The poem accompanying the artwork on this antique scroll reads: Fishing little trout—Precious drops of dew glisten—Flowing with the blossoms—The mountains and rivers of spring ( Rengetsu, age 78 ). A rather later and mature work by Rengetsu, this piece was created right as Edo ended and Meiji began, marking a major turning point in Japanese history and culture.
Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) was born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki fam...
George V covered urn. Made by Lionel Alfred Crichton in London in 1930. Girdled urn on stepped, raised, and gadrooned foot; s-scroll side handles with leaf cap and pendant flower heads. Cover domed with gadrooned rim and finial. Cutout strapwork applied to bowl and cover. Traditional Classical form in Britannia (that is, 958) silver. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7 x W 5 7/8 x D 3 5/8 in. Heavy weight: 16.5 troy ounces. #BY618
George V covered urn. Made by Lionel Alfred Crichton in London in 1930. Girdled urn on stepped, raised, and gadrooned foot; s-scroll side handles with leaf cap and pendant flower heads. Cover domed with gadrooned rim and finial. Cutout strapwork applied to bowl and cover. Traditional Classical form in Britannia (that is, 958) silver. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7 x W 5 7/8 x D 3 5/8 in. Heavy weight: 16.2 troy ounces. #BY619
George V sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Charles & Richard Comyns in London in 1922. Urn with ovoid bottom on raised and stepped foot; leaf-capped high-looping double-scroll side handles. Cover stepped and domed with cast flame finial. Traditional form with lots of room for engraving. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Overall dimensions: H 13 3/4 x W 11 1/4 x D 6 1/4 in. Weight: 37.7 troy ounces. #BY557
Midcentury Modern sterling silver tray. Made by S. Kirk & Son in Baltimore. Round with tapering shoulder and flat rectilinear rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1932-61) and no. 4111. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 3/8 x D 11 in. Heavy weight: 21 troy ounces. #BY290
George V sterling silver tea tray. Made by Alexander Clark & Co. in Birmingham in 1928. Shaped rectangle with molded curvilinear rim and bracket end handles; stepped oval supports. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Large overall dimensions: H 1 5/8 x W 28 x D 18 1/4 in. Heavy weight: 123.5 troy ounces. #BY069
Unusual Italian Modern sterling silver box, ca 1940. Straight sides partitioned with four square compartments, each with hinged cover. Marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7/8 x W 8 x 8 in. Heavy weight: 30.5 troy ounces. #BY700
Elizabeth II sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Edward Viner in Sheffield in 1963. Wide shallow bowl with canted and elongated bracket side handles; cover raised with vasiform finial. Knopped baluster on stepped and domed foot. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 11 1/2 x W 13 1/4 x D 7 in. Weight: 27 troy ounces. #BY558
Pretty Classical Silver tray. Octagonal. Sides tapering with repousse leafing scrollwork and flowers; rim beaded. Marked “Silver”. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 3/4 x W 13 1/2 x D 12 1/2 in. Weight: 22.9 troy ounces. #BY065
English Georgian sterling silver salver, 1926. Retailed by Tiffany & Co. in England. Round with molded serpentine rim. Four scroll-mounted hoof supports. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (Thomas Bradbury & Sons Ltd) and London assay stamp as well as retailer’s stamp (“Tiffany & Co / England”). Very good condition.
Large dimensions: H 1 5/8 x D 16 3/8 in. Heavy weight: 64 troy ounces. #BY289
Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Inari Shrine at Oji - Peddler and Woman
Size: Approximately 14.875 x 6.75 inches.
Date: 1924-30.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Shotei catalog #M-26. Ota-ku 2005 Catalog #:198.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back has paper and adhesive residue. A few foxing spots. Faint crease near top.
Mitsuhiro Unno (1939-1979)
Valley of Utsu - A set of five miniature Japanese woodblock prints.
Date: 1966.
Each woodblock print is 2.25 x 2 inches.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Set includes woodblock-printed title sheet, colophon, and list of subjects.
The poem etched on the side of this exceptional piece reads: "As a pastime ― bringing clumsy, fragile things to sell ― at Uruma Market ― how lonely!" A very significant poem as it conveys a bit of irony; for the Edo period nun who inscribed this poem would go on to create a legacy of art, beauty, and philosophy that endures even today. The poem also suggests that this is one of her earlier works that would have been produced before she became renowned throughout Japan for her...
Tsuchiya Koitsu
Twilight at Hira
Date: 1936.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Edition. First. Watanabe D seal at right margin (used 1931-41).
Artist's signature and seal at lower right.
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-18.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: TK-WN-7 in Koitsu catalog.
Condition: Print is fully adhered to slightly larger board. Two marks above boat. Slight soling in sky. Fr...
Arai Yoshimune
Kominato Bay
Date: 1910-60.
Size: Chuban. 10 x 7.5 inches.
Sealed by the artist at lower right.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya Yosaku. From the famous "Night Scenes" series. Hasegawa catalogue No. 1261.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Midcentury Modern sterling silver tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectangular with curved corners, flat narrow shoulder and stepped rim; scroll bracket end handles. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 22846, and director’s letter M (1947-56). Very good condition.
Overall dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 26 1/4 x D 16 3/8 in. Heavy weight: 112 troy ounces. #BY507
Plymouth sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1909. Tapering and paneled ovoid body, reeded helmet mouth, capped scroll bracket handle, and stepped oval foot. A fine piece in the classic pattern. Fully marked including maker's stamp, pattern name, no. A2788, date symbol, and volume (3 3/8 pints). Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 10 3/8 x W 9 3/4 x D 4 1/2 in. Weight: 24.7 troy ounces. #BY636
Edwardian sterling silver and enamel place card holders. Made by Sampson Mordan & Co. in Chester, 1905-13. Each: Two flat discs mounted to flat circular base. Front disc smaller and enameled scene with leaping, writhing fish, the hook and line barely visible. One has engraved 2-letter block monogram (ER). A second has same in script. Fully marked including 1905, 1912, and 1913 date letters as well as retailer’s stamps “Finnigan’s Manchester” (2) and “Wilson & Gill / 139 Regent St Londo...