Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian (67)

Antique hanging scroll. A dragon dressed in kimono and apron stands on hind legs, and holds up high a jewel, as if offering to an invisible celestial divine creature. Above them is a swirl.

Signed: Shoto …utsutsu. Seal: Moroku sensei.

Black ink and mineral color on paper.

Japan, Taisho era, 1910s, perhaps 1920s.

Painted area: ca. 52 x 13.5 in. (132 x 34.5 cm).
Total length ca. 77 inches (195 cm).

Few light stains and tiny spots, some foxing in mounting, otherwise very good condition.

Kurata Shoto (1865-1928) was a painter from Akita. He worked in the nanga style. His paintings were often Buddhist in subject matter, but he also painted historical and mythological figures. His sense of humor is often visible in his work.

Hanging scroll. Painting of two noble men on horseback. The men and the horses are dressed up beautifully and are obviously competing with each other in one way or another. Probably a scene on a horse track, the men shortly before or after a race.

Ink and mineral colors on silk, in a gold brocade mounting with bone scroll ends.

Signed in lower right: Shogai. Two red seals: Tani-shi Hidemasa; Shogai no in.

Silk: H 49 x W 16.5 in.
Mounting: H 77 x W 21.5 in.
W at the bottom with scroll ends: 23.6 in.

Comes in the original wooden storage box. Inscribed on the outside: Keiba no zu (image of horse racing). On the inside of the cover: Taisho juichinen chushun (spring of Taisho 11=1922), Shogai shiki and two seals: Tani Hidemasa and Shogai.

Although the artist cannot be further identified at this point, the painting is of high quality, in a style that is reminiscent of Katsushika Hokusai.

Two tiny tears on the edges, stabilized by the mounting, several very light stains. All in all in very good condition. Mounting in very good condition.

Nokyojiku, hanging scroll with stamps and inscriptions (shuin) collected at temples visited at the Saigoku pilgrimage circuit. At each temple the pilgrim asks the custodian of the temple to stamp and inscribe his scroll. These scrolls are carried mostly by pilgrims who travel along the 88 holy sites of Shikoku, by pilgrims who complete a circuit of Kannon temples, and/or of Fudo Myo-o temples.

Hanging scroll with gold brocade mounting and gilded hardware, as used for Buddhist paintings. The image of the bodhisattva Kannon sitting on a rock, with a poem underneath, is painted in black ink, red and gold, in the center of the silk. She is surrounded by 37 stamps and poems (goeika, originally written by Emperor Kazan, after his retirement), collected on the circuit of 33 temples of the Saigoku Pilgrimage (Kansai area), that are dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon, at and four other temples. Each temple of the Saigoku circuit has a number, reflected in the read seals. The stamps used on this scroll are the ones that have been used from the Showa era on. The additional four stamps are from the Yamato-kuni Chokuku temple and the Kiko temple in Nara, dedicated to Kannon, and from two other temples.

It has become very rare that the poems are added to the stamps. The calligraphy is very good and is certainly not to be reproduced today.

Japan, Showa era, ca. late 1970s.

Image H 48.75 x W 17.5 in.
Mounting 74.25 x 23.25 in.
Width bottom scroll 25.75 in.

Excellent condition

Hanging scroll with erotic painting. Image of a man of the merchant class and a woman having intercourse, while being surrounded by a multitude of other women having their own fun. Ukiyo-e style.
Black ink, gold and bright color on silk.

Unsigned. After a four-page book illustration by Keisai Eisen (see photo 6, which is NOT offered for sale here).
Japan, Meiji period.

Height: 12 ¾”; width: 18 ¼”; total height mounting: 47 ¾” (32.4 x 46.3; 121.3 cm).

Typical mounting from the Meiji period, probably original to the painting.

Some foxing, otherwise very good condition.

Hanging scroll painting. Title: Kyokojitsu (Rising sun). A bright red sun rising above the clouds with a golden glow. Nihonga.
Ink, mineral colors and gold wash on silk.
Signed Wakō, seal Wakō.

