Mori Bunrei (dates unknown). Hanging scroll with painting of insects simulating a samurai traveling with his entourage to or from the capital. A butterfly, suzumushi, praying mantises, yellow jackets and grass hoppers are traveling in a line, carrying flowers and grasses for poles, a hive and berries for luggage. Black ink and colors on silk. Signed Bunrei; two red seals reading bun and rei. Japan, mid 19th / second half 19th century.
Painted area: 14-½ x 20-1/8 inches. Total height: 461½ inches.
Painting with some light stains, otherwise in excellent condition, mounting damaged.

Mori Bunrei was the son and pupil of Mori Ippo (1798–1871), the Shijo painter. His style and technique closely follow those of his father’s.
A very similar painting by Nishiyama Hoen (1804-1867) is in the British Museum. This type of painting is typical for the Maruyama/Shijo school and could have originated with Maruyama Okyo.

Water jar on rounded bottom. Stoneware with dark brown slip-like glaze on the lower part, leaving the bottom free and a thin translucent glaze on the neck and mouth, both with fine crackle. A slender strip of engraved rope design decoration on the shoulder of the receptacle. Seto, Mino ware. Japan, Edo period.
H ca. 8-¼ inches.
Scratches on the body, worn down patches on the mouth, otherwise good condition.

Sake flask or tokkuri of triangular shape with tall neck. Brown stoneware with a combination of natural straw glaze and ash glaze and ashes. Marked at the bottom with unidentified potter’s mark. Japan, Bizen, 20th century.
H ca. 5-½ inches.
Mint condition.

Kogo or incense box in the shape of the God of Good Fortune Hotei, leaning on his treasure bag with a fan in his hands. Earthenware, Raku ware with black glaze and white slip. Japan, 20th century.
H ca. 1-½ inches; W ca. 2-¼ inches.
Traces of usage: two cracks in the cover, some chips in the cover and two tiny chips on the edge of the lower part. Otherwise good condition, charming piece.

Water jar for the tea ceremony shaped as a bamboo segment, the handles shaped as bamboo shoots. Stoneware, Bizen kiln. Natural ash glaze specks. Black lacquer cover. Japan, 20th century.
H 6 inches.
Some traces of usage: a.o. few minor chips on the bottom edge, two very small chip at upper rim, lacquer cover with chips on inside, otherwise very good condition.

Low and wide vessel, probably a container for waste water or kensui, with indentation in rim. Stoneware, Bizen kiln. Japan, 20th century.
H ca. 3-¼ inches; diam. Ca. 6-¼ inches.
Excellent condition.

Small hanaire of irregular shape (dented belly) with small metal loop to hang it on a beam of the tokonoma. Stoneware, Shigaraki kiln. Japan, 20th century.
H 5-½ inches.
Excellent condition.

Midsize storage jar of greyish stoneware, with the typical inclusions, with natural ash glaze. Japan, Edo period, 19th century or a bit earlier.
H 11-¼ inches.
Very good condition.

Mold for making rice flour cakes (uchigashi) in the shape of a prawn (ebi). Two parts. Wood. Inscription in black ink on the short side: ebi.
H 1-7/8 x L 8-¼ x W 4-5/8 inches.
Very good condition, some traces of usage (few chips on outer edges, some dents and stains), metal device on bottom section for hanging on wall.

Mold for making rice flour cakes (uchigashi) in the shape of the old woman Uba from the island Takasago. Two parts. Wood. Inscription in black ink on the short side, Azukari-gata written on the top in black ink.
H 1-7/8 x L 6-½ x W 4 inches.
Very good condition, some traces of usage (rounded edges due to usage, chip on outer edge), metal device on bottom section for hanging on wall.

Mold for making rice flour cakes (uchigashi) in the shape of the old man Jo from the island Takasago. Two parts. Wood. Inscription in black ink on the short side: ..ro (old man).
H 1-¾ x L 7-1/8 x W 4-7/8 inches.
Very good condition, some traces of usage, metal device on bottom section for hanging on wall.

Mold for making rice flour cakes (uchigashi) in the shape of a lotus leaf and a lotus bud. Two parts. Soft wood, worn by usage. Ink markings on short side.
H 1-½ x L 6-5/8 x W 3-5/8 inches.
Edges somewhat worn from usage, but carving still fairly sharp, some insect damage mainly on the outside, metal device on bottom section for hanging on wall.

Mold for making rice flour cakes (uchigashi) in the shape of a lotus flower. Two parts. Cherry wood with beautiful patina. Maker’s stamp in the side Katayasu (or Keian).
H 1-5/8 x L 6-7/8 x W 3-7/8 inches.
Crack in top section, unprofessionally repaired with nail (old repair, while the mold was still in use), metal device for hanging on wall on bottom section.

Kneeling skeleton holding a crystal ball. Cast and patinated bronze and natural crystal ball. Initials etched: DWD. 20th century.
Height: 8 ¼ inches; width: 3 ¾ inches.
Bronze: very good condition; ball: few nicks in surface.

Unusually large sculpture of Daruma, made of a large stone grown into a tree’s root section. This phenomenon is referred to as ishikui (eating stone), ishidake (holding stone) or ishikami (stone gods). Height: 25.5 inches; width at widest point: ca. 15 inches. Japan, 19th century.
Patina somewhat rubbed at top of the head and shoulders, due to handling, few nicks and chips, all in all very good condition.

Pieces like these are fairly rare and the height is usually around 12 inches. The stone is swallowed up by the tree, while it is growing. It is a phenomenon highly appreciated in bonsai, in which case the tree is manipulated into surrounding the stone. In large, this is a more natural occurrence, growing to look like a person wrapped in a garment, such as Kan’on and, less frequent, Daruma.