Japanese cast iron sake kettle (choshi) with the characteristic flattened spout decorated in low relief on one side with prunus blossoms and on the other side with bamboo. The wooden lid is covered with stippled lacquer. These iron kettles were used to heat sake during the cold winter months. Flower form finial. Meiji period (19th century). Measures about 7 3/4" to the top of the handle and about 9 1/2" across to the tip of the spout. The kettle is in very good overall condition. ...click for details
Japanese cast iron tetsubin decorated on the front with a bird perched on a flowering prunus limb. The back is decorated with a single flowering branch. Flower form finial. Dates circa the late Meiji period to early 20th century. Measures about 9 1/2" to the top of the handle and about 7 3/4" across to the tip of the spout. Very good overall condition. There is a little rust on the underside of the lid and there is a gooey residue in the interior.
Japanese cast iron tetsubin decorated overall with a dense relief millefleur pattern. Flower form finial. A two-character maker's mark is in relief next to the spout. Dates circa early 20th century. Measures about 9" to the top of the handle and about 8 1/4" across to the tip of the spout. Very good overall condition. There is rust in the interior.
Chinese Yuan to Ming dynasty Longquan celadon glazed miniature tripod censer of tapering cylindrical form covered overall with a golden glaze suffused with fine crackles that extends down to cover the interior sides and the exterior of the high foot. The unglazed interior well and foot are burnt orange in firing. Circa 14th century. 2 1/2h diameter x 1 3/4h high. Very good overall condition. This piece is from the collection of an American diplomat to Asia in the 1960s and 1970s. It was ...click for details
Chinese Yuan to Ming dynasty Longquan celadon glazed miniature tripod censer of tapering cylindrical form covered overall with an olive green glaze suffused with fine crackles that extends into the interior well and down to the edge of the high foot. Both the unglazed portion of the interior well and base are burnt orange in firing. Circa 14th century. 2 7/8 diameter x 2 high. Very good overall condition. There is a tiny glaze loss on the bottom edge that might be a burst bubble (see en ...click for details
Chinese early Republic period porcelain lidded ginger jar delicately decorated in qianjiang enamels with four young ladies playing GO and enjoying leisure activities in a garden setting. On the reverse are four vertical lines of calligraphy reading 玉 人 兰 房 梳 妆 后 同 情 花 下 斗 围 棋 and including a Chinese cycle year date of 庚 申 corresponding to 1920. The calligraphy refers to the beauti ...click for details
Chinese late Qing dynasty Guangxu period porcelain lidded ginger jar decorated in famille rose enamels with two archaistic bronze censers on opposing sides separated by rows of Chinese calligraphy. Above the rectangular form ding censer is the script 吉 祥 如 意 (wishes for good luck). Above the tripod wine vessel are the characters 仿 古 (antique). The calligraphy between the vessels on one side is 维 王 五 十 年 盖 ...click for details
Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada), depicting a heavily tattoed actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of Omatsuri Sashichi in a scene from kabuki theater. The cartouche at the upper right holds the series and image title "Mitate Tsuki Zukushi: Musashi no Tsuki" (Collection of the Full Moon Parodied: The Moon over Musashi). The lower left corner of the image holds the seal of the publisher Heirindo, the censor/date seals for 1856, and the sign ...click for details
Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada), depicting two tatoo covered actors portraying a fighting scene from the kabuki theater. The title cartouche at the upper right identifies the series as "Five Elements" (Gogyo no uchi). The upper left corner of the image holds the seal of the publisher Maruya Tokuzo, the date seal for 1860, and the signature "Toyokuni ga" within a red cartouche with yellow snow. The paper size is 14 1/8" x 9 3/ ...click for details
Edo Period Japanese woodblock print diptych by Toyokuni II (1777-1835), also known as Toyoshige, depicting actors portraying a scene from the kabuki theater. Each panel bears a kiwame seal (used prior to 1842), the seal of the publisher Tama (active 1825-1835), the signature "Toyokuni ga," and the name of the actor. Each panel measures 14 1/8" - 14 1/4"V x 9 3/4" - 9 7/8H." This early 19th century print is an excellent impression with wood grain evident in the back ...click for details
