Two pieces of urumi-zome cloth which are made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Urumi-zome is katazome (stencil-resist-dye) imitating shibori-zome (tie-dye) and it requires more process than common katazome to make blurring like shibori. Both have rips but other part of the cloth is not weak. The right one has a patch in the back. The second half of the 19th century. Right one:75cm x 126cm, Left one:65cm x 126cm

Shima-cho, a sample book of cotton stripes with 182 fragments which are mostly hand-spun and vegetable dye. The book is "daifuku-cho", a record book of a merchant. It has the age Keio 2nd, 1866. 11 pages with fragments. The second half of the 19th century. 16cm x 22cm

Tokimono (kimono textile, unseamed and washed) of unlined summer kimono with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) Ryusui-mon (running water) design. It is made of hemp and gauze weave. Two pieces of cloth for bodies have tow slits (10cm) in the middle, for necks. Generally, in good condition but one panel, one front side has some light stain, however not serious from outside, and also one of a sleeve has a brown spot. Early 20th century...

Kimono, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. "Suzu" means bamboo grass. Shugendo is the Japanese unique religion combining Buddhism, Shintoism, and worship of nature (mountains). A practitioner (shugen-sha) trained himself in the holy mountains that is ascetic and very painstaking. It is made of thick cotton and dyed with sumi (ink)...

Japanese shunga woodblock print from the Meiji period.

The print features a close-up of a Japanese woman and her lover - a rare find!

The print was purchased in an antique bookstore in Jinbocho Tokyo 1951 and is in good condition with minor staining (see photos below).

Size of print: Approx. 19.5cm x 13cm.

Shipping included

An unusual Arita saucer dish decorated with a three colour pattern of a pair of gnarled prunus , Japanese apricot trees incorporating four low relief Prunus flowers, umehana, approximately 50% larger than the painted flowers, and a central motif of a Flowering Peony branch. The reverse decorated with three further flowering prunus branches. A single underglaze blue circle to the interior of the footring and a set of four spur marks in a "Y" shaped formation...

Illustration of a scene from the Noh theater titled “Ohara Goko” (The Royal Visit to Ohara) by Kogyo Tsukioka (1869-1927) from the series "Nogaku Zue" (Noh Plays) published by Matsuki Heikichi January 10th of 1898. Very good impression quality with silver highlights on the central robe. The background is finely embossed throughout. Standard horizontal oban print measuring 10"V x 14 3/4"H. This image has never been framed and is in very good overall condition...

Baby's ceremonial kimono made of Echigo-jofu which is hand-woven of choma (ramie) and dyed with indigo. The fine kasuri pattern is yoko-gasuri (weft kasuri) and bamboo, pine tree and plum bloom motifs. Echigo jofu was first woven asa kasuri in mainland Japan having been influenced by Ryukyu (Okinawan) kasuri. The dye is called Ai-sabi which is very dark blue dyed with vegetable indigo mixed with shoen (burnt pine shoot) or other catalysts...

Japanese Meiji period “aka-e” (red) Kutani porcelain deep bowl finely decorated in the interior in overglaze rust-red and gilt highlights with a central cartouche featuring three seated scholars surrounded by dense floral and geometric panels and bands. The exterior holds two figural panels alternating with stylized flowers. A red rectangular cartouche holding a gold “Kutani” mark is on the base. Late 19th century. 7” diameter x 3 1/8” high...

Sake (or water) container made of hyotan painted with kakishibu (persimmon juice) many times. It has hand-bladed silk cord for decoration and carrying. In excellent condition except for a bit of wear in the tassels. Late 19th to early 20th century. L:44cm Diameter:8cm

The subject is taken directly from a famous Neo-Confucian text on filial piety known as the "Twenty four Exemplars" (Japanese nijûshikô ) by Guo Jujing. This is the first exemplar in the series entitled Xiào Găn Dòng Tiān His Filial Piety Moves Heaven and Earth ...

It is a silk kimono made in Akita region in the latter half in the Meiji era. In the times when better quality was found in the Meiji era, this is a superior expensive item. It is a kimono of precious silk not to be able to make in the present age.There are very few stains a little. I recommend this to collection of you. Size: 117cm x 114cm (46 "x 44.8")

Japanese ceramic vase with a slender form, reddish brown base colors, areas with black, grey, yellow, and brown glaze and areas of texture. The artists' signature is incised into the bottom of the vase. Included is a wooden storage box with kanji. Size: 9" height, 4" width

A pair of fireman's globes made of indigo dye cotton with sashiko (quilting) with cotton yarn. Used but in good condition. 19th to early 20th century. W:16cm, L:43cm

Asa (hemp or ramie) baby boy's ceremonial kimono, whose wefts and warps are hand plied. It is worn by a newborn baby about one month later of the birth, on the occasion of "Omiya-mairi" that is the first visit to the local shrine wishing for the healthy growth. It is not actually worn but put over a baby. It is hitoe (no lining) kimono, so that it is used in summer. It has beautiful wave and crane motif which is hand painting. In excellent condition. Late 19th to early 20th century...

An unusual Arita bowl decorated to the exterior with an auspicious Hundred Chinese Boys pattern, baizi tu, which shows karako, Chinese boys, engaged in various playful activities, principally Fan and Flag waving, moving large objects and chasing chicken. There may be references to various Chinese folk tales within the procession...

Rare Antique Japanese Kashiki Bowl for used ceremony of Meiji Period made by Rokubei Kiyomizu IV (1848-1920). The seal of the potter is stamped on the bottom. Rokubei Kiyomizu IV belongs to one of the most influential Kiyomizu family of potters. He was born in 1848 as the eldest son of Rokubei Kiyomizu III. He got his family title and the name Rokubei IV in 1883 when he joined the Toyukai artists’ association. He co-established the Kyoto Ceramic Research Institute in 1895. Rokubei IV re...

A good early 18th Century Japanese Ko Imari dish made for export to the Western market decorated with an eight pointed star constructed from two squares. Eight is an auspicious number in oriental iconography, associated with such groups of auspicious motifs as the Eight Precious Objects, the Eight Trigrams and the eight-fold path of Buddhism. The central octagonal reserve contains a Dragon and clouds, Unryu, with reserves to the rim Foo Dogs and Peonies, Shishi ni Botan, Hoo Birds and Paulownia...