A rare Seto Heishi (also read Heiji) bottle dating from the Kamakura period (1192-1333) wrapped in a custom made silk pouch with age darkened Kiri-wood box. Streaks of an unusual blue shidare glaze are visible on one side, Unlike the vast majority of Heishi bottles, this piece is no unearthed or excavated but has been passed down from generation to generation (as evidenced by the lack of inclusions or calcification)...
An exquisite bronze image of an ancient sage, a gnarled staff supporting his crooked frame with a golden fan capped with silver feathers clutched in his right hand. The Detail is superb, from the evocative expression to the minute details on his robe and accoutrements. It is signed on the foot Seiun (Hara Souemon), a top quality bronze, expressive and detailed. The figure is 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition...
The Muromachi period in Japan, known for its artistic and cultural flourishing, produced exceptional pottery and ceramics, including this exquisite e-Shino incense burner. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this piece exemplifies the refined aesthetics of the time. Its elegant form, featuring gentle curves and a graceful silhouette, reflects the harmony between nature and art...
Vase in fine Satsuma earthenware enamelled in Osaka in Yabu Meizan's workshop at the end of the 19th century around 1890. The decoration is compartmentalized in 4 cartouches and represents the 4 seasons. The landscapes are meticulously painted, the details are surprisingly elegant and realistic. For winter, a snow-covered port is represented, the trees are heavy with snow, everything is motionless, padded. The cartouches are surrounded by a beautifully painted thousand-flower background...
The size of Covered Bowl: 4 1/4" Dia x 3 1/4" High. Pretty Japanese Ko Imari Iroe Polychrome Porcelain Covered Bowl. The covered bowl is made from fine quality procelain as well as fine glazing. It has sometsuke design finely painted at the border geometric design as well as the center design inside. the cover and bowl has pretty design of Marumon design with flower on large Marumon by the color of green, turquoise color, Japanese red and gold. turquoise color enamel is thickly painted...
A carpet made of recycled washi fragments which were daifukucho (merchant's record book) or letters, and kakishibu (persimmon tannin) painted for strength and waterproof. It was generally put over tatami mats protecting
them from sun beam or dust. It has letters "Kanei 6 (1853)", very late Edo period. It has rips, holes and moth bites. 204cm x 192cm
A sage, strikes a forever pose as he stares into the distance, robes billowing in the wind, contemplating the troubles of lesser beings, a fan clutched behind. This is a beautiful bronze sculpture dating from early 20th century Japan paying homage to the literati and Confucian traditions which formed the basis of Japanese ideology at the time. It is signed Kiyoshi with an engraved signature on the hem of his robes. The figure stands 39 cm (15-1/2 inches) tall and is in excellent condition...
A carved lacquer box which pays homage to Chinese literary taste while presenting itself clearly in a modern, Japanese way (for turn of the century lacquerware at least) by 2nd generation lacquer artist Ishii Yusuke enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The tsuishu lacquer technique requires applying layer upon layer of lacquer which is then carved through and polished, a painstaking process...
A white bronze sculpture of crashing waves supporting three glass orbs; an elegant form carrying good fortune from old Japan. It is 49 cm (19-1/4 inches) long and in overall excellent condition. Set it in the window and watch the orbs blow colorful prisms across the room.
This Edo-period bronze quail incense burner is a stunning piece of Japanese craftsmanship. The lifelike form of the quail, intricately detailed and gracefully curved, showcases the artistry of the era...
Sake cup in wood lacquered with gold, silver and cinnabar powder. On the outside on a rich thick kinji background, decorated with flowers in gold and silver leafs around the perimeter and in the center 2 stylized Chinese characters in thick lumpy cinnabar lacquer with the most beautiful aesthetic effect, probably the mark of the artist. The exterior is decorated with maple leaves in gold, red, green and brown lacquer on a black background. Note that polychrome lacquers are very rare...
Composed by one of the most well-regarded and important figures within the Kanō tradition of painting, here we see a whimsical rendition of tiger and cub prancing through the forest. With its beautiful and well-preserved silk brocade to highlight the scene, the overall composition radiates a feeling of lightness and playful curiosity.
Oldest son to Kanō Takanobu, Tanyu was appointed as the first designated painter to the Tokugawa Shogunate...
Three gods of fire which are unglazed earthenware made of clay. Fire has been thought as sacred and gods of fire have been put near furnaces, cooking stoves (kamado) and open fireplace (irori) for protecting from disasters and uncleanness. It is not clear where they are from, probably Tohoku district. All in good condition, no chip or crack.19th century. Height:20cm, Width:11 to 12cm
Fish and water plants in blue with a crab in black decorate this vase by master of the subject Ono Bakufu enclosed in the original Tomobako wooden box from the Sosen Gama titled Sometsuke Kabin signed and sealed inside by Bakufu. The vase is 27 cm (roughly 11 inches) tall, 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition...
