Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (134)

Original woodblock print BLUE THICKET by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979), unlimited edition, printed in 1974. Excellent crisp print in perfect condition, silver metallic highlights, listed as plate 318 in JOICHI HOSHI CATALOGUE OF ALL TREE WOODBLOCK PRINTS published by Kato Gallery in 1988. Red “tree” seal of the artist in lower right corner, signed by the artist in pencil (see detail). Narrow strip of mounting paper along the upper edge on the back...

Glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a form of tombodama bead in barrel shape with 5 bunnies frolicking in the snow by spruce trees during a snowfall. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Beautifully made, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.69 inches.

Unusual vintage Japanese tea ceremony small chawan - a tea bowl - with pink outside. The piece was made at Shigaraki kilns - one of the six ancient kilns of Japan - and displays typical coarse body with large sand particles, freely applied pink slip with clearly visible traces of potter’s fingers. Very pleasant to hold, in excellent condition. Diameter 4.26 inches, height 2.54 inches.

Netsuke of an abstract bird. Superb stylish carving wonderfully capturing the essence of the creature. Beautiful clean piece carved out of ivory and horn. Signed MHB on inlaid solid gold plaque - Michael Henry Birch (1926-2008) was one of the best 20th century netsuke carvers. Length 3.22 inches.

Rare subject marine netsuke of a swimming tadpole. Superb stylish carving wonderfully capturing the essence of the creature. Beautiful clean piece, eyes are inlaid with solid gold. Signed MHB on inlaid silver plaque - Michael Henry Birch (1926-2008) was one of the best 20th century netsuke carvers. Length 2.34 inches.

19th century netsuke of a sitting boy holding a turtle with one hand, and trying to break its shell with a stone that he holds in the other. Unusual subject, strong early carving, wonderful wear consistent with age, beautiful patina with yellowing on the back, where netsuke was touching silk of the kimono. Nice textile patterns, Height 1.41 inches.

Limited edition large size original woodblock print NIGHT SCENE (RED) by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979) printed in 1977. The print and the sheet are perfectly rectangular - all distortions are from photographyNumerous stars glow over a canopy of a weathered tree, a dramatic image in soft shades of gold metallic leaf, reds and browns...

Netsuke of a standing sumo wrestler wearing an apron and getting ready for a match. Excellent concentrated and tranquil face, great sense of volume to his limbs and body. Signed NORIMITSU inside the apron. Excellent sculpture. Height 2 1/8 inches.

Netsuke of standing Jurojin (one of the 7 Gods of happiness, usually associated with longevity) holding a scroll and a fan in his hands, with a reclining spotted deer (symbol of longevity) by his feet. Excellent carving - see the detailing of his face, incised fingernails, coat and spots of the deer. Great quality staining, beautiful patina. Signed SHINZAN on the bottom - for a brief discussion of the artist see CONTEMPORARY NETSUKE by Miriam Kinsey, p. 237. Height 2 1/16 inches.

Tall boxwood netsuke of 8 quails feeding on millet. Perfectly captured mood of the scene, extraordinary carving to the last detail, eyes are double inlaid with horn and mother of pearl, beautiful finish, in superb condition. Signed AKIHIDE on the bottom - this brilliant contemporary artist (born 1934) belonged to the So School lineage. Height 4.1 inches (104 mm).

Wooden okimono of a grinning skull by contemporary carver Brad Blakely (American, b. 1951). The piece represents a Nevadan Lovelock Cave Giant’s Skull, c. 1,000 A.D. Superbly quality carving, exquisite execution of details and textures, beautiful staining. Mountain mahogany & 14K gold reserve with the initial of the carver. Length 2.17 inches.

Glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a form of tombodama bead in barrel shape with semitransparent body and decoration of Santa Claus, Christmas tree and falling snow. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Beautifully made, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.72 inches.

Vintage Japanese Komai metal obidome (sash ornament) with gold and silver decoration of bamboo stem and leaves. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Nice design, great quality crisp metalwork, two fittings for a cord on the back, in excellent condition. Stamped SUMIJI on the back. Diameter 1.4 inches.

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead with four yellow petaled flowers with richly textured complex centers, leaves and fine tiny silver foil inclusions. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Superbly made piece - see the individual stamens and finely textured petals, in perfect condition. Height 0.88 inches.

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead with blue and red core, four pink petaled flowers with numerous white stamens, leaves and fine tiny silver foil inclusions. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Superbly made piece - see the individual stamens and finely textured petals, in perfect condition. Height 0.77 inches.

1930s Japanese plastic kushi (hair comb) with embedded gold tone metallic flower design and 2 types of mother of pearl inlays depicting magical rain hat and and Daikoku’s mallet, design continuing on the back. Very well made, wonderful work in Japanese taste, 2 losses to inlays (handle of the mallet and a leaf on the back), otherwise in great condition. Length 3.82 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items.

Vintage Japanese kiriwood okimono in a shape of Kan'ei Tsūhō - an Edo period coin with a value of 1 mon. Actual copper Kan'ei Tsūhō was a Japanese coin in use from 1626 until 1868. It was introduced by the Tokugawa shogunate to standardize and maintain a sufficient supply of copper coinage, and it was the first government-minted copper coin in 700 years. These coins would become the daily currency of the common people and would be used for small payments...

Vintage wooden Japanese sumitsubo - a carpenter line, in a form of a base with a spike, and rotating spoked wheel with a thread on it. Unusual version of the tool - it lacks a vessel part for ink soaked cotton, but has a spike. I am not entirely sure how it functions, but it is probably fixed to a wooden beam by pushing in the spike, and the thread is pulled to the desired point to make a straight line...