Catalog (90)

Japanese hand scroll painting, late Edo – Meiji period, 19th - early 20th century. This 11 meter long fantastic painting comically depicts a group of well-endowed men measuring the strength each other and humorously showing off their thingies. This painting is called "toba-e", which is comical scroll pictures considered as the oldest form of manga (cartoon) in Japanese history. Tobae was originally made by Toba Sôjô Kakuyû (1053-1140), usually depicting animals (frogs, rabbits and monkeys)...

Fine decorative fan featuring two white rabbits under the gleam of the moon. The sumptuous gold background is producing a shimmering effect. Rabbit is often appeared in East Asian folklore as a messenger from the moon, where it is seen pounding in a mortar and pestle. In Chinese folklore, it is often portrayed as a companion of the moon goddess Chang'e or Chang-O, constantly pounding the elixir of life for her, while in Japan and Korea, it is just making mochi, which is the popular snack of mas...

A night in the summer when fireflies wink their light. The exquisite moment at dusk is finely depicted on the decorative gold leaf background. It is in excellent condition. This piece is a pair with another fan item# 1118796.

H 9 1/2” x W 9 3/4” (H 24cm x W 24.5cm)

This scene may have been depicted from a national treasure “Hikone Byobu six panel folding screen”. The screen has been collected by the Hikone castle museum located in Shiga prefecture in Japan. The screen has been very well known for not only the quality but also as a representative masterpiece depicting the custom of the early Edo period showing early-modern Japanese history. In this painting depicts a young robust courtesan with her western puppy. Her kimono is decorated with a special t...

A group of samurai won a victory in a battle. Hanging scroll Circa Edo period, 17th century. Painted on paper with ink and pigments. The samurai on the far right is holding a stand with the head of their enemy’s general. In Japanese history the enemy's head was to prove the samurai's feat in a war. If the opponent defeated was in a higher position, the better rewarded. There is an inscription on the scroll reads Tosa Mitsuoki hitsu, means painted by Tosa Mitsuoki. Tosa Mitsuoki (1617-1691) was...

The painting depicted a samurai met an old man at night. In Japan there are many legendary tales of ogre extermination where samurai fights with ogre to protect people and their town. Some folklore says that the ogre turns into human and attacks people go around. Here, the samurai was prepared for the fight by the torii, which is a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred. Whil...

A samurai and his retainer helping his load to dress in armor. Painted with ink and pigments on silk. During Warring States period (sengoku period), samurai had a specialist retainer who can put armors on them before going to a war. The specialist stylists were familiar with armor and well aware of the order of dressing up so that samurai did not waste their time to join the war. Signed Hogan Eishin and sealed. Kano Yasunobu (Eishin) (1613-1685) was a brother of Kano Tan'yu (1602-1674) and K...

A male dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting. As is often the case with this artist, these two paintings do not bear his signature or seal, however the depiction of the figures with rich cheeks and long jaws shows typical expression of people of high social rank during medieval periods, which he exaggerated the expression was originated fr...

A female dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting. As is often the case with this artist, these two paintings do not bear his signature or seal, however the depiction of the figures with rich cheeks and long jaws shows typical expression of people of high social rank during medieval periods, which he exaggerated the expression was originated ...

The painting depicted court musicians playing divine music called Bugaku. Bugaku is a Japanese court music accompanied by dancing. Here one of the players plays shen (a bamboo instrument first produced in China in 7th century) and the other one sounds a massive drum with mitsudomoe crest (three comma-shaped figures in a circle). Bugaku carries a ritualistic implication and is usually played at the start before dance performance begins. Bugaku purifies the stage. Painted with ink and pigments. Si...

An album of twelve erotic pictures, Edo period, 18thcentury. Painted with ink and pigments on silk. The each image is exquisitely depicted throughout the year with some seasonal changes in the scene. The paintings bear a seal, which is quite rare as artists usually remained anonymous when they executed Shunga pictures during Edo period. The seal is recognized as Shunsho school. The inscription on the cover reads “jyunikagetsu emaki ikkan” meaning twelve months painting album - first volume. ...

Antique Japanese hand painted illustrates Nara-ehon style book. Circa 17th Century or older. Painted with ink and pigments on paper. Nara-ehon was produced from the Muromachi period through to Edo period. They are usually featured Japanese old tales and Noh songs. Here in this album include eight different scenes of rustic farmers engaged in agriculture in Muromachi period, ceremonial customs of samurai couple and landscape. It could have been a personal painting collection in ancient times. The...

Antique Japanese Bijin-ga depicting young woman in light summer kimono comforting herself with a uchiwa fan, resting in a decorated armrest. Her elegant form is expressed by the combination of detailed painting skill of the artist and beautiful colourful pigments. Circa mid Edo period, 18th -19th Century. Painted with ink and pigments on silk. Signature and seal reads Kagen, yet the artist remains unidentified.

There are some light marks present due to its great age, otherwise the piece ...

A tiger sits tensed on a pine tree. The fearsome advance of the beast is suggested by the powerfully hunched shoulders, the placing of its feet, which all emphasize the animal's size and strength. Painted with ink on silk. The signature reads Ganryo and sealed. Kishi Ganryo (1798-1852) was a Kyoto based painter active during late Edo period, 19th century. He was trained under Kishi Ganku, who was a noted Japanese painter of the late Edo period and founder of the Kishi school of painting. Kishi...

Kano school painitng of wild horses resting by water enjoying the spring scene. Painted with ink and light pigments on paper. Decorated with gold speckles. The painting is in reasonable condition with some marks, foxes and creases present due to its great age. There are some marks on the mounting. This painting is specially priced for celebrating Chinese new year (year of horse).

Painting: 22 1/4” x 57 1/8” (56.5cm x 145.0cm)
Scroll: 28” x 77 1/4” (71.0cm x 196.0cm)

Samurai Helmet depicted respectfully displayed on the stand. Painted on silk with ink and kindei, which is gold pigments. The kabuto was an important part of the equipment of the samurai, and played a symbolic role as well, which may explain the Japanese expressions, sayings and codes related to them. The Signature reads Tosanomori Mitsuzane (The load of Tosa) and sealed. This scroll has unique mounting such as the fabric “black takeyamachi” has been positioned on top of the scroll with do...

A beautiful image of a massive swimming carp - a noble fish. Finely painted on silk with ink. The signature reads shikibuno sato yusen hironobu. Kano Hironobu(1778-1814) was active in the late Edo period. He inherited the hamacho kano family and became a court painter. In 1808, he granted an important title Hogen, which was given to extraordinary artist.

There are some light marks and crease present, otherwise the piece is in good condition. It is accompanied by a paulownia wood storage...

An exquisite bird and flower painting features a Java sparrow rests on a branch in resurrection lily. Circa early Edo period, early 17th Century. This delicate painting is executed on paper with ink and pigments. The both Java sparrow and the flower are not native to Japan, but they were imported as early as 17th century from China, when the artist was a official painter to the Tokugawa shogunate. Little is known about the artist: Kano Koi (-1636), identified as such by a seal at lower left, he ...