An amazing small wooden figure covered in with glass eyes made in the hyper-real likeness of a Rakugo-shi Comic storyteller, dressed I traditional Hakama trousers and seated on a large cushion clutching a fan in his right hand.
It is 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) tall, while the cushion upon which he sits is 19.5 x 15.5 cm (just under 8 x 6 inches) and the figure is in excellent condition. There is what appears to be a signature on the bottom; Ta?Saku. This caring is very much in the audacious style...
Antique solitary Awara-yaki chawan by great artist Kuze Tensei 久世天声 (1878 - 1933) around 1915 (Meiji Period).
He studied art under Yamada Kei while working as a teacher at Ishikawa Technical Senior High School. In 1914, he moved to Awara Onsen in Fukui Prefecture (a classic hot spring town) where he set up a studio and kiln and created Awara-yaki using clay from the area to produce Kyo-ware style ceramics, which often won prizes in exhibitions.
The Kuze name is ...
Antique Japanese tall stone sekitō (pagoda) with five tiers. Made of granite and carved in 9 stacking pieces. The central square section is carved with a seated Buddha on four sides. The top spire is carved with 9 tiers between lotus petals. The surface has a beautiful patina and is covered with areas lichen and moss.
Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 101 1/2" (8ft, 5in) high x 26" wide x 26" deep
Thick molten ash drivels over the shoulder of this fabulous 17th century Shigaraki Tsubo storage jar showing all the great attributes of Shigaraki ware. It has a large open ware (pronounced wa-ray) crack down the front, which does not go through to the inside, and the fire blasted front surface is shot with fine heat cracks. A large Kutsuki to the lower let shows where it adhered to something else in the kiln during the firing. Natural ash glaze in yellow and green slides down over the surfac...
A bowl, hachi, of kiku-gata, moulded Chrysanthemum form, decorated to the interior with low relief kiku-mon, stylised chrysanthemum flower heads. The narrow panels partly painted in underglaze blue with a gilt lozenge diaper pattern inset with swastikas, and brocades inset with various contrasting motifs of kiku-mon, hanabishi-mon, and matsu-mon (a view of the end of a Pine branch). The remaining four double panels with kiku-mons and Peony and Chrysanthemum sprays. The design an auspicious wish ...
This is a breathtaking work of art, a cherubic figure forms the finial of this later Edo period ceramic incense burner. Atop the lid strides a youth in purple robes wearing a lotus leaf as a hat and blowing a flue, a staff lays at his feet. About the square box of the ash pot are exquisite-colored designs lined with gold like precious jewels dangling from the edge. Two beast heads protrude from the sides and the entire is elevated on a square foot. The koro is 8 x 11 x 17 cm (3-1/4 x 4-1/2 x...
Ko Hagi Bajohai Chawan with Kintsugi Repair made in the Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Supplied with old wooden box with label "Ko Hagi Bajohai Chawan"
Size
Height 10.5cm
Width 13cm
Repaired with gold lacquer Kintsugi
Hagi ware, also known as Hagi-yaki, is a type of traditional Japanese pottery that originated in the town of Hagi, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Renowned for its simple, rustic, and serene aestheti...
Excellent example of Nakano ware Blue and White Mukozuke bowl made in the early 18th century
Diameter 15.2cm
Height 8cm
Weight 335g
There are old repairs with staples.
Nakano ware kiln was opened in 1598 in Yamanaka-cho, Hirado city. In the early days, Nakano kiln made Kobiki tea bowls similar to the ones of Joseon Dynasty, but in the 18th century it began to produce ceramics similar to Imari Sometsuke. Nakano-yaki is characterized as half-pottery half-...
Antique Japanese Kuro Raku tea bowl made by Sen Sosa VI, Kakukakusai Genso (1678-1730) who was the 6th Iemoto of Omotesenke school.
Kakukakusai Genso, the son of Soei Hisada, was adopted by the 5th generation Zuiryusai Ryokyu, and inherited the Iemoto title of Grand Master of Omotesenke tea ceremony school.
He served Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684-1751) who was the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745.
His three children ...
Five cases inro. Black lacquered wood. Decor powdered with gold representing a couple of tigers and their cubs. Gold mosaic details. Signature of the illustrious family of Kajikawa lacquerers in 3 characters or in relief followed by a drawing of a vase in red lacquer also in relief. Kyo-Ji-Ro (+1682) was the founder and the best of the line of Kaji-Kawa lacquerers, his descendants all bore the same name. The excellent quality of the lacquer, the rare and much appreciated decoration of tigers and...
Ko Imari Arita Koi-gata Fish Shaped Dish Nagazara Genroku 17C
A fine Arita sometsuke fish shaped dish carefully modelled in the form of a Carp, koi-gata o-sara dating to the late 17C. See “The Trakatori Collection” Kyushu Museum 2020 for a set of similar dishes there dated 1670-1690’s. This example probably dates from the 1690’s, the Genroku era. Fish shaped dishes were a popular accompaniment of the tea ceremony, Chinese ko sometsuke examples made specifically for the Japanese market ...