Mid-20th century or a little later.

Mounting: H 67 x W 23.5 in. (inc. scroll ends)
Painting: H 42 x W 16 in.

Very good condition. Scroll ends are plastic, imitating ivory.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Inscription outside: Kyokojitsu (Rising sun). Inside signed Wako and with red seal Wako.

Wakō is the artist name of Kasai Toshiyuki (b. 1917 in Gifu Prefecture) who was active during the Showa era (1926-1989). He studied painting under Katō Eizō (Nihonga artist, 1906-1972 from Gifu Prefecture). He was chosen for the Nitten 20 times, 9 times for the Nisshunten. He won many awards.

Stoneware receptacle, probably used as a kensui, or waste-water jug, in the tea ceremony. Relatively high, straight sides with a constriction under the edge, decorated with the typical green glaze patches and geometrical patterns and plant motives in iron brown on white slip. Bottom inside left unglazed. Impressed seal in bottom, in the shape of a flying plover. Seto ware, Oribe style, Japan, Taisho period or early Showa, 1920s-1930s.

H 4 ¼ inches, diam. circa 4 ¼ inches.

Inside with water stains (chalk), slightly calcified crackle of green glaze on outside, tiny glaze chip, all in all very good condition.

Small rectangular box and cover. The core of the box made of wood covered in brown textured lacquer on the outside and red lacquer on the inside. The top of the kiri-wood cover is decorated on the outside with the fruit of a hozuki (Chinese lantern plant) in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood). The fruit is bright red takamakie, while the husk of the fruit is done in gradating red and gold takamakie. The cover shows a thin crack that has been beautifully restored with three small dove-tails.

Inside of the cover signed in gold lacquer: Tairei.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Hozuki, .. tabakohako (Lantern plant, small box in tobacco box). Signed inside of cover: Tairei saku and seal Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

H 1.5 x W 3.8 x D 3.4 in.

Cover with crack (through fruit), traditionally restored with dove tails.

From the collection of Ed and Julie Lewis, Chicago

Takai Tairei (1880-1971) was trained in the workshop of the Imperial Artist Ikeda Taishin. He lived in the Aoyama ward of Tokyo. In his young years he made inro and pipe cases in the Zeshin/Taishin style. Later on, he produced boxes and trays with lacquer decorations directly applied on the wooden objects (kiji makie), such as the one presented here. After World War II, Tairei made his living by manufacturing lacquered jewelry: obi pins, brooches and rings, while continuing making kiji makie objects. His brother-in-law was the famous lacquer artist Akatsuka Jitoku, who was married with his elder sister Takai Kei (1877-1946).

Small rectangular box and cover. The box is made of wood covered in a thin layer of clear lacquer on outside and inside. The top of the cover is decorated on the outside with the two circles (mon). One is filled with a gohei (ceremonial wand with paper streamers), the other with an open and closed umbrella in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood). The flat makie work is executed in gold, silver and colored lacquers and gold sprinkle.

Inside of the cover signed with black lacquer seal: Tairei; bottom of box impressed seal of the wood worker who made the box: ‘To’ inside a double gourd.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Ko…, tabakohako (Small…, tobacco box). Signed inside of cover: A spring day in Showa 26 (1951), Tairei saku and red seal Tairei. Bottom inscribed, as well.

Japan, Showa era, 1951

H 1.25 x W 3.25 x D 2.75 in.

Excellent condition

From the collection of Ed and Julie Lewis, Chicago

Takai Tairei (1880-1971) was trained in the workshop of the Imperial Artist Ikeda Taishin. He lived in the Aoyama ward of Tokyo. In his young years he made inro and pipe cases in the Zeshin/Taishin style. Later on, he produced boxes and trays with lacquer decorations directly applied on the wooden objects (kiji makie), such as the one presented here. After World War II, Tairei made his living by manufacturing lacquered jewelry: obi pins, brooches and rings, while continuing making kiji makie objects. His brother-in-law was the famous lacquer artist Akatsuka Jitoku, who was married with his elder sister Takai Kei (1877-1946).

