Hand-made wooden storage box for an antique Japanese pipe (kiseruzutsu) and tobacco pouch, tied with dark purple (murasaki-iro) silk ribbon. Japan, 20th cent.
H 2 ½; L 10 1/8; W 6 3/8 in. (6.5 x 26 x 16.4 cm).
Perfect condition.

This piece is located in Europe (EC).

Set of five circular black and red dishes, top surface of black lacquer, underside of red lacquer. The wood at the underside decorated with a concentric circle, the wood-grain still visible through the coat of red lacquer. Japan, later 20th century.
Diameter 5 in. (12.8 cm)
Perfect condition.
In fitted cardboard box, 2 1/8” (H) x 5 5/8” x 5 5/8” (5.5 x 14.2 x 14.2 cm), printed label on the lid reads: NAKANISHI shitsugei (lacquer art, referring to the red and black lacquer). Extra label: GAISHU .. MEIMEI NO SARA (EACH DISH Label inside box read: Musashi no shikkôgei (lacquer handicraft of Musashi).

This set is located in Europe (EC).

Shogun, Kunstschätze und Lebensstil eines japanischen Fürsten der Shogun-Zeit [Shogun, The Shogun Age Exhibition] Exhibition at the Haus der Kunst, München, 1985. Objects from the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya with essays by Roger Goepper, Shinzaburô Ôishi, Yoshinobu Tokugawa. Tokyo, The Shogun Age Exhibition Committee, Tokyo, 1984. 292 pp., fully illustrated, 273 objects, esp. sets of objects. 28 x 21 cm. Paper. German text. Almost perfect condition.
Excellent exhibition catalogue, showing weapons, tea ceremony utensils, textiles, and other items used by the Tokugawa shoguns during the years 1603 to 1867, as well as musical instruments and utensils used by their wives and daughters. This exhibition was also shown in the USA and France.

This book is located in Europe (EC).

Book on Japanese art:
Tsuda – Manuskript, [Über die Lackkunst Japans, 1908, Tsuda Noritake, Tokyo, in der Karl Mannstaedt – Übersetzung.] A translation into the German language of a manuscript on the History of Japanese Lacquer by Tsuda Noritake, dated 1908.
The manuscript, written by Tsuda in the English language, is inscribed with kanji for Japanese names and technical terms. With b/w line drawings of tools and utensils, and reproduction of objects from Japanese lacquer books and magazines. 11 5/8 x 8 9/16 in. (30 x 22 cm). Silkcloth, 2 vols. German text. Beautifully bound, perfect condition.
Vol. 1., 289 pp.
Part I. Introduction by Karl Mannstaedt, undated, ca. 1939, (pp.1-4), Table of contents (pp. 5-12), Introduction by Tsuda (pp. 13-14), History of Japanese Lacquer Art from the Nara period (pp.1-83), to the Tokugawa (Edo) period (pp. 84-257).
Inserted between pp. 83 and 84 are 32 pages of drawings copied from the “Tankaku-zufu”, based on the “Ruiju-zôyô-shô” with descriptions in the English language.
Vol. 2., 302 pp.
Part II. Biographies of Lacquer Artisans (pp. 1-92), Part III. Descriptions of Tools and Materials used for the production of Lacquer objects (pp.1-98).
Inserted between pp. 19 and 20 of Part III. are 30 pages of line drawings of lacquerers’ tools and utensils with descriptions in the English language.
Part IV. Table of Contents, History of Lacquer (pp. 1-112).
Inscribed on the title page: TSUDA - MANUSCRIPT, In der Mannstaedt Übersetzung. Englisches Original aus dem Jahre 1908. Im Auftrag von Heinz Kress übertragen nach einer maschinengeschriebenen Kopie der deutschen Übersetzung im Jahre 1986. [Tsuda Manuscript, translated by Mannstaedt. After an English original from 1908. Transcribed from a type-written copy of the German translation in 1986 on behalf of Heinz Kress.] Karl Mannstaedt (dates unknown), who was employed before the II. World War by the German collector Dr. Kurt Herberts, made a type-written translation into German from a hand written English original. The various styles of writing in the manuscript indicate that it was dictated by Tsuda to a number of scribes. In the type-written translation the kanji for most technical terms and names were transcribed from the English original. A total of three hand written copies of the Tsuda Manuscript are known to exist today, but each contains minor variations of the text:
- One Tsuda Manuscript is owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.
- Another one is owned by the University of Bonn, Germany, Japanologisches Seminar.
- The third hand written copy in the English language, as well as Mannstaedt’s typed translation into the German language, are in the collection of Heinz and Else Kress, Finland. (see: inrô-shita-e, Design Drawings from a Japanese Lacquer Workshop, Select Bibliography, p. 353).

This book is located in Europe (EC).

