A spectacular silver and gold lid covers this small basin by Tomimoto Kenkichi enclosed in a wooden box titled Aka-e Tsutsugata Yunomi and annotated within: Made by Tomimoto Kenkichi Sensei in 1925 signed by Tsujimoto Isamu (for more on him see below). The cup is covered inside with creamy white, outside in red with decoration of gold plum blossoms. It is surmounted by a solid silver lid pierced with leafy vines and peaked with a gold chrysanthemum...

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Nippori
Date: 1930s. First and only edition.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.75 x 7 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seal at lower right. Publisher's stamp at verso.
Koitsu's "Shinsei" seal at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-61.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Found framed without margins. Slight vertical crease in center. Small foxing spot under tree.

An iconic Bizen sake set by legendary artist and Living National Treasure Kaneshige Toyo enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating from the pre-war era titled Inbe yaki Tokuri. The bottle is delicately rendered and features the play of colors and textures for which he would be known, with a dark gray rim, while the cup is thinly made in a warm orange tinge. Both bear his fundo stamp on the bottom...

Ohara Hoson (Koson)
A Nest of Swallows
Reference: An uncatalogued design.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 10.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930. First and only edition.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Publisher's seal in right margin. Carver (Maeda) and printer (Komatsu) seals in left margin.
Koson's "Hoson" signature and seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight fading. Light creasing through artist's seal and lower margins.

Torii Kotondo
Combing Hair. From the Twelve Aspects of Women Series.
Date: 1933 (ca. 1980s edition)
Paper size: Large at 19 x 13 inches.
Publisher: Ishukankokai ("moneybag" seal).
Carver: Ito. Printer: Kajikawa.
Artist's signature and seal. Publisher's watermark below stamps.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
The color of the margin is uniformly bright on all sides. Please see adjusted lighting in subsequent photos.
Condition: Faint small dot on nose...

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Priest in Snow on a Mountain Path
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Beautifully professionally framed with UV protective glass. Framed size: 22 x 13.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Title and Shotei seal lower left.
Reference: M-60 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Shotei Takahashi (Hiroaki) (1871-1945)
Shotei catalog title: Plum Tree Takes a Boat Ride
Japanese title: Sakigake Bune
Date: Pre-1923.
Size: Approximately 25.9 x 12.8 cm. 10.25 x 5 inches.
Shotei seal at upper right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: S-135 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent...

Rare antique Seto ware teabowl made by Japanese potter Kato Bakutai (1861-1943) decorated with elegant horse and the calligraphy describing the First Firing of the year. The mark of the potter is stamped at the bottom.

Kato Bakutai was a prominent potter who initially worked under Kato Shuntai (1802-1877) being responsible for revival of Seto ware techniques in Japan in the 19th century...

Rare Antique Japanese Tokoname Teapot 260ml with Calligraphy, Collector Shudei Kyusu for Sencha Tea made about 100 years ago. Tokoname area in Aichi prefecture, well known for its excellent quality teapots, is one of the six oldest kilns established since 12 century. Antique Tokoname teapots are rare to be found on the market due to the high demand among teapot collectors worldwide Length 13.2cm Width 17cm Height 7.7cm Total Weight 190g Condition Used...

Silk meisen kimono with double kasuri apple and strawberry pattern on yellow ground. Kasuri pattern was dyed with stencil-resist-dye (katazome) for both weft and warp yarn (heiyo-kasuri). Generally in good condition but has some brownish stains and some in the lining too and the silk tape in the hem is a bit dirty. Mid 20th century. 126cm x 146cm

Shoda Koho
Ohashi Bridge at Atako.
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series (No. 1253).
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.75 x 7.25 inches.
Date: 1910-38.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Sealed by the artist. "Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Slight bend at upper right corner.

Shonai obi (sash) hand-woven of cotton for warps and paper yarn for wefts. It is made in Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. It is dyed with vegetable indigo and has beautiful tassels in both ends. In excellent condition except for a few tiny stains. The first half of the 20th century. 29cm x 3m56cm

Ogata Korin (1658-1716)
Crows and Moon
Date: 1920s.
Size: Approximately 4.0 x 3.0 inches
Bears the artist's seal.
"Made in Japan" stamp on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print after a design by Ogata Korin.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
Condition: Excellent. Some thinning of paper at top margin.

Shoda Koho
Ueno Park
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.75 x 8.0 inches.
Date: 1930s. Printed 1938-1960.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. #1248 in Hasegawa catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Sealed by the artist at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Pagoda in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Size: 6 x 4 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-58
Condition: Excellent.

Ohno Bakufu
Brocade Carp (Higoi)
Series: Familiar Fishes of Japan (Dai Nihon gyorui gashu)
Size: Oban. Approximately 19.25 x 13.5 inches. Visible image: 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1938.
Edition: No. 260 (noted on back in pencil).
Publisher: Nishinomiya Shoin/Kyoto Hanga-in.
Artist's signature and seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print employing mica highlights.
Condition: Excellent color. Some foxing in the water...

Ishiwata Koitsu
Ikegami Honmonji (Niomon) (Nio Gate of Honmonji Temple, Ikegami)
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1932.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
First edition with Watanabe C seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A conservator has repaired margin in two places. Pencil note on back. Crease at upper right corner.
- A rarely see design.

Yuzo Kondo is one of the more recognized names in the world of modern Japanese pottery of the 20th century. Though known mainly for his sometsuke creations (blue and white porcelain), he did not settle on this style until well into his potting career that lasted nearly seven decades. The pieces shown here then would be from an earlier period and are evidence of his competency with varied styles and glazes—not just the ones he is most well-known for...