Hip flask (dachibin) in crescent-shape with two loops on the outer side to hold a shoulder cord. In the center of the top a filling mouth and to the far end a short spout. White and brown marbled glaze on whitish stone ware with a green spout and loops. Under the glaze stamped in katakana: Iken.
Height 4 3/8 inches, width 5 1/8 inches.
Tiny glaze chip at spout and tiny glaze chip at filling mouth (both hardly visible), otherwise excellent condition. Okinawa, Meiji period, perhaps Taisho.

This kind of hip flask is typical for Okinawa. For other examples see: Moes, Robert, Mingei. Japanese Folk Art from the Brooklyn Museum Collection, New York 1985, no. 100 and Hauge, Victor and Takako, Folk Traditions in Japanese Art, Cleveland, New York, San Francisco 1978, no. 106.

Fine cylindrical tea bowl of beige-brown colored stoneware, covered with thin gray glaze with white drippings on the outside. Here and there the gray glaze is very thin, allowing the stoneware to shine through in a pinkish hue. Inside practically round shape, outside lightly faceted. Bottom outside left unglazed. Imprinted seal inside foot rim: Asahi. Japan 20th century. H 2 5/8; diam. 4 inches. Slight traces of usage, some very thin glaze cracks. Generally in good condition.

In one frame, on front and reverse, a set of twelve color prints with erotic scenes. Some colors, such as the white, added by hand. This set is a very luxurious edition, made with great care. Although the master is unknown, a lot of attention was paid to the details of each pair’s surroundings, in the tradition of the early shunga prints (e.g. Koryusai), but also of the late masters, such as Kunisada. Silk was used for prints that were kept in an album. In the 19th century these kind of paintings were typically sold in accordion type albums with 12 or 24 erotic scenes. Japan, Meiji period. Framed in two groups of six, mounted in passepartouts. Each print 9 x 7 ¼ inches, frame 32 x 26 ½ inches. Excellent condition.
Provenance: Ed Love collection.

Large peach-shaped bowl decorated on in- and outside with blossoming peach-tree branches. On beige colored stoneware a thin layer of cream colored, opaque glaze has been applied, on which the bold design in overglaze blue, black, green, red, white and gold. On the outside in a white rectangular reserve the signature Kenzan. This piece is definitely in the style of Ogata Kenzan, but not by the hand of any of them. Japan, 20th century. H 4; w 12 inches. Tiny chip on inner rim, otherwise excellent condition.

Simple but very expressive sculpture of a perched hawk, the eyes turned upwards, cut out of the bamboo root. Brown stained bamboo, black lacquer on base and partly on the back. In the base the number or the year 1810 has been engraved. The pattern of the bamboo very cleverly integated into the pattern of the feathers. Good example of mingei, folk art. H 13 ½ inches. 19th century. Some material cracks. Beautiful patina, very good condition.

Japanese folk art, or mingei, was produced for the common people by the hand of unknown craftsmen. Mingei ranges from household objects to farm utensils to simple sculpture. The material used can be anything from wood to ceramic to textile. It is usually not signed.

The rakan sits with folded legs, his left hand resting on his bared belly, the right hand in a pointing gesture. His face shows a rather grim frontal expression that becomes soft, when seen from the side. Darkly patinated bronze with a few minor casting flaws. The index finger of his right hand missing. On the back a long engraved inscription including the name of the caster, the names of temples in Kyoto, the names of a layman and a nun and the date of 1807. Height 22.5 inches. Beautiful, expressive piece with good patina. On wooden base.

Jizo is standing, holding up his left hand in which he holds a jewel. His right hand is hanging down along his body. Soft wood with traces of black lacquer on gesso. On the bare wood Buddhist texts have been written in black ink. It would have been covered by the lacquer and hence would have been invisible. The black lacquer rubbed off for the larger part. Hand and feet cut separately. Height 19 inches. Japan 18th century. Some small, old chips. On plexi glass base.

Large, very expressive scroll painting of a luohan holding up the sacred jewel in his left hand and running. He looks up over his shoulder at a dragon in the sky that chases him and that stretches out its claws toward the jewel. On the upper right side the name of the luohan (not identified, although he should be handaka sonja) and two seals. Nice and bold brushstroke. Black ink and color on paper. Painted surface: h 54 ; w 29 3/8 inches. China, 18th century. Some old restored cracks, due to rolling, few missing areas restored. Very good condition.

Small sculpture of a bald headed man sitting in the manner of a rakan, his long garment hanging open at the chest. His face grim, the hands tucked away in the sleeves of his garment. Inscription in black ink on the bottom, giving the date of Bunsei 6 (1823) and indicating the maker as ‘made by the old man Kenko himself’. Boxwood, the eyes of reverse painted glass, possibly crystal. Japan. Very nice piece of mingei carving.
Height 6 inches (15 cm).
Beautiful patina, minimal worm damage on lower back and bottom, minimal traces of usage.

Hanging scroll of mandala with Kannon 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, Japan.
50 ¼ x 21 inches.
Some missing areas in text, gold somewhat crackled, otherwise good condition. Paper mounting.

Simple wooden mask of shishi, or lion, with movable ears and jaw. The ears and eyebrows painted black. Behind the ears a row of small holes for the formerly implanted hairs. Mingei. All light wood, wooden joints. Japan, 19th century.
H 6 ½; D 9 ½ inches.
Nice patina, minor traces of usage: small chip at one of ears, short and unimportant crack in skull. All in all good condition.

Esoteric Buddhist scroll painting of the Mandala of the Two Worlds. On a background in the shape of a lotus petal striped with the colors red, blue, green, yellow (gold) and white that indicate the emanation of the mystic energies, two Dainichi have been depicted. The upper part represents the Diamond World. Dainichi sits on a lotus pedestal surrounded by 23 Sanskrit characters. He holds his hands in the chinken-in gesture and wears a jeweled headdress that includes the Five Wisdom Buddhas. The lower part of the painting represents the Womb World. Dainichi holds his hands in hokkai jo-in. Black ink, color and gold on paper. 18th century. 39 ¼ x 18 1/8 inches. Modern mounting. Some repairs, mainly backed cracks. Good condition.