Kiyoshi Saito
Maiko
Date: ca. 1960.
Size: Oban. Approximately 17.25 x 11.5 inches.
Pencil signed and sealed by Saito.
Self-published by the artist.
Silver mica is used on the collar.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back margin has paper residue. Very faint toning.

Arai Yoshimune
Fishing Boat
Date: 1910s.
An early edition on original card-like paper.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.75 x 7 inches.
Publisher: Hasegawa. From the famous "Night Scenes" series. Hasegawa catalog No. 1245.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

A stylized grass motif painted in ferrous pigment across each side and on the inside of this mukozuke serving dish marks it as being more likely produced in Karatsu as opposed to having come out of a Mino kiln. Though very similar styles and techniques were utilized during the late 16th or early 17th C. when this would have been produced; the color, distribution of glaze, and patterning suggest Karatsu. While at one time this would have been part of a set of 5 pieces, very few sets s...

With an uncanny ability to emulate features of the natural environment, the creator of this sake vessel,Tsujimura Yui, is one of Japan’s most skilled potters working in the field today. With a breathtaking ash glaze that appears half planned and half left to the dictates of the kiln, we can see a number of textures and colors that one might encounter in a Zen garden or while hiking along a mountain brook. The front of the vessel is adorned with an “enso,” however, unlike the tr...

Japonesque mixed metal copper tray. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1882. Lobed and rectangular with curved sides. Applied copper and silver ornament: Tree with blossoming branches and sinuous irregular trunk rooted in granulated soil; above a butterfly and bird. Ground engraved with wild grass in foreground and hills in background. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, no. B75, and date letter. Good condition with some spotting to copper.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x W 12 x D 9 1/8 in. #BY284

Tokoname pottery has a rich history that dates back over a thousand years. Originating in the town of Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, this pottery tradition has flourished due to the region's abundant red clay deposits. The history of Tokoname pottery can be traced to the 12th century when the art form was greatly influenced by Chinese ceramics, specifically, by the Yixing clay pottery tradition. Over the centuries, Tokoname pottery evolved to develop its unique style characteri...

The term “Raku” was once reserved for a style of pottery produced by a specific household in Kyoto that began over 450 years ago. Over the years, as it gained popularity, several branch kilns were established (Ōhi, Tamamizu) and a number of other lineages arose making pieces in the style of Raku, though they were not formally associated with the Raku household. Today, we see that Raku has become a world-wide phenomena and the name is no longer reserved strictly for the Raku fami...

Several years ago we were invited by our very talented kintsugi craftsman to what is known as a “kura-ake” or storehouse opening. Many reading this may be familiar with the traditional storehouses in Japan (kura) with their thick plaster walls used to store valuable items—sometimes for hundreds of years—safe from humid air, insects, and the like. On occession, after the passing of a parent or relative, these storehouses are opened up and the art pieces and valuables inside ar...

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Snowy Miyajima
Date: 1936.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.75 x 7.75 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten.
Printer: Yokoi. Carver: Harada. This combination of seals indicates an early postwar edition.
Reference: TK-DH-25 in Koitsu catalogue.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back has one tape remnant at top right. Slight fading.

Vietnamese silver box, late 19th century. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover flat and hinged. Box sides have embossed blossoming branches, bamboo, and bird; engraved leaves and flowers at corners. Cover top has embossed slithering, scaly dragons with horns and talons in same frame; blossoming branches at corners. Ground stippled. Maker's mark for Guang Qing Yong. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 3 1/2 x W 6 1/4 x D 4 1/8 in. Weight: 18.4 troy ounces. #BW325

Special tha...

Handsome European stone trinket box, ca 1910. Rectangular with straight sides and sharp corners. Shoulder and base chamfered. Cover hinged, inset, and chamfered. Silver-plated mouth and cover rims. Cover has cabled border and filigree scrolled tab. Stone mottled red. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 x W 4 x D 2 1/2 in. #BX269

A flip calendar with a tiny woodblock print of a torii gate and a litho of The Teahouse Jiji-ga-chaya at Meguro by Hiroshige.
Date: 1934
Overall size: 5.25 x 2.5 inches.
Christmas greeting on back.
Condition: Excellent.

Charles W. Bartlett
Title: Kobe
Date: 1915
Board size: 12 x 8.75 inches. Image size: 10.75 x 7.25 inches.
Medium: Watercolor on paper.
Signed "C.W.B", titled, dated, and dedicated in pencil.
Condition: Painting is laid down to board. Paper toned in places.
Note: As signed, the work was painted in 1915, the year Bartlett arrived in Japan, and was subsequently presented as a Christmas gift in 1936.

Handwoven with delicate precision, this Japanese bamboo ikebana basket showcases the beauty of traditional bamboo weaving and the elegance of classic Chinese design that much of Japanese traditional art is based on. Its sturdy construction and balanced proportions make it perfect for ikebana arrangements, merging floral artistry with cultural aesthetics.

Though little is known about this artisan, I was able to find examples of their work in several high-end Japanese g...

This beautiful painting from late Edo portrays Mount Fuji as a sublime centerpiece, overlooking a serene landscape below. A lush pine forest embraces the foot of the sacred mountain, its deep greens contrasting against the pristine snow-capped peak. A tranquil lake reflects the ethereal beauty of the surroundings, mirroring the image of Fuji and the towering pines. The composition captures the harmonious coexistence of nature's grandeur, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the ...

In the tranquil pond, a solitary turtle finds repose upon a weathered rock. With its ancient shell glistening under the gentle sunlight, it sits in serene contemplation. The stillness of the water mirrors the turtle's quiet presence, as it basks in the harmony of its surroundings. In this harmonious scene, time seems to slow, and the turtle becomes a symbol of patience and tranquility amidst the ever-changing world.

Deep in the water A serene heart resides Floating above it...

Charles W. Bartlett
Fruit Sellers, Madura, India 1923
Date: 1923
Paper size: 12 x 8.75 inches. Image size: 10.75 x 7.25 inches.
Sealed CWB and titled. Signed in pencil and dedicated "Love from the Bartletts".
Medium: Etching hand-colored with watercolor.
Condition: Toned.
Note: This example has a double image.

German Modern 800 silver box, ca 1920. Rectangular with straight sides and crisp corners. Cover hinged with tapering tab; cover top gently curved and inlaid with shagreen in geometric pattern. Cedar-lined interior. Open leather-lined bottom. Marks include maker’s stamp (Wilhelm Binder). Good condition with some wear and rubbing to shagreen.

Dimensions: H 4 x W 7 1/2 x D 5 1/2 in. Gross weight: 28.6 troy ounces. #BX428