Japanese large print entitled "Fruit" by the artist Reika Iwami. She was born in 1927, graduated from the Tokyo Bunka Gakuin Art College. She studied the art of doll-carving and worked under the national treasure, Hori Ryūjo before becoming a print artist in 1954. This print exemplifies her use of large abstract shapes and a muted pallet. In this print, Iwami has used mica and an embossing technique. Signed in graphite, dated 1959...

Japanese woven kimono in a beautiful shade of violet, lined with white cotton fabric. It has a vertical linear allover pattern in white thread. Taisho period (1912-1925) Size: 62.5" height, 47.75" width

Japanese silken kimono with bright shades of orange, goldenrod, and tan in a mist pattern, with triangular patterned silk panels and military style buttons in front. It is lined with pretty ivory silk with light pink grapes and grape leaves. Taisho period (1912-1925) Size: 35" h eight, 49.5" width

Japanese black jacquard woven kimono with an allover criss-cross pattern with silver thread triangular accents, lined with an ivory fabric with pale pink and mauve geometric patterns. Taisho period (1912-1925) Size: 32.5" height, 46" width

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Summer Moon at Miyajima
Size: Approximately 16.75 x 11.25 inches.
Date: 1936. This edition is postwar (1950-1963).
Koitsu.com catalog no. TK-DH-036.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi.
Condition: Excellent. Full margins on all sides.

Ohara Koson
Fox between reeds near moonlit water.
Date: ca. 1930.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.0 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Seal in left margin.
Reference: No. S41.4, p. 212 in "Crows Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson" (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Very good. Toning line evident at margin.
A rare design.

Kawase Hasui
Rain at Shinobazu Pond
Date: 1929.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15,25 x 10.0 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the Watanabe A seal in the right margin, indicating a first edition.
Condition: Very good. Light toning and fading.

Kawase Hasui
Hachirogata Lagoon in Akita District
Date: 1927.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.0 x 10.0 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the Watanabe A seal in the right margin, indicating a first edition.
Condition: Very good. The margins have been repaired by a conservator. The verso is toned.

Large Japanese Gigaku demon mask, covered with red, gold, and black lacquer. The colors gold and red are associated with the underworld, especially when apparent in a demon's eyes. This mask sports long fangs, a stubby ridged nose, and furrowed brow. The inside of the mask has rice paper with kanji signature of the sculpting artist. Dates from the Tiasho age c1920. Size: 17.25" height, 13" width

Wonderful Japanese figure of the Buddhist deity Bishamonten (Hindu name: Vaisravana), made out of iron. Bishamonten is cheif of the Four Heavenly Kings and is the guardian of the northern direction (in Japan he is one of the Seven Lucky Gods), he holds a small pagoda in one hand symbolizing the divine treasure house, whose contents he both guards and gives away. Signed by the artist: Seiun. circa mid 1930's. Size: 25" high x 12" wide x 9" deep.

Japanese print of a seated Buddha by the artist Shiko Munakata (1903-1975). A member of the sosaku-hanga movement and the mingei folk arts movement in Japan. As a young artist, Munakata was influenced by Vincent Van Gogh and studied oil painting. Later he was inspired by Buddhist religious imagery which became the main subject matter of many of his prints...

Japanese print entitled "Last Supper" by Sadao Watanbe. Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996) was part of the Mingi (folk art) movement in Japan which involved the use of natural materials. Watanabe's early boyhood job as a textile dyer has influence his work greatly. He used organic mineral pigments with a soybean milk binder (katazome) on hand crumpled paper (momigami). Watanabe's upbringing as a Christian is the main influence of his subject matter...

Lovely Japanese 4-panel byobu (folding screen painting), painted with a beautiful scene of chrysanthemum flowers in a garden, some use of raised gofun on flowers, painted in mineral colors and ink on a gold leaf ground, signed by the artist. Showa Period (mid 20th century). Size: 35" high x 72" wide Size:

Beautiful cream colored Japanese glazed porcelain vase with gold painted bamboo stalks on its front and back, gold checkerboard designs with pink and white accents around the neck and base, gold rim with red, green, and gold painted designs. Bottom signature reads "Satsuma Asahi Do". Size: 10.5" height, 6.75" width

Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956)
Little Pavilion, Peking, 1935.
(aka. Little Pavilion, Coal Hill, Peking)
Size: Approximately 14.75 x 9.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Condition: Excellent with a couple of very faint creases. Title noted in pencil on back.

Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956)
Shopping at the Chang Men, 1925
(aka. Outside Chang Man Gate, Peking)
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 11.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Condition: Excellent with small surface spot at left edge. On verso, paper remnants at top corners. Title noted in pencil on back.

Beautiful woodblock entitled Horse in Armor and Butterfly by Tadashi Nakayama, many colors, made with many carved blocks and colors, silver and gold leaf, image of a standing horse head turned toward a butterfly, signed and dated 1972, print no. 28 of 75.

Size of art only: 33 1/4" high x 21 1/2" wide. Size of paper: 40" high x 27 1/2" wide.

Magnificent woodblock print of a running horse by Tadashi Nakayama, many colors, made with many carved blocks and colors, silver and gold leaf, image of a horse running through a field of poppies, untitled horse, print no. 47 of 75, signed and dated 1974.

Size of art only: 30 1/4" high x 21 1/2" wide. Size of paper: 38" high x 27 1/2" wide.

This is a wonderful Kanbishi chawan of Living National Treasure Potter Arakawa Toyozo with its original signed wooden box.

It is in mint condition with no cracks and no repairs.

Size: 5,3 inches x 4,9 inches x 3,0 inches

Toyozo Arakawa (1894 - 1985) rediscovered the techniques of manufacturing Shino glazes first perfected during the Momoyama and Edo periods...

