Waves thrash about in a playful frenzy below the calm watchful eye of a full moon partly blanketed by dark clouds in this extraordinary painting signed Kagyo dating from the later 19th century. It is bordered in ivory colored brocade embellished with clouds extended in golden brown silk and features ivory rollers. The scroll is 21-1/2 by 79 inches 855 x 200 cm) and, aside from minor bands of yellowing of the silk expected of age, is in fine condition...

An amazing bit of weaving has been performed on this modern bamboo basket made in the shape of a gardener’s vegetable collecting basket. The long body has tall sides, open at one end, and is signed underneath Tosho. It has been formed of two shades of thinly cut bamboo, susutake and aged yellow take. Susutake is taken from the roofs of traditional houses, highly prized as it takes many years to color, being stained slowely by smoke and soot from the hearth fire...

Description: A bronze Buddha figure of Japanese was cast with very fine quality of metal. He was molded very well with the religious mood. Meditated in calm expression and with religious hand symbol, this Buddha was once installed on a pedestal which had been lost. Two drilling holes can be seen on the bottom. Date: 19th Century Provenance: Japan Height: 15.3cm

Description: An alloyed Buddha with Japanese origin was cast well and preserved perfectly. A very beautiful small sculpture which had east Asia religious taste. Date: 19th Century Height: 5.5cm

A representative large Yuteki tsubo vase by Tenmoku specialist Kimura Morikazu (b. 1922) enclosed in the original signed and stamped wooden box. The vase is 9-1/4 inches (23.5 cm) diameter, the same height and in perfect condition. Born to the house of a Kyo-yaki potter, he established his first kiln in the Gojo Zaka area of Kyoto in 1947, moving to Fukui in 1976...

A superb pair of Tokkuri sake flasks by LNT Tokuda Yasokichi III (Masahiko, b. 1933) enclosed in the original signed and stamped wooden box. The slightly belted form seems to imitate a gourd, with glaze fading up from rich purple to green to deeply crackled white. Each piece is 6-3/4 inches (17 cm) tall, signed on the base in a traditional Kutani cartouche Masahiko. Masahiko was trained under both his grandfather and father, succeeding the family name in 1988...

A giant mingei carved mask of an oni (demon) embodying the indefinable sense of madness particular to Japanese Demon images. The face has a mysterious mixture of sadness and evil not duplicated in any other culture, a truly pitiable character. The mask, carved from a single block of wood, is just over 2 feet (66 cm) tall and in fine condition.

Festive red paper lanterns parade in a sea of mist across this elegant 20th century scroll by Hayashi Bunto (1886-1966) enclosed in the original signed and stamped wooden box. A wonderful summer-time scene reminding one of all the matsuri-festivals dominating the nights of this season. The silk scene is bordered in blue ending with bone rollers trimmed with gold. The scroll is 22 by 52 inches (56 x 132 cm) and is in fine condition...

At first glance this appears to simply be a large image of a burning tree, however, look again and find the tree like figure is in the from of two entwined lovers, flames leaping from their impassioned bodies. This was likely made as an exhibition work, as it certainly would be difficult to fit into even a large Japanese home. The piece is signed Yoneda Mio, (Yoneda Mionosuke), and likely dates from the 1930s...

White cranes soar from the black water of a lake tucked in the shadow of orange hills on this lovely mid 20th century scroll enclosed in the original signed and stamped wooden box by Takazaki Ko (b. 1910). Extremely delicate yellow trees reflect off the dark surface of the lake, contrasting with the thick ranks of orange marching up the hillside. Painted in the audacious style of Banka, the painting retains a quiet charm in the singular movement of the graceful birds...

We learn how people lived in the Edo period (1603-1867) from the dolls (ningyo) that were left to us today. They are called Fuuzoku (customs and manners) ningyo or Ukiyo (floating world) ningyo. There are basically two types of dolls of young men among them.

Wakashu ningyo is one of them. Wakashu was used to refer to young men who had yet to experience the ceremonial rite of passage of becoming a man, commonly at the age of 12 in the old time...

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 4.25". This is an example of the "Yajiro-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. The artisan is Niiyama Manabu, who was born on October 13th, 1930 (Showa 5.) It is not dated, but was most likely made within the last 20 years. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through out Trocadero homepage.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 4.25". This is an example of the "Yajiro-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. The artisan is Niiyama Manabu, who was born on October 13th, 1930 (Showa 5). It is not dated, but was most likely made within the past 20 years. For a brief story on "dentou" kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 7.25". This is an example of "Kijiyama-kei" tradition of Akita Prefecture. The artisan is Onodera Masatoku who was born on June 13th, 1958 (Showa 23). For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 6.5". This is an example of "Naruko-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. The artisan is Oonuma Hideo, who was born on february 17th, 1930 (Showa 5.) It is not dated, but was most likely made in the 1970's or 1980's. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi,please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero website.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 12". This is an example of "Tougatta-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. The artisan is Satou Katsuyou, who was born on April 24th, 1944 (Showa 19.) It is not dated, but was most likely made within the last 20 years. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 11.75". This kokeshi is signed "Matsuzuru-saku" (made by Matsuzuru), but little else is known about is origin. The style could be from either Miyagi or Yamagata Prefectures (my guess is Yamagata.) It was most likely made during the 1980's. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, whcih is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 12". This is an example of the "Yajiro-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. The artisan is Ishikawa Tokujirou, and is signed that he made it at the age of 69 years old. I have been unable to find his birth record, but believe this kokeshi to have been made during the 1970's or 1980's. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.