Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Carp (Two Carp and Blooming Water Plants)
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1926. This edition 1929-1942.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Sausage seal right margin.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Collectors seal at left margin.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: S39.1 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Toning. Some areas of corners and ma...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Moonrise at Tokumochi
Date: Pre-1936.
Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. No. 197 in 1936 Watanabe catalog.
White 6 mm Watanabe seal at lower right.
Artist's seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight fading. Paper residue at back bottom margin.

This tall and lovely Hagi chawan rests firmly on a wari kodai or “split foot” pedestal that is unglazed—displaying the coarse rich clay. The crackled milky glaze covers the curves and contours of the bowl, contrasting dramatically between the foot and the clay body. Hagi-ware such as this is part of a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery. Hagi-ware is prized for its subdued colors and classical features, especially the glazing, ...

This piece is described on the box as a Hikidashi Kuro Chawan. In Japanese hikidashi means “a pull-out drawer” and the term first came into use at Mino kilns in the 16th century to describe individual pieces that were pulled out of the wood kiln at the peak of firing to gauge if the batch was ready. The rapid cooling of such pieces often creates dramatic effects, with the most noted being rich varieties of deep black. Today this practice has fallen out of use and and only a handful of master...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Spring Evening
Date: Pre-1936. This is the more rare creped edition.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 12 x 5.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Shotei seal at right.
Reference: Shotei #M-12. Watanabe #212.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent color. Paper residue at top back margin.

Nishimura Hodo
Summer Rain
Date: 1930s.
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 15.5 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Shokai (stamp in left margin). Takemura Hideo label on back.
Signed by the artist. Takemura seal below signature.
Edition: First and only.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back corners have paper residue.

Crafted by one of the most well-known potting families from the Meiji period (Ito Tozan), this black Raku tea bowl displays a glossy sheen and gentle swells rippling through the clay body. The shape of the this tea bowl is known as “tsutsu” in Japanese and is regarded as being especially attractive. Tsutsu bowls are used mainly in the depths of winter to keep in the heat and prevent the tea from cooling too quickly. Tea disciples of all stripes appreciate this type of bowl for its elegant li...

Ito Shinsui (1898-1972)
Peaches and Melon. From the Three Still Lifes series.
Date: 1939.
Size: Approximately 19 x 14.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's signature and seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toning. Fading. Repairs made to margins and portion near left edge.

Jinbo Tomoyo (1902-1994)
Given title: Woman in Lavender Kimono
Date: 1957.
Size: 18.25 x 11.75 inches.
Edition: First.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Carver: Sato Jurokichi. Printer: Inomura Shonosuke.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: One of just a few prints made by this artist.
Tomoyo Jinbo (Teisaburo) studied under Hirazaki Eiho and Ito Shinsui.

Ohara Koson
Insect Next To Flowering Wisteria
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.25 x 7.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1910-1923.
Koson signature and seal
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Publisher: Daikokuya (154)
Reference: K43.6 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsunenobu Kano (1636-1713)
Pheasant and Wildflowers
Date: 1900-1910s.
Size: 8.75 x 6.75 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Residue at back. Light creasing.

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Cherry Blossoms by the Gate
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.5 inches.
Date: 1951. This edition 1990s.
Impressed block signature.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Excellent. Back margins have some attachment residue.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Edogawa (Edo River)
Date: 1930s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.75 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seals on front and back.
Sealed by Koitsu at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-68
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Morning Rain at Lake Hakone
Date: 1938.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.5 x 11.0 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten.
Printer: Yokoi. Carver: Harada.
This combination of seals indicates an early postwar edition. Also bears the Doi watermark.
Condition: A couple of faint foxing spots in water.

Cyrus leRoy Baldridge (1889-1977)
Peking, 1925
Edition: Numbered 83
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. 6mm seal.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.5 inches.
Signed in pencil: "C. LeRoy Baldridge".
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
In the evening; fishing at Tsukudajima
Size: Approximately 15 x 7 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. No. 202 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. M-2 in Shotei catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Margins edges toned from previous framing.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Owl
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.25 by 7.5 inches.
Date: 1930s. This edition ca. 1960s.
Publisher: Doi.
Reference: Koitsu catalog No. TK-DH-75-V1.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Takehiko Hironaga (b. 1935)
A Store in Kakunodate (2) - From the Akita / Kakunodate Series
Japanese title: Kakunodate no Shouho 角館の商舗 (2)
Size: 24 x 18.5 inches.
Date: 1982.
Edition: 23/50.
Condition: Excellent. Right margin has toning.
Hironaga traveled throughout Japan to make prints of its traditional buildings. The influence of his friend Kiyoshi Saito is apparent in this work.