Antique Raku Ware Tea Bowl Chawan with Red Glaze used for Japanese Tea Ceremony Meiji period (1868-1912) Raku pottery is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremony since as early as the 16th century. Size Diameter 11cm Height 7cm Total Weight 240g Condition Overall good, no cracks. Minor chip can be seen on the fourth photo near the edge.

A fine Meiji era cloisonne vase with decoration of colorful chidori flying over young bamboo all over an even mauve-violet background. The chidori with black, dark orange, light gray blue, and white details. The bamboo with green and some yellow details. A fine border appears along the rim and the foot. Condition is good. A slight scratch here and a light rub there...

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...

A large, heavy, bronze censer decorated in Chinese late Ming dynasty style with a large Wanli (1573-1619) type dragon. This item was made in Japan, probably for export, during the Meiji period (1868-1911). The base mark reads - "Great Japan Tokyo Murakami Zo". Condition - very good - just minor losses to back of dragon ( see enlargement no.2)...

An attractively carved okinomo, depicting three sparrows on a branch, made in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1911) for export to Europe or the U.S. Condition very good. There is one crack which runs through the centre of the branch and finishes as a hairline on the first birds head. The ivory displays the usual age yellowing - most visible on the back view...

Japanese Meiji period woodblock print depicting William Howard Taft viewing a sumo match during his 1905 diplomatic mission to Japan. With Taft weighing in at over 300 lbs., this print is likely offering a subtle comparison between Taft and the wrestler. This print is unsigned and undated. 14 3/4"V x 10 3/8"H. Very good color and impression quality. Good overall condition with pigment transference at the upper left corner, some minor soiling, and a few small holes and thinned areas...

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...

This estate piece is a superb Japanese Imari plate, Meiji Period, having a central medallion and eight panels, scalloped gilded edges, white ground with hand painted polychrome floral and brocade decoration, red mark, blue and rust color design on underside of plate. Good-excellent condition, some wear to gilt, measures 8 3/8" diameter.

Jingu, guardian Empress of Japan, stands ready to defend her princely child Ojin held by General Takenouchi Sukune within a painted border of martial articles. Swords, armor, bows and quivers full of arrows, a horse-bit and court cap, tea bowl and other implements precious to the samurai tradition all hand-painted about the central image, laid scroll-like over top but actually all part of the same canvas...

Large Japanese Imari porcelain charger decorated in a free-form pattern of underglaze blue geometric, floral, and phoenix bird patterns with overglaze polychrome and gilt highlights. Two white floral areas in the center are raised in slight "moriage" relief, giving the charger a rich texture. The underglaze blue decoration on the back surrounds a six-character apocryphal Chinese Ming dynasty Chenghua reign mark...

Two austere Bodhisattva play music and spread lotus petals before the benign countenance of Kannon while a fierce green God (god of thunder or wind) recoils, flame spouting from his mouth. This is a very unusual triptych enclosed in the original age darkened compartmentalized kiri wood box signed Urata Tenka titled Daiji Kannon no Zu (Image of the most merciful Kannon), Takahashi Koko Sho (Painted by Takahashi Koko)...

A large screen depicting a samurai replete with the Jakumei crest of the Takeda Clan rearing his horse in a shout of battle, wand extended at arms length giving the order to charge. The horse appears to be fighting panic, possibly at the deafening sound of the guns of Oda Nobunaga, a sound which brought in the modern era of warfare to Japan in a pitched battle between Oda forces and those of Takeda Shingen...

A set of five Meiji period dishes hand painted by Suzuki Hyakunen in commemoration of the Gosho-Nai Dai-Hakurankai (Exposition in the Imperial Palace, Kyoto) stamped on the underside with the event name and each individually signed by the artist. The literati scenes include a scholar contemplating a waterfall, Mountain retreat lost in rugged hills, sails on the lake, traveler in the hills and horses on the lakeshore under weeping willows...

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 ...

This is an attractive early satsuma Koro or incense burner with very fine workmanship. I believe it may be pre-1900 because it appears to have been made with thicker mercury fired gold. Lid and bottom piece are both marked with a museum inventory number. The lid has been repaired and it looks quite good. The images show where it was broken. It stands about 4 1/2 inches tall and 4 1/2 inches wide. It is signed but I do not recognize the signature.

Russo-Japanese War triptych illustrating the surprise attack on Russia’s Far Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur that initiated the war. A large torpedo-boat is at the center. Two Russian ships at the upper left have been hit and are sinking. Three Japanese battleships are at the upper right. The title cartouche at the upper right describes the scene in both Japanese and English as “On the night of the 8th of February 1904, our brave fleet of torpedo-boats fired at the Russian squadron at Port ...

Japanese Meiji Cast Iron Tetsubin with Signature - Hailstone Pattern

The cast iron tetsubin (teapot / kettle) is of course the central feature of the tea ceremony. This example was made during the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) or possibly a little later, the pattern to the upper part of the kettle known as the hailstone or nail head pattern. It has a copper cover that is a perfect fit. There is a signature to the right of the spout and there also appear to be seal marks to the base. To the inte...

A very unusual vase by Teishitsu Gigei-In (Imperial Art Academy Member) Ito Tozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box showing decidedly Art Nouveau styling. It is 20 x 8 x 32 cm (8 x 3 x 12-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Ito Tozan I (1846-1920) began as a painter in the Maruyama school studying under Koizumi Togaku. In 1862 he became a pupil of Kameya Kyokutei, as well as studying under Takahashi Dohachi III and Kanzan Denshichi (who made the dishes for the imperial t...