A small house shaped incense burner by Mashimizu Zoroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuzuya Koro. Inside the roof is visible cloth patterns where it was formed over wet sack-cloth. The outside has been scraped with a comb to resemble thatch. Inside a window a scholar gazes out, perhaps expecting a guest, or just contemplating the seasonal changes from the warmth of his abode. It is roughly 10.5 x 9 x 10.5 cm (4 x 3-1/2 x 4 inches) and is in excellent condition...

A 17th – 18th century Neko-tora Tiger by Nagasaki school artist Watanabe Shuseki performed with ink and color on paper in yellow bronze silk border with bone rollers. The parchment is aged and gray, giving the sense of a wall painting in some ancient tomb. The scroll is 14 x 63 inches (36.5 x 160 cm). There is some damage to the lower extremities of the paper, and minor cupping. Watanabe Shuseki (1639-1707) lived in Nagasaki and was a proponent of that school trained under Itsunen...

Sitting demurely, legs folded with her back to the viewer, an oil painting by Yoshii Kosaburo dated 1937 and encased in the original period wooden frame. Oil on canvas, the painting is 15 x 18 inches (38 x 46 cm), the frame 21 x 23-1/2 inches (53 x 60 cm) and is in fine condition. The frame has marks and wear typical of age. It comes with some period documents (Japanese) on the artist. Yoshii Kosaburo was born in 1899, and initially studied under Imperial Art Academy Member Nakagawa Hachiro...

Japanese bronze mirror. 19th century. 7.2 x 0.4 cm. 70g.

Something I have never seen before, a set of pillows for one couple from Shimabara, one of the oldest pleasure districts of Kyoto, enclosed in the original Kiri-wood storage box. The man’s pillow is a simple roundel of soft leather. The woman’s, made for a geisha and her elaborate coiffure, is a small tapering black lacquered box with a drawer for a hair pin, to the top of which is secured a brocade pillow with a silk chord...

Shishi prance across the mottled Kiri-wood surface of this Momoyama to early Edo period Koro in gold and silver maki-e and mother of pearl inlay. A copper insert contains the fragrant incense ash. There is a hand forged iron staple top and bottom of one ancient crack testament to age. It likely once had a silver hoya (cover) which has disappeared over the centuries...

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 12.4". This is an example of "Yamagata-kei" tradition of Yamagata Prefecture. It was commissioned as a commemorative item and is signed on the back as follows (in Japanese):“38th Tohoku Regional High School Baseball Tournament. Heisei 3 [1991], June 6th. Yamagata-ken High School Baseball Association”The artisan is Umeki Shuuichi, who was born on March 18th, 1929 (Showa 4)...

A large Kiji porcelain vase with florals (stylized millet?) in raised relief by Miyanaga Tozan enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The architecture and infinite care shown in the carving on the surface proves this to be a superb piece deserving of the name of one of Kyotos top porcelain artists. The vase is 10-1/2 inches (27 cm) tall, 11-1/2 inches (30 cm) diameter and in excellent condition. Miyanaga Tozan I (1868-1941) is one of the most important names in Kyoto ceramics...

Three tough looking toads work together to support the base ring of this unusual leaf-shaped bronze Usubata flower basin enclosed in an antique wooden box. It is signed on the base simply “Oka”. Roughly 11 inches (27 cm) diameter, 8 inches (20 cm) tall.

A set of five 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. Porcelain service sets traditionally came in five (four being bad luck and larger sets of odd numbers sometimes encountered.) Good condition...

A superb 19th century hanging moon Vase of caramel bronze gilded inside entrrely with gold and enclosed in a custom kiri-wood period box titled Kara-kin Gekkei Hanaire (gilded Chinese-Bronze Vase). In this case the word Chinese does not indicate it being manufactured in China, but using a mixture of bronze based on Chinese origins. It is quite large at 14 inches (36 cm) diameter and comes with the original chain and insert for hanging and display of flowers...

Pastel rooftops march among the green foliage on this iconic mid-century painting by Miwa Chosei in the original frame bearing the artists “Tomo Seal” on back and in a box from Takashimaya Department Store dating from the 1950s titled Ieshima no Ienami (Rows of houses on Ieshima)...

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. It measures 19-1/4 by 78...

A cormorant cries out to the sea on the lid of this fantastic suzuri bako writing box enclosed in a red lacquered kiri-wood box. Inside the birds mate looks up from among gold flecked lotus leaves growing wild along the waters edge. The box contains the original tray with stone, the edges of which are flecked with gold. It is in excellent condition but for on ding to the inside of the base, lower left, and one in roughly the same position on the lid. A silk wrap and satin pillow protect the...

A colorful work by Ueda Manshu (1869-1952) enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nangokufushu (Taste of a Southern Wind). A boy rides the back of an Ox through a marsh, he happy and dry and the beast happy in the cool water. One can also be reminded of the Zen tales of the Ox-herd, and connotations of enlightenment. Very much in the Taisho style with equal effort on the background as on the fore. The pigment on silk work has been remounted in a gold threaded pale brocade with bei...

A very unusual Shino-yaki ceramic Tsuri-doro hanging lantern with bronze handle and chain dating from the early 20th century, Meiji to Taisho period. Made in the shape of a thatched house, four ragged posts support the roof and delineate the rounded sides. A different opening is seen on all four sides, a square door, grated circular window, The character Hisa, and a latticed circular window. The white glaze is scorched red on the edge of the roof. It is roughly 1 foot (30 cm) tall and fine c...