Kawase Hasui
Snow at Heian Shrine Kyoto
Date: 1948
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6mm seal at lower right, indicating a first state produced between 1946-1957.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.5 inches.
Reference: Hotei #510.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top margin has two original drying pinholes.

Conceived by 20th century master ceramicist Kawai Kanjiro (1890 - 1966), the combination of “shinsa” (cinnabar glazing) and “tsutsu-gaki kamon” (raised-relief slip-trailing floral design) used in the creation of this work is one of his most recognizable motifs.

Like so many great artists throughout history, Kanjiro refused to confine himself to one genre...

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

This Japanese doll looks like a woman from Ukiyo-e (pictures of the "floating world") wood block prints. She is sensual and inviting; posing to fix her hair with a hair pin. To do so, she would need to tilt her head sideways and gently pull out the hair pin so she wll not make a mess of the hairdo. The process takes delicate movement of the fingers and is also a chance to show off the area behind her neck which is considered to be the most sensual place to show for a women wearing a kimono...

Japanese Female Isho Ningyo, mid-20th Century. Height: 18 inches (45.75 cm), including stand 20 inches (51 cm).

Japanese Isho Ningyo of an Oiran, the most important Geisha of the Kyoto Geisha quarter. The book and movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' is the story of an Oiran. This master work is truly a work of art to behold, and is by one of Japan's foremost doll makers, the late Ito Hisashige XI. The first Ito Hisashige was appointed to the position of Court Doll Maker by Emperor Gosakuramachi in 1767...

Gold and silver steel cigarette case. Work in the style of Komei. The landscape decorations are in gold and silver relief. Examination with a magnifying glass does not show us the typical scratches of a damascene work (nunome zogan). The borders are worked with floral motifs in slight relief, the hollows being filled with black lacquer. two golden metal chains to hold the cigarettes. These two chains are extendable by a clever spring system hidden in each link...

A basket made of bamboo strips and mountain grapevine which is a machete case. It is brought with a mountain worker. In good condition but has a few breaks near bottom. The first half of the 20th century. H:26cm, W:12cm, 4cm

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...

Large natsume in black lacquer covered with gold powder (maki-e). Gold and silver snowflakes decoration in togidashi maki-e on nashi-ji background. The interior is made of dense nashi-ji lacquer.

The natsume is a tea box intended to contain matcha tea for the preparation of the tea ceremony. It is named for its resemblance to the natsume fruit, i.e. the jujube (also called the Chinese date). It is round, short and has a flat lid. It is often made of lacquer...

55" tall by 30" in diameter. Dated Showa 25 ( 1950) . From Muneatsuji Temple in Gifu Prefecture. This Temple is connected to the Rinzai temple of Myoshinji in Kyoto. (Full translation of what is written on the bell is available). Made by Fujiwara Sadaatsu. Inscription says it was made for world peace.

Rare large bronze temple dragon spout. Kurama Temple in Northern Kyoto has a very similar one at the entrance to the temple with water running from the dragon's mouth into a large granite water basin where people can purify mouth and hands before entering the temple. Ca. 1950. 30" wide; 3ft tall and 18" deep. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote from CA warehouse.

Kobako in the form of a dark brown tree trunk in a cross section. The back of the lid is made of golden hiramaki-e lacquer on a black background, representing in a close-up a branch of a Japanese cherry tree with its three fruits, with light brown outlines revealing a ring of the tree. Inside the box and base in nashi-ji lacquer. The Japanese cherry tree (Prunus serrulata) is an emblematic tree of the country, producing the cherry blossoms (sakura)...

Wood board used by a "nushi", a lacquer-ware artisan in charge of lacquering urushi. It has natural dripping and dried glue(natural) while lacquering. Both sides are beautiful. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 9.5cm x 91cm x 0.9cm

Japanese woven suiban. This low, shallow container is used for ikebana flower arranging. Rectangular in form, this suiban is raised on low feet. A grain or leaf-like design is woven into all sides and the corners have intricate knot work. An oval shaped metal container sits perfectly inside for holding water.

Taisho Period

Dimensions: 4 1/2" high x 19 1/2" long x 12" wide

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
Le Tresor, Coree (The Treasure, Korea)
Date: May 21, 1940.
Size: Approximately 18.25 x 14 inches.
Jacoulet signature and watermark with butterfly seal.
Edition: 155/250.
Carver: Maeda. Printer: Honda.
Reference: Print #66 in The Prints of Paul Jacoulet by Richard Miles
Condition: Excellent.
"This classic scene of mother and child is one of Jacoulet's best received prints." - Miles

Kawase Hasui
Nakhwa Puyo (Fuyo Rakkagan). From the series Eight Views of Korea (Chosen Hakkei).
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.5 x 11.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe H seal at right margin used 1942-1945. Printer Ono Gintaro seal at lower right margin...