A beautiful hand crafted box by Nitta Kiun enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tanzaku Bako (Poem Card Box). It is 40 x 11 x 7 cm and in perfect condition. Nitta Kiun was born in Wakayama in 1944, and studied woodcraft under his father, establishing his own woodcraft studio in 1980. He held his first Solo exhibition in 1985, and was accepted for the first time the following year into the Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Crafts Exhibition...

A lacquer tray made for the Urasenke Tea School enclosed in a wooden box titled Kanshitsu Umehana Bon (Dried Lacquer Plum Blossom Tray) signed Konnichi followed by the Ka-o signature of the 15th Grand Master of Urasenke Sen Soshitsu (Hounsai). The 5 lobed tray is 26.5 cm (10-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, signed underneath Tatsu.
Kuroda Tatsuaki (1904-1982) was born into a family of Kyoto lacquer ware artisans; in his mid-teens, he began to study lacquer art on his own...

A Unique Japanese Contemporary Bamboo Sculpture made of strips of lacquered madake bamboo in red and black. The artist is using an irregular, open work plaiting technique creating a kind of large, irregular egg shape with a narrow opening on the top . Made by Mori Tomoe, from Beppu, Oita prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Unsigned, but a paper is provided with the name maker and the artwork title: “ Reasons 2”. It comes with a carton box...

A voluminous wine glass with lacquer colored stem and dark foot by the Shiun studio of Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is roughly 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) diameter, 26 cm (10-1/4 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
This is not dishwasher safe

A wine glass with swirling design in colored lacquer by the Shiun studio of Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is roughly 10 cm (4 inches) diameter, 23 cm (9 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
This is not dishwasher safe

A blue tailed lizard, symbol of summer, crawls up the gnarled root, tiny ants, a tempting snack just above. This is a piece from the Shiun studio designed by Okada Yuji, the decoration performed in built up Iro-urushi colored lacquer. It is 45 cm (18 inches) long and in excellent condition, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seasonal Visitors...

A large modernist Sculpture covered in lacquer, polished metal and mother of pearl by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 1990 Gendai Kogeiten. Suzu-ita, Mother of Pearl and colored lacquers on Wood and Acrylic panel it is 80 x 42 x 18 cm (31-1/2 x 16-1/2 x 7 inches) and is in excellent condition. It comes with a wooden placard titled and signed by the artist...

A tribute to classical literature and design, the zig-zagging eight bridges march through a wetland of blossoming iris on the black lacquer ground of this two panel screen by Okada Yuji. Lead, mother of pearl and Jewel beetle wing inlay on black lacquer with gold maki-e design. Each panel is 61.5 x 120 cm (24 x 47-1/4 inches) or roughly 120 cm (four feet) square. It is in excellent condition, directly from the Okada family.
Due to size the cost of shipping will be accrued separately...

To use the term Museum quality would be an understatement. This piece, I always had the impression, wat the artwork for which Okada Sensei was most proud. A dry lacquer base covered in layer upon layer of iro-urushi colored lacquer to which has been added hira-maki-e, taka-maki-e, toidashi-maki-e, inlays of mother of pearl, and the entire carved through revealing the layers of color beneath. It was created in 2002 and comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box...

A Kanshitsu Jikiro (Dried Lacquer box) by Okada Yuji covered in dark lacquer decorated with Kanshitsu-ko (powdered dried lacquer) and gleaming strips of mother of pearl and polished suzu-ita metal over billowing clouds of mother of pearl enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seifu (Blue Wind). On top a ring of fine mother of pearl flakes studded with solid discs of hirame gold indicate the sun...

A strange phenomenon occurs when walking past this piece. From head on it appears to be highly textured gold veined with blue mother of pearl. Move a little and the Ke-uchi designs laid out on chevrons overlapping the gold design stand out strongly, move a little more and the brilliant red disc in center comes into view for the first time. This piece shows the true mastery of lacquer craft Okada Yuji possessed...

Homage to the beauty of nature, here the artist has taken a simple dried gourd and inlaid polished white shell flowers blooming on golden vines. A hole in the side allows addition flowers to be inserted, and the interior is lacquered black. He has left the frayed vine at the top untouched. It is roughly 30 cm (12 inches) tall and in perfect condition, enclosed in the original signed wooden box...

Gold disks like suns gleam in a shimmering blue cloud of mother of pearl stars on this dry lacquer vase by Okada Yuji dating from 2011...

An intriguing architectural sculpture by lacquer artist Okada Yuji exhibited at the 25th Gendai Kogeiten National Contemporary Crafts Exhibition in 1984. The wooden structure is edged with strips of pewter, the sculpted wings covered in red and black lacquer surrounding a field straight off the deep ocean floor or some alien landscape. The center is made of shitaji, a combination of powders and lacquer, carved and covered in Suzu-fun metalic dust. It is 60 cm square and in perfect condition ...

