Japanese Ginbari Cloisonne Vase from the Showa Period, circa 1930-1950s. Red body with plum blossoms on a branch. The red color used on the vase is known as, akasuke and is thought to be the most difficult color to produce and only the most skilled artisans can successfully produce its ruby red color. To create its color, gold is mixed with a glass like substance and is applied to the object and fired at a low temperature. It measures 5" tall, 1.25" opening, 2" base...

Kashigata (wooden sweet mold,) Take (bamboo) motif, Japan, early 20th C. L.7.375"(18.5cm) x W.4.375") x H.1.375"(3.5cm.) This mold features a bamboo stalk with two groupings of leaves, and the sweetmaker has written "sa-sa-ba" (bamboo leaves) on the side of the mold. Bamboo's resilient nature makes it a symbol of resilience in hard times and was a traditional symbol used for many celebratory occasions, such as births and weddings...

This mid 20th century carved ivory netsuke of a sumo wrestler is 2 ¼” high, 1 ¼” wide and 1” thick. It depicts a sumo wrestler dressed the traditional outfit staring straight ahead, ready to fight. The expression on his face is just great. The signature “Yoshido” is on his left foot. Aside of some color that has been rubbed off, it is in excellent condition.

A pair of cotton tabi with sashiko and a pair of kokake. Tabi is made of hand-spun white cotton and has nice sashiko for strength. Soles are machine-woven. Kokake is also made of hand-spun cotton and dyed with vegetable indigo and has fine sashiko for also strength. Kokake has no soles and it is worn over zori (Japanese sandals) for warmth and waterproof in winter. Both are in excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. Tabi L22.5cm, W10cm, H13cm Kokake L26cm, H14cm

Beautiful Japanese carved Noh theater mask of Zo-onna (beautiful woman). Carved out of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood and painted with seashell and natural pigments. This mask is masterfully carved and painted with subtle detail like her very slight smile and the small dimple just above her chin. The mask is signed and has it's original tomobako (also with the same signature).

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Size: 8 1/4" long x 5 1/4" wide

A basket made of akebi (Akebia quinata) vine which is from Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. In excellent condition, no break. The first half of the 20th century. H:22cm, W:30cm, D:20cm

1940s Nezumi Shino Ware Chawan Teabowl for Tea Ceremony. Shino pottery is produced in today's Gifu prefecture since 16th century and it is distinguished by thick white glazes, red marks and the surface of small holes. Size Diameter 12cm Height 7.9cm Weight 380g Condition Overall good. No chips, no cracks. Supplied with wooden box

This is one of the original works of Tokisada Nakamura, who signs as Masatoshi in this miniature sculpture that depicts Oni, the little demon, crossing a river in the company of a Man and a Woman. The Oni is carrying a skull ended mast, and he is holding on to the woman's arm. The man is carrying, over his left shoulder, a large Mokugyo and a couple of giant lotus flowers. He is picking up his robe to prevent it from getting wet...

Kawase Hasui
Woman walking in snow with dog
Date: Early postwar.
Image size. Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
The woodblock print is tipped at the top to an original early postwar Christmas card.
Condition: Print is excellent. Card is slightly worn.

Kawase Hasui
Kyonghwe Pavilion, Kyongsong
Series: Eight Views of Korea
Date: 1939. This edition 1943-45.
Size: Dai-oban. Approximately 16.75 x 11.75 inches.
Hasui signature and seal lower left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. G seal at right margin. Used 1942-45.
Printer: Ono Gintaro. Seal in right margin. Used 1943-1947. Reference: Hotei No. 436.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good to excellent...

Rare hat made of rice straw and indigo dye cotton cloth which is hand-spun. It was worn by a hunter or a worker in the mountain. From Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku. Generally in good condition. The first half of the 20th century. L:52cm (indigo cloth 42cm ), W:32cm

A beautiful miniature Japanese Old Ivory Netsuke Frog Sumo Wrestler. In it's excellent condition H: 1-1/8" Signed

Boro futonji whose ground cloth and most of the mending patches are hand-spun and natural indigo dyed cotton. It used to be a futon cover so that it still has cotton dust. Late 19th to mid 20th century. 63cm x 144cm

Bashofu kimono hand-woven of ito-basho, which is a family of banana tree, for both wefts and warps. The brown stripe yarn and warp kasuri yarn are dyed with Sharinbai, a family of the rose tree. The small weft kasri yarn is dyed with Ryukyu ai, vegetable indigo in Okinawa. Bashofu has been woven in many islands in Okinawa from old days, for everyday kimono or work wear. The first half of the 20th century. W:114cm, L:132cm

Japanese sosaku hanga woodblock print by Onchi Koshiro (1891-1955) titled "Portrait of the Poet Hagiwara Sakutaro" dated 1943. Memorial edition printed by Koichi Hirai. The print is stamped on the back and dated in pencil September 1956. Red seal at the lower left. Paper size: 21 7/8" x nearly 17 1/4" (image: 20 1/2" x 16 1/2"). The print might have been loosely rolled at one time and is not completely flat. The back is lightly browned and has a short pen mark...

1 of 2 matching Bamboo tubular shaped Ikebana, this beautiful flower arrangement piece is the smaller of the two. Characteristically carved with bamboo, and charmingly contrasted with black lacquer lining on inside. Top holder is dish like depth, and bottom holder is designed deeper to hold flowers. Circa 1930s-1940's. Dimensions: 25.5" High X 6" Diameter at base

Ohno Bakufu
Flying Fish (Tobiuo)
Series: Familiar Fishes of Japan (Dai Nihon gyorui gashu)
Size: Oban. Approximately 16 x 11.25 inches.
Date: 1938.
Edition: No. 260 (noted on back in pencil).
Publisher: Kyoto Hanga-in. Publisher's seals on back in English and Japanese.
Artist's signature and seal upper right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print employing mica and gofun highlights.
Condition: Light toning to former matte edge. Verso toned...

A wonderful translucent blue celadon dish decorated with a low-relief floral motif. This piece was made by one of the few great female Japanese potters of the 20th century—Suwa Sozan II, daughter of Meiji Imperial Court Artist Sozan I.

Suwa Sozan I (1852—1922) was born in an area of what is known today as Ishikawa prefecture. After a short stint in the military he took up pottery design and painting under Touda Tokuji in 1873...