A pair of lacquered iron abumi (Japanese stirrups) decorated in fine gold and nashiji (pear skin) lacquer on a roiro urushi, black lacquer ground. Each carries a Tokugawa aoi crest (three hollyhock leaves in a circle) within scrolling leaf background, the bottom constructed with wood pieces within an iron frame which made it lighter, thus gave a better control. Edo period (17th/18th century).  9" high, 5 1/4" wide.

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba made in a shape of two confronting SHU - Japanese flute instruments for use in Shinto ceremony and consisting of bamboo reeds forming a circular wind chamber. The lower parts of the flutes are inlaid with pine designs in gold. Very clever design in Japanese taste, wonderful quality inlay, some rusting as can be seen in photos, great feel of age. Height 2.85 inches (72.4 mm).

The theme of this very rare screen traces the story of the great battle of Yashima, in the 12th century, between the Taira and Minamoto clans. It owes its name to the contraction of Minamoto Gen (Chinese reading) and the Taira Hei clan, hence the name Heike. Also called Heike Monogotari. This is a naval battle, the Battle of Yashima (ichi no tani) in 1184, where the Taira clan retreated to an island off Shikoku in the inland sea...

An antique Japanese three-case Inro. The Inro is reddish brown cherry bark lacquered with a dragonfly hovering over a lotus leave and pond. The other side is a continuation of the lotus leaf motif with small gold leaf flowers. The interior has a continuation of the cherry bark surface. The Inro is signed by 'Zeshin" (Shibata Zeshin 1807-1891) with a cursive monogram. Fitted with an orange oval ojime bead.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2.25" tall X 1.5"

Genuine 17th Century Early Edo Period (possibly Momoyama Period) Japanese Floral Rimpa Painting made from Pigments, Silver and Gold. This is not a print or reproduction. Authenticity is absolutely guaranteed. Custom mounted for display. Painting: 11.5 x 5.75 inches, 29 x 14.5 cm, Mounting: 15.75 x 10 inches, 40 x 25 cm.

Very rare Raku Kichizaemon IV Ichinyu (1640-1696) black Raku tea bowl.
Comes with an old signed box.

Having become Raku master at the age of 16, Ichinyu was significantly influenced by his father Donyu who died at 58. In general his works are powerful, large in scale but with thin surfaces and bold incisions made with spatula.

In later years he appeared to revert to the style of Chojiro, making compact tea bowls with smaller dimensions and few spatula marks...

 

Genuine 17th Century Early Edo Period (possibly Momoyama Period) Japanese Floral Rimpa Painting made from Pigments, Silver and Gold. This is not a print or reproduction. Authenticity is absolutely guaranteed. Custom mounted for display. Painting: 9.75 x 4.25 inches, 25 x 11 cm, Mounting: 14 x 8.5 inches, 35.5 x 21.5 cm.

Pair of Japanese iron tsuba (sword guard), mounted on a stand, dating from the 17th/19th century with Hidden Christian motifs. The first tsuba composed of three iron interlocking circles, the image of the Cross can be seen. The second iron tsuba has a very delicate wire design in the interior representing the Crown of Thorns, also has a cross in the overall pattern.

Provenance Private Collector
Dates 17th-19th century
Size w/stand H 9 1/4" x W 2 1/2" x D 2"

Japanese Carved Wood Seated Figure of an Ascetic (fasting Buddha). This early Edo Period 17th Century piece is a magnificent work of sculpture with dry lacquer surface and some color with gold lacquer on the stand. He presents a haunting spiritual aura and has the desired sheen for carvings of this age. We are proud to offer this important museum quality masterpiece. 9.5h x 7w x 5d inches, 24h x 18w x 13d cm.

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of these works and light-colored windows are created using feldspar. These high-contrast areas then act as a canvas upon which abstract, minimalistic, and often naturalistic themes are painted...

Top Quality Korean Gohon Chawan made in the Joseon Dynasty (16-17cc)...

Japanese Genroku era Imari bowl with blue underglaze and red and gold overglaze enamel decoration. The octagonal form with alternating panels on both interior and exterior of flowers and of boat in garden landscape. The cavetto with vase and flowers decoration. Flowers and vine decoration around the foot. Flower head decoration in red enamel inside blue ring within ring foot. The white glaze around the buff colored foot rim burned to a thin dark iron colored ring before the unglazed rim...