An architectural sculpture in glistening gold lacquer and mother of Pearl by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 30th Gendai Kogeiten National Modern Crafts Exhibition in 1991. This certainly shows the challenging spirit of this versatile artist, and defines his works from the mid 80s to mid 90s which were replete with inlays and gleaming with gold. The center are acrylic panels carved with enigmatic patterns, leaving the viewer to question, from what distant society or alien world the item hails. Li...

A striking Dry Lacquer form covered in black lacquer with a galaxy of red and gold swirling about the offset neck, the entire an undulating wave of abstracted dimensions by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 32 x 27 x 8.5 cm and in perfect condition, dating from 2007.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project. In 1969 he apprenticed unde...

A striking work of lacquer art in unusual blue by the ever-challenging Okada Yuji dating from early in his career, circa 1975. The work is performed on a panel with built up mounds over which has been applied colored lacquer and gold foil. Down the center a zigzag line of mother of pearl is inlaid. To this design has been added extruded lacquer decoration bordered in burnished Suzu-ita metal overlay. The panel is 80.5 x 145 cm, about 2.5 cm thick, in excellent condition.
Okada Yuji was bor...

Sunrise colors layer like a brilliant orange sedimentary horizon on this exquisite Kanshitsu Dry Lacquer vase by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 33 cm (13 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project. In 1969 he apprenticed under Ito Hiroshi, and the following year was accepted into the Kyoten (Kyo...

A unique waterfall-like architectural lacquered sculpture by Okada Yuji presented at the 33rd National Modern Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Gendai Kogeiten) in 1994. It is created in a contemporary version of the centuries old technique known as Datsu-Kanshitsu. Datsu Kanshitsu is a type of dry lacquer technique wherein cloth or some other pliable material is laid over a wooden structure to create a form. Ofter many layers, creating a solid form, the framework is removed leaving the piece hollow. ...

Creatures congregate among the fallen leaves and small grasses surrounding this incredible Kanshitsu (dry lacquer) box by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yafu (Field Wind). A plethora of techniques have been used to create this box. First the dry lacquer technique means perhaps a year in creating the egg-like shape, due to drying time of the many layers. It is covered in polished black lacquer, with leaves of gold maki-e riven with kirigane cut gold chips. The sn...

A Kanshitsu Jikiro (Dried Lacquer box) by Okada Yuji covered in dark lacquer decorated with Kanshitsu-ko (powdered dried lacquer) and gleaming strips of mother of pearl and polished suzu-ita metal over billowing clouds of mother of pearl enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seifu (Blue Wind). On top a ring of fine mother of pearl flakes studded with solid discs of hirame gold indicate the sun. The box is 30 x 18 x 22 cm (12 x 7 x 9 inches) and is in perfect condition, created in 2...

Like the layered hills of Kyoto at twilight, this vase is of Kanshitsu dry lacquer body with layers of colored Urushi by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 31 cm (just more than 12 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project. In 1969 he apprenticed under Ito Hiroshi, and the following year was accepted...

A 7 tiered pagoda like Tower in red and black lacquer by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 13th Nitten National exhibition in 1981 titled Hokuto no Shirushi (Guide to the North Star). It is made of wood cores around a metal box, each “wing” covered in alternating layers of red and black with sheet suzu metal edging. On top is an acrylic panel engraved with a target finder-like symbol (guiding us North). It is roughly 60 cm (2 feet) square, 38 cm (15 inches) tall and in excellent condition.

A wave like form seemingly cut from stone decorated with a river of black lacquer in which flows inlayed mother of pearl and Suzuita metal strips by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 32nd National Modern Crafts Exhibition in 1993. An exciting and striking work sure to inspire conversation. It is 43 x 55 cm. The height is dependent upon how it is displayed (we currently have one side elevated to flow like a waterfall).
This defines the challenging spirit of the artist, always pushing the boun...

Thick hirame polished gold disks glimmer on the surface of this peach-shaped container by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Toju. The peak is tinged pink, while a green leaves embedded with kiri-gane gold wrapping up the sides. A striking work of kanshitsu (dried lacquer art) from the pinnacle of the artists career. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall, the same diameter and is in excellent condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from...

Geometric designs in glimmering Raden (abalone shell) cross the surface of this intricate box by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Youko. Inside gold nashiji glistens on the mirror black surface. It is 15 x 15 x 11 cm (6 x 6 x 4-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project....

