A baby carrier belt made of indigo dye cotton for warp and washi (Japanese handmade paper) yarn for weft. It is made in Shonai region in Yamagata district in Tohoku. In good condition with beautiful tassels but the seam loose part in one selvedge (30cm). The first half of the 20th century. 13.5cm x 3m60cm

Yuki-boshi (snow hat) or yuki-kabuto (snow helmet) made of palm tree fiber and vegetable indigo dye cotton inside. It has washi painted with Paulownia oil for waterproof, between outside and cotton indigo lining. It is from Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. It is said it was worn by "matagi", a hunter. The second half of the 19th century. In good condition with belts inside are left, which is rather rare. 40cm x 57cm

Cotton kimono with shibori (tie-dye) pattern which is paulownia flower motif. All hand-tied and dyed with vegetable indigo. In excellent condition. Mid 20th century. 126cm x 140cm

Kawase Hasui
Pagoda in Rain (Inoruga no Ame)
Date: 1950s-60s.
Size: 5.75 x 3.75 inches
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Reference: Hotei #Hp-62.
Woodblock print is tipped along its top edge to original cardstock.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Chuzenji, Utagahama
Size: Approximately 6.0 x 4.0 inches.
Date: 1930s-1950s.
Tipped at top edge to original cardstock.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Small bend at lower left corner. Light creasing.

Kawase Hasui
Bird's Eye View of Kiyomizu Temple in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 5.675 x 3.675 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's oval seal at lower right.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-59.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
This marginless print is from a mid-century collection that included another marginless Hasui print.
Most examples are found with margins, so it may have been trimmed or issued in this state.

City in the Rain (after Hasui)
(A rare alternative perspective on "City in the Rain" by Kawase Hasui).
Artist: Not known.
Date: 1930s.
Size: 5.5 x 3.625 inches
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent with very slight bend at upper right corner.

Shodo Kawarazaki (1889-1973)
Magnolia (Mokuren)
Date: 1950s. Later edition.
Size: Oban. 16.0 x 11 inches.
Artist's seal lower right.
Publisher: Unsodo. Publisher, carver, and printer seals at left margin.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)(1871-1945)
Title: Autumn Moon at Tama River
Size: Approximately 7 x 4.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Sealed "Shotei" at left.
Date: Pre-1936.
Reference: Shotei catalog #S-2.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top margin has small tear impinging image by 2mm.

Representing the culmination of over 1,000 years of Shigaraki potting tradition, this bold guinomi with rough exterior and natural ash glazing was produced by well-known and admired potter Takahashi Rakusai

Born Mitsunosuke, the eldest son of Takahashi Rakusai III, the fourth Rakusai potter succeeded the family name in 1976 with his father’s passing...

Long cloth with shibori which is worn by a woman when she worked in the fields to protect skin from sunburn or bug bites, which covers a head with only an opening for eyes. It was mainly used in the southern part of Tohoku district. It is made of cotton and dyed with vegetable indigo. The fronthead part has double cloth. In good condition but the white stitches have some ravels and a few small holes. The first half of the 20th century. 34.5cm x 170cm

Tomioka Eisen
Rice Planting
Size: Approximately 18.2 x 11.6 cm. 7.25 x 4.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 390).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "They are planting the young-rice in the rain, singing a charming song as they work."
An early and rarely seen design.

Attributed to Kawase Hasui (We're not certain)
Mt. Fuji From Hara (Hara no Fuji)
Date: 1930s.This edition early postwar.
Size: 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
A woodblock print tipped along its top edge to an original card.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Artist's seal not read
Geisha on Beach with Moon
Date: Late 19th/Early 20th century.
Size: 5.375 x 3.375 inches.
Publisher: Kobayashi Bunshichi (black seal).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight crease lower left.
Note: We could find no other example of this wonderful design.

Occasionally as I’m browsing through the temple markets of Kyoto or perusing backstreets tea-ware shops, an attractive piece will catch my eye for no particular reason. When this happens, I typically buy it immediately without hesitation, trusting that I will be able to decipher the Chinese script and give it proper attribution through the course of my research. In this case, I was only able to make it half-way there...

Kawase Hasui
Kinkakuji
Date: 1930s. This edition 1950s-60s.
Print size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Not sealed by the artist. Sealed versions exist.
This example may have been re-carved by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to a 7 x 4.625-inch blank card.
Condition: Upper left corner has light crease.

Amazing boro tabi made of hand-spun cotton with mending patches. All original condition. The first half of the 20th century. 22.5cm x 11cm (sole)

Kawase Hasui
Title: Zojoji Temple
Date: 1950s-60s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Print size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to an original blank card.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Not sealed by the artist. We've encountered a sealed late twentieth century example. Please see our last photo. This Zojoji design is very similar to a well-known 1930s Hasui print.