Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Fireworks, Shubinomatsu
Size: Mitsugiriban. 15 x 6.75 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Sealed and titled in the image.
Reference: Shotei catalog M-23. Watanabe #222, Ota-ku #195
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back edge has paper residue.

Classical coin silver christening mug, ca 1850. Baluster bowl with high-looping leaf-capped s-scroll handle and round stepped foot. Large scrolled frame (vacant) surrounded by rural idyll with house and barn set in bosky landscape. In foreground a hunter takes aim at a fox. No vermin allowed in paradise. New York retailer’s stamp (Ball, Black & Co.) and star and eagle associated with Hartford production. Very good condition with nice patina.

Overall dimensions: H 5 x W 5 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight...

Edwardian glass sugar caster with sterling silver cover. Made by the Merrill Shops in New York, ca 1910. Bowl has upward tapering sides with cut ferns and stars, and leaf mouth rim. Cover domed and pierced. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 2103. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 3/8 x D 2 1/2 in. #BY824

American Modern sterling silver tumbler. Sides comprise three concave rings with flared mouth rim. Marked “Tiffany & Co / Sterling / 549”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 5/8 x D 3 in. Weight: 4.6 troy ounces. #BY651

Set of 4 Victorian sterling silver place card holders. Made by Saunders and Shepherd in Chester in 1899. Each: A rifle is propped against a shilling coin dated 1899, the year war broke out in South Africa between the British and Dutch colonial settlements. The rifle is the famous Lee-Metford, which was by then a tad old fashioned, but still considered reliable by British as well as Dutch troops, who made use of captured specimens. Open lunette base with vertical support. Fully marked including d...

Edwardian Modern Classical sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1907. Bombe form. Curved and overhanging mouth with lip spout and cylindrical bowl; round and stepped foot and c-scroll handle. Acid-etched ornament: Meandering ivy on mouth and handle and half-fluting on bowl. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 16867B (first produced in 1907), director’s letter m, and volume (5 1/2 pts). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 x W 8 3/4 x D 7 in. W...

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Snow at Shiba Park (Shiba Koen no Yuki)
Date: 1931
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Edition: First. Watanabe B seal (used 1927-32) in right margin.
Reference: Hotei #244.
Condition: Formerly matted with some tonal difference primarily near lower margin. One foxing mark in lower foreground.
Note: This famous Hasui design was also used later in a 1953 Pacific Transport Lines calendar.

Gyosui Suzuki
Two Egrets (Herons) Among Flowers with Moon
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 9.5 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso).
Artist's seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue. Very light crease upper left (photo).
Note: Very rare. We could find no other example of this design.

Yoshimoto Gesso
Blue Bird on Plum Branch
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 9.625 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso).
Artist's signature lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue. Point-sized dot in sky.

Yoshimoto Gesso
Sparrows and Red Flower
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 9.75 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso).
Artist's signature lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue.

Yoshimoto Gesso
Cherry Blossoms
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 10 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso)
Artist's signature lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue.

Kaoru Kawano (1916-1965)
Two Kittens
Date: 1950s-60s.
Size: Approximately 16.75 x 11.25 inches.
Sealed by the artist at lower right and on verso.
Self-published by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Tape residue at back margins and top front margin.

When the founder of the Urasenke style of tea ceremony, Sen-So Soshitsu (1622 -1697) was invited to Kanazawa as the master of tea ceremony for the powerful Kaga lords in 1666, the first Chōzaemon came with him and established Ōhi-yaki in Kanazawa. Chōzaemon had been the chief apprentice to the Raku family in Kyoto and took with him many of the principles and ideas associated with Raku-ware. Since those auspicious beginnings, Ōhi-ware has held a high place in the world of tea cere...

Cactus sterling silver dinner set. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. This set comprises 84 pieces (dimensions in inches):

Forks: 12 dinner forks (7 3/4), 12 luncheon forks (6 1/2), and 12 seafood forks (6 1/4);

Spoons: 12 dessert spoons (6 3/4) and 12 teaspoons (6);

Knives: 12 dinner knives (9) and 12 butter spreaders (6 1/8).

Dinner knife blades are stainless steel.

For a special dinner party. Cactus was designed by Gundorph Albertus (1887-1970) and first produced in 1930.

Fully...

