An oil on canvas by Ono Sue titled “Inaka no Kyokai, Paris” or Rustic Church in Paris set into a double wood frame. The canvas is 15-1/2 x 18 inches (40 x 45 cm), the frame 24 x 27 inches (61 x 69 cm) and all is in excellent condition.
Ono Sue (1910-1985) was born in Niigata prefecture, and after serving as a school teacher for one year, moved to Kyoto in 1934 to pursue a career in oil painting under Yasui Sotaro...

A very tall footed chawan by Kawai Kanjiro enclosed in a fine Kiri-wood box endorsed by his daughter Koha, head of the Kawai Kanjiro Museum. The piece is very much in this potters unique style. The pale rough clay is covered in ash colored glaze with a wide band of soft green, within which are two floral scribbles in red and blue. The bowl is 6 inches (15 cm) diameter, 3-3/4 inches (9 cm) tall and is in perfect condition...

Japanese pencil-signed first edition shin hanga woodblock print titled "Kagurazaka Dori" (Kagurakaza Street after a Night Rain) from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo" by Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) dated Showa 4 (1929). The jizure (self-printed) seal is in the upper left margin. The artist's black ink brush signature and red seal is at the lower right corner of the image. The print is titled in English and pencil-signed in the bottom margin...

A superb Silk landscape by Akamatsu Unrei enclosed in the original signed double wooden box (niju-bako) titled ChikusoYusei-Ga. The title and style of the buildings indicate this is likely the Yusei retirement home of Iwakura Tomomi in Northern Kyoto, designated a National Historic Site in 1932...

Gold glimmers on the rim against pale concrete tones on this rare mid-Edo period tea bowl from the Utsutsugawa kiln in Nagasaki prefecture, late 17th to early 18th century. Waves of brush strokes decorate the outside, while the white slip cascades from the rim in withering streaks within. A kutsuki on the side testifies to some event which happened during the firing, where another piece of pottery collapsed against the side, fusing and causing the bowl to deform...

Japanese limited edition aquatint etching by Sarah Brayer (b. 1957) depicting two black cats on a snowy village lane titled "Footprints." The print is pencil-signed, titled, dated ’99, and numbered 80/80 in the bottom margin. Visible paper size: 23 1/2” x 14 1/2" (image: 22 1/2” x 13 3/4”). Original Kanda Gallery frame with non-glare glass measuring 32 3/4” x 22 1/2." The print has not been examined out of the frame, but no condition problems are visible.

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)...

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 7.5". This is an example of "Yamagata-kei" tradition of Yamagata Prefecture. The artisan was Okazaki Shouichi, who was born in Showa 3 (1928) and passed away at the age of 67 on April 15th, 1995 (Heisei 7.) It is not dated, but was most likely made during the 1970's or 1980's. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, which is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

Water Cooling Bowl Yusamashi of Hagi Ware made by Living National Treasure 10th Miwa Kyusetsu (1895-1981) about 50 years ago. Hagi Yaki pottery became popular throughout Japan for tea ceremony during Edo period (1603-1867). Hagi ware has its distinctive nice cracks together with soft texture which is highly prized among tea lovers around the world. Size Width 4.6in ( 11.8cm) Length 3.2in ( 8.2cm) Height 2.0in ( 5cm ) Weight 4.23oz ( 120g ) Condition Used, relatively good There ...

Copper green and dark iron decorate the pale glazed sides of this exquisite box dating from the early Edo period (17th century) wrapped in a silk lined sarasa bag and enclosed in a black lacquered wood box. It is 1-3/4 inches (4.5 cm) square, roughly 3 inches (7 cm) tall and in overall fine condition.

A wide low chawan tea bowl inscribed with a poem by Otagaki Rengetsu reading “Yo no naka ha tata utatane no shibaraku wo samenu yume ji ni matofu wari nasa. In the world only for the span of a nap yet wandering an inescapable path of dreams…such a mystery. (Translation from Rengetsu.org). It is 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) diameter, 1-1/2 inches (4 cm) tall and in fine condition.
Much has been written about the life and work of poet/artist Otagaki Rengetsu...

A large Kiji porcelain vase with florals (stylized millet?) in raised relief by Miyanaga Tozan enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The architecture and infinite care shown in the carving on the surface proves this to be a superb piece deserving of the name of one of Kyotos top porcelain artists. The vase is 10-1/2 inches (27 cm) tall, 11-1/2 inches (30 cm) diameter and in excellent condition. Miyanaga Tozan I (1868-1941) is one of the most important names in Kyoto ceramics...

On the 9th day of the 6th month of 1775, 3 artists, Reisen Uno (Motoaki/Gensho, a songwriter, poet and calligrapher), Keiho Takada (Kano Chikuin, a Kano trained painter of budhist images and calligrapher) and the master of the Chikudo, Teiun held a songwriting party. This scroll is a recording of the scene, with the subsequent song written along the top, followed by a poem by Chikuin and Reisen, recorded by Teiun. This is a truly fine scroll, recently restored from its worn Edo mountings...

A sheer cascade of silver mist drops into the darkness beyond a golden outcrop harboring an ancient pine laden with blossoming wisteria vines. Togidashi, taka-maki-e and kirigane, this is a breathtaking box dating from the 19th to opening of the 20th century. Inside is elegantly decorated with drifting clouds of golden mist. Overall in excellent condition, enclosed in a period wooden box. It is 23 x 21.5 x 4.3 cm (9 x 8-1/2 x 1-3/4 inches).

What a fantastic expression worn by this Edo p. Seto Hand warmer (hibachi or properly Shuro/ Te-abure). The dark shiny Seto glaze suits well the beast portrayed. Coals would have been burned inside, heating the surrounding pottery walls, and the piece would have been placed on a step leading into the house for guests to warm their hands on or used within the house in a more formal room. It is 13 inches (33 cm) long and is in fine condition overall...

A koro incense burner by Teishitsu Gigei-In Suwa Sozan I decorated by his friend the famous scholar artist Tomioka Tessai and enclosed in a signed double wood box. The silver lid is by Nakagawa Joeki. It is 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) tall (plus the lid), 5 inches (12 cm) diameter and in excellent condition. The box is titled Daibutsu Sozan zo Juhana Koro Tessai Dai and signed Sozan Yakisei.
Tomioka Tessai (1837-1924) was a scholar artist trained from age seven in the traditional Confucian manne...

A very rare find indeed, two early to mid Edo period matching Kashi-gusoku Yoroi from the same armory featuring Momonari Kabuto and Hotoke-Ni-Mai Do decorated with jagged bands of gold. A very impressive set. The sleeves are patterned blue and white hemp. The thumb on one sleeve is missing and the two hinge pins. There are broken strings and damage to the lacquer consistent with age and the fact this armor was handed out to soldiers, likely often for guard duties and escorts, and so did see ...

A very unusual hammer textured lotus shaped tray featuring an insect crawling down the side enclosed in a wooden box titled Textured Leaf Shape Fruit Dish and signed Tekisui Zo (made by Tekisui). The brass basin is supported by a withering round stem convoluting beneath. A bright portion of brass hammered out with holes show the leaf slowly deteriorating, returning to earth. The insect is like a red flying-beetle or lady-bug, very detailed. The dish is roughly 6 by 7 inches (15 x 17.5 cm) an...