A very unusual art nouveau style Kutani vase decorated with a jagged forest of pink trees on soft green carpet, butterflies circling the shoulder which breaks into a darkened cloud of moriage beads decorated with spiraling karakusa designs in slightly raised gold. Superb workmanship, it is simply signed Kutani-zo (made in Kutani). The vase is 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition and dates from the first quarter of the 20th century.

A large screen depicting a samurai replete with the Jakumei crest of the Takeda Clan rearing his horse in a shout of battle, wand extended at arms length giving the order to charge. The horse appears to be fighting panic, possibly at the deafening sound of the guns of Oda Nobunaga, a sound which brought in the modern era of warfare to Japan in a pitched battle between Oda forces and those of Takeda Shingen...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga “kappa-ban” (stencil print) by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992) depicting a samurai with two swords titled “Akazaya” (Red Sheath). The print is pencil-signed “Yoshitoshi Mori,” numbered 31/70, and dated ’81 in the lower margin. The artist’s red seal is above the signature. The visible paper size is 23”V x 16 3/4”H (frame: 31”H x 24”V). Appears to be in very good overall condition. The print is framed in the original Kanda Gallery frame...

Everything about this sencha tea implement storage cabinet is top quality; a most unusual box made up almost entirely of worm wood featuring a removable door with an inner panel of antique Chinese origin, possibly an image of a tea salesman with his baskets of leaves. A bronze handle surmounts the lightweight box, with a set of four jade rings attached through a pair of folding fans serving as a handle for the door...

Kokeshi, wooden folk toy of NE Japan. Height: 11.75". This kokeshi is signed "Matsuzuru-saku" (made by Matsuzuru), but little else is known about is origin. The style could be from either Miyagi or Yamagata Prefectures (my guess is Yamagata.) It was most likely made during the 1980's. For a brief story on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please see our weblog, whcih is accessible through our Trocadero homepage.

An exquisite and rare tiny O-ko-date incense burner for stick incense from the Minpei kilns enclosed in a wooden box attributed to Sato Sekizen by Shohei Hozan. It is 2 inches (5 cm) tall and in fine condition, stamped on the base Sekizen.
Mimpei-yaki, is a type of pottery established in the late Edo era (circa 1830) by Mimpei Kasyu, the village headman of Igano mura, a small town in the southernmost part of Awaji island west of Osaka...

Japanese vintage Taisho to Showa period black formal silk child's kimono hand dyed and painted with a horizontal scene illustrating the story of the children’s folk hero Kintoki (also known as Kintaro, or the “Golden Boy”) refereeing a sumo wrestling match between a rabbit and a monkey all set against a celadon background permeated with auspicious symbols...

Villains and travelers, Goblins and Priests, Various tales play out in 3 dimensions around the trunk and among the leafy branches of a massive tree forming the core and backdrop of this amazing 19th century altar bell stand. The piece is 6 inches (15.5 cm) tall, the same diameter. It comes enclosed in an old wooden box. This matches the Maezukue Altar table previously listed. One of the most elaborate I have ever seen.

A sprawl of chrysanthemum are delicately painted growing beneath the elegant curves of a Kanshi poem on this fine silk scroll by Kamisaka Sekka enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Pigment and ink on silk with silk border and black lacquered rollers. The scroll measures 11-1/2 x 73-1/2 inches (30 x 186 cm) and in fine condition. For more on this artist see the current exhibition at the Clark Center...

An Art-Deco Revival vase by Nakajima Yasumi II enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Jundo Homan Kabin dated 1959. It is 8-1/2 inches (22 cm) tall and in fine condition.
The name of Nakajima first came to notice in 1908, when the first generation Yasumi (1877-1951) was awarded at the Senkatsu Kinen Exhibition...

This Japanese scholar's page turner consists of a thin layer of black ebony wood sandwiched between pale buttery colored ivory handles ....flawless

A 20th century Japanese Agano pottery oil tsubo or vase of that form. The compressed spherical form with vitreous green glaze and blue pooling from the rim on high, waisted neck trending to a blue iridescence dripping where meets a thin, clear matte glazed buff body around the girth. The bottom unglazed around the flattened foot with single incised character off center - looks like it reads "Sei". Good condition - some bubbles in the glaze popped in the kiln...

A set of 12 uniquely crafted masks of devils dating from the Meiji period enclosed in a period custom made kiri-wood box titled Kodai-men Hina-gata Juni-ko (12 miniature ancient masks). They are created from clay covered in gofun and mineral pigments with inset eyes of glass and ivory teeth and horns. Each mask is roughly 9 x 8 x 5 cm (3-1/2 x 3-1/4 x 2 inches). There are some minor losses to the coloration but otherwise all are in fine condition...

An incredible ivory netsuke of a Hannya devil mask with inlayed eyes. The detail in the Faust like features is absolutely superb. In this case I will let the photographs speak for us. Although not contemporary, this Netsuke dates from the mid 20th century. Due to certain features, we believe it was made in China prior to or during World War II, during Japans occupation (1932-1945). The, inlay in the eyes is consistent with this interpretation and the ivory appears to be of Indian origin...

A pair of rare Koto-yaki sake flasks decorated with florals and dating from the 19th century. Written on the side is the kiln name Koto (East Lake). Each piece is roughly 6 inches (15 cm) tall and in fine condition but for a chip on the inside of the foot ring of one...

Old Japanese theater mask of "tengu" in a fierce grimace sporting a prominent proboscis. The "tengu" were mythical creatures, half-bird and half-man, who were tricksters living in pine trees in the forests. I am uncertain of the dating of this mask but estimate it was crafted in the early to mid-20th century. It may be older. It has signs of age and use. There are scattered chips on the underside of the chin and nose and at the edge of the mask and eyes. The chips reveal plaster or gesso b...

A set of five Meiji period dishes hand painted by Suzuki Hyakunen in commemoration of the Gosho-Nai Dai-Hakurankai (Exposition in the Imperial Palace, Kyoto) stamped on the underside with the event name and each individually signed by the artist. The literati scenes include a scholar contemplating a waterfall, Mountain retreat lost in rugged hills, sails on the lake, traveler in the hills and horses on the lakeshore under weeping willows. A beautiful and very rare set, each dish is roughly 4-1...

Golden mist shrouds the aged pines draped with wisteria growing about the crashing falls on this anonymous early Edo period gold screen. A rare scene to find, rigid lines and the lavish use of gold are typical of the first half of the Edo era. The screen features a colorful brocade border with vermilion lacquer frame and has been fully remounted without re-painting. It measures 68-1/2 x 63-1/2 inches (174 x 162 cm) and is in fine condition, showing some old repairs.