Wonderful Japanese tea bowl RAKU ware. This bowl was made between 1900 and 1940. Excellent condition. It has an exquisite contrast of colours, great form and glazing The potter's mark is in the bottom. RAKU is a light weight ceramic ware with a long history in Japan and particularly prized in the tea ceremony. RAKU means happiness, pleasure, enjoyment, satisfaction. Size: 4.5" X 3.3". Weight: 330gr.

This is a beautiful dark blue Japanese Uchikake (wedding gown) made in Nishijin, Kyoto. The label states the name of Nishijin and the use of pure gold. The gown is woven with fans and Gosho (palace) flower carts which is one of the favorite motifs used for Japanese wedding gowns. They are remainders of the Heian period (794-1192) which was the last graceful era of the aristocrats. The gown is meticulously hand sewn to perfection as most Japanese kimonos are...

Japanese 20th century wooden carving OKIMONO of USOBUKI in a seated position and telling a lie. The OKIMONO measures 8" tall, 7 3/8" wide and 6" deep.

Elegant Japanese kimono wedding gown (Uchikake) designed by Hanae Mori. The gown displays the designer’s logo without a signature; her butterflies and initials are woven all over the red liner. Hanae Mori is truly the first and most famous international Japanese designer of the 20th century. She not only contributed to the Japanese clothing industry but to many other areas since the rebuilding time of Japan after WWII...

This 20th century export Japanese ivory okimono is 7 ¾ inches high, 2 ½ inches wide and 1 ¼ inches deep. It depicts a well dressed young geisha wearing formal straw hat and carrying an instrument ready to perform. There is a red artist signature on the side. It is in excellent condition.

This old cobalt blue Peking glass necklace is 52” long. The even glass beads are 12 mm. It has been restrung and it is in great condition.

Mashiko Yaki Oozara (Large Plates), Dia. 12.25" (31.5cm); Vintage production, purchased in 1965. These plates feature patterns from the four seasons: Ume (Plum) for Spring, Shobu (Iris) for Summer, Nekoyanagi (Pussywillow) for Autumn, and Kiku (Chrysanthemum) for Winter. These types of plates were made using molds and then hand-painted as stock items sold in Mashiko in the 1960's & '70s...

Mashiko ware Vase by local potter Outsuka Sadao. Impressed Inlay Patterning. H. 12.75" x Body Dia. 6.5". Stamped at foot "Sada". Purchased in 1965. Good condition, holds water - tested. Condition notes: you can see in enlargement #2 that the vase has a lean/list to one side. Also, there is a "kamakizu" (kiln scar) of a small rock burst on the body...

Mashiko ware lidded jar by local potter Oushima Shou. H. 14.5" x Body Dia. 10.5". Purchased in 1965. Mottled light green Irabo-type glaze with some color changes on body. There are some chip repairs on the inside of the lid done in lacquer and synthetic gold (see detail photo.) The post-war years in Mashiko saw a growth in decorative pottery such as this...

Mashiko ware black glaze pitcher. H. 10" x Body Dia. 6". Small chip on rim repaired in lacquer & synthetic gold. Purchased in 1965. Mashiko wares from Tochigi Prefecture have gained a worldwide reputation since potter Shoji Hamada settled there in 1923. It's been said that such handles as the one seen on this piece, and not typically Japanese, were introduced by Hamada and by Bernard Leach into Mashiko and other pottery Japanese pottery towns...

This well carved 1970’s jade (jadeite) pendant is half of an inch thick and 2 inches in diameter. It depicts two Qi Lin (or Qi Ren) facing each other on the top, and two stylized characters of “Shou” (Longevity) are carved on the bottom. It is in great condition.

This 1970’s carved jade statue is 4 1/8 inches high, 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick. It depicts two dragons playing with a fire globe and surrounded by clouds. It is in good condition.

Kamakurabori, the lacquerware of Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture, is appreciated all over Japan. This set of pre-war "chataku" tea cup coasters is a fine example of this craft. They measure 15cm(6") in diameter, with a height of 2.5cm(1"). Plenty of references are available on this craft that has its origins in producing lacquered wood carving for the numerous Buddhist temples of Kamakura during the 11th & 12th centuries.

Kokeshi, wooden folk doll of NE Japan. H. 6.25". This is an example of Zao-kei (Zao Onsen [Hot Spring]) of Yamagata Prefecture. The artisan is Kobayashi Chuujiro, who made this piece in his 60's, ca. 1990. For more information on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please visit our weblog, which is accessible via our Trocadero homepage.

This very well made mid 20th century Chinese Canton enamel plate is 7” in diameter and three quarters of an inch high. It depicts two yellow phoenixes over a blue background. There is a red stylized character “Shou” (longevity) on the bottom. It is in great condition.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Heights: 1.1875", 1.75", 2.375". This are examples of the "Naruko-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. These miniature kokeshi are generally referred to as "issun kokeshi" (one 'soon' [inch] kokeshi). For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 8.25". This is an example of "Kijiyama-kei" tradition of Akita Prefecture. The artisan was Abe Heishirou. It is not dated, but was most likely made in the 1960's to 1970's. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our website, which is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 7". This is an example of "Goroujou" tradition of Iwate Prefecture. It is also a rare example of extant pre-WWII kokeshi. It was made at Yumoto Onsen by the artisan, Fujiwara Masagoro, who was born in Meiji 16 (1883!) and passed away at the age of 64 on June 12th, 1947 (Showa 22.) For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero website.