Specialties
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19c Japanese Futon Cover Textile
Katazome
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Pre 1910 item# 83555
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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Dating Meiji Era, late 19th century. 58" x 48", four panel construction, each panel 12" wide. Very good condition, excellent color, with three minor holes (and some pin holes) visible in photos. This lovely futon cover of four panel construction is a floral design (chrystanthemums ?); the name katazome refers to a printing process, with white patterns made from rice paste were printed on an indigo base. The preparation of indigo dye required great skill and preparation, being made from a group of plants containing "indican", a water soluble clear substance which becomes blue when exposed to oxygen. Futon covers were one of a number of items making up a woman's trousseau, other objects including tansu chests, textiles, bedding and kimono. The use of futons-a cotton stuffed mattress and cover-- can be traced back to the seventeenth century. The futon cover could be made in a variety of sizes of joined panels that were 12 or 13 inches wide.
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Japanese Sumida Gawa Tea Pot
Elephants
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Pre 1900 item# 83553
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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6" x 6", very good condition with a few flea bites, but missing lid. Inuoue Ryosai cartouche is on the reverse. Dating to the late 19th century, this is a wonderful example of the pottery known as Sumida Gawa, named after the famed Tokyo River. The design of elephant parent and child modeled in high relief is as technically impressive as it is endearing. Ryosai won various awards at exhibitions including the Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai (National Industrial Exposition) in 1877, the same exhibit in 1890, and in 1903. He also exhibited in the Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha in Paris in 1878.
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Japanese Tea Jar Makie Lacquer
Natsume
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Pre 1910 item# 78321
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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2.5” square. Late 19th to early 20th century,.excellent condition with no damage. Lacquer tea jars (Natsume) are used for dry powdered tea (matcha) and are made in various sizes as one of numerous accoutrements in Japanese tea ceremony. This beautiful example is decorated in relief gold painting (makie) with a willow tree design, in a Shibui restrained Japanese style. The natsume comes with an unmarked kiriwood box and is wrapped in an old silk sashiko textile remnant. For those interested in a history of Japanese ceramic tea jars, we have recently published an article detailing their history and illustrating many examples, in Daruma issue 35 (summer 2002) “Japanese Ceramic Tea Jars: History and Form”, available now at Paragon books online. (See our homepage for a photo excerpt).
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Meiji Era Stone Buddha Jizo Bosatsu
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Pre 1900 item# 78052
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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5.5” tall, 2.5” wide, dating late 19c. Originating from Sado Island. Jizo Bosatsu is known as own of the most compassionate Buddhist deities, originating from a cult of Central Asia, his Sanscrit name means “Earth Womb”. Jizo is largely associated with Pure Land Buddhism which flourished in the Kamarakura Era. While Jizo played many roles and was notably recognized for intervening for those suffering in hell, the modern cult of Jizo has come to be associated today with the loss of fetuses either through miscarriage or abortion. This lovely representation in its simple and soft form beautifully conveys the gentle and compassionate diety.
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19c Rengetsu Nun Pottery Mizusashi
poem
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Pre 1900 item# 78051
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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Dating 19c. 6” tall, 5” across, excellent condition, no damage, accompanied by a tomobako storage box. Mizusashi signed on the body, “Rengetsu”. Known as "Rengetsu" meaning "Lotus-moon", she lived from 1791-1875 and is listed in "A Dictionary of Japanese Artists" as a Shijo painter, calligrapher, talented poet and potter. Her poems were characteristically incised in her pottery, the most common form of cups modeled in the form of lotus. She became a Buddhist nun after her husband's death and her adopted son was the famous calligrapher Tessai. She was prolific and inspired many imitators. A Japanese researcher on Rengetsu attributes this jar as authentic. The jar is hand modeled, incised with poetry, and the unglazed sections impressed with a textile. Box reads, right section: Otagaki Rengetsu Ni (name, ni means nun), Kugibori waka iri mizusashi (kugi a writing tool, bori written with; waka is a poem, hakaji is the glaze). Left section is the former owner’s information.
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19c Fine Japanese Tetsubin Relief
Signed
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Pre 1900 item# 74879
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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Late 19th century. 8" tall including handle, 6.25"' across. Very good condition with normal rusting, visible in photos. This is a special tetsubin as it is signed both under the lid and matching on the body; while this signature is common to see on better lids, it is not often that lid and body match by the same maker. The form is of crabs in crevices done in high relief, on both sides of the pot. High relief tetsubin are quite sought after by collectors. Fine ornamental tetsubin of this type were preferred by the upper classes for service of Chinese "Sencha" style tea ceremony. The signature appears to be one of the various signatures of the Ryubundo workshop. "Ryubundo zo" was a famous Japanese family of Tetsubin Makers from Kyoto--the first Ryubundo was Ysunosuke Ryubundo, son of a Samurai, born in 1780.
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19c Japanese Arita Imari Koro Censer bw
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Pre 1837 VR item# 74404
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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4” wide, 3.5” tall, excellent condition with no damage or repairs. This marvelous small koro or incense burner is a beautiful example probably dating from the early 19th century, judging from the porcelain, glazing and style. During the first quarter of the 19th century some Arita products were of exceptional quality, and this shonzui Chinese landscape style is typical of this period. A small shishi sits on top as a finial, and marvelous geometric fretwork decorates the smaller side panels. Examples of this small size are few, and they generally have suffered damage over time, making this a special and good example of the period.
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Edo Era Japanese Pottery Tokkuri
Kyushu
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Pre 1837 VR item# 74402
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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10” tall and about 6” across. Very good condition, one old minute repair at the mouth rim, barely discernable. Dating approximately early 19th century. This marvelous old sake bottle probably originates from Kyushu, perhaps Shodai or a smaller local kiln. The bottle appears to have been coil built, then “raked” with a linear tool, and last deliberately distorted in form, on a potters wheel. It has a rough splash of whitish slip on the upper body, and appears to have been fired with an applied ash glaze, having an iridescent appearance. In texture and form it’s a very appealing and expressively rustic piece, truly embodying the spirit of Japanese folk arts.
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19c Japanese Seto Pottery Sake Bottle
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Pre 1920 item# 73773
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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5.75" x 5.75". Excellent condition, no damage. Marked numerically in Japanese on the bottom. This lovely small tokkuri has a delightful design of cherry or plum blossoms on one side, and perhaps bamboo on the other. We come across these occasionally in Japan but haven't seen one with such a nice design as this one. These originate from either Seto or Shigaraki, where large amounts of folk and utilitarian ceramics were made in the 19th century. An attractive piece unusual to see outside of Japan.
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Fabulous Vintage Japanese Silk Obi
Sakura
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Pre 1920 item# 73772
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bleu et blanc/Blue & White America, Inc.
Tokyo Time: 011-81-90-1844-8776
sold
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Long: 13' 3" x 12". Dating probably early Showa period, roughly 1930-50. Condition: some wear along edges, various makeup stains, all visible in photos. A maru obi, it is completely covered in flowers on one side, with the other side plain green. This absolutely stunning obi is one of the nicest we've seen; while it may appear contemporary in style, it is not a recent or near recent piece. The colors are gorgeous, and the design fantastic and simple, a classic Japanese motif of spring. This clearly was a loved and worn obi, and perhaps suggests some interesting history with its few (minor) makeup stains! One would not have to be romantic to imagine several spring nights of cherry blossom parties at tea houses or in Gion...! We see thousands of obi in Japan and this is one of the most charming.
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