Very rare carving of the Three Wise Monkeys, sanzaru in Japanese, sitting on two logs. The one who hears no evil (kikazaru) and the one who speaks no evil (iwazaru) are sitting together. A little separated from them sits the one that sees no evil (mizaru). Carved in facet-cut (abstracted style) in soft cedar wood (sugi).

Signature in the bottom: Masahide.

Japan, first half of to mid-20th century.

H 3.25 x W 8.75 x D 2.1 in...

BECKONING CAT

Lovely vintage pottery 'Maneki-neko' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneki-neko). Showa period, early-mid 20th century, Japan. H 11 x 6 x 6cm (4.33 x 2.36 x 2.36in). The condition is as is as seen...

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Pheasants and Maple Tree
Size: Approximately 5.25 x 3.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at lower right
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.15 in Crows, Cranes, and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

A stand made of a fine piece of heavy, cypress wood emulating a rock. The top with a flat, smooth area on which to place items for contemplation or small ikebana arrangements. H 11 x L 24 cm. Japan or China, most probably from around 1920. Condition: Excellent with a wonderful patina.

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead with nine yellow petaled flowers with orange stamens, leaves and 24K gold leaf inclusions. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Superbly made piece - see the individual stamens and finely textured petals, in perfect condition. Height 0.8 inches.

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead with four white petaled flowers with multicolored stamens, leaves and fine tiny silver foil inclusions. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Superbly made piece - see the individual stamens and finely textured petals, in perfect condition. Height 0.8 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with overlayed decoration of a fan, a mallet and 2 fan tops, design continuing on both sides. Nicely made, good work in Japanese taste, some insect damage as seen on photos. Length 3.7 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items.

Vintage Japanese lacquer kogai style kanzashi - a hair pin - with lacquer decoration of flowers in a stream. Kogai type kanzashi consists of two sticks featuring a design on each end, which tend to be wider than the centre. Kogai resemble sheathed swords, with one end being removable in order for it to be placed in the hairstyle. Wonderful lacquer work, in very good vintage condition. Length assembled 4 1/4 inches. Part of East Coast Japanese hair items collection.

Vintage Japanese lacquer kogai style kanzashi - a hair pin - with black and gold lacquer decoration. Kogai type kanzashi consists of two sticks featuring a design on each end, which tend to be wider than the centre. Kogai resemble sheathed swords, with one end being removable in order for it to be placed in the hairstyle. Wonderful elegant lacquer work, some chipping to the edge of one stick at the center of the piece. Signed with one character in gold lacquer, appears to read JI...

PHALLIC TALISMAN AND OLD HAND-COPIED SUTRA

Set of wooden charm with Somin Shorai's name (ref. 'Somin Shorai' - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somin_Sh%C5%8Drai) and the sutra with myriads of 'Hail Amitabha Buddha' in Japanese, originally acquired from the dealer from Tohoku region. Early-mid 20th century, Japan. Charm: H 20cm (7.87in), Sutra: 41 x 16.5cm (16.14 x 6.49in)...

TAGETA

Old Japanese wooden clogs used in agricultural work at rice fields or in walking through marshy ground, so-called 'Tageta'. Showa period, 20th century. approx. 35 x 18.5 x H 10cm (13.77 x 7.28 x 3.93in). Some repairs at ropes as is...

Lilian May Miller (1895-1943)
A Japanese Garden
Date: 1927.
Size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.75 inches.
From the book, Grass Blades from a Cinnamon Garden.
Monogrammed within the image.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Light crease at lower right corner.

Japanese bronze okimono (also can be used as scroll weight) of a resting ram by the metal artist Masahiko Katori (1899-1988), who was recognized in 1977 as a holder of Intangible Cultural Property - the term refers exclusively to human skills possessed by individuals which are indispensable to produce Cultural Properties...

Vintage green stained staghorn obidome (sash ornament) carved as a running lizard. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Clever design, good quality carving, nice finish and patina, two metal fittings on the back for an obi cord. Length 2 inches.

Contemporary Japanese glass obidome (sash ornament) with multiple rods depicting various flowers. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Beautiful design, superb quality glasswork, very pleasant finish. Metal fixture with two loops on the back for an obi cord. Diameter 1.07 inches.

Lilian May Miller (1895-1943)
The Little Shrines on Quiet Hills
Date: 1927.
Size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.75 inches.
From the book, Grass Blades from a Cinnamon Garden.
Monogrammed within the image.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight toning.

Magnificent Ko Iga flower vase made by Zoroku Mashimizu (1861-1936)

Zoroku Masashimizu was born in Kyoto with the childhood name Jutaro.
After his father passed away, he devoted himself to pottery under the guidance of his mother, Chika. In 1882 he succeeded to the name Masashimizu Zoroku. In 1884 he received a medal at the Kyoto Exposition. He also won the first gold prize at the Nanto Expo. In 1917 he moved his kiln to Nishinoyama, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City.
During t...

Brown silk homongi formal kimono with dots in jacquard and with gold threads interwoven, so that the fabric sparkles when the light hits it. The upper part is undecorated, except for three crests of the Sakagami family on the back...