Vermillion lacquered gourd confectionery bowl (Kashiki) made by Ishikawa artist Maehata Harusai, the 3rd.
Elegant rounded shape with color contrast gives a graceful appearance.

The bowl was exhibited at Mitsukoshi Art Club in 2012 in "Tea Ceremony Lacquering Thirty Years - Harusai Maebata Exhibition".

3rd Maehata Harusai is one of the leading lacquer artists from Ishikawa province.
Born in 1964 as the eldest son of Harusai, the 2nd, he studied Kaga Makie under Min...

Exquisitely painted cherry blossoms (sakura) and willow branches (yanagi) on a background of jet-black traditional lacquer.

The craftsman, Wakashima Takao (b. 1935) was born in the north of Japan in the picturesque town of Wajima. The lacquer technique particular to this region (Wajima-nuri) is rather unique in its use of an undercoating incorporating special compounds that make it exceptionally durable over time. Wakashima perfected this demanding technique and, over the course of...

A Japanese Contemporary Large Bamboo Sculpture made of thin strips of madake bamboo and lacquer. The artist is using an irregular, open work plaiting technique creating a kind of large cocoon shape. It can be seen from different angles and it can also be use for flower arrangements as there are openings through which a receptacle can be placed inside. But it can be admired simply as a sculpture. Made by Homura Reiryu ( b. 1970 ) from Oita prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Unsigned ( the bamboo st...

An unusual lacquered flower vase, hanaike, by the eminent bamboo artist Tanabe Chikuunsai II ( 1919~2000 ). The black lacquered bamboo vase is decorated in vermillion lacquer with a sago palm and is also signed. The vase is complete with its original blue cotton bag and a signed and inscribed box.

Chikuunsai I began the family tradition of making fine bamboo crafts in 1890, it still flourishes today under the direction of Tanabe Chikuunsai III.

Approximately 30 cm high. Fine...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, an inscribed lacquerware covered vessel from the famed U Aung Myint workshop in Myinkaba Village, Pagan Burma (Myanmar), from which the British Museum has commissioned pieces for display in London. See Isaacs and Burton, Visions from the Golden Land, Burma and the Art of Lacquer page 222-223. We had the honor, privilege, and education of watching artisans in this famous lacquer workshop creating modern masterpieces in the yun style, an extremely labor intensiv...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a lacquerware masterpiece from the famed U Aung Myint workshop in Myinkaba Village, Pagan Burma (Myanmar), from which the British Museum has commissioned pieces for display in London. See Isaacs and Burton, Visions from the Golden Land, Burma and the Art of Lacquer page 222-223. We had the honor, privilege, and education of watching artisans in this famous lacquer workshop creating modern masterpieces in the yun style, an extremely labor intensive craft where ...

A richly hand painted, lacquered wood picture frame with a hand combed faux finish, made by European artists Daniel Grant and Ingela Noren; stamped with maker's mark in gold on reverse; Measurement: Outside dimensions:  11 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches; suitable for a 5 x 7 image. Condition: new

The last work by this important artist, a five piece stacking box decorated in iconic Dragonflies by Okada Yuji enclosed in a custom made wooden storage box. This piece was completed in 2022, shortly before he passed away. The dragonflies are performed in colored lacquer and gold powder with carved and polished Yellow and White Oyster-shell eyes. They fly over a swirling sea of Mother of Peral flakes. Inside is all Nashiji powdered gold. The boxes (stacked) are 23 x 23 x 39 cm (9 x 9 x 15-1/2 in...

A wine glass with design of undulating colored ribbons in colored lacquer, gold and mother of pearl designed by Okada Yuji at his Shiun studio enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is roughly 8 cm (3-1/4 inches) diameter, 21 cm (8-1/4 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
This is not dishwasher safe

A sumptuous design of white flowers among dark leaves on a cream-colored dry lacquer form by Okada Yuji exhibited at the Kyoto Kogeikai Kaiten in 2020. It is performed in multiple layers, first the form of dry lacquer, which entails a great amount of time in creation, layer upon layer of lacquer, cloth, paper and Tonoko powder. Then has been applied thick colored lacquer with tataki-nuri texture over which the cream-colored white lacquer is applied. This is ground down to reveal the ridges of...

Like the layered hills of Kyoto at twilight, this vase is of Kanshitsu dry lacquer body with layers of colored Urushi by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. in the dark blue about the base glimmers tiny flakes of mother of pearl. The rim is covered in white Chogai shell applique. About the flaring neck, is a slight indentation, a very challenging form to be polished out. It is 34 cm (just more than 13-1/2 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Ky...

