$1,500.00
In the Meiji era this plate was additionally decorated in moriage technique with overglaze enamels that required lower kiln temperatures. Images is a warrior hare, dressed in more or less Chinese warrior dress, a spear and war-fan in his hands, a halo with three sacred jewels behind his head. He is in the company of a horned goblin with a war-club, together sitting on the back of a winged dragon-fish (Shachihoko).
Rim decorated with karakusa.
Mingei (folk art). Older ceramics, redecorated with appealing motifs were subsequently offered for sale to tourists who started traveling Japan in the Meiji era.
Japan, Edo period, 1800-1850 with Meiji era overglaze decoration.
H 2-2.25 x diam. 13.75 in.
Few underglaze chips in the rim of the platter, overpainted by the karakusa motif. The brown enamel on the dragon fish is irregular, but not flaking or chipping. All in all very good condition.
More photos available upon request
$700.00
Each print on the left hand page, measuring 31.5 x 22 cm (ca. 12 x 9 inches).
Fine impressions and colors, label on cover with gold speckles, some bleeding of the red pigment, water stains on the last 7 double pages, covers with some traces of usage (rubbing of brocade, upper corners dented, which has an effect on the pages).
Published during Qi Baishi's life time
Images show only a selection of the 22 prints
From a European private collection
$300.00
Mingei
Mashiko ware, Japan, late Showa or Heisei era
Vase unsigned
H 8 x diam ca. 4.25 in.
Mint condition
Comes with the original tomobako storage box. Cover inscribed on inside: Flower vase with design of finger-drawing in 2 colors and signed Kazuo with red seal Aki (in mirror image). Cover somewhat damaged.
Akiyama Kazuo (b. 1933) is an artist who started as a painter and changed to ceramic arts in 1960. Worked in the Mashiko tradition and has/had his own kiln.
$350.00
Seal impressed in bottom: Tobei.
Japan, Hagi ware, ca. 1981
H 2 x L 3.25 x D 1.1 in.p> Perfect condition.
Comes with the original wrapping cloth with seal of the artist and with original tomobako inscribed Hagi inoshishi (boar) kogo, and signed Tobei XII with round seal of the artist.
Tahara Tobei 12th (1925-1992) worked in the town of Nagato in Yamaguchi Prefecture, not far away from the town of Hagi. He learned ceramics from his father and brother. Began ceramics in earnest after the war, and after the death of his brother (Tobei XI) inherited the Tobe name. In addition to the traditional Tahara family techniques and style, he studied Goryeo and Korean pottery, as well as Urasenke style tea ceremony, and devoted himself to making tea ware. He was declared an Important Intangible Cultural Asset by the Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1981.
Tobei XII made a series of kogo in the shape of the 12 signs of the animal zodiac.
$1,600.00
Hat and sake bottle are attached to the tanuki with braided silk cords.
Mingei.
Root wood with black staining.
Japan, Meiji-Taisho era early 20th century
H 15.5 in.
Thin cracks around the neck, where the head is attached to the body. Black stain is flaking. Other small chips and thin cracks commensurate with age and materials used. All in all, still in very good condition.
More images available upon request
$1,200.00
The broad grain of the wood was used to accentuate the round cheeks, nose and nostrils. The wood was formerly stained with a reddish-brown color, now almost completely worn off. Around the eyes there are remnants of a light-colored pigment.
There are two small holes in the top of the ears in which the attachment cords would have been fastened.
The mask was made perhaps for Kyogen, the comic interludes of a noh performance. Since it has folky characteristics, it may have been used in rural theaters, on village stages or by itinerant street performers.
Japan, 19th century
H 8.25 x W 7.5 in.
The mask comes with a black lacquered metal stand. H with stand 13 in.
Chips in the pigments on the front, unimportant chips in the wood on the edges on the back. All in all very good condition.
$350.00
Impressed seal next to foot: Akahadayama.
Akahada ware, Japan, prob. Meiji era, 1870s
H 2.8 x Diam. 4.25 in.
Two chips on the lip that were restored with silver over red lacquer which is now worn (one partially underglaze), one very small underglaze chip, several short vertical glaze cracks along the lip commensurate with age and usage.
The three incisions in the foot are typical for Akahadayama ware.
More images available upon request
$400.00
Seto region, Japan, 19th century
H 3 x W 5.25 x D 5 in.
