Embroidered in silk thread on a fine cotton linen ground, this little purse is from Badakhshan province in northeastern Afghanistan and measures 11.3 x 13.5 cm. Badakhshan province is mostly inhabited by Tajiks and is the home of the world's most important lapis mines. The embroidery technique is a combination of brick stitch and long and short stitch, depicting chevrons and floral motifs...

Kokeshi, folk toy of NE Japan. Wood, height 9.75". Yajiro-kei, Miyagi Prefecture. Made by Niiyama Hisaki, born Feb. 7, 1942. This kokeshi probably dates the early 1980's.

Nepalese Terai Region Mask with a Third Eye. 9 inches, 23 cm.

Shodo Kawarazaki (1889-1973)
Magnolia (Mokuren)
Date: 1950s. Later edition.
Size: Oban. 16.0 x 11 inches.
Artist's seal lower right.
Publisher: Unsodo. Publisher, carver, and printer seals at left margin.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Sakiori obi for an everyday kimono. It is handwoven of cotton and silk strips of old kimono and cotton yarn for warps. Some wefts are from kimono with kasuri. In excellent condition. 20th century. W:16.5cm, L:2m92cm

Japanese framed woodblock print by artist Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950), from the Sailing Boats series, titled Sailing Boats - Night, signed and dated, with publisher's marking in left margin, red artist's chop.

Size: (entire frame) 19.5" L x 25.5" H (print only) 15.5" L x 21" H

A large Japanese framed print by renown artist Mayumi Oda, born 1941. Mayumi is most well known for her depictions of male Buddhist deities presented as women. This silkscreen print is titled "Daikoku", normally a male, the god of good luck and fortune. The title, number 22/40, and Mayumi's signature are done in pencil along the bottom margin. The print itself is tastefully framed behind special UV blocking glass. Circa 1984...

Japanese framed woodblock print by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979), (1913-1979) "Moon and Tree", signed in pencil, circa 1978.

Size: 10" L x 12.5" H (entire frame) 5.25" L x 8" H (print only)

Tibetan snuff bottle of flat shape made of silver with a lavish embossed decor representing Tibetan Tantric Budhism deities, fistly Acala, one of the eight Dharmapalas holding a sword in his right hand on one side, and secondly one of the Dakinis on the other side. Each deity is gilt and backed by a flaming aureola surrounded by a floral design. Other parts of the bottle are partly gilt. The bottle also shows coral and turquoise inserts...

A very finely painted porcelain plaque - "Wu Song Da Hu" painted in the style of Liu Ji You - illustrating one of the stories from "The Water Margin" depicting the famous scene where the folk hero Wu Song kills the tiger which has been terrorizing the local population. The painting carries a cyclical dating for Spring 1979. Condition - excellent - no damages and no restoration...

Akebi Hato Guruma, Vine Pigeon on Wheels; Nozawa, Nagano Prefecture. L.4.75"(12cm) x W.2.375"(6cm) x H.2.5"(6.5cm.) ca. 1972, woven akebi vine. The region of Nozawa has long been known for vine weaving craftsmanship, producing utilitarian items like hats, baskets, and teapot trivets. Vines were sourced from nearby mountains and then bleached naturally in local hot springs...

Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) with a colorful design of flowers and birds done in the Tsujigahana-zome (dye) style. The old Tsujigahana dye technique was used on the clothing of the Muromachi to Momoyama period elites. Inside the tie dyed area, flowers and birds were painted with blue, purple and black ink. Tsujigahana-dye was short lived and completely vanished by the early 17th century because of its extreme complexity...

This is a textile piece from Afghanistan, probably from Bamiyan province. It is a child's vest which features very intricate embroidered patterns in bright colors and in cotton floss, in cross stitch. The top is embellished with silver metallic threads and the vest is trimmed with green glass beads on the sides, center and bottom. The back is a purple cotton fabric. The lining on the inside is a blue cotton fabric with diamond motifs...

Lovely Japanese Hira Taiko Drum, made from a light hardwood, and hung from a Hiratsuri stand. The drum has iron studding to keep its drum skins in place and gold kanji/kana on a black metal strip, with a gold taiko logo for Maru Masa. A drumstick is included which hangs off a hook from the Hiratsuri stand. Makes a lovely drum sound as it is intact and in good condition. Taisho/early Showa period (c1930) Size: 33" High x 34 1/2" Wide

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 8.5". This is an example of the "Naruko-kei" tradition of Miyagi Prefecture. The artisan, Akiyama Tadaichi, was born in Meiji 34 (1901) and passed away on May 19th, 1984 (Showa 59.) For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which can be accessed through our Trocadero homepage.

Matsue Hariko Koma, paper mache horse from Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. H.3.25"(8.5cm) x L.3"(7.5cm) x W.1"(2.5cm). Ca. early 1970's, made by H. Kimura. Painted paper, straw tail. Matsue paper mache dates back to the Edo Period (1600-1868) and has a wonderful robust charm. The horse, in this rural area, is a symbol of good harvest. Matsue is known in the West as the long-time Japanese home of writer Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904.)

Wood bowl (shikarinpah) with bird motif, made by Ainu craftsman in Hokkaido. All hand-carved and in excellent condition. 20th century. L:24cm W:10.5cm H:5cm

Kokeshi, folk toy of NE Japan. Wood, height 12". Tsuchiyu-kei of Tsuchiyu Onsen (Hot Spring) in Fukushima Prefecture. Made by Saito Hiromichi, born August 8, 1930. This kokeshi is probably from ca. 1980.