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. In some cases however, this proves to be a fruitless task and I am left only to appreciate the beauty and form of the object without having access to too many d...

Kaoru Kawano
Camellia (G) (Tsubaki)
Date: 1950
Size: Double oban. 23.75 x 18 inches.
Edition: 46/200.
Self-carved by Kawano.
Sealed by the artist at lower right.
Signed, titled, and numbered at lower margin.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: The thick paper has some thinner areas on the back from removal from backing. Slight toning line in margin.

Midcentury Modern sterling silver and cut-glass creamer and sugar. Made by Hawkes in Corning, New York. Each: Conical bowl on flutes and diaper, and scalloped rim border. Creamer has c-scroll handle and small u-form spout. Stepped and round sterling silver base. Fully marked including silver weight (16 pwts/each). Very good condition. Sugar has minor base ping.

Dimensions: Creamer: H 4 x W 5 1/4 x D 3 3/4 in. Sugar: H 4 x D 4 in. #BU361

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Flying Cuckoo
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 4.625 inches. 24.8 x 11.8 cm.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto Print Works. Cat. #360 tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight creasing where publisher's original tag is attached to back. Small dash mark indentation under bird.
- Rarely seen.

Dutch Neoclassical 934 silver salver, late 18 C. Round. Open gallery sides with flowering rinceaux and beaded rim. Four fluted and tapering supports. Fully marked including Amsterdam city stamp. Very good condition with nice patina.

Dimensions: H 1 7/8 x D 12 3/4 in. Weight: 31 troy ounces. #BU158

Arai Yoshimune
Sailing Boats at Anchor Under the Moon
Date: ca. 1910.
Size: Approximately 25.8 x 12.5 cm. 10.125 x 5.875 inches.
Artist's Yoshimune seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto. Catalog No. 385 tag on back.
Condition: Small white surface marks in sky. Verso has a couple of faint foxing marks near top. Margin mark.
Compare with our Yoshimune036 "Sailing Boats and Moon (1)."

Shoda Koho
Country Scene (With Moon) from the Hasegawa Night Scenes series. Also known as "Canal by Moonlight"
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.125 x 7.5 inches.
Date: 1910-38.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya Yosaku.
Sealed by artist. "Made in Japan" stamped on lower right verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: One dot of foxing in lower sky amongst trees.
Compare with our Koho074 Country Scene With Moon (Canal) (2).

A beautiful example of Ohi inspired Raku-ware; the body of this stylish tea vessel is a mix of a dark black gradating to charcoal grey with undertones of reddish maroon. A hasami-no-ato mark can be seen where the tongs were used to remove this piece from the kiln, and the potters mark can be seen near the foot of the bowl. Simple and refined, perfect for collectors and practitioners of tea alike.

Born into a generational line of tea-ware potters from Kanazawa, Fumiaki Kaihatsu (b. 1...

Spring Field
Artist: Unidentified.
Size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.625 inches 14.2 x 9.2 cm
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 425).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "Butterflies are flitting to and fro among the flowers."
An early and rarely seen design.

Being based in Kyoto we occasionally come across fine Chinese and Korean tea-ware to mix in with our Japanese offerings. Here we have an example of a ceremonial tea bowl from the Shinragi kiln in Korea. Pieces like the one seen here are baked in a traditional wood-fired “climbing kiln” at a temperature of over 1,300 degrees for 5 days. Fashioned after classical works held in museum collections, the motifs are timeless and captivating.

In excellent condition, this piece is 5.5 in...

Swiss Biedermeier silver chafing dish, 19 C. Round with gently curved sides and molded rim. Handle faceted stained wood. Beading. Cover gently raised with naïve-style flower head finial. Marked. Very good condition. Handle has minor chip.

Overall dimensions: H 6 1/2 x W 14 x D 8 in. Gross weight: 40 troy ounces. #BT943

Arai Yoshimune
Five-Storied Pagoda
Date: ca. 1910.
Size: Approximately 17.2 cm 12.6 cm. 6.75 x 5.0 inches.
Artist's seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 429).
Condition: Light wave in paper where the original publisher's tag is applied to the back. Some toning of paper.
An early and rarely seen design.

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Mt. Fuji and Sailboat (Fuji Yama)
Size: Kotanzaku. Approximately 24.8 x 12.0 cm. 9.75 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Artist's signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 367). Original publisher's tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A few marks in sky. Small bends at top and bottom edges.

Sensitive and endearing 800 silver animal figure. Made by Buccellati in Italy. A chimp with raised arm, big funny ears, and expressive face sits on amethyst crystal base with joined feet. A playful primate with tensile hands and feet, and shaggy wire fur. Marked “Buccellati Italy 800”. Excellent condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H (with base) 13 x W 8 1/2 x D 8 in. #BU120

Japonesque sterling silver and mixed metal water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1885. Globular body, straight neck, and c-scroll handle. Allover honeycomb hand hammering. Applied flowers, leafing tendrils, and butterflies. A restrained design with graceful plant and insect motifs. Fully marked including pattern no. 3077 and phrase “Sterling silver and other metals”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7 3/8 x W 8 x D 5 1/2 in. Weight: 25 troy ounces. #BM963

George III sterling silver salver. Made by Robert Rew in London in 1769. Round and ogee well with engraved armorial in floral surround. Sides tapering, and rim scrolled and gadrooned. Four leaf-capped volute scrolls. Stylish midcentury Georgian. Fully marked. Very good condition with nice patina.

Large dimensions: H 1 3/4 x D 15 in. Weight: 48 troy ounces. #BT951

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Nara Kofukuji
Date: 1937.
Size: Oban. Approximately 17.0 x 11.5 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi. Bears the Doi watermark.
Artist's signature and seal at lower right.
This indicates an early postwar edition.
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-44.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Cherry Blossoms by the Gate
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Date: 1951. Pencil-signed first edition.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Excellent. Upper left margin corner bend.
Notes: I've included photos of Toshi Yoshida's vintage envelope and the collector's notes of the previous owner, both of which accompanied this group of Yoshida prints. The collector's notes will be included.