AIDA TOMIYASU (1901 - 1987). The vase is of simple cylindrical form with an elegant frontal design of two interlocking semi-circle bands to the upper body. Signed TOMIYASU on bottom. H. 29 cm / 11,5 inches. Showa period (mid-20th century). Condition: perfect. ****** Aida Tomiyasu was the art name of Ibara Meijiro, born in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture; In 1948 he won the grand prize of metal casting at the Ni...