Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Paintings (30)

Hanging scroll. Benzaiten mandala. The eight-armed deity, bearing arms and a coiled snake (the deity Ugajin) on her head, sits on a lotus-leaf-seat, flanked by Daikoku and Bishamonten. Before her are the 15 disciples, or jugo doji, above her the sun and the moon.
Ink, mineral colors and gold on silk. Japan, Muromachi period, around 1500.
Painted area: H 38 3/8 in. x W 18 5/8 in.
Few horizontal creases, but all in all in excellent condition.

A similar painting of Benzaiten and the 15 disciples is in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, inventory no. 11.4107. Even though it dates from an earlier part of the Muromachi period, and the composition is different, there is a striking similarity in the details on the garments and in the hairdo of the doji and the size of the painting. The Tokyo National Museum holds another comparable painting under inventory no. C0018069 /A-1228.

Two paintings of a abbots or patriarch sitting on a small pedestal. One of them holds a vajra in the right hand and a tip of his garment in the left hand. His sandals are underneath the pedestal as well as a ewer. The other priest holds a flat device in his right hand and a tip of his garment in his left hand. Underneath the pedestal are his sandals. Very detailed painting. Black ink, mineral colors, gofun and gold on loosely woven silk (ca. 30 over 14 threads). Japan, ca 14/15th century.
The painted areas are built up from 2 panes of silk each, stitched together in broad stitches, consistent with the Muromachi period.
Frames: ca. 54 ½ x 25 5/8 inches (ca. 140 x 66 cm).
Mounting scrollers cut off and framed with mounting. Very good condition.

A pair of hanging scrolls. One depicting a beautiful young woman in a black kimono decorated with open fans; the other depicting a blue demon sitting in a gauze priest’s garment in front of a bronze bell on a stand, holding a hammer in one hand, a rosary in the other. Black ink, colors, gold on silk. Seals in the lower left and right corners: Kason. Seal of Suzuki Kason (1860-1919). Japan, Meiji period. Ivory scroll ends.
Comes with the original wooden box.
Painted areas: ca. 52.9 x 19.5 inches (134.4 x 49.5 cm); total length ca. 89.5 inches (227.3 cm)
Bijin painting with brown spots on lower part, bleeding onto the back. Upper roller of oni painting warped, sporadic brown spot on front, some spots on upper part of back.

Suzuki Kason was a nihonga painter from Edo, studying different types of painting, including ukiyoe style. At the first Bunten Exhibition (a juried art salon, established by the Ministry of Education to stimulate the traditional arts in Japan) in 1907 he received a prize and at the third Bunten Exhibition (1909) he received an honorable mention. He was member of the Imperial Fine Arts Academy. He is above all a fine painter of birds and flowers and landscapes. Woodblock prints with birds by Kason are well known. One of his better known pupils was Ohara Shoson/Koson, who was famous for his paintings and prints of animals, especially birds.

Hanging scroll with image in ink, red, gofun and gold on paper of the bodhisattva Fugen in twenty-armed form sitting on a lotus throne guarded by the four guardian kings each standing on the head of an elephant, the whole being carried by a crowd of elephants. The black outlines printed, the image subsequently colored by hand. To the lower left the name of the donor: Reiun Jogan. Japan, Muromachi period.
Painted area: 21.4 x 12.75 inches (54.3 x 32.2 cm). Total length: 56.25 inches (142.9 cm).
Several restored damages, consistent with its age.

Japanese Buddhist scroll painting with the image of Amida raigo, the descent of Amida Buddha from the Western Paradise to earth. He comes down to transport the newly deceased devotee to the Western Paradise. In the middle Amida, to his right the bodhisattva Seishi, hands folded in prayer, to his left Kannon holding the lotus throne for transporting the deceased to Paradise. Rays of light surround Amida’s head. All three figures are standing on one green and one pink lotus, floating on white clouds. They are surrounded by a dark brown background. The outlines of the figures finely done in dark gray or black. Two inscriptions in gold in the lower part. Gilt copper hardware with engraved lotus decoration. Japan, 17th century.
Painted area: 31 7/8 x 14 ¾ in. (2 x 38 cm). Total length 59 ½ in. (152.5 cm).
Silk slightly rubbed, damaged or thin at places (all small spots, hardly visible), one crease to Buddha’s right shoulder, one crease to his right, portly cracked open. Mounting of later date. All in all very good condition.
Comes with kiribako (inscribed 'Sanzon raigo butsu' and 'Shuso daishi tengan ….’ (sect founder, great Buddhist teacher, eye drops, …) ; and with two authentication papers, dated Meiji 16 and Meiji 23(?). One of the authentications dates the painting into the Genbun period (1730s).

