PHALLUS THAT DON'T STAND ON ITS OWN

Dedicatory wood carving phallus as ‘Goshintai’ (lit. ‘Body of Kami (God)’) based on Japanese phallus worship. Showa period, 20th century. approx. 31.5 x 5 x 5 cm (12.40 x 1.96 x 1.96in). Cracked but won't split soon as is...

Japanese dai-oban size shin hanga woodblock print titled “Mt. Rainier in Winter” by Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995) dated 1972. The print is dated and titled in English and Japanese at the lower left margin corner. The artist's black ink signature and red seal are at the lower right corner of the image. The print is pencil-signed in the lower right margin. Plate: 11 3/4" x 19 1/2" (visible paper size" 12 3/8" x 20 1/4"); frame: 19 1/2" x 27 1/2." Framed with archival materials...

An anonymous basket of both red and white soot-stained bamboo (susu-dake) with a root-wood handle, the various textures and colors gleaming with sheer elegance. It is 18 inches (45 cm) tall and in excellent condition, containing a black lacquered bamboo otoshi container lined with copper.

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...

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 16.75". This is an example of the "Naruko-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. The artisan was Akiyama Tadao, born on November 7th, 1932 (Showa 17.) It is not dated, but was most likely made during the 1970's. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, whch can be accessed through our Trocadero homepage.

Large limited edition lithograph with red sumi-e brush strokes by Toko Shinoda (b. 1913) titled "Ancient Song." This early undated image is pencil-signed, titled, and numbered 12/35 at the lower right. The red calligraphy is more vibrant than it appears on the main image. Paper size: 27" x 20 3/4". Very good overall condition. There are three small pieces of linen tape on the reverse top edge. This print is from a Phoenix, Arizona estate...

A dragon rides in a swirl of movement atop this silver and damascened Koro incense burner by Chosa Yoshiyuki. The sides are decorated with images of plum and pine. The bottom is signed Yoshi-saku, and bears the stamp 900 delineating the silver content. It is 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) tall, 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) diameter and in fine condition, enclosed in a period heavy kiri-wood box.
Chosa Yoshiyuki (1915-2002) was a bronze artist and recipient of the Japanese Order of Cultural Merit...

BONITO SASHIMI PLATE

Auspicious wooden fish-formed plate served for sashimi especially used for the New Year's celebration. Showa period, 20th century, Japan. 55 x 17.5 x H 11.8 cm (21.65 x 6.88 x 4.64in)...

Exceptional rendering of the character Moon by one of Zens most important 20th century leaders Yamada Mumon. The ink on paper image is framed in patterned copper silk and features black lacquer wooden rollers. Some faint staining, the scroll measures 17-1/2 x 59 inches (44 x 150 cm) and is in excellent condition, enclosed in a kiri-wood box...

Cement mortar block print pencil-titled "Poem 71-82" (indicating production in 1971) by Maki Haku (1924-2000). Limited edition print numbered 40/202. Pencil-signed in the lower margin. The artist's square red seal is at the lower left corner of the image. This print features the highly embossed ideographs characteristic of Maki's work...

Limited edition Japanese woodblock print by Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) titled "Winter Driveway." Pencil-signed and titled, dated '78, and numbered 19/100 in the bottom margin. Paper size: 12 1/8" x 11 7/8" (image: 9 7/8" x nearly 10"). The print was never framed and is in very good overall condition. There is possibly some faint discoloration to the paper from age. From a Tucson, Arizona collection.

Limited edition serigraph print titled "Oriental Masterprint - 7" by Roger Shimomura (b. 1939) dated 1975. This is an original, pencil-signed, edition of 20. Paper size 19"V x 19"H (image: 15"V x 15"H). Full margins. Excellent condition. This image is illustrated on page 50 of "Roger Shimomura Delayed Reactions," Spencer Museum exhibition catalogue, 1995.

An extremely fine bronze Koro in the form of a mythical Kirin by Living National Treasure Katori Masahiko (1899-1988). Masahiko, a graduate of Tokyo National University of Art, went on to an illustrious career. Unlike his colleagues, he produced very limited numbers of his pieces, often only one. As this piece is not numbered, I believe it also is a one of a kind. It has a rich, green patina that lends age to the work, actually most likely no more than 30 years old. It is 8 inches (20cm) lo...

A lovely genuine full sized Bunraku theater puppet of a mature female character dressed in a blue silk kimono with elagent head dress. The doll is fully mobile, controlled from within by switches on her neck and poles extending from her arms. The hands are flexible as seen in the photos. She stands almost 4 feet (117 cm) tall, and comes complete with a bamboo display stand as pictured. All is in excellent condition, with a few stray hairs in her coiffure. This will be the first we have had th...

Japanese shin hanga woodblock print titled Maple" by Tsukasa Yoshida (1949 - ) dated 1970. The artist's red square seal is at the lower right. The print is pencil-signed in the lower right margin, dated and titled in Japanese in the left margin, and titled in English in the lower left margin. The known paper size is 16”V x 11 1/4”H (image: 14 1/2”V x 9 3/4”H). This print has been framed with UV glass and archival materials in a traditional 19"V x 15"H wood frame with rounded corners. I...

A dramatic pair of large trays　decorated with silver characters for sun and moon on dynamic black and red surfaces. Each comes in the original wooden box made by craftsmen at the Yabashi Studio in Gifu prefecture. They are 47 cm square and in fine condition.

A superb bronze vase with silver plate design enclosed in the original wooden box and stamped on the base by the artsit. The vessel is 11-1/2 inches (30 cm) tall and in excellent condition

Large Japanese limited edition lithograph with hand-applied paint and red sumi-e brush stroke by Toko Shinoda (b. 1913) titled “Through the Ages.” This early undated image is pencil-signed, titled, and numbered 32/35 at the lower left. Paper: 35 5/8”V x 24 7/8”H (image: 22 x 32 ¾). Excellent condition (never framed). This print is from a Phoenix, Arizona estate.