Two unprofessionally, but lovingly repaired chips at the lip. One on the inside, one on the outside. One ‘almost’-chip on the lip with frittings. Small glaze losses on the inside and outside and more so in the hakeme. Nevertheless good piece in stable condition.
More photos available upon request
$1,200.00
Signature in the bottom: Masahide.
Japan, first half of to mid-20th century.
H 3.25 x W 8.75 x D 2.1 in.
Short splinter on the base, otherwise very good condition
The monkeys are macaques, which are indigenous to Japan. The Three Wise Monkeys were probably introduced in Japan through Tendai-Buddhism, which came from China in the 8th century. They were popularized by the carving over a door of the Toshogu shrine in Nikko, constructed in the 17th century.
The name Masahide is connected to wood carving. Several carvers by that name have been identified. However, the signature cannot be assigned to anyone in particular.
$250.00
On the section that is underneath the obi, there are hand-painted crossing strips, decorated in bright colors blue, purple, red, orange, green, yellow, silver and gold sprinkle with geometric, auspicious motifs: Waves, shippo, diamonds, kikko hanabishi (hexagons with flowers). Each strip is bordered by a double stitched line of gold thread.
On the inside white silk lining in top half. The bottom half, the inside of the lower part of the lapels and along the inside edges of the sleeves, has been lined the same fabric as the outside.
Japan, Showa era, 1960s-1990s.
H (shoulder seam to bottom) 62 x W (side seam to side seam) 22 in.
This kimono has been worn, but rarely. It was shortened about 3 inches in the area that is covered by the obi. The collar can be shortened (half height) by use of snap fasteners. On the seam that thus forms, the fabric is discolored (red line). Generally in very good condition.
From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami, former mistress of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.
Homongi kimono with family crests are worn at formal occasions.
$275.00
On the inside white silk or rayon lining in top half. The bottom half, the inside of the lower part of the lapels and along the inside edges of the sleeves, has been lined with reddish brown silk with a pattern of manji in jacquard weave, and sprinkled with small yellow dots.
Japan, Showa era, 1960s-1970s
H (shoulder seam to bottom) 63 x W (side seam to side seam) 23 in.
This kimono has been worn. It has been shortened about 2 inches at the level where it is covered by the obi; the collar can be shortened by use of snap fasteners. Generally in very good condition.
From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami, former mistress of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.
This type of kimono would be worn at an informal occasion or outing.
$95.00
The back of the obi is plain cream-colored silk, as is about 1.5 meters on the front, which would be invisible when wrapped around the body. The last 16.5 inches of the obi seamlessly fit onto the rest of the design.
Japan, Showa era, ca. 1960s-1990s.
L 164 x W 12 in. (ca. 415.5 x 30.5 cm)
The obi has been worn and shows stains on the plain inside silk
From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami-Baum, former owner of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.
Fukuro obi are made from one strip of decorated fabric, and are lined with a solid-colored strip. Si it is sewn in two parts. It is worn at formal occasions.
$120.00
Woven-in manufacture mark turned inside and obscured by the seam.
Japan, Showa era, ca. 1960s-1990s
L 169 x W 11.75 in. (ca. 429.5 x 29.5 cm)
The obi has been worn and shows wear on the gold thread background and broken gold and silk threads in the embroidery/brocade.
From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami-Baum, former owner of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.
Fukuro obi are made from one strip of decorated fabric and are lined with a solid colored strip. It is sewn in two parts. It is worn at formal occasions.
$1,500.00
No potter’s mark, but the bowl has strong resemblances to works by Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966). The foot, the underglaze slip-trail decoration, the clay and the glazes are all pointing to the master. No storage box.
Japan, first half 20th century
H 3.6 x Diam. 4.25 in.
Mint condition
$1,500.00
Japan, Seto region, very early Edo period.
H 3 x W 5.5 in.
Excellent condition
Comes with a red silk pouch and a fitted storage box of wood, not inscribed.
Excellent size for smaller hands.
More images upon request
$1,000.00
Cryptomeria (sugi) wood, red and white cotton, paper
Japan, 20th century
H 24.5 inches (62.2 cm)
Excellent condition
$950.00
Natural piece of (drift) wood, natural mushrooms, frog of stained stag horn.
The mushrooms mounted with wire and resin.
Japan, Meiji era. Unsigned.
Ca. H 7 x W 14 x D 6 inches.
The smaller mushroom was broken off and re-attached unprofessionally.
$1,200.00
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.