An armorer's tsuba, with very slightly raised rim on the strong, flat iron plate. Pierced decoration of a shrimp with pleasing, subtle swell along the antennae and legs (mostly on the ura.) Small, irregular brass inlays for the eyes (missing from one eye - not conspicuous.) The kogai-ana plugged with a copper rich alloy. Oval form about 2 7/8" (7.3 cm) by 2 3/4" (6.985 cm). Thickness at rim about 5/32" (.39 cm). Late 16th century to early 17th century - perhaps Momoyama period...

Rare and interesting model of a stoneware vase with brown enamel and fine details of lotus and a crane. Height : 19,5 cm. Japan Edo (1603-1868). Provenance : Collection of Mrs André Schoeller. Sold by Me Ader, Drouot, 18-19 fevrier 1963, n°15

Striking large Japanese ceramic Tokoname jar, wonderful irregular shape, large kiln fragments, thick ash glaze with unusual subtle blue and yellow striations, Momoyama Period (1573-1615). (The Tokoname Kiln is considered one of the "6 Ancient Kilns" and was located at Tokoname on the Chita Peninsula, bordering Ise Bay.)

Size: 181/2" high x 17 1/2" wide x 17" deep.

Momoyama Period (1573-1615)

A good and well-detailed stag horn model of a pierced and hollowed-out Ryusa Manju applied with solid a gold copper shishi on a background with a geometric shippo pattern. Single round himotoshi of an hanabashi-motif on the reverse. Asakusa carver.

Genuine 17th Century Early Edo Period (possibly Momoyama Period) Japanese Floral Rimpa Painting made from Pigments, Silver and Gold. This is not a print or reproduction. Authenticity is absolutely guaranteed. Custom mounted for display. Painting: 12.75 x 2.25 inches, 32.5 x 6 cm, Mounting: 17 x 6.5 inches, 43 x 16.5 cm.

A katchushi mutsu-gata sukashi tsuba. The six lobed, thin plated armorer's tsuba with good tekkotsu and with openwork decoration was described by Skip Holbrook (ex collection) as Saotome made and depicting three birds. The Saotome were a line of armorers (katchu) turned tsuba makers...

An Ai Kakiemon dish decorated with a repeating pattern of Hosoge, flowers of Precious appearance, which in this case would appear to be representations of auspicious Pomegranate fruits constructed from Ruyi, Acanthus style leaves and other disparate elements. The ring of Hosoge pierced by a circlet binding them together with a gobenka motif in the centre...

17th Century Japanese Standing Buddha. A rare and fine example from the early Edo Period. Carved of Poloma wood with a rich dark patina. Complete with Stand and Mandala. It has a spiritual presence and a beautiful face to contemplate. 15 inches, 38 cm tall. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.

A group of samurai won a victory in a battle. Hanging scroll Circa Edo period, 17th century. Painted on paper with ink and pigments. The samurai on the far right is holding a stand with the head of their enemy’s general. In Japanese history the enemy's head was to prove the samurai's feat in a war. If the opponent defeated was in a higher position, the better rewarded. There is an inscription on the scroll reads Tosa Mitsuoki hitsu, means painted by Tosa Mitsuoki...

A fine Japanese blue and white porcelain dish. The foliate rim with chocolate brown glaze, the white porcelain body and glaze, and the fine attention to detail all suggest Kakiemon type. The cavetto with decoration of flowering plants including peonies, prunus and others. The center decorated with a bird (perhaps a flycatcher) in fruited branches, rockery and bamboo leaves below...

A JAPANESE EXPORT DISH, LATE 17TH CENTURY.

This fine dish is decorated with designs taken from Ming Chinese Wanli 'Kraak' wares and came about as a result of a disruption of Chinese production during a period of unrest. Dutch traders who found their Chinese trade stopped resorted to ordering from Japanese makers. The Japanese versions of these Kraak style pieces are usually thicker than the very thin Chinese Kraak wares and this has ensured their survival in often pristine condition. Thi...

NOTE: Due to our holiday we can only send parcels again after our return on August 7th.

Distorted half cylinder shaped kutsugata tea bowl of light, unrefined Mino clay.

The expertly thrown body, heavily trimmed with a potters knife (hera) is covered with the typical, glossy black iron oxid glaze inside and outside. Obviously due to a lack of manganese here it is more a dark brown, which is rare to find on Oribe chawans.

