A fine Japanese Rimpa school lacquer box. Grasses and floral decoration in gold lacquer on a black ground. A once silver or pewter tone crescent moon adorns the cover - indicating a night scene. Original silk brocade lining. Edo period. A fair bit of distress - mostly on corners and edges. An early box and a promising restoration project in the right hands. Length: 6 1/2 in. (16.51 cm), Height: 4 in. (10.16 cm), Depth 3 3/4 in. (9.53 cm)

Flames of red flash form the bird resurrected on the side of this large Cloisonne vase by the Ando company of Nagoya; Japan’s premier cloisonne studio. The color is hard to describe, seeming to be lit from within. A combination of wire and wireless design using gold wire with silver rim. Ando mark on base, the vase measures 37 cm (14-1/2 inches) tall, 32 cm (12-1/2 inches) diameter and is in excellent condition. It comes enclosed in a fine, custom made kiri-wood box.

18 cm long set of Kanzashi with five Bira dangling from a branch to which is caught a court cap, possibly dragged from the wearers head during a horse race, or perhaps flung off in a passionate moment. For someone interested we have a museum quality collection of combs and hair pins which I would prefer to sell together in accordance with the previous owners wishes. Birakan (bira Bira Kanzashi) were hair pins used by all classes of society and were one of a woman’s most prized possessions...

Ink on paper image of a skull befitting one of the most well known and outspoken Samurai/swordsmen of the 19th century, Yamaoka Tesshu, remounted in an olive grey border patterned with vines with wood rollers. The scroll measures 15 x 75 inches (37.5 x 190 cm) and is in fine condition but for some minor staining below the signature.
Yamaoka Tesshu (1836-1889) was a student of military arts and famous calligrapher...

A dry ink on paper image of mushrooms growing up along a garden stone dated 1874 by Tani Nyoi (1822-1905). The scene is signed Nyoisanjin, and dated the second month of 1874 hemmed in by origami cranes on cream satin in a field of rough pale green silk and features dark rosewood rollers. The style is very much in the literati tradition predominant during the early Meiji. The dry vigorous strokes evoke a sense of fleeting solidity, as if wind were about to blow the light paper away...

8 3/8" high Japanese treebark vase decorated on the front with a landscape motif. Tree-bark (Jitaisome Jippo) is a form of ceramic cloisonne in which the colors are done using lacquer rather than enamel. Using lacquer to cover the porcelain jar to resemble treebark, the wires are set into the lacquer to form the designs and the cells are filled with lacquer and polished. This lacquer is not fired. Dates from the Taisho to early Showa period...

Variously colored momiji leaves in enamel blow past the under-glazed cobalt lattice of manjirushi on this large bowl by Takahashi Dohachi dating from the first half of the 20th century. The bowl is 21 cm (8-1/2 inches) diameter, 9.5 cm (4 inches) tall and in perfect condition, enclosed in a fine custom made kiri-wood box...

A published set of 10 Zen Scrolls by Jikihara Gyokusei and Shibayama Zenkei showing the 10 stages of enlightenment through the parable of the bull and the ox-herd. Ink on paper in blue silk border with wood rollers. Each scroll measures 44 x 188.5 cm and all are in fine condition but for a few tiny holes in the top of one border (see close-up). The scrolls were photographed in the order taken from the box, and are not necessarily in the correct order in the composite photos...

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. The designs were created by inscribing on wet cement. Paper size: 12"V x 8 3/4"H (image size: 10 1/2"V x 7 1/4"H). Very good overall condition...

A fine, 20th century Fukagawa Seiji vase. Delicately decorated with bird in branch and lightly colored blossoms all against a pale blue background. Rim crisply defined. Fuji and four character mark inside broad foot ring. Good condition. 9 1/2 inches tall (24.1 cm)

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)...

A rarely encountered limited edition Japanese woodblock print over gold leaf depicting a solitary blue, white, and gold tree set against a barren foreground titled simply "Tree" by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979) dated 1974. Pencil-signed "J. Hoshi" and dated '74 at the lower right, with the artist's square red seal above. Pencil-titled in kanji at the lower left and marked with the edition number 6/95...

This Japanese scholar's page turner consists of a thin layer of black ebony wood sandwiched between pale buttery colored ivory handles ....flawless

Matching pair of Japanese Imari porcelain jars of inverted pear form covered with a high domed lid topped with a round chrysanthemum bud form finial. The vertically ribbed body is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze rust-red enamel and gilt highlights. A large panel on the front features two shishi on opposing sides of a prominent floral pattern while the back holds a smaller cartouche with a bird and flower motif. 18-petal chrysanthemum (kiku) mon are also set against a backgro...

A beautiful robins’-egg-blue gu-shaped vase with ring handles and engraved decoration by Ito Tozan with the original rosewood stand dating from the early 20th century (c. 1920). The pale blue bleeds to white over the high points of the decoration, the florals raised about the bulbous center and highlighting the rim and edges of the beast head handles. Meanwhile pools of dark shadow the fretwork emanating up and down the body. The vase is 12-1/2 inches (31 cm) tall plus the base and is in ex...

A set of 12 lacquered panels depicting scenes of the 12 months by 12 different and important artists including Living national Treasures Terai Naoji and Komo Kanzan as well as Pioneering female artist Tenno Bundo, all in the original wooden box signed individually by each artist and dated Showa 24 (1949) and stated to have been assembled under Honma Maika. A list of the artists by month follows: January-Katsuta Seisho, (1890-1975), February-Rokkaku Eiyu, March-Living National Treasure Terai Nao...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting a kabuki actor portraying a samurai. His sword rests on the ground and his matchlock musket leans against the wall. Firearms were introduced to Japan by foreign traders in the 16th century. The maru-ni-chigai-Takanoha family mon is on his kimono. This crest, which consisted of two crossed hawk feathers, was used by two Edo period samurai families. This image was published by Maruya Seijiro in 1854. The ce...

This antique Japanese wooden Buddha stands on its own a intricately carved base. The golden lacquer is worn away in some areas showing the under coat of black lacquer. This Edo period Buddha stands 8 inches tall including the stand.