A historic-cultural highlight: we proudly present a more than 1000 year old Yama Chawan with a strong kai-yu glaze. Once in a while you can find a traditional unglazed yama chawan on the antique market, but a Yama Chawan with a strong and vivid kai-yu glaze is very very rare...
A very fine sometsuke dish of scalloped octalobed form painted with a mon form central motif of a symmetrically arranged pair of leaping carp. Framed by a continuous band of botan karakusa, Peonie lotus scroll, within which are reserves containing, dragons, Ryu, in clouds and a gilt rim, kin-beni. The reverse decorated with hagi-karakusa, vine pattern and a six character mark for the Chinese Emperor Jiajing. The quality of the painting is of the highest quality...
Japanese antique inro with one compartment, carved of wood and lacquered a very dark brown. On one side, a silvery bat flies through the air. On the other side, a fishing net hangs to dry on a fence. The fishing net is done in gold lacquer and the fence is made of shell inlay. The inside of the inro case is lacquered a deep red with gold edging.
Late Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 2 1/8" high x 3" wide
A rare pair of heavy (solid) underglaze cobalt blue decorated porcelain Shishi Lions (koma inu 狛犬) made in the Hirado kilns, Mikawachi, Japan during the later years of the Edo period...
Japanese isho tansu, or clothing chest of drawers, constructed with Persimmon wood front drawers and a Sugi (cedar) frame and interior. The tansu holds four long drawers with metal pulls and round keyholes with floral plating. The sides of the piece are built with handles to carry and transport the tansu. Original condition with kanji inscription on backside of chest.
Taisho period (1912-1925)
Dimensions: 33 1/2" x 16 1/2" x 34" H
Japanese isho tansu, or clothing chest of drawers, constructed with Persimmon wood front drawers and a Sugi (cedar) frame and interior. The tansu holds four long drawers with metal pulls and round keyholes with floral plating. The sides of the piece are built with handles to carry and transport the tansu. Original condition with kanji inscription on backside of chest.
Taisho period (1912-1925)
Japanese two section clothing tansu, constructed with natural finish Kiri (paulownia) wood. Original condition. The four drawers with classic design of round iron hand-forged locks and pair of warabite drawer pulls, iron corner hardware and side handles.
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 36 3/4" L x 16 1/2" D x 40 1/2" H
Japanese pair of finely cast bronze Nio Buddhist temple guardians. Dressed in traditional robes with auspicious motifs.
Each figure stands on a four legged base with cartouche impression underneath.
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 3 1/2" x 2 3/4" x 8" H
A fine Japanese hirado porcelain okimono of a recumbent horse. The horse has a whimsical expression. Its eyes are left unglazed with blackened pupils, its unglazed teeth exposed in a wide grin, the corners of the mouth and nostrils pierced through. Touches of cobalt blue underglaze accent the hooves and snout of the horse. The base is impressed with maker's cartouche.
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 8 1/2" L x 4" W x 6" H
A tradition dating from the mid-16th century, Raku teabowls are made by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel; giving them a distinctly human feel. In the process of shaping the bowls, potters handle the tea bowls in much the same manner that users will hold them as they drink from them. In this way, we can imagine a connection is formed between the creator of the tea bowl and the participants in the tea ceremony...
Japanese large half section Mizuya, or kitchen buffet tansu, constructed of Hinoki wood frame and Sugi wood panels. The large pair of sliding doors open to the spacious interior with two removable shelves straight across. The sides of the chest have horizontal bracing slats for reinforcement.
Dimensions: 69 1/4" x 19 1/2" x 35 1/2" H
This is a wonderfully preserved Japanese Edo Period (Late 18th / Early 19th centuries) Tosa School Monogatari-e (painted subjects depicting scenes from the life at the Imperial Court in Kyoto) Six-panel. Gold-leaf Folding Silk Screen Painting. It shows twelve scenes from chapters of the novel 'The Tale of Genji', set in two sections per screen. It measures 110 inches wide and 48 inches tall. The inside panels are 18 inches and the two outer panels are 19 inches wide...
In the world of Japanese ceramics, Tamamizu-ware has almost a mythical standing. A branch of the main Raku line, at one time the two kilns held equal prominence, both being endorsed by the major tea schools of Kyoto and both being favored by the Imperial household. The first in the line was an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (Yahē) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho)...
Japanese half section Mizuya or kitchen buffet tansu. Constructed of Hinoki (cypress) and Sugi (cedar) wood. The piece opens by two large front sliding panels to the large interior with 2 recessed shelves. The sides of the chest have horizontal bracing slats for reinforcement.
Dimensions: 69 1/4" L x 19 1/2" D x 32 1/4" H
Cotton Kurume kasuri futonji with bold kasuri with asagi (light blue). Kurume in Fukuoka Pref. in Kyushu has been one of the main product places of indigo dyed cotton kasuri since late Edo period (early 19th century). It is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed. Late 19th to early 20th century. In excellent condition. 134cm x 150cm
The shape of the this tea bowl is known as “tsutsu” in Japanese and is regarded as being especially attractive. Tsutsu bowls are used mainly in the depths of winter to keep in the heat and prevent the tea from cooling too quickly. Though most tsutsu bowls are defined by their smooth, curved edges and contoured clay bodies, this piece is distinct in having more defined edges and straight sides...
What a great Chawan! Cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl thrown on a kick wheel. The little iron oxide bearing clay has been fully (except the footring and its surrounding) covered with a wood ash glaze which reacted with the iron oxide in the clay.
The thick and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has a fine beautiful crazing...
A cultural treasure - our oldest and most important mizusashi: wonderful Chosen Karatsu Tataki Mizusashi from the Momoyama Period (1573 - 1603). It was perfectly thrown first into a cylinder shape and then squeezed and paddled into a distorted pear. Iron oxide glaze has been poured inside and out.
On the rim a blueish rice straw ash glaze has been applied in the typical Chosen Karatsu fashion. The mizusashi is supplied with a tailor made lacquer lid of a somewhat later date...