This is a very colorful Japanese Plique-a-Jour cloisonne vase. The colors used are a little different than most and contrast beautifully.(See images) Condition is very good. But when held up to bright light a line can be seen. It does not show in normal lighting. The vase is even a little different size. It stands 3 5/8 inches tall.

A fine Japanese ranma or transom with an image of a bush warbler perched on a flowering plum tree. Often bush warblers are a symbol of the coming of spring. Age: 20th century. Size: Length 73.25" Height 14.8"

Kawase Hasui
Hida Kamagatake
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Date: 1933. This is a lifetime edition published between 1946 and 1957.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the red 6mm seal.
Condition: Very good. The tonal difference at the lower right corner appears to be an impression flaw, rather than a matte line.
A rarely seen Hasui image.

A tetsu-yu chawan by greatest Kanjiro Kawai with signed box.

Mint, no cracks or repairs.

Size: 8,6 cm height, 13,1 cm diameter.

No ceramic artist of the Showa approached Kanjiro Kawai (1890-1966) for creativity and artisanship. Kanjiro was a true artist by nature, and together with Hamada Shoji, set a pattern of study for modern potters...

Simple yet refined Japanese patinated bronze vase. The mouth of the vase is cut in a way that appears like a flower in full bloom. The vase contains a signature by an artist named Seifu. The vase comes with a wooden stand. Age: Showa Period Size:Height 13.5" Diameter 9.5"

Running up to the end of our 60s and 70s ceramics, here is a great piece by a student of Yagi Kazuo, Yoshitake Hiromu (Hiroshi) enclosed in the original signed wooden box and dating from the late 60s or early 70s encapsulating the feeling of rage against conformity then rupturing the Japanese ceramic world. It is 6 x 14 x 16 inches (15 x 35 x 40 cm) and is in fine condition. Due to size and weight the cost of shipping will be accrued separately for this piece...

Hiroshi Yoshida
Three Little Islands, 1930.
Bears the jizuri seal in the upper left margin, indicating self-printing by the artist. Also signed in pencil.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.50 x 10.25 inches.
Condition: Excellent.

Highlighting our trip back to the years of change in the sixties and seventies is this masterpiece by Miyashita Zenji exhibited in 1972. The box is titled Ban, Shizukana Kukan no Tame ni (Basin, For a Quiet Space) and signed Zenji-saku, dated inside Showa 47 (1972) with a notation stating this piece was displayed at the 2nd Gendai Nihon Shinjin Sakka Ten (2nd Modern Japanese New Artists Exhibition). The piece is 43 x 51 x 21 cm (17 x 20 x 8 inches) and weighs 16 kgs (35 pounds) plus the box...

A thin roughly textured plate by avant garde Yagi Kazuo titled cryptically Nanbanzara (The Southern Barbarians Plate) and enclosed in a fine Shiho Kiri-wood box endorsed by his son Yagi Akira. It is 10 inches (26 cm) diameter and in fine condition.
Volumes have been written about pioneering artist Yagi Kazuo (1918-1979) and I am sure he needs no introduction. His birth on Independence Day seems to have been a portent of things to come...

An austere white form, devoid entirely of decoration, by important Avante Gard Sodeisha artist Yamada Hikaru enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 13 cm diameter, 15 tall (5-1/2 x 6 inches) and in excellent condition. For more see a white sake set of vessels like this piece in the collection of the V&A.
Hikaru (1924-2001), was born into the family of layman potter and priest Yamada Tetsu, and raised in Gifu after the family home was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake...

A kaki (persimmon) is playfully rendered in orange and green on the wide white sides of this green bordered square bottle by Avant-garde Sodeisha Potter Kumakura Junkichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 15 x 6.5 x 12 cm (6 x 2-1/2 x 5 inches) and in excellent condition...

Rope and cloth patterns are impressed creating deeply textured shadows on this free form ceramic sculpture awarded the Kyoto Governors prize, and dated on bottom Heisei 10 (1998) by Yasuda Kayo. A pale ash glaze runs in sheets and rivulets over the lined and creased surface, with the top bursting open...

A sculptural Green form by Yamazaki Akira (Yamazaki Koyo II, b. 1927), one of several enigmatic works we have acquired by this artist dating from the 1970s to early 80s. With the right lighting we can see a pattern of large black spots under the glaze on the bottom half of the body reminding me of the flintstones. The vase is 17 x 7-1/2 x 10 inches (43 x 19 x 25 cm) tall and in fine condition, signed on the base Akira. There is no box.
Akira’s father Yamazaki Koyo (1890-1979) was d...

Form and Texture, a beautiful white vase by Taniguchi Ryozo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 8-1/2 inches (22 cm) tall and in fine condition, dating circa 1973.
Ryozo (1926-1996) studied initially under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI. He was first accepted into the Japan Academy of Arts exhibition in 1948, and subsequently into the Nitten National exhibition in 1951 and exhibited there often after, receiving many prizes including the Hokuto-sho, Prime Ministers Prize and Kiku-ka-s...

A Japanese green lacquered art deco flower stand. The middle area contains wooden pieces inlaid within the lacquer to create an interesting geometric pattern. Japanese art deco became popular during the early periods of the Showa and the post-war era of Japanese art. Age: Showa Period Size: Length 16" Width 11.25" Height 1"

A simple and rustic painting of a group of bamboo done in sumi on silk by the abbot of Sentsuji, Butsugai. The inscription on the top is providing a metaphorical allusion of enduring suffering with the flexible nature of the bamboo.

Age: Showa Period Size: Length 85" Width 22"

Japanese silk kimono decorated with a beautiful scene of flowers including irises, peonies, and chrysanthemums with a little stream in color with gold details all on a very light cream color ground, Taisho Period. Size: 58" high x 51" wide.