A fine Arita sometsuke fish shaped dish carefully modelled in the form of a Carp, koi-gata o-sara dating to the late 17C. See “The Trakatori Collection” Kyushu Museum 2020 for a set of similar dishes there dated 1670-1690’s. This example probably dates from the 1690’s, the Genroku era. Fish shaped dishes were a popular accompaniment of the tea ceremony, Chinese ko sometsuke examples made specifically for the Japanese market date from the early 17th century, Tianqi era.
The Koi was ...
A fine Arita sometsuke fish shaped dish carefully modelled in the form of a Carp, koi-gata o-sara dating to the late 17C. See “The Trakatori Collection” Kyushu Museum 2020 for a set of similar dishes there dated 1670-1690’s. This example probably dates from the 1690’s, the Genroku era. Fish shaped dishes were a popular accompaniment of the tea ceremony, Chinese ko sometsuke examples made specifically for the Japanese market date from the early 17th century, Tianqi era.
The Koi was...
Satzuma fine earthenware tea bowl by Nakamura Baikei (1868-1912). Decor of a palace or a temple rising in a snow-covered lake landscape and animated by numerous characters. Drawings very finely executed by Baikei who was one of the best artists in Satzuma. His works were widely copied. Its production was of irregular quality, sometimes weak, rarely excellent. The bowl presented here is one of his best creations, if not the best, because it is perfect. It is a bowl, moreover the shape is atypical...
Ko Imari Oranda-jin Hexagonal Hakukaku Mukuzuke c.1800
A deep octagonal bowl, mukuzuke, or choku, decorated with eight panels containing figures of orand-jin Dutchmen in various poses and involved in a number of activities. Some carry canes or cudgels and are perhaps involved in some sort of martial activity, whilst others carry a dove, a chatusbo (tea-jar) and a ruyi sceptre, auspicious objects. The Japanese were particular fascinated with the mysterious foreigners attachment to animals as pet...
Dry lacquer Noh mask depicting the character of Kokushiki-Jo and designed to represent divine blessings. Inscription at the back of the mask. Japan, early 20th century, maybe earlier. Height: 20.4 cm. Some chips around the rim, partly flaked lacquer, otherwise good condition.
NOTE: This mask is used exclusively in "Okina", an ancient dance ritual said to be close to the roots of Noh. Okina is viewed as sacred and therefore accorded a different status from other items in the Noh repertoire. Lack...
This is a Bakumatsu item.
This hemp Tsutsugaki Noren was used by merchants who handled horses, which was an important means of transportation from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. This Noren was used in front of the eaves, so it has some discoloration and light stains, but it has been carefully stored. The items are very rare and very valuable. The letters of "Otsu Higashimachi" are the letters of a spell to ward off horse plagues. The "Hannya" mask expresses the wrath of Bato Kan...
Rectangular-shaped (nadekakugata) iron tsuba decorated with two dragonflies with copper tara-zogan inlay.
Japan – Edo period (1603-1868)
Width: 2.4 in. (6.2 cm) – depth: 2.7 in. (7 cm)
Bronze dropper (suiteki) representing a chubby guardian lion, called komainu in Japanese or shishi in Chinese.
The komainu is inspired by the Chinese guardian lion shishi, which dates back to the Tang dynasty (581-618). Supposed to repel evil, it appears on both sides of the entrance to the doors or gates of shrines and temples.
The suiteki is a small container used to hold water that is added to the ink stone during the grinding of the ink stick, used for calligraphy. ...
An incredible Mishima Chawan dating from the Edo period with a wide repair to the rim in dark lacquer decorated with golden grasses in gold maki-e lacquer designs. It comes in an ancient dilapidated silk pouch with cotton buffer enclosed in an age darkened kiri-wood box titled Mishima Chawan. The bowl is 5.5 cm (2 inches) tall, 12.5 -13.5 cm (5-1/2 -6 inches) diameter and in fine condition. Mishima ware refers to different types of imported and adopted Japanese pottery. Mishima originally ref...
This is a japanese antique Edo period (1800-1867)hemp Buddhist Shugensha hanten coat worn by Shugen practitioners and Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo.
Shugendo is a unique Japanese religion that combines Buddhism, Shinto and the worship of nature (mountains).
It has some light stains and one very small hole, but is in very good condition.
Size::Length :90 cm (35.3 inch) / Sleeve to sleeve :128 cm (50.3 inch)
A striking soft-glazed six-sided incense burner by Maki Hokusai decorated with white flower blossoms on soft flesh colored glaze surmounted by a silver lid pierced with the character Kotobuki (Fortune) by Hata Zoroku. The pot itself is 10 cm tall, plus the sliver lid. It comes in an ancient wooden box signed by Zoroku.
Hata Zoroku I (1823-1890) learned metalwork techniques in the studio of Ryubundo in Kyoto. Hata produced works for the Imperial Household and it is known that he made the...