Pair of Old Country sterling silver candlesticks. Made by Elgin Silversmith Co., Inc. in New York, ca 1950. Each: Bellied socket on baluster shaft; domed foot with three embossed scroll supports. Naif-style pointille ornament. Marked “ESCO / Sterling”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 13 1/8 x D 5 7/8 in. Total weight: 18 troy ounces. #BY595

Pair of Lancaster sterling silver ice tongs. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1900. U-form with beaded stem and floral terminal. One jaw ovoid and scalloped with ornamental piercing; the other a cast claw with five talons. A nice early piece in this pattern, which was first produced in 1897. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Shreve & Co.) stamps. Condition: Nice definition. Taut and springy.

Height: 6 1/2 in. Weight: 1.8 troy ounces. #BY812

Modern carving pair with knife and fork. Made by Christofle in France, ca 1970. Tapering easy-grip silver-plated handles. Knife blade and 3-tine shank are stainless steel. Handy for the holidays and all the days in between. Marked. Good condition.

Dimensions: Knife: H 12 3/4 x W 1 1/2 x D 1/2 in. Fork: H 10 1/8 x W 1 1/8 x D 1/2 in. #BX127

Pair of Repousse sterling silver ice tongs. Made by S. Kirk & Son in Baltimore. U-form applied with dense flowers and leaves in crisp relief; leaf jaws. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1932-61). Condition: Strong definition. Taut and springy.

Height: 6 1/4 in. Weight: 2 troy ounces. #BY816

Super luxurious Modern sterling silver colander. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Round bowl with two bracket side handles and 3 scrolled supports. Four pierced stars. A practical kitchen accessory wrought in precious metal. Fully marked including retailer’s stamp and phrase “Hand-Made”. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 6 1/2 x W 14 x D 10 1/2 in. Weight: 45 troy ounces. #BY860

Midcentury Modern sterling silver picture frame. Made by Watrous Mfg. Co. (part of International) in Wallingford, Conn. Rectangular window in clean and unadorned flat surround. With glass, silk lining, and velvet back and hinged easel support for portrait (vertical) display. Fully marked including Watrous and International stamps and no. 30. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Frame: H 10 1/4 x W 7 1/2 in. Window: H 8 5/8 x W 6 in. #BY262

Kawase Hasui
Dawn Over Lake Shoji
Size: Approximately 8.75 x 7 inches.
Date: 1935. First and only edition.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo for a calendar commissioned by Japan Government Railways. Please see the included original Japanese Government Railways tag.
Reference: Hotei #370.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margins trimmed. Back has areas of paper residue and slight thinning.
Note: Not many examples of this woodblock print have survive...

Ohara Koson (Shoson)
Redstarts on Flowering Cherry Branch
Size: O-tanzaku. 13.5 x 7.25 inches.
Date: 1910s
Koson signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Daikokuya.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: K26.5 in Koson catalog.
Condition: Top back corners have paper residue.
- This print features lovely woodgrain.

Traditional Japanese art tends to be timeless and inspiring in form, however, occasionally lacking in diversity and innovation. That is why artists who can incorporate centuries of experiential knowledge and technique into producing new and interesting forms are oh so valued. Though this Bizen jar fits into the category of mizusashi, a vessel central to tea ceremony that holds fresh water, it seems to transcend this narrow category and stands as an independent art object all its own....

Japanese inlay ceramics (zōgan) are created by making incisions on the surface of a clay body which are then filled with various colored clays, creating a pattern. After the pattern is finalized, an overglaze is applied and the piece is sent to the kiln to be fired. As can be seen here, the results are quite striking and produce unique patterns that cannot be replicated through painting alone. Inlaying as a technique is thought to have originally derived from practices in metal and ...

In Japan, famous for its generational potting families, only a handful have made it all the way through to the 14th generation—the Nakazato line being one of them with over 400 years of history. Handcrafted by the current 14th potter in the renowned Karatsu tradition, this piece displays subtle, earthy tones and organic textures reminiscent of nature. Blending elements seamlessly, a canvas is created that complements the beauty of the floral elements in glossy contrast across the s...

