An unusual Satsuma moon flask with pyramidal base by the renowned artist, Yabu Meizan. Characteristic lakeside scenes and sparrows perched among blossoming peony branches are painted with fine detail and jewel-tones are enameled on each rondel. Along the sides and the base, a multitude of butterflies flutter about exquisitely rendered floral wreaths and white iris rising from a stylized stream. The Yabu Meizan gilt signature cartouche is on the base...

Here is a charming complementary pair of Imari plates formed as fish - their mouths, eyes, fins, gills and tails in relief. Washes of deep underglaze blue accented in gilt decorate the head and tail. A free-form cartouche exhibits an elegant ho-o bird in-flight over sprays of pawlonia on one plate and a fan-shaped cartouche with groves of morning glories on the other - both on an iron red ground. Small areas depict stylized chidori above turbulent waves...

Here is a three-footed cloisonné inkwell of round form and inverted rim designed with chidori-shaped cartouches in textile patterns on its lid and jeweled neckline...

Edo period, 1700s

Well-carved, lacquered and gilded, seated on a lotus petal base. The mandorla is missing, and there is an old loss to the hands, otherwise, it is in good condition. Acquired in Japan in the early 1970s.

Height: 6 ¼ in.

This is a beautiful rug made of many pieces of asa ( hemp ) cloth which are hand-woven and natural indigo dyed. Probably it was produced in Tohoku region where cotton cultivation was difficult because of severely cold climate. It has stitches with hemp threads. In good condition. Late 19th century. 164cm x 151cm 64.6" x 59.4"

A pristine pair of nagazara or long dishes decorated with a central motif of pine and bamboo in under-glaze cobalt blue with an extravagantly gilded tako-karakusa, octopus scroll arabesque, ground to the border, with mikomi, reserves, containing various marine shells and flora. The reverse of the dishes decorated with a complicated vine arabesque containing peach and apparently grape motifs. The foot-ring containing a four character mark reading fuki chosun...

Japanese CHAIRE or (Tea storage container) in porcelain with a dark brown glaze and yellowish highlights the thick glaze ending neatly above the foot with a "swirl" in the base's biscuit! Topped with an ivory cap (and gold foil) all in a faded silk orange and gold bag in a kiriwood box with an inscription and orange seal mark. Height 3.5 inches (9 cms.) Condition is perfect. Circa: 1912-1920.

This is a splendid Imari porcelain shallow bowl of octagonal form with rare porcelain, cross-hatched border. The bowl's interior is painted in a bold, central cartouche with two ikebana arrangements in underglaze blue and soft washes of over-the-glaze iron red. Smaller, foliate-shaped cartouches along the inner wall depict rich brocading and alternating scenes of egrets nestled among iris, flower and vine orchards and ho-o birds in flight over sakura...

Japanese porcelain CHAIRE (green tea container) with a stag horn lid and silk bag and kiriwood box with two Kangi (letters). This beautiful undamaged Chaire is finely potted with a swirl on the unglazed base (picture #5) and a very subtle brownish colored glaze applied as highlights over a black background overall. Height is 2 15/16 inches (7.5 cms.) Late Edo era, 1890's.

Featuring a superb, rare, museum quality, impressive, monumental, Japanese cloisonne enamel vase with raised archaic design. The rare raised technique is known as moriage. Vase measures 14 3/4" tall x 9.5" in diameter at widest point in the middle. The neck opening measures 5.25", and the base rim measures 6". The vase weighs 6.5 pounds. The mate to this piece is in the museum of Edwin Davies in England and pictured on page 79 in the book "Japanese Cloisonne" by Gregory Irvine...

Unsigned, 18th century
Width: 2 in. (5 cm.)

A netsuke depicting the Oni Shiko crouching beneath a rat clutching a leafy branch of holly.

The story refers to a legend involving Daikoku, the Household God of Plenty, and one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, who the Japanese offered daily prayers. The Buddhist idols were unhappy about this, and the God of the Underworld Emma-o sent his greatest Oni called Shiko to destroy Daikoku...

Unsigned, 19th century
Diameter: 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm.)

A kagamibuta comprising a tarnished silver plaque inlaid with gold, set in a bamboo bowl with a himotoshi lined with stained stag antler. The metal plaque is decorated with an old man holding a scroll and seated beneath a pine tree. The long forehead of the wise man would suggest Fukurukuju, the gold of longevity...

Unsigned, 18th century
Length: 1 1/4 in. (3.4 cm.)

A small ivory netsuke of a shishi holding a small loose ball in his mouth, and resting on a larger one. The himotoshi is formed by a larger and a small hole on the base. Excellent patina.

Condition: Very good, with some age cracks.

Ref. 955202

Katabori
Signed Yomeisai, 19th century
Height: 5 1/8 in. (13.1 cm.)

A very tall figure of the Portuguese Mendes Pinto standing, and holding a kirin on a short leash...

Japanese antique Kaidon Tansu (step chest) in two sections, this piece was once used as both a stair case and storage chest and would have been built into a Japanese home, the frame of the chest is made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with a lovely hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood front and drawers of keyaki (elm) wood with nice grain, the top section has a small compartment with a drop in panel and a larger compartment with a hinged door with horizontal slats, the bottom compartment has a large c...