Imari ware porcelain soba choko (soba noodle dipping cups) from the mid-Edo Period (1600-1868.) H.5.5cm(2.2") Dia.7cm(2.6".) This pair features underglaze cobalt blue pattern with two of the three friends of winter; pine and plum (the other being bamboo,) front and back of each cup. Abbreviated brushstrokes give these cups an aesthetic of simple beauty. Soba choko were initially used for small morsels of food, much like mukozuke or ko-zara are used in today's presentation of Japanese cuisine...

Toushin (wick) zara (plate) held a small amount of oil with a coiled wick, and was usually set in some sort of lamp arrangement. These were used until the advent of glass and other lamps. This example of fine folk pottery is from central Japan, likely Mino ware, produced during the Edo (1600-1868) Era. The top side has a warm yellow glaze, and the underside is unglazed. H. 1.5cm (0.6") Dia.10cm (4".)

Tea leaf storage jars used in Japan like this were produced in and out of Japan from about the 15th century onwards. I wish I could say that this is one of the famous Muromachi Era "nanban" wares from the Phillipines or Southern China that are so prized by Japanese tea ware collectors, but it is one of the replica items made up through the Meiji Era in Seto, Japan. Still, the Japanese kept the traditional shape and produced many fine chatsubo in their own right...

A rich black glaze covers this Kasama-yaki jar from the late 19th C. It is in the shape of a "natsume," a tea powder caddy used in the tea ceremony. H.21.5cm (8.5") Body Dia.16cm (6.25".) Kasama wares currently do not enjoy the fame of pots from nearby Mashiko. But Kasama, in neighboring Ibaraki Prefecture about 30 minutes away by car, preceeded Mashiko in being a ceramic production center by nearly a century, and had a hand in training the early Mashiko potters...

An antique flask much like a tokkuri used for transporting sake, the "abura" (oil) "dokkuri" (flask) was used to transport oil products. H.27cm (10.5"), Body Dia.16cm (6.25".) This one is from the old Echigo (present-day Niigata Prefecture) which had stores of oil used for heating and lighting that were shipped up the Japan Sea coast north to Hokkaido. This example is wonderfully pitted with oil over a white glaze, produced at one of the no longer existent folk kilns of the Echigo region...

A late Edo - early Meiji tokkuri (sake flask) from the Hokuriku (central west coast) of Japan. H.24cm (9.5",) Body Dia. 16cm (6.25".) Probably fired in one of the no longer existent kilns of what is now Niigata Prefecture, this tokkuri has a rich yellowish-brown glaze which has experienced a nice crazing over time. Although from central Japan, the glaze and somewhat refined shape are reminiscent of Yatsushiro ware from Kumamoto in Kyushu...

Sake Flask, "tokkuri," Meiji Era (1868-1912) from Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture. H.10", Body Dia.6". This early Mashiko ware shows the "tobi kanna" technique of chatter marking around the body. In Meiji-era Mashiko, this patterned flask was called a "matsu-kawa-tokkuri" (pine-skin-tokkuri.) A rich, dark brown glaze decorates the neck. Similar wares were also produced around the same time in Fukushima Prefecture...

This water jar, "mizugame," stands 60cm (23.5") high with a mouth diameter of 55cm (21.5".) The rich brown glaze is decorated front and back with freely poured ladle splashes of black slip. A band of 5 incised lines runs about 7cm below the rim of the jar. The decoration is similar to Tamba wares at first glance, but a look at the unglazed bottom reveals not the red clay of Tamba, but a yellowish-light brown clay from Seto or elsewhere...

A pair of Imari ware soba choko (soba noodle dipping cups) from the mid-Edo Period (1600-1868,) porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue painted design of "tampopo" (dandelion) and "cho cho" (butterflies.) H.6cm, Dia. 8.5cm. Each cup has the dandelion pattern on front, and butterflies on back. The painting on these cups is wonderfully playful, and a fine example of the stylized brushstrokes of mingei (folk) wares...

Large Komai Mixed Metal Box with Temple & Phoenix Marked, Meiji Period (1868-1912)

The box is 2.25 inches (6 cm) tall, and 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in length by 4 inches (10 cm) wide.

It is in good condition with no repairs, chips, or cracks, dents, except rubbing and loss of gold, metal oxidation at the inside of the box, and unsecured hinges (as seen in the photos).

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A beautiful hand painted Uchikake kimono with pine trees and rocks in sumi-e black ink (dye) style, a symbol of winter, New Year and the longevity. The fabric is Shioze silk (thicker than regular silk), not shiney as satin silk. Very well preserved; no stains. It is evenly discolored to a creamy color and still wearable. Circa, late Meiji to early Showa, 1900 to 1940.

Dimensions: 51 inches (sleeve to sleeve) x 71 inches long

Large Japanese antique oshi-e ningyo(doll), Geisha playing the koto: Matsumoto Oshi-e bina (hina ningyo in Oshi-e style) was originally made by the Samurai family who served in the Matsumoto Castle to supplement their income sometime in the mid Edo period (1603-1868). They became quite quite popular in the 1800s, 400 million dollars sale (in current currency) was recorded in 1888...

Large Japanese antique oshi-e ningyo(doll), Kabuki samurai "aragoto" actor on stage: Matsumoto Oshi-e bina (hina ningyo in Oshi-e style) was originally made by the Samurai family who served in the Matsumoto Castle to supplement their income sometime in the mid Edo period (1603-1868). They became quite quite popular in the 1800s, 400 million dollars sale (in current currency) was recorded in 1888...

Museum quality Japanese kimono - uchikake wedding gown. The condition of this kimono is excellent, amazingly well preserved without damage or repair. The black area has different shades with a muddy black color, particularly on the sleeves and the middle section of kimono where the black gradually changes to white. The gown is thinly padded (silk wadding) throughout and feather light with very soft silk. The dimension: 50 1/2 inches sleeve to sleeve, 59 inches long. Not wearable, please.

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Authentic Japanese Meiji period woodblock printed "mitate banzuke" dating from the late 19th century. Banzuke prints were designed to compare or rank virtually any subject, ranging from popular actors and sumo wrestlers to the best spas and restaurants. The banner at the top, which is being held by two winged cherubs, reads "Comparison of Good and Bad Housewives." The title in the middle translates "Women's Domestic Instructions," a phrase commonly used in materials intended to instruct girls...

This very well designed and carved wood (boxwood) netsuke is 1 ¾” high, 2” wide and 1 ½” thick. It depicts three pods of a Japanese lantern plant (some people call it a Chinese lantern). Two big lanterns and one small lantern are arranged along a stem with a curly leaf which has a few insect bites. It is dated late 18th century and it is not signed. It is in excellent condition.

This very well carved late 19th century ivory netsuke is 1 ¼” high, 2 ¼” wide and 2“ thick. It depicts an old samurai’s metal helmet decorated with shi-shi (lion) head on top. The helmet is situated on an opened paper fan. There are a dozen mice with inlaid eyes on the helmet playing and chasing each other. It seems that symbols of war and peace, the helmet and the fan, are brought together and put in their place by nibbling mice. The workmanship is just superb. It is signed “Ma...

This very well carved and darkly stained ivory netsuke is 3” high, 7/8” wide and half of an inch thick. It is dated early 19th century and is not signed. It depicts an islander with curly hair and beard holding his hands in front of his half naked chest. It is in excellent condition.