A fabulous large Mingei Tokkuri from the Satsuma region in the shape of an eggplant, glazed in black with crystalline blue about the neck over iron rich glazed clay. Likely from the Hirasa kilns, one of the great Satsuma production centers on the southern Island of Kyushu, 18th to early 19th century. It is 24 cm (10 inches) tall and in overall excellent condition, enclosed in a kiri-wood collectors’ box...

Japanese Edo to Meiji period ten-sided polygon form Imari porcelain vase decorated in the kakiemon style in polychrome enamel and gilt highlights with a prominent flying phoenix bird on the front and three pawlonia leaf groupings extending around the circumference. Ten alternating geometric and stylized floral bands extend vertically up the sloping neck. An alternating scalloped band is above the foot. 19th century. Stands just over 10” high...

"The Tamaya Restaurant," subtitled "The Back Gate of Kameido Shrine" from the series "Collection of Famous Restaurants of Edo" by Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858). Circa 1840. The print depicts beauties standing in a snow-covered courtyard under umbrellas. Three small dogs circle in the snow at the lower left. The colors are exceptionally fresh and vibrant. This is not a later edition or reproduction. It is a guaranteed original woodblock print by Hiroshige...

A silvered bronze figure of a Noh actor made in Japan circa 1900 to 1940. Condition - good but lacking original detachable fan and mask. This item is heavy - approx 6 kilos (nearly 13 pounds) in weight...

A large pair of 19th c. (Edo p) votive Inari Fox images representing the god of fortune. They are 16.5 x 10 x 24 cm (6-1/2 x 4 x 9-1/2 inches). One holds the key to the treasure house in his mouth. One would have been standing over a Buddhist jewel, however that is now missing.
Inari Okami is the Japanese kami of foxes, of fertility, rice, tea and Sake, of agriculture and industry, of general prosperity and worldly success, and one of the principal kami of Shinto...

A pleasure craft of solid burled wood covered in clear, black and red lacquer with inlayed mother of pearl designs which opens up to be a picnic box. The fore-peak is removable and opens to hold chopsticks. The upper cabin is a sake bottle, the roof a large plate, the the lower cabin food and rice storage. The aft holds 6 small plates, and the structure all can be removed to reveal the food storage in the hold. It is roughly 20 x 8-1/2 x 11 inches (50 x 21 x 28 cm)...

A set of Nesting Shino Sake Cups with Dice. They are stamped on the base, and come in three sizes, the accompanying dice imprinted with the various sizes on each side, so a roll of the dice decides your fate in the drinking game. Very unusual and in excellent condition, they are (stacked) 2 x 2 x 1-1/4 inches (5 x 5 x 3 cm).

An exquisite landscape circles the body of this voluminous ballister form by Eiraku Zengoro XV (Shozen) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 15 inches (38 cm) tall, 7-1/2 inches (19 cm) diameter and in excellent condition.
Eiraku Shozen (1879-1932) was the backbone of the family tradition after the passing of his father in 1909, and worked tirelessly to maintain the family reputation...

 

Japanese Antique Hand-painted Imari Bowl with Colourful Flower Design Meiji Period (1868-1912) Imari ware has been produced in Hizen area of Saga prefecture of Japan since 17th century. Very nice bowl for Japanese art collector. Size Width 5.4in ( 13.7cm ) Length 5.3in ( 13.5cm ) Height 2.6in ( 6.7cm ) Weight 10.93oz ( 310g ) Condition Overall good. No chips, no cracks.

Japanese shin hanga woodblock print by Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995) titled "Irozaki Morning" dated in the left margin Showa 36 (1961). The artists's black ink signature and red seal are at the lower right corner. The print is pencil-signed and titled in English in the lower margin. Paper size: nearly 11" x 15" (image: 9 9/16" x 13 3/16"). Never framed and in very good overall condition. The paper is slightly wavy.

First edition Japanese shin hanga woodblock print by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991) titled "Summer Night" (Natsu no yo) depicting a large fireworks display above a rural village at night. The left margin contains the kanji date of " Showa 33" (1958), the seal of the publisher Unsodo, and the seals of the carver Okura, and printer Shinmi. The artist's red seal is at the lower right corner of the image. The Unsodo (“Un”) watermark is faintly visible at the lower left margin corner...

What a fantastic expression worn by this Edo p. Seto Hand warmer (hibachi or properly Shuro/ Te-abure)...

An attractively enamelled turquoise earthenware bottle vase depicting two cranes in flight. The base is signed with a name and Kyoto. We have a cup with identical decoration carrying a Kinkozan signature. This item was made in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912). Condition - there is very good old restoration to the top 4cm (1.5inches) of the neck (please see enlargement no. 7). 26.5cm (10.5inches)high.

19世纪末 日本陶制松石 ...

A pair of Japanese polychrome Imari porcelain bowls with subtly shaped rims. Alternating dragon and floral reserves on a patterned red ground centering three friends of Winter (pine, bamboo, prunus) medallion. The verso with karakusa around a raised foot ring surrounding a broad, unglazed band around a small, glazed center. Good condition. Each about 5 3/4 inches diameter (14.6cm) and about 2 inches high (5.1cm). A little more hoist than might be expected - together with the foot these chirashi ...

A pair of six panel byobu by Abbot of Daitokuji, Priest Sohan Gempo (Murasakino Shoun) dating from the Meiji to Taisho period. The subject is an old song used to teach the basics of literacy as it is a panagram, containing every letter in the Japanese alphabet once; a popular subject for Zen artists for its simplicity and usefulness. The song itself seems to say, Keep it Simple, and the title I Ro Ha is used to mean basic. It can be translated according to Dr. Ryuichi Abe: Although its scen...

 

A man-headed snake coils atop this incredible mid Edo period (18th century) image of Benzaiten (Saraswati) inside a mountain shaped reliquary of dark wood. Inside the gilded cave she sits on a gilded lotus base. The figure holds a variety of sacred implements in her 8 hands. Riding on the benevolent figures head is the snake seated behind a Torii-shaped Crown settled between two Buddhist jewels. The image is 8 inches (19.5 cm) tall, the mountain shaped receptacle 19 x 14 x 23 inches (48 x 35...