Large incense burner in the shape of the holy Mount Fuji. At the foot of the mountain, between some pine trees rests a deer. The triple cone is the cover, in which two openings in the shape of small clouds.
Cast and patinated bronze.

Japan, Meiji/Taisho era, early 20th century

H 7.25 x W 14 x D 7.5 in.

Small casting flaw in cover, repaired (strictly speaking a casting flaw is not a damage), two larger casting flaws in bottom (not restored), a few scuffs, all in all very good condition.

Oversized hanging scroll, portraying a beautiful young noble woman in travel dress, looking down and holding a large head. While her orange kimono is decorated with cherry blossoms, her overcoat is decorated with maple leaves in autumn colors. Signed: Tojo. Red seal: Seizan. Ink, mineral colors and gofun on silk. Japan, Taisho era, 1920s.

Image 74 x 32 inches
Mounting 90 x 40 inches. Wooden scroll ends.

Some minor cracks and losses to gofun, otherwise fine condition

Large peach-shaped bowl decorated on in- and outside with a bold Rinpa design of flowering red, white and blue camellias and leaves. Over a cream-colored coarse stoneware a thin layer of cream-colored slip has been applied, on top of which overglaze blue, black, green, red, white enamels and gold.

On the outside in a white rectangular reserve with black outlines the signature Kenzan. Japan, 1950s.

In the style of Ogata Kenzan or Ogata Kenzan studio.

H 4; w 12 inches.

Tiny chip on inner rim, otherwise excellent condition.

Kabuto maedate, or ornament that sits in the front of the Japanese helmet. Aizen Myoo, flames coming out of his mouth. On top of his head a lion. Polychrome lacquered resin-like material, mounted on a metal base plate. Japan, 20th century.
Height ca. 5 ½ inches, width ca. 6 ½ inches.
Fine condition

Kabuto maedate, or ornament that sits in the front of the Japanese helmet. Dragonfly. Gilded iron. Japan, 20th century.
L ca. 6 ¾ inches.
Good condition, one leg damaged.

Kabuto maedate, or ornament that sits in the front of the Japanese helmet. Long-horned monster face with fangs and pointy ears and tufts of hair. Polychromed and gilded wood with horse hair and metal wire. Japan, 19th/ 20th century.
H 6 5/8 inches, W 6 5/8 inches.
Good condition, ear restored, a few abrasions

Kabuto maedate, or ornament that sits in the front of the Japanese helmet. Long-horned monster face with big teeth and fangs and pointy ears. Wood with reddish color. Japan, 20th century.
Height 9 inches, width 8 ½ inches.
Fine condition

Stoneware water jar or mizusashi as used in the tea ceremony with round bottom developing into a diamond shaped edge. Greyish smooth stoneware, decorated with horizontal grooves, covered with brown iridescent glaze on the outside and with a mottled greenish-yellow glaze on the inside, dripping over the outside edge and down. Black lacquered, diamond-shaped coved. Takatori style, Japan, early Showa era, circa 1930-1950s.

H without cover 5¾ in.; with cover 6½ in.

Jar in fine condition, cover with 2 chips.

Vase or jar with globular body, standing on a short foot and with everting rim. Moon jar. Underglaze blue decoration of carp swimming in water. Signed and sealed. Bottom marked as well. Korea, late 19th or early 20th century.

Height 12 in., width 12 ½ in.

Mint condition

Ex coll. Peter K. Warren, CT

Obi (sash) with design on both sides. One side taupe colored silk embroidered in brown, murasaki, pink, green and blue with a design of bamboo leaves and matsukawabishi. The other side decorated in silver and some colored silk on murasaki colored silk with an intricate design of a river bank with stone barricades, containers and vegetation: bamboo, pine, chrysanthemums and momiji. The end of the obi marked with two strokes of gold thread. Japan, early Showa period.
Length 151 ¾ in. (385.5 cm).
Two water stains on the taupe side of the obi. The gold threads that mark the end of theobi coming loose. Few silver threads coming looses. Generally good condition.