With a masterfully applied black Raku glaze and a noticeable aesthetic of austerity and stillness, this piece is what is refereed to in Japanese as an “utsushi” or what we might call in English a “tribute piece.” Such pieces are typically made by all Raku potters, regardless of the kiln and tradition, and seek to emulate famous works from the early masters over 400 years ago—in this case, a tea bowl created by the brother of the second Kichizaemon, Tanaka Somi, born sometim...

First presented at the Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition, this fine mizusashi crafted with extraordinary precision is a testament to the generational knowledge, skill, and dedication of one of Japan’s top traditional craftsman. Its tapered polished sides have a beautiful texture and luster that compliment perfectly with the hand-crafted custom lid adorning the top. Truly an exceptional artwork fused with the aesthetics of tea culture that gives it a sense of stability, calm, a...

Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita (1886-1968)
White Cat
Date: 1929
Signed by the artist in the image in English and Japanese.
Matte size: 23.25 x 19.375 inches. Matte window: 17.5 x 12.75 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print with gauffrage embossing on the cat (seen in indirect light).
Condition: Woodblock print is sealed inside matte and is possibly adhered to board. Some creasing visible in side lighting.

Set of 3 Modern sterling silver open salts. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. Each: Curved and shallow bowl with tapering and high-looping split-mounted handle with bead terminals. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 110. Two have postwar maker’s stamp (1945-77) and one has maker’s stamp “Georg Jensen / Silversmiths Ltd” and letter E in lozenge. Very good condition. Overall dimensions: H 1 x W 3 x D 2 in.

With: Set of 3 Acorn sterling silver salt spoons. Made by Georg Jens...

Francis I sterling silver 3-light candelabrum. Made by Reed & Barton in Taunton. Central socket on spool base to which are mounted to reeded wraparound branches, each terminating in single socket. Branches have short leaf and flower band. Branch plug set in socket mounted to baluster shaft; raised foot. Engraved and low relief ornament with leaves and fruit and flower clusters. Sockets bellied and shaft and foot fluted. Foot and bobeche rims scrolled. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, patt...

American Midcentury Modern sterling silver picture frame. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Rectangular window in same surround with convex front and flat sides. In hard-to-find landscape form with regal gold crown applied to top rail. With glass, silk lining, and velvet back and hinged easel support. Fully marked including retailer’s stamp, no. 47CC, and phrase “Hand Made”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Frame: H 7 7/8 x W 9 7/8 in. Window: H 6 3/8 x W 8 1/4 in. #BY629

Edwardian sterling silver tray. Made by S. Kirk & Son Inc. in Baltimore. Oval well and wide shoulder with repousse floral garland on stippled ground; imbricated leaf rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1925-32), no. 2517, and phrase “Hand Decorated”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 x W 17 x D 11 3/4 in. Weight: 38.3 troy ounces. #BY473

Super stylish Art Deco sterling silver compote. Round bowl with flared rim and curved and tapering sides. Ovoid support with Bakelite band to round foot with same. Visible hand hammering with nice shimmer. Italian marks (1934-44) including unidentified Roman maker’s stamp (14 Roma) and Milan retailer’s stamp (Fratelli Veneziani). Good condition. Bakelite crack on foot.

Dimensions: H 5 x D 9 3/4 in. Gross weight: 22 troy ounces. #BY685

Modern sterling silver tray. Made by Arthur Stone in Gardner, Mass., ca 1930. Round well with curved sides, tapering shoulder, and molded rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and craftsman’s initial T for Herbert A. Taylor, who was active from 1908-37. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3/4 x D 12 1/8 in. Weight: 23.7 troy ounces. #BX526

Set of 10 Acorn sterling silver place card holders. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. Each: Double-sided stylized acorn mounted to rectangle, in turn, mounted to larger rectangle. Marks including maker’s stamp (1945-77), designer’s stamp (Johan Rohde), and no. 62. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 x W 1 1/8 x D 7/8 in. Total weight: 5.7 troy ounces. #BY846

Pair of pretty Edwardian sterling silver candlesticks. Made by Fisher Silversmiths, Inc. in Jersey City, ca 1950. Each: Ovoid socket with detachable and turned-down bobeche; baluster shaft on domed foot. Rims have applied shells and scrolls. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 3310. Very good condition. A few minor pings.

Dimensions: H 10 3/8 x D 5 1/8 in. Gross weight: 31 troy ounces (weighted in shaft). #BY678