Ivory manju made of two halves. The upper halve carved with the image of a biwa maker taking a rest, while smoking a pipe. On the lower half two of his tools are engraved. The upper section carved in shishiai-bori, sunken relief. The extremely finely engraved lines stained with dark brown and black. Engraved signature on lower half: Gyokuhosai. Second half 19th century.
Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm).
Excellent condition.

Macintyre, Michael, The Shogun Inheritance, Japan and the Legacy of the Samurai. Based on the BBC TV Series, London, William Collins & Sons Co., BBC, 1981. 216 pp., 167 color ills. 28.5 x 25 cm. Hardboard, dust jacket. Cover slightly rubbed, otherwise good condition.
This book is the result of a BBC film producer’s interest in modern Japan’s industrial culture, with glimpses of old Japan, its martial arts, the theater, and its geisha culture. Michael Macintyre’s photographs present a Japan of contrasts: Modern companies arrange for their young female workers to take lessons in flower arrangement. Formally dressed apprentice geisha (maiko) are shown in a bowling alley: in Kyoto’s narrow streets the huge floats of the 1000 year-old Gion festival have to navigate carefully around dangerously close traffic lights and the electric-power cables and phone-wires, present everywhere in Japan’s streets. Tattooed Yakuza in a white-tiled bath, school-children on their way to temple, thousands of bicycles parked in Kyoto, fields, shops, and theaters, all possible aspects of Japanese life are shown. Appendix: References (p. 214), Historical table (pp. 214-215), and Glossary (pp. 215-216), Acknowledgements (p. 215).

This book is located in Europe (EC).

Small shrine with double hinged doors. Inside three sculptures of a female in dancing pose, holding an open fan and two males, sitting in front of the female. The old man at the left hand side holds bells in his right hand, in his left he held something that is missing today. The man on the right hand side held something in his right hand, now missing. Judging the faces they could be Daikoku, Ebisu and Benten. Three figures elaborately carved in plain wood, their bases decorated in color. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Height of case: 9 ¼ inches (23.8 cm).
Left hand of left hand figure partly missing, attributes missing, otherwise good condition. Case: Gold lacquer inside chipping and cracking in places, metal door lock missing and replaced

Very small shrine with the wooden sculpture of Jizo inside. Jizo stands on a double lotus on a rocky base, holding a jewel in his left hand, his staff in his right. Behind his head a round halo with two sacred jewels (one missing). Wooden sculpture with soot patina, metal staff. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Height case 7 ¼ inches (18.8 cm).
One tama at halo missing, small lacquer chips at feet retouched, basically very good condition, case: lacquer chips espec. around lower edges (paper base on wood visible), wood chip at upper left corner of right hand door, general traces of usage.

Small shrine with inside the sitting figure of Amida Buddha. Amida sits on a double lotus base, his hands folded in mudra in his lap. Behind him a halo. Wood covered with black lacquer over which gilding. Ushnisha and urna of quartz-like material. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Height of case: 11 1/8 inches (28.5 cm).
Case: one nail missing in hardware and hinges on the right hand side loosening, some chips in the lacquer on back. Some scratches on the gilding on the inside of the doors. Figure: little chip at the hairline, gilding slightly rubbed, very good condition.

Wooden sculpture of Shichimen Daimyojin in sitting pose, one leg crossed over the other. She sits on the summit of mount Shichimen, her shoes by her side, holding a golden jewel in her left hand and another object, likely a key that is now missing. On the back in red lacquer an donation inscription with the date of Tenpo 7 (1836). Polychrome decorated wood with finish for protection of pigments, gilt metal crown, glass or crystal eyes. Japan, late Edo period.
Height 20 3/8 inches (51.9 cm).
Some cracks in the wood, flaking lacquer at the base, some cracks in the lacquer on the figure, stabilized with clear finish, all in all in stable condition.
Shichimen Daimyojin is the protectress of Minobu, the site of temple Kuonji, general quarters of the Nichiren sect and burial place of the founder of the sect. Mount Shichimen is south of Minobu.

Small bag for transporting an conch (hora) shell. Finely knotted silk threads, made into a shippo design. A thicker and a thinner cord are used for keeping the upper side shut and for strapping the bag to the back. The mouth piece of the shell would protrude through the small opening, while the natural opening of the shell will be caught within the large opening of the bag. Golden yellow silk. Japan, first half 20th century.
Length of bag 12 in. (31 cm).
Some of the threads broken at the upper edge, where the thinner cord is woven into the bag, and at the bottom, where the thicker cord is attached to the bag and at other stress points. Slightly soiled.

Elegant container for transporting food. Cylindrical bentwood container with round fitting cover. The handle has the same shape as the handles for buckets etc. Soft wood with reddish clear finish. Japan, Meiji period. Folk art.
Diameter 9 7/8 in. (25.3 cm), height 11 1/8 in. (28.4 cm).
Crack through the bottom of the container, repaired crack in cover, otherwise minor traces of usage. Nice and stable condition.