Wooden panel covered with a thick layer of green urushi lacquer decorated with a lake landscape. A pontoon on stilts in light relief brown, ocher and yellow lacquer is surrounded by flowering Irises. The leaves are also in green thick lacquer and the flowers are in mother-of-pearl and eggshell, probably ostrich. The work is particularly neat and very solid. No signature, but certainly an excellent artist...

Japanese glass obidome (sash ornament) with flowers floating on a stream with air bubbles and silver foil flakes. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Nice design, wonderful quality glasswork, very pleasant to hold. Length 0.88 inches.

Vintage Japanese sunburst jasper obidome (sash ornament). Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Nice stone, natural lines in the material, beautiful finish, very pleasant to handle. Brass frame with two fittings on the back for a cord. Length 1.6 inches.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Mandarin Ducks
Date: 1930s.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.75 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten.
Reference: Koitsu catalog no. TK-DH-76.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi.
This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Back top margin has tape residue.
Note: An usual subject for Koitsu.

Bonhams sale catalog THE BLUETTE H. KIRCHHOFF COLLECTION OF NETSUKE AND SAGEMONO that took place in New York on September 16, 2009. Soft covers, 276 lots described and illustrated in color, excellent reference book, in great condition.

Unusual vintage Japanese wooden obidome (sash ornament) carved as a peony flower with leaves resting on an open fan. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Excellent sharp carving, beautiful painted highlights, very pleasant to handle. Signed on the back with a kakihan (carved monogram) of the artist. Length 3.1 inches.

Vintage Japanese glass obidome (sash ornament) with complex interwoven red, black and white streaks resembling kelp strands.. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Excellent crisp work, very pleasant to hold. Length 0.88 inches.

Vintage Japanese Komai metal obidome (sash ornament) with gold decoration of chrysanthemum flowers. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Nice design, superb quality crisp metalwork, two fittings for a cord on the back. Length 2.08 inches.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1920s) Japanese Kutani porcelain obidome (sash ornament) with enamel decoration of various flowers. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Nice design, good quality painting with gold and other enamels, bar on the back for an obi cord, pleasant patina. Marked on the back bar with 2 characters reading KUTANI. Length 1.7 inches.

Chirimen (crepe) silk kimono imprinted with Okinawa bingata design of irregular bands of flowers and plants of the seasons, in roundels, on waves, on vines etc. The outlines and basic forms are in brown, ochre and brown-red, while the flowers and leaves are colored in the red, yellow, green, and purple. Along the bottom is a band of stylized waves in red and brown.

On the inside white silk or rayon lining in top half...

Han-juban (short under kimono) made of plain weave silk and beni-itajime (clamp-board dye) with hand painted Yuzen design. The red dye is chemical which was practiced from Meiji period (late 19th century), after beni-itajime with beni(safflower), practiced in Kyoto in Edo period. The last image is beni-itajime with Yuzen dye. The lining is cotton. In excellent condition. W:57cm, L:70cm ...

A silk fukuro obi sash. In jacquard weave with 2 hues of gold-thread and red, green, yellow and brown silk. Clematis meandering upwards against a yellow-golden background, partially obscured by copper-golden stylized flower shapes.

The back of the obi is plain cream-colored silk, as is about 1.5 meters on the front, which would be invisible when wrapped around the body. The last 16.5 inches of the obi seamlessly fit onto the rest of the design.

Japan, Showa era, ca. 1960s-1990s.

...

TANUKI INCENCE BURNER

Pottery incense burner of raccoon dog with such a kindly face, Taisho period (1912-1926), Japan, approx. H 14.5 x 13.5 x 13cm (5.70 x 5.31 x 5.11in). In well-used condition for long years as seen sooted inner part. Five small chips at upper lid as is. Because each size and texture (lie of fur) of both lids are slightly different, different pair of lids might have been combined during manufacturing process.


selected ...

An old Japanese temple lantern made entirely of bronze. Sacred jewel called Hoju is represented in the finial. Hinged door allows access to the interior.

Early Showa period (1930s) Japanese kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony) of turned wood, top and bottom are lacquered with concentric circles of different colors. Elegant object in Japanese taste with overwhelming simplicity, two parts fit perfectly, beautiful surfaces, in excellent condition. Diameter 1.9 inches.

Vintage Japanese wooden okimono carved in a shape of a doll of Zen Patriarch Daruma enveloped in his monastic robe. Good size and unusually fat sculpture carved out of chosen matsu (Korean pine wood), its face done in ittobori (one cut) style characteristic of Hida school with clever use of wood colors and structure to add to the charm of the piece. Excellent sense of volume, pupils are inlaid with metal, beautiful patina. Signed on the back with 2 characters that can be read as KOKUEI. Height 3...

A silk fukuro obi sash. On a background of woven gold-thread and cream-colored silk is a repeating diamond-shaped pattern of stylized flowers and feathers in gold-thread brocade and brightly colored silk (orange, yellow, green, blue, red and white).

Woven-in manufacture mark turned inside and obscured by the seam.

Japan, Showa era, ca. 1960s-1990s

L 169 x W 11.75 in. (ca. 429.5 x 29.5 cm)

The obi has been worn and shows wear on the gold thread background and broken gold a...

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead with milky white body and multicolor brocade pattern. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Superbly made piece, in perfect condition. Height 0.68 inches.