A fabulous 17th century Koro (Momoyama to early Edo period) covered in black lacquer inlayed with minute mother of pearl shippo designs around circular windows featuring floral motifs. The lid is solid silver, pierced with overlapping floral designs. The windows feature grape, plum, bamboo and other seasonal imagery important in Asian cultures. It is 11 cm diameter and in overall excellent condition considering the age.

A beautiful large black Seto Guro Hikidashi Chawan with undulating rim sculpted to perfectly rest in the hands by some anonymous 17th to 18th century potter. It is 5 inches (13 cm) diameter, 3 inches (8 cm) tall and in fine condition.

Namiamidabutsu sho (Praise to the name of Amiddha Buddha) is scrawled in faint verse down the upper right, while on the left is a warning, kono tori, minasama goyojin goyojin (all those on this path, be wary be wary…) The two scripts are separated by a grave marker at the base of which lies a skull and scattered bones among the unkempt dried grasses. A very unusual seal in the shape of a Buddhist ewer hugs the right edge. Early to mid Edo period in the style of Hakuin Eikaku (1686-1768)...

Small figure in urushi lacquer. Unusual model of a doll wearing large dress with details of flowers in mother-of-pearl and gold leaf. It suggests the gosho ningyo, which may have served as a model. Techniques of lacquer : golden background kinji, gold lacquer, silver lacquer, kanagai, kirikane, maki-e , nashiji. Unsigned. Japan Edo (1603-1868) 18th century. Height : 5,4 cm.

A typical Muromachi style Sansui screen showing scholarly travelers in a ragged landscape of precipitous hills and temples dusted with clouds of gold flake likely dating from the late 16th century. It is bordered in fine antique patterned brocade with a black lacquered frame. The gold mist engulfs the scene, giving life to the unusually large figures, a Muromachi-Momoyama trait. In the area about the travelers’ path, gold has been rubbed into the paper, giving it a soft sheen...

An unusual 17th to early 18th century Screen featuring a koto harp and candle stand behind a screen under blossoming prunus, a spry group of pine in front and rushing water beyond. Incredible veining in the gold. Like much of Japanese art, the viewer is asked to interpret the scene as they see fit. Perhaps the remnants of a night of poetry and music under the plum blossoms. Perhaps the lonely Michizane playing to the moon, alone in exile with thoughts longing for Kyoto...

Tempestuous waves in fine gold lines splash between lightning shapes decorated with reed curtains on the sides of this singular lacquered wooden koro with woven silver lid dating from the Momoyama to opening of the Edo period, Later 16th to early 17th century. It is 8.5 cm (3-1/4 inches) high, 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter. The worn base has been re-lacquered to protect the wood core from splitting or cracking otherwise is entirely original to the period.

A perfect example of the Early Edo Tea aesthetic in this Chatsubo dating from the first half of the Edo period, a splash of black over rust with a white glazed waste from the Seto region around modern day Nagoya. It comes with an ancient wooden bung and wrapping cloth. The pot is roughly 27 cm (11 inches) tall and in overall excellent condition, with typical wear around the foot. No cracks or repairs...

Hints of the finest powdered gold gleam on the edges of this ghostly white tea bowl dating from the early Edo period. Iron-like freckles pepper the surface which is subtly clouded with soft color. The base is almost entirely covered in glaze, the glimpses of earth worn dark with age and use. It comes wrapped in a silk bag with an age darkened kiri wood box titled Hagi Chawan and named within Kan-no-yuki annotated by Yabunouchi Chikusojochi (1864-1942) 11th head of the Yabunouchi school of tea...

A vermilion Negoro lacquered tray with fluted corners on an elongated stem with heavy round foot in black lacquer dating from the Muromachi period with the temple name Zentoku-in written in red on the base. It is 27 x 27.5 x 25 cm tall (10-1/2 x 10-3/4 x 10 inches). Originally undoubtedly square, the discrepancy in width is due to shrinkage against the grain over the centuries. It comes in a late custom made wooden storage box...

Early Edo Myochin Signed Nimai Do with Nanban influence featuring gilded kusazuri and sode laced with blue chord dated Genwa 3 (1620). There are rows of Prominent rivets all about with nobori-kiri crests on the top of the munaita. Comes with an old wrapping cloth dyed with the same crest. The Hon-kozane Kusazuri are removable, attached to two leather belts suspended from iron tongs about the waist. The takahimo shoulder straps are wrapped in leather...

What a pleasure it would be to drink from this haunting 17th century (Momoyama to early Edo) Karatsu Guinomi Sake cup with gold lacquer repairs. It is 2-1/2 inches (6.5 cm) dimeter, 1-3/4 inches (4.5 cm) tall. There are 2 tiny gold repairs gleaming softly on the rim like a yellow moon peering through clouds on a dark night. .

Shishi prance across the mottled Kiri-wood surface of this Momoyama to early Edo period Koro in gold and silver maki-e and mother of pearl inlay. A copper insert contains the fragrant incense ash. There is a hand forged iron staple top and bottom of one ancient crack testament to age. It likely once had a silver hoya (cover) which has disappeared over the centuries...

Starting with the famous verse by Chinese Scholar YoYu (AD 53-18) ”The written character is a picture of the heart” (Sho kokoro Ga nari) here are written 42 rules of calligraphy spread over 10 narrow panels by the famous calligraphist Ide Gakei dated 1677. The verses appear to have been written in one sitting, the style going from crisp perfect Kaisho characters through Gyosho stylized characters and into the elegantly running Grass script (Sosho)...

A haunting Gohon Chawan repaired with a spiderweb of silver and gold enclosed in a box titled Gohon chawan annotated by the later Edo period tea master Kawakami Ihaku II (1789-1857). It is 14 x 12.5 x 8 cm (5-1/2 x 5 x 3-1/2 inches).

Here is a very rare early Edo period Ni-mai-do Gusoku prominently displaying a Christian cross like symbol on the front and back of the chest plate in gold. It has a simple kabuto of 6 vertically joined iron plates falling from a circular peak, with a three lame Shikoro...

Remnants of yellow glaze covers this Heishi (Heiji) bottle form from the Owari-Seto area engraved clearly about the neck with three lines. A quintessential Kamakura pot. There is much degradation to the glaze typical of Seto which has withstood a millennium of earthquake, fire, war and abuse. That anything survives so long in Japan is miraculous. It is 9-1/2 inches (24 cm) tall, 6-1/2 inches (16.5 cm) diameter and comes wrapped in old cloth in an old wooden box.

A bronze bell dated Kanbun 10 (1670) which would have been suspended in front of a Shinto shrine worship hall, and struck with a knotted rope to awaken the gods to listen to one’s prayers. Inscribed in the surface around dials of lotus flowers is: An auspicious day in the 7th month of Kanbun 10, followed by the names Honda Yasutoki Ko and Hiramoto Sukeyuki opposite a dedication to the god of water the Hachidairyu-jin followed by a place name near Awazu in modern day Shiga prefecture. The Hac...