Tsuchiya Koitsu
Onomichi Saikokuji, December 1935
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 16.0 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo
Koitsu catalogue no.: TK-TM-10
Condition: Tipped at top to original cardstock. Wavy crease and and light foxing.

Wooden five storied pagoda done in the style just as the actual structures appear including the wooden joints and key architectural elements that are conjoined together to create the structure. Fine worksmanship is done with the balustrades, roof, and the are under the roof known as the mune in Japanese. Age: 20th century Size: height 84" width 16" length 16.25"

A large shinto shrine constructed in the style based on the Grand Shrine of Ise. This type of construction for small shrines is often used by the local residents in Ise. The shrine contains fine details in the woodwork and brass fittings fit for a deity. Age: 20th century. Size: height 23.75" width 19" length 36"

Noel Nouet(1885-1944)
Kuromon, 1936. From the 24 Views of Tokyo series.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Carver: Ikeda, Printer: Yokoi. Bears the Doi watermark.
An early edition of rarely seen design.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Miyajima in the Rain
Date: 1941.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.75 x 11.0 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Doi watermark.
Carver: Harada: Printer: Yokoi.
This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Reference: Koitsu catalog no. TK-DH-066
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good. Margins and margin corners toned.

Kawase Hasui
The Shrine of Kasuga at Nara
Date: 1935
Size: Oban. 14.0 x 9.75 inches.
Publisher: Shimbishoin (for Japanese Government Railways)
Bears the oval Hasui seal
This print is as issued by the Railway on it's original display backing with string hanger. The original description tag is on the verso.
Condition: Light soiling and toning.
Very few of these survive...

Splendid Japanese incense container, also known as kogo, used for tea ceremony. The persimmon has a small lady bug sitting near the head of the persimmon. The incense container contains an inscription reading: Rakushisha, which is a small hut in the Sagano district of Kyoto. The hut was the summer home of Matsuo Basho's disciple, Mukai Kyorai. The hut was given the name when a hurricane blew all the persimmons off the trees planted in the estate...

Kawase Hasui
Kawai Bridge
Date: 1930s
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.0 inches.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller collection
Condition: Excellent.

A Japanese print done by the noted contemporary Japanese artist, Tadashi Nakayama (1927~). The image is a view of a section of a shrine building at Heian Jingu in Kyoto. Tadashi Nakayama is known for creating prints combining traditional elements from ukiyoe woodblocks and Western oil paintings. Age: 1961. Size: length 28.75" height 24.5"

Woodblock Print of Traditional Japanese Folk Potteries by Serizawa Keisuke. Issued by Nihon Mingeikan (Japan Folk Craft Museum) in 1970. H. 20"(51cm) x W. 26"(66cm.) Excellent colors, light toning to paper. Printed text in Japanese. See also SK-1 in English. Keisuke Serizawa (5/13/1895 - 4/5/1984) was designated a Ningen Kokuho (National Living Treasure) in 1956 for his work in katazome stencil dyeing...

Woodblock Print of Traditional Japanese Folk Potteries by Serizawa Keisuke. Issued by Nihon Mingeikan (Japan Folk Craft Museum) in 1970. H. 20"(51cm) x W. 26"(66cm.) Excellent colors, light toning to paper. Printed text in English. See also SK-2 in Japanese. Keisuke Serizawa (5/13/1895 - 4/5/1984) was designated a Ningen Kokuho (National Living Treasure) in 1956 for his work in katazome stencil dyeing...

A finely done Japanese bamboo basket used as a flower container made by the second Shochikusai. The handle is done in a way as if the vine appears to grow out from the basket and fine strips of bamboo are woven throughout the vase. Fine woven bamboo baskets require the highest skills to create the rhythmic geometric patterns and form. Age: Showa Period Size: length 10" width 6.5" height 18.75"

Japanese choba from Sakata area, Japan. Made entirely of Keyaki wood (elm) with burl wood. Heavy iron hardware, including elaborately cut lock plates with square shaped handles, the side has warabite shaped handles. The pulls for opening the sliding panels are inlaid with mother of pearl and edge with carved persimmon. Interior has one shelf. Well crafted joinery and tenons original lacquered finish in excellent condition...

Ohara Koson (Shoson)
Praying Mantis and Bees (Wasps)
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.25 x 7.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Daikokuya.
No. K.40.9 in "Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Riegle Newland)." Illustrated on page 101.
Condition: Excellent.
Very rarely seen.

Kawase Hasui
Torii Gate in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Image size: Koban. Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Condition: Excellent. Tipped at top and bottom to original cardstock.

