Catalog (267)

Lovely Ca. Signed 1970 Shigaraki ceramic tokkuri sake pourer w/ original box. Wood fired and beautiful natural glaze patterns. 14cm tall x 9cm wide x 16cm deep.Ask for shipping quote.

Exceptional and rare thick earthenware ceramic ebisu and daikoku masks that have slots on the top of their heads for money. Holes on the back to hang but piggy banks would have to be broken to get out the money. Great expressions and beautifully made folk art. 11" high by 10" wide. Ask for shipping quote.

Signed on the reverse with a chiseled signature by the artist: Keiten (Takahashi Keiten, born 1920). Showa era, circa 1960 – 1970. Born in 1920 in Yamagata Prefecture, Takahashi Keiten first studied metal casting under Nagano Tetsushi in 1950. His work was first accepted into the government-sponsored 7th Nitten exhibition in 1951. In 1963, he won the encouragement prize at the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition) and from 1972 served as a judge for the exhibition. He has presented his work to both the Showa Emperor and the Heisei Emperor on the occasions of their visits to Yamagata. In 1996, Takahashi Keiten was designated Juyo Mukei Bunkazai or Important Intangible Cultural Asset (commonly known as a Living National Treasure). 7" high by 4" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

Almost Art Deco in appearance created by natural wood-fired glaze markings. Signed on the bottom. Ca. 1980. 9" tall x 4 1/2" diameter. Excellent condition. Ask for shipping quote.

Quite elegant Taisho Period wagumi Japanese style bamboo flower basket featuring bamboo inserts, susudake bamboo, and a rattan weave on the handle. Excellent condition. 16" tall by 12" wide. Ask for shipping quote.

A pair of lovely gold lacquered zen temple lotus offering stands Ca. 1930. Very good condition with minor wear. see picture. Height; 11" x Diameter of 5". Ask for shipping quote.

Two lovely Ca. 1935 bamboo flower baskets for ikebana flower arrangements. Very good condition. Half moon basket : H:34cmx W:30cm x Depth:25cm; wagumi basket: H:28cm x W:28cm x depth:25cm ask for shipping quote .

Very art deco set of 4 Oribe serving bowls. Geometrical disigns and stripes. Ca. 1920. Featuring the distictive olice green glazes and iron rich clays. 5" long by 2 1/2" tall. Ask for shipping quote.

Gorgeous signed Bizen pottery sake tokkuri and 2 guinomi sake cups by the famed Bizen ceramic master Konishi Toko. Loved wood fired kiln markings. Tokkuri: 12cm tall x 8cm diameter. Sake cups: 5cm tall x 6cm diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

Very unusual large "Tai" fish mold for a sweets shop. The sweets shop stamp "Shiohama-ya" is on the back. Made of cypress wood. Excellent condition. 17" long by 9" wide. Ask for shipping quote.

Breathtaking antique Japanese cloissone vase from the Ando Factory. In the original signed box, the characters read 'shigyokuju yoran kabin' meaning purple jewel glaze orchid flower vase, and 'Ando ShippoTen Tsukuri' made by the Ando Cloissone Company. The purple is striking and the musen wireless orchids fantastic. What drew us to this piece is the wonderful shape of the vase itself. Has the Ando mark on the base. Excellent condition. c.1920. (9" x 9") (23cm x 23cm).

Lovely, very art deco 6 panel 'byobu' screen of fans with heian princesses, cranes . Late Meiji Period C.1910. Condition excellent. On gold leaf paper background. Ask for shipping quote from our california warehouse.

Museum piece with extraordinary history. This altar table was one of 4 pieces we acquired at auction from the private residence of the 14th and final Daimyo (Lord)of the Tokushima Han (clan) Hachisuka Mochiaki of Awa Province on Shikoku Island in central Japan in the Edo Period. He lived 1846-1918. Hachisuka Koroku, his great grandfather, was one of Hideyoshi's (the 2nd Shogun) top generals in early Edo Period and Hideyoshi awarded the Hachisuka the province of Tokushima in Awa (Shikoku) and they ruled it throughout the Edo Period until the Daimyo system was abolished in the Meiji Period in 1868. Quick to see the direction in which the wind was blowing, he pledged loyalty to the Imperial forces. In 1869, with the hanseki hokan (Abolition of the han system), he was appointed Governor of Tokushima Prefecture. In 1872, Hachisuka went to Great Britain and attended Oxford University. After returning to Japan, he was chief advisor to the Meiji Emperor. In 1882, Hachisuka was envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to France, and received the title of kōshaku (marquis) under the new kazoku peerage system. After returning to Japan, he served as a member of the House of Peers, Governor of Tokyo Prefecture, President of the House of Peers, Minister of Education, and Privy Councillor. He died in 1918, and his grave is located in Tokushima. The condition is excellent with minor lacquer wear on the top. The intricate carvings in gold gilt on wood are of: mythical kirin, turtle, cranes, peonies and vines all symbols of longevity and purity in Buddhism. H:51cm x W: 33cm. Ask for shipping quote.

Rare large bronze temple dragon spout. Kurama Temple in Northern Kyoto has a very similar one at the entrance to the temple with water running from the dragon's mouth into a large granite water basin where people can purify mouth and hands before entering the temple. Ca. 1950. 30" wide; 3ft tall and 18" deep. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote from CA warehouse.

This beautiful bronze zen temple gong was made by one of Japan's great bronze craftsman who lived from The Meiji Period (1868) through the Showa Period. Famous for the gold shachihoko bronze fish on the roof of Nagoya Castle. This gong is dated Taisho 3 (Ca.1915). The writing has the date, the maker's name and all the donors' names. Excellent condition. H:56cm; diameter 30cm.

55" tall by 30" in diameter. Dated Showa 25 ( 1950) . From Muneatsuji Temple in Gifu Prefecture. This Temple is connected to the Rinzai temple of Myoshinji in Kyoto. (Full translation of what is written on the bell is available). Made by Fujiwara Sadaatsu. Inscription says it was made for world peace.

Distinctly art deco, this C.1920 late Taisho Period exemplifies the burgeoning japanese basket makers shift to bold weaves and incorporating new mediums. The use of fuji (wisteria vines) intertwined with bamboo creates an entirely new ascetic. 16" tall and 9" wide. Ask for shipping quote.

Art deco oribe ceramic vase by Shigetaka Kato b.1927-d.2013. Shigetaka was born the second son of Kato Tokuro in 1927. He graduated the Seto Industrial School of Ceramics and studied under his father. From 1959-1971 submitted annually to the Nitten where he received the Hokusho prize as well as the Modern Ceramics Prize among others. He also received the Japanese Ceramics Society award and governors prize at the Asahi Togeiten. He later accompanied his father on frequent trips to China and Central Asia for research into the roots of silk road pottery. He is best known for Shino ware but worked the gamut of Mino and Seto styles. This base has no box. 30cm wide x 21cm deep x 36cm tall. Ask for shipping quote.