Seed pods cluster beneath the glimmering white flowers clinging to the silver tinged gold vines decorating the exquisite marbled grain of this large tray from Okada Yuji. The vines and leaves are in gold and silver taka-maki-e, the flowers inlaid carved and polished shell, and the beans are inlaid lead. The tray has been enhanced with wiped on lacquer accentuating the natural wood grain. Turned from a tree dried for over ten years in 1995, it was decorated by Okada in 2008. The tray is 46 cm di...

The spider crosses a glimmering golden web wet with dewdrops of solid gold Hirame and inlayed mother of pearl, a stellar work by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The interior and base are glittering with gold Nashiji. Known for his depictions of small creatures, this is a perfect example of his work. It is 8 cm (just over 3 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High S...

A small wall hanging in Togidashi maki-e surrounded by a checkerboard pattern of polished Suzu-ita metal squares by Okada Yuji dating from the mid 1970s. The Togidashi technique requires the artist to create a design in Maki-e, then cover the design entirely in a layer of lacquer, polishing the lacquer through to reveal the image below. A labor intensive and time-consuming practice. In addition to this Yuji has here then applied variously polished panels of metal to the panel creating a stark...

A very modern and sleek interpretation of the classic lacquer sake warmer otherwise known as a “chōshi” in Japanese. The author of this piece, Kado Isaburō, was born in the town of Wajima in Ishikawa in 1940. Born into a crafting family, he learned the family trade from a young age from both his mother and father and would later go on to do an apprenticeship under Hashimoto Tetsuhiro. In 1962 he would win his first award at the prestigious Nitten exhibition for modern art with ...

Perhaps because of its proximity (or lack thereof) to central Japan, the beautiful lacquer wares of Akita may be lesser known than other regions. Here is an exquisite sake cup and katakuchi serer of turned wood covered in multiple layers of soft, black lacquer by Sato Fumiyuki of the Kawatsura lacquer tradition. A belt of gilded binding wrapping the body is the only decoration. This lack of distraction, in fact, accentuates the form and allows us to focus on the pure elegance of the lacquer i...

Done in a style reminiscent of Japanese Mingei art, this striking yet functional folk-craft piece is the creation of Chikuunsai Tanabe III. Made entirely of traditional materials, the red lacquer is quite eye-catching and is sure to liven up any setting.

As the name suggests, Chikuunsai (1940-2014) is from a line of woodworkers—“Chiku” in this case meaning bamboo. This family of generational artists currently stretches to the 4th generation—the 4th being known for his large...

A splendid antique cut glass cup selected and decorated by contemporary female lacquer artist Arai Etsuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Glass Maki-e Hai, Yoake (Glass Sake Cup named Breaking Dawn). She said that when she first saw the glass in a street market, she instantly envisioned how the engraved patterns could be accentuated by colors and powdered precious metals. Here an interesting comparison of techniques is possible. The bowl is decorated outside, first with laye...

Gold flecks twinkle like stars in the night sky inside this free form dry lacquer sake cup by female lacquer artist Arai Etsuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is made of multiple layers of cloth, paper and lacquer with the final layer dusted with mother of pearl and gold flakes, polished down to a dull sheen. It is the cup 7 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter, new from the artist in perfect condition.
Arai Etsuko (born in Kanagawa in 1980) apprenticed under Hiroshi Okada after ...

There is something deeply elegant and feminine about the work of the female Maki-e artist Arai Etsuko, clearly evident here in this glass sake set decorated with olives in colored lacquer and precious gold powder enclosed in a compartmentalized and signed wooden box. Inside, the simple black silhouette, outside, various shades of green connected by gold branches from which hang fruit in various stages of ripeness. The Tokkuri is 17 cm (6-3/4 inches) tall, the cups 5 cm (2 inches) diameter. Al...

A sumptuous wood grain bowl by Tanaka Eiko covered outside in thin black lacquer, the inside clear to best present the exquisite grains of the wood. Her tree of choice is the Horse Chestnut (Jap. Tocchi), which has unparalleled grain patterns, here visible through the black outside as a soft glow about the center of the bowl. Inside black lines like an abstract ink painting decorating the straight grains. She brings the rim up to an extremely thin edge, abrupt, both delicate and challenging. ...

A sumptuous wood grain bowl by Tanaka Eiko covered outside in red and black lacquer, the lacquer thin enough to allow highlights of the tiger-striped grain to show through. Her tree of choice is the Horse Chestnut (Jap. Tocchi), which has unparalleled grain patterns. A perfectly fitted black lacquered lid with elegant finial covers the bowl. It is 10 cm (4 inches) diameter, signed on the base and comes in her red paper box with shiori card.
Tanaka Eiko was born in Aichi Prefecture in 19...