A superb elephant shaped incense burner by Miyanaga Tozan enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seiji Zo Koro. Extreme clarity in the fine details, I will let the photos speak for themselves. It is 6 x 4 x 6 inches (15 x 10 x 15 cm) and in excellent condition. It comes with a pamphlet dated Showa 16 (1941) the last year of the artists life.
Miyanaga Tozan I (1868-1941) is one of the most important names in Kyoto ceramics...
In the shape of a Sennin (Immortal). H. 10 cm. Very good age wear and patina. Repaired at the feet.
A very well carved netsuke in the shape of a lion's head, wit moveable jaw and brass eyes. H. 3,5 cm. very good age wear and a nice glossy patina. Excellent condition.
Two Meiji period Ostrich eggs hollowed and decorated with rich lacquered Maki-e designs of Uminosachi (treasures of the sea) on one, and Royal Crests among scrolling vines on the other. They come in a custom collectors compartmentalized kiri-wood box, one with the original Meiji period stand, the other with a more modern brass wire stand. They are roughly 6 inches tall each (16 cm)...
Japanese vintage Taisho to Showa period black formal silk child's kimono hand dyed and painted with a horizontal scene illustrating the story of the children’s folk hero Kintoki (also known as Kintaro, or the “Golden Boy”) refereeing a sumo wrestling match between a rabbit and a monkey all set against a celadon background permeated with auspicious symbols...
Kamikaze, the Divine Wind decimating the Chinese fleet as fearless warriors brave the tempest to drive off the attacking hordes. Uenaka Chokusai, enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Pigment on silk in a pale silk border with ivory rollers. 19-1/2 inches x 7 feet (49 x 214 cm) in fine condition.
Uenaka Chokusai was born in Nara (1885-1977), and was enthralled with the arts from a young age. He apprenticed under Fukada Chokujo, and later Hashimoto Gaho...
Otafuku, the embodiment of feminine warmth, smiles softly as she draws her robes up, a large pottery figure by Teishitsu Gigei-In Suwa Sozan I. An identical image with overglaze enamel decorations is visible in the 1929 posthumous exhibition catalog (Copies included). It is over 15 inches (39 cm) tall. There is a chip in the base near the left foot (see pictures)...
A large 17th to 18th century Buddhist sculpture of a Rakan (arahat), well sculpted, his naked torso gilded in gold with robes and shoes in black lacquer, carrying a large urn which is an active incense burner. The sculpture is 2 feet (61 cm) tall and in overall fine condition. There are minor losses to the lacquer and gilding typical of age, and a repair to his left foot. Both little fingers are missing from his hands; these could be repaired if desired at additional cost.
Egrets in flight decorate the art-deco influenced shape of this faceted hanging vase by Nakamura Suiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. According to the inside of the box, this was one of three made for submission to the 5th Nihon Bijutsu Tenrankai (Nitten, 1949). An entry in the catalog for that year states that Nakamura Suiko of Ishikawa prefecture exhibited a “Tri faceted Porcelain Hanging Vase Decorated with Egrets”...
Japanese Meiji period bronze model of a striped tiger standing on rockery preparing to attack a coiled striking snake. Square form Genryusai Seiya mark to base. Custom lacquered wood stand included. Circa 1890. Measures about 15”H x 16”L x 9 ½”D (excluding wood stand). Very good overall condition with excellent naturalistic detail and a nice dark brown patina. This bronze sculpture is from an old Scottsdale, Arizona collection.
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 double sided accordion album bound in iridescent cloth from the Meiji period containing 57 total pages covered in ancient cloth samples. 18th -19th centuries. The album is 19 x 24 cm (7-1/2 x 10 inches). Generally in good condition but the covers have some wear and damage
Three black rabbits huddle together to form this black-raku Shuro hand warmer enclosed in an old wooden box titled Kuro Mitsu Usuagi Shuro (Black 3 Rabbits Hand Warmer). They are 7 x 5-1/2 x 4 inches (18 x 14 x 10 cm) and in fine condition.
Starting with the famous verse by Chinese Scholar YoYu (AD 53-18) ”The written character is a picture of the heart” (Sho kokoro Ga nari) here are written 42 rules of calligraphy spread over 10 narrow panels by the famous calligraphist Ide Gakei dated 1677. The verses appear to have been written in one sitting, the style going from crisp perfect Kaisho characters through Gyosho stylized characters and into the elegantly running Grass script (Sosho)...
A fetching scene of colored washes very much in the Taisho style by important artist Ono (Ohno) Bakufu. Pigment on silk in superb Kinrande mounting. It is roughly 21-1/2 x 79 inches (56 x 200 cm).
Born in Tokyo Ono Bakufu (1888-1976) relocated to central Japan after the great Kanto earthquake of 1923 where he became an honorary member of the Hyogo Prefectural Academy of Fine Arts...
A set of five sencha steeped tea tea cups by the first Suwa Sozan decorated with three seasonal or auspidcious fruits and a poem by famed literatus Tomioka Tessai enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Each cup is 2-1/4 x 2 inches (5.7 x 5 cm) and is in fine condition.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875...
Exceptional Edo p. Japanese Screen, Demon War
An exceedingly rare set of four dramatic paintings divided into segments depicting a variety of battle scenes and supernatural phenomena, each heavy pigment on paper canvas mounted on one of four panels of a gold screen bordered in mulberry. The scenes appear to comprise a fragment of the tale of Daikozan (Oeyama), a Kyoto tale where in a powerful demon was lured to drink, then cut to pieces in his stupor. The screen itself is 20th century; howeve...
Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912) Satsuma earthenware compressed bombe form tripod koro (incense burner) or vessel with wide, inward curling cobalt mouth, decorated with two opposing figural panels, one featuring samurai and the second with women and children of the nobility engaged in leisure activities. The panels are set against a cobalt blue background with dense gilt geometric and floral motifs. 6 1/2” diameter, 4 1/4” high. Late 19th to early 20th century. Very good overall conditi...