Small framed painting of hawk perching on a rock underneath a flowering plum tree branch. The hawk beholds the beholder with one eye, holding its head and body at an angle. Unsigned. Kano style. Black ink on paper in brocade mounting. 18th century. Scroll ends cut off and framed.
Frame: 40 ¼ x 15 ¾ in. (105.8 x 40.2 cm). Painted area: 30 5/8 x 11 ½ in. (78.5 x 29.4 cm).
Toned, some cracks (former folds due to rolling), slightly rubbed at places, few missing areas. It is what it is. Still nice bold hand.

Framed painting of Shoki standing with a sword in his hand. On his head a large straw hat. Inscription on the upper left side with three red seals. Signature and seal on the lower right side: Kano …Fujiwara Masuyoshi hitsu. Ink on silk. Kano style. Rollers cut of and framed with original mounting.
Painted area: 34 1/8 x 11 ¼. Frame: 54 ¾ x 17 ¼ inches.
Silk darkened with age, stained, undulating, one minor crack, otherwise good condition.

Original hanging scroll of a tiger and a dragon, two of the regal powers. Black ink on silk. On the lower right signature with two seals. The upper reading Gan…. Painter from the Kishi family.
Mat and frame

Painted area: 37 1/8 x 13 1/8.
Frame: 19 ¼ x 48 ¾ inches.

Some creases, one tiny hole, generally in good condition.

Very small scroll painting for in the back of a house shrine. Sumie. Daruma standing on a reed stalk crossing the river Yangtse. In the upper part a commentary or a poem. Black ink on silk. Red seal to the left. To the right the typical jar shaped seal in red.
Painted area: 7 5/8 x 3 13/16 in.
Size of whole scroll: 7 x 17 ¾ in.
Back of scroll needs fixing, scroll ends missing, painting slightly yellowed and soiled, crease at the top, some tears in lower area, due to rolling, generally good condition.
Hakuin 1685-1768.

Half portrait of Daruma in bold strokes of gray and black. Lower right signature Isshin hitsu and two seals. Black and gray ink on paper. Painted area 36 ½ x 8 ½ inches. Toned, some horizontal creases, repaired missing area at lower middle. Celluloid scroll ends.

Feel free to ask for more pictures.

Ebisu sits on a rock, a bamboo stalk in the hand, as if holding a fishing rod, a giant red carp stuck under his arm. Daikoku stands on rice bales and holds his hammer in the hand. Around them a split daikon and the coat and hat of invisibility. On the lower right two seals: Kachutei Ninsei (or Jinsei). Ink and colors on paper (black outlines are hand painted, NOT printed). Painted area 11 ¾ x 18 1/8 inches. Toned, several horizontal creases, some of them backed, few vertical creases restored, few tiny missing areas, overall stable condition. Ivory scroll ends, brocade mounting decorated with treasures.

Although no information on the artist was found, his works do show up from time to time. Stamped with the same seals.

Hanging scroll of mandala with Guanyin sitting on a rock, surrounded by two worshiping deities in front of him and by a guardian figure in the upper left corner. Beneath him the gods of thunder and wind and rain in the clouds. Below these, Chinese figures in a mountainous landscape, occupied by different activities. On top of the painting a printed text. Unfortunately we were not able to identify the mandala and thus the meaning. Ink and color on Chinese paper. 19th century, China.
50 ¼ x 21 inches.
Some missing areas in text, gold somewhat crackled, otherwise good condition. Paper mounting.