A 'window' on the side has been left ungl...

A simple, four lobed armorer's tsuba with simple pierced decoration perhaps depicting a landscape with structure. The udenuki-ana (cord holes) have the effect of completing the illusion of a Sesshu-like landscape. The saotome were armorers turned tsuba makers who worked in this manner and scale. Good condition with good tekkotsu. Sengoku era. 2 15/16 (7.46 cm) inches x 2 5/8 (6.67 cm) inches

Inro – An old and very fine model of japanese gold urushi lacquer with a gold background names « poudre de thé » as a Fundame lacquer technique. Representing a very elegant decor of deers playing, with a technique of Harigaki silver and brown lacquer. Japan Edo (1603-1868) 17th century.

A Japanese hand forged iron tsuba. A tsuba is an important fitting on a samurai's sword to protect their hands from the blade and provide balance. This tsuba has cast motifs of a 5 petal flower and oblong hole. The tsuba is from the Myochin school (1573-1867).

Date: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 2.75" in diameter

A large Japanese export porcelain charger decorated with a design based upon a Ming Chinese ‘Kraak’ porcelain dish. Arita, 1680.

For a similar but smaller plate see item 12 in the Impey Collection. ‘Ko-Imari Porcelain from the Collection of Oliver Impey’, Barry Davies Oriental Art, 1997.

Approximately 28.2cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

Within the UK payment by bank transfer is preferred.

Customers residen...

16th century blue and white glazed Ko sometsuke porcelain dish, made in China for export to Japan for use in the Japanese Tea Ceremony, decorated with blue underglaze bird and flowers. "Ko-sometsuke (‘old blue and white’) porcelain was produced specifically for the Japanese market during the final decades of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The lack of Chinese imperial patronage during this period prompted the potters at the Jingdezhen kilns, Jiangxi province, to seek out new markets for thei...

A katchushi (or armorer's) tsuba, probably Myochin, with pierced decoration of ship's rudders (the significance being a comparison of rudders steering a ship to values guiding a Samurai's life choices.) The strong, homogenous, dense iron plate with only light tekkotsu and smooth to the touch. Dark patina. Momoyama to early Edo. Good condition: Lamination folds with openings evident on the surface of one side. Ex Skip Holbrook collection. 3 3/32" x 3 1/16" x 1/8" (7.8 cm x 7.7 cm x .32 cm)

Japanese Mino yaki sake bottle 1600s

This high-fired bottle was produced at the Mino Kilns in Gifu Prefecture in pale-gray stoneware. The bottle is covered overall in a transparent glaze with a greenish tint. The lower portion of the body is left unglazed as is also the flat foot. It is well-potted, having three indentations on the sides, creating a comfortable fit for the hand while pouring. The neck rises from the somewhat flattened shoulder, ending in a rounded lip which now has seve...

Small porcelain ko-sometsuke plate made in China for the 17th century Japanese market. Blue and white design of three running rabbits. A bird, possibly a phoenix flies in the sky. Around the rim of the plate are four galloping horses. The underside of the plate is decorated with three thin blue rings and a simple dot pattern. The edges of the plate and the many small irregularities in the firing are especially prized in this type of ware. "Ko-sometsuke ('old blue and white') porcelain w...

A very rare Momoyama Period masterpiece Japanese two-panel screen with chrysanthemum and other flowers and foliage. Exquisitely painted on gold leaf, with original sumptuous silk brocade. 72w x 21h inches, 183w x 53h cm.

Pair of six leaves screens with decoration of horse-races on golden relief paper. The decoration offers a multitude of characters combining all the social classes gathering in the sanctuary of Kamo to Kyoto, to attend the taking place horse-race the fifth day of the fifth month : the Kamo Kurabe-Uma (加茂競馬).

This race count twenty riders in costume of Heian period split in two teams. She begins on the cherry trees side symbolizing the spring, and finish on the maple trees ...

Unusual circular russet iron jingasa, with 16 triangular riveted plates. The iron is flattened to a thin gauge for lightweight comfort. It sports a finial top and a hand mount ring to a silk cord decoration.
The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru), used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood, paper, bamboo, or leather.Kasa shares its etymology with the Japanese word for "umbrella" (which is also pronounced "kasa", but wri...