This beautiful and very decorative screen painting, apparently dating from Meiji period, depicts summer flowers next to a small river. Originally, it was probably paired with another screen, which is likely to have the hanko (artist's seal). The painting is in good overall condition, except some damage due to its age: mold stains and soiling (please, refer to the pictures). The paper covering the back of the screen has suffered some damage and shows cracks...

Two halves of clam shell, used to play the shell-matching game (kaiawase). In this game, that was originally played by nobles in the late Heian period, the players have to match two halves of clam shell, decorated on the inside in the same way with gold leaf and miniature scenes or flowers. A half of clam shell is placed face up, and the players turn over one by one the other halves until they find its match.
These two halves come from different shells...

Incense container in shape of a crane by the Bizen artist Uragami Zenji. Bizen pottery has a long tradition of ”saikumono” (”sculptured things”), such as Chinese zodiac figures or Japanese deities. However, this type of production has reduced since Meiji era, and only a few Bizen potters continue to make them nowadays.
The condition of the kogo is perfect...

Charming Kutani porcelain vase, finely decorated with flowers and stylized water in green, blue, white, purple and yellow enamel, on a golden ground. It dates from the Meiji era (1868-1912) and bears the Kutani mark under the base.
The vase is in very good condition, except for a chip on the exterior of the neck and another small one under it, on the upper part. Please, refer to the two last pictures.
Dimensions : height : about 8.8 cm (3.5 in), diameter : about 5.5 cm (2.2 in)

Kutani porcelain ware shallow plate, marked ”Kutani-sei Sekiseido” on the back, probably dating from Taisho period (1912-1926). It is decorated in gilt and various colors with a landscape of mountains and lake, the roof of a temple appearing among trees in the background and two figures conversing in a pavilion in the foreground; the rim of the plate is enhanced with an ornamental border.
Condition: The plate is in excellent condition, except for two very small lacks of enamel...

Very fine Satsuma ceramic incense burner by the foremost potter from Kagoshima prefecture at the turn of the XXth century, Keida Masataro. The crackled creamy glazed body is decorated with different kinds of flowers painted in gold and color; the same flowers are depicted on the delicately pierced cover of the incense burner, surrounding a central golden chrysanthemum...

Handsome incense burner in nearly cylindrical shape resting on three small feet, made with silver wire and colored opaque enamels, by Mori Mikio from Ando Cloisonne workshop. It is decorated, on a light brown ground mottled with particles of diverse colors, with stylized designs of pine, bamboo and plum (”sho chiku bai”, symbolizing long life, hardiness and vitality) in panels on each of the three sides, that resemble Japanese family crests...

Miniature wooden shrine with hinged doors, enclosing a sculpture of the buddhist deity Bishamonten, guardian of the north, protector of the Buddhist teaching and of the nation.
Standing on a pedestal, he is represented dressed in armor, holding a baton in his right hand and a treasure pagoda (stupa) in his left hand. The inner faces, the details of the sculpture and the pedestal are finely highlighted in gold, black and red lacquers...

Beautiful Kutani porcelain jar of cylindrical shape resting on three karako feet, the lid surmounted by a finial representing probably a shinto god. The jar is painted with a continuous landscape of figures, pavilions and temples, between two decorative borders. The marks on the bottom and on the interior of the lid read: ”Kaga no Kuni Kutani (Sei) Murakami Ga”.
We date the jar from the second half of the XIXth century...

Pretty futaoki – lid rest used during the tea ceremony – by Tamamura Toyo, presenting creamy and reddish brown tones, typical of Hagi ware.
Tamamura Toyo was born in 1938 in the city of Hagi. He studied pottery with his father Tamamura Shogetsu I; he is the brother of Tamamura Shogetsu II.
The condition of the object is excellent...

Fine Kyoto ware Futaoki – stand on which the kettle's lid and the water ladle are placed during the tea ceremony – of cylindrical shape by Kaga Zuizan, decorated with irises in various colored enamels and gold on a grey-blue ground, based on a pattern by Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), famous potter of Edo era.
Born in 1944 in Kuwana (Mie Prefecture), Kaga Zuizan III studied under his grandfather Kaga Zuizan I, and inherited the name Zuizan from his father in 1984...

Handsome small bronze incense burner (koro) by Makita Shuun, the main body resting on one foot, finely decorated all around with geometrical pattern and other motifs.
Makita Shuun was born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1917, and studied buddhist sculpture with Mochizuki Hideaki in Yokohama. He is best known for his images of Buddhism and Shinto figures. He notably realized the bell tower and the sculptures for a religious community in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1953...