A charred Tsubo blasted with ash by Takahashi Rakusai enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It reflects the style of early Shigaraki, with an engraved crosshatch belt circling the flaring mouth. The piece is 8 inches (21 cm) tall, roughly the same diameter and in excellent condition but for one tiny nick in the base.
Born in Shigaraki in 1900, Rakusai was considered one of the true masters of Shigaraki and Iga-yaki, along with Naokata and later Michio...

A Hakuji Mentori Vase by Takenaka Ko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) diameter, 13 inches (33 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Ko (born 1941) apprenticed under future Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo before establishing his own kiln in 1970. He was the recipient of one of Japans most prestigious awards, the JCS award (Japanese Ceramics Society) in 1980...

Red highlights the salt glazed body of this multifaceted tsubo by Seto Hiroshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Enseki-yu Tamentori Tsubo. Like stepping stones stomach scales of a snake climb in concentric arcs about the body of the base, the white covering most with red highlighting the edges...

Paul Jacoulet
L'Attente, Celebes Menado
Size: Dai-oban.
Date: September 15, 1947.
Edition: 175/350.
Carver: Maeda, Printer: Fujii.
Condition: Excellent.
"The pink background is sprinkled with bits of silver leaf… The curl of smoke from the lady's cigarette is gauffrage." - Richard Miles, The Prints of Paul Jacoulet.

Paul Jacoulet
Les Perles, Mandchoukuo
Size: Dai-oban.
Date: December 28, 1950.
Edition: 297/350.
Carver: Maeda, Printer: Ogawa.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good color and condition. Toning at back.
"More than 300 individual impressions of nearly 60 blocks were needed to create this ultimate technical tour de force of twentieth century art." - Richard Miles, The Prints of Paul Jacoulet.

Paul Jacoulet
Le Mandarin Aux Lunettes, Mandchoukuo (The Mandarin with Glasses, Manchuria).
Date: May 22, 1950.
Size: Dai-oban. Approximately 19 x 14 inches.
Edition: 231/250.
Carver: Maeda, Printer: Uchikawa.
"Note the mica of the lenses, made by using crushed pink pearls." - Richard Miles, The Prints of Paul Jacoulet.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight fading. Toning on verso.

Paul Jacoulet
Le Nid, Coree (The Nest, Korea).
Date: December 14, 1941.
Size: Dai-oban.
Edition: 120/150. Prints from this original edition of 150, which has more muted colors, are exceedingly rare.
Carver: Maeda.
Condition: Very good. Faint matte line.
"[This print was] a gift intended for the artist's mother on her birthday...The model is reputed to be the old servant who trained young Jacoulet in calligraphy, and remained with him for many years." - Richard...

Charming Japanese fan painting depicting a small bird on a branch, painted in ink and light color on paper, attributed to Kawabata Gyokusho (1842-1913), Meiji period circa 1900. Size: 17" long x 6" wide.

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.

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"

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"

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 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...

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. This piece is 15 kilograms, 16 inches (40 cm) diameter, 18 inches (45 cm) tall and in fine condition. All the Yasuda family pieces are from the Matsui family collection of Fushimi, an extensive...

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.
Junkichi began working in ceramics in the 1940s, his works submitted to innumerable National and International Exhibitions including the Japan Art Festival, New York and the international Arts and Craf...

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. He was the son of the ceramicist Yagi Isso, and gr...

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. ...

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.

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.
Born in Kyoto in 1938, Hir...

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"

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. After graduating the Tokyo School of Industrial Design, he came to study in Kyoto, eventually establishing his own kiln on the ...

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 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"

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.

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. Arakawa also proved that these legendary ceramics originated in his native Mino province (not Seto as pr...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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:

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. This print depicts the scene of the Last Supper from t...

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. Munakata's house and most of his woodblocks were destroyed in the American firebombing of Tokyo in 1945. This print is signed and stamp...

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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 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. It is number 1 in a series of only 2. Size: 29 1...

Silk obi with a grey-green background and gold thread cherry blossoms in honeycomb patterns. It features several images of two cranes with crossed beaks and wingtips touching, one with green, navy and orange feather and the other with yellow and blue feathers beside the branch of a pine tree and bright red, orange, and white flowers. Taisho period (1912-1925) Size: 168" length, 12.75" width

Original shin-hanga woodblock print titled "Sacred Grove" by artist Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995). It is a nature scene showing a red temple with golden doors and roof, partially obscured by trees. The forest floor is mossy and only a small bit of the sky peeks through the treetops. The print is framed behind glass with a large wooden border. The photo shows reflection on the glass but the print is perfect. Size: (entire frame) 16" height, 12" width (print only) 9" height, 6.5" width