A fine Japanese lid rest or futaoki as it is known in the tea ceremony. The lid rest is done in a technique known as karakane or bronze and has been hammered. The tachizuru or motif of standing cranes is often seen in various tea accessories representing the rise of auspiciousness. The lid rest comes with a tomobako with the name of the lid rest and the artist, Seishu. Age: Late Showa Period Size: diameter 2.1" height 2.1"

Ito Nisaburo
Osaka Dotonbori
Date: 1960s
Size: 17.75 x 12 inches. Full margins shown in additional photo.
Publisher: Uchida Woodblock Printing Co., Ltd.
Artist's seal and publisher's seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned back. Slight fading. Tape residue at top margin.
- Interesting signage and fashions. This is a rarely seen design by Ito. There is an example at The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto.

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Tadashi Nakayama (1927 - 2014) titled “Flowers and Riding Horse” (Hana to Kiba) dated 1968. The bottom margin contains, in pencil, the date, artist’s signature and edition number 49/85. The paper measures 20 3/8”V x 15 3/4”H (Image: 14 1/2"V x 11"H). A red Nakayama seal is on the back. In pencil at the bottom left corner of the back is the title, in Japanese, and the original saIes price of 10,000 yen...

A view of a gate of a Japanese home found in the outskirts of Kyoto such as Ohara. The print contains an inscription of the title of the work, the date of the print, and the number. The woodblock was made by Saito Kiyoshi (1907-1997) who was known in producing prints of Buddhist subjects and views of traditional architecture in Kyoto. Age: 1968. Size: height 24.5" length 28.75"

This well carved stone laughing Buddha is 3 ¼” high (with wood base is 5” high), 4 ¾” wide and 2” in depth. It depicts a laughing Buddha (Budai in Chinese; Hotei in Japanese) comfortably leaning on his ever present cloth sack. His left hand holds a ruyi scepter; his right hand holds a gold nugget. A young boy is resting on the Buddha’s right knee. Aside from natural blemishes on the back of the statue and two crack lines in the wood base, it is in great condition.

TRAY OF RYOKAN

Large wooden tray actually used at old 'ryokan' (Japanese‐style hotel), Showa period, early-mid 20th century, D 35.6-34.8cm (14.01-13.70in), H 5.8cm (2.28in). Aesthetic grain expression and calm comfort for use. Expected some fine scratches due to aging with use. *Only a tray is available to purchase, as the other stuff (cups) of usage example are not attached...

Kihei Sasajima
The Buddhist Goddess Kisshouten
Date: ca. 1960s.
Publisher: Yoneda Minoru (impressed colorless seal at lower margin).
Date: 7 x 5 inches.
Medium: Woodblock print.
Condition: Slight toning. Margin trimming.

Chinese oval shaped pebble of white and green jadeite, carved with the the head and arm of Shou the Star God symbolizing longevity and good health, holding a branch in one hand of a darker jade. Late 20th century. Size: 2 3/4" high x 2" wide x 1" deep.

An original color woodblock print in the oban size by the Japanese Sosaku Hanga artist Kiyoshi Saito (1907 - 1997). Unlimited, dating from the 1960's. Hand signed in black ink and sealed. Condition: fine, very good impression and color. Dimension: image: 26 cm x 38.7 cm, paper: 29.3 cm x 43.7 cm.

Antique Chinese moss-agate lotus brush washer with leaves, pods and bud. Republic period (1950 - 1970). Size: 2" H x 5.5" L x 4.5D

Very nice Ghurra with the mythic scenary of a protector riding a cow and surmounted by another cow. Very hard wood showing a Glossy brown patina. H 27cm. More information of local origin

Takahashi Shotei
Night Scene of Mabashi, near Tokyo
(This smaller unsealed print is clearly based on the above Shotei chuban design.)
Date: 1950s-60s.
Size: 5.75 x 3.625 inches
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along its top edge only to original blank card (7 x 4.625 inches).
Condition: Excellent.

Hiroshi Yoshida
Wisteria Garden
Date: 1935. This edition mid-century.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in Japanese in the image. Titled and signed in English at lower margin.
Reference: Abe catalog #199.
Condition: Excellent. Two original pinholes at top margin.

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print titled "Yakushi Temple at Hino” by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991) dated 1961. The print is pencil signed at the bottom margin. The artist's black ink signature and red seal is at the lower right corner of the image. The small rectangular "Shiro hanga" seal is in the lower left margin below the penciled edition number of 38. The print is titled in kanji and dated 1961 in the lower margin. Paper: 16 1/2" x 11 1/4" (image: 14 7/16" x 9 3/4")...

Occasionally while 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 place it to a specific period or kiln given enough time and research...

A vibrant Lakai embroidered textile ("ilgitsh") from northern Afghanistan, measuring 56.9 cm x 58.4 cm including fringes. Romanian couching in silk thread on a deep red cotton ground, with bordering in cross stitch. Approximate age mid 20th century. The Lakai are an Uzbek tribe of horse breeders who came to Afghanistan from the steppes after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia to settle around the northern towns of Balkh and Kunduz.

A splendid Japanese woodblock print portraying the view of the noted Sino-Japanese temple, Obakusan Manpukuji in Uji, South of Kyoto city. The woodblock was done by Saito Kiyoshi (1907-1997) known for producing prints of Buddhist subjects and views of the traditional buildings of Kyoto. Age: Late Showa, c. 1968. Size: length: 29.25" width 1.25" height 23.25"

Vintage Japanese wooden kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony), its cover carved in a shape of the Zen Patriarch Daruma wearing a monk’s cape, and with gold lacquer on the inside. Beautiful dense fruitwood, carving is done in ittobori (one cut) style characteristic for the Hida school of carvers. Wonderful face, in excellent condition. Signed KAZUICHI SAKU (made by Kazuichi) on the bottom. Diameter 2.1 inches, height 1.5 inches. Part of a small East Coast kogo collection.