Not to be confused with the Olympic medalist, this Tomita Hiroyuki (b. 1977) is a talented potter pushing the bounds of an otherwise conservative field where many ceramic forms are carried forward for centuries and sometimes millennia. Beginning his artistic endeavors in the field of metal casting, he soon met and became a student to Ijuin Mariko who introduced him to the world of ceramics. In 2007 he opened his own workshop and since that time he has been actively creating and exhib...

Crafted from locally sourced Bizen clay, this mid-Edo period vase embodies simplicity, beauty, and understated elegance. Originally crafted as a tokkuri, or sake flask, it was recovered from the estate of a tea-practitioner who reportedly cherished it as a vase that would hold colorful flowers and various grasses throughout the seasons.

Thanks to the dedication and passion of a researcher by the name of Katsura Matasaburo (1901-1986) we can be assured that this vase is a...

During the Meiji period in Japan, the humble iron kettle, known as a "tetsubin," emerged as an iconic symbol of traditional craftsmanship and functional artistry. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and often adorned with intricate designs—as can be seen here with a cherry blossom motif and a what appears to be a pine-cone for a gripper—they became an essential tool in the Japanese tea ceremony. These kettles were prized not only for their practicality in boiling water bu...

Ota Shumin (1884-1950, Japanese)
Boats on River (given title).
Date: 1930s.
Size: Oban. 17.25 x 12.625 inches.
Signed "Shumin" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Tonal difference at edges where formerly matted. Light creasing visible in side light.
Note: Shumin participated in a painting event at the 1936 Olympics.

Modern sterling silver porringer with Noah’s Ark motif. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1926. Bellied bowl and solid shaped handle. On exterior is acid-etched frieze with a lion, camel, elephant, bear—and so on single file through the animal kingdom. Destination Ark where Noah awaits. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 20731A (first produced in 1926), and director’s letter m. Very good condition with strong definition.

Dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 6 x D 4 1/4 in. Weight...

Dutch silver figural spice box. Imported to England in 1891 by BH Joseph & Co. An egret gracefully scrolled neck, red glass eyes, and gaping beak stands on one scaly leg, the other leg raised with clenched talons. A beautiful bird with nicely delineated plumage. Hinged at bust. Dutch assay stamp and date letter, and English sterling-standard import marks including London assay stamp. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 15 1/2 x W 6 3/4 x D 4 1/4 in. Weight: 19 troy ounces. #BZ288

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Kyoto Kiyomizu Temple
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Round Takemura seal.
Date: 1930-40s.
Size: 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Titled and sealed by the artist.
Reference: TK-TM-140.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent

A pair of blue topaz earrings. The pear shaped stones measure 1/2" x 3/8" while the setting measures 3/4" x 5/8". The butterfly clutches are marked 14k.

Kawase Hasui
Fisherman at Sunset
Date: 1930s. This edition 1950s-60s.
Approximately 5.5 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's oval seal at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along its top edge only to original card.
Condition: Excellent.

German Renaissance 800 silver wine bottle coaster, ca 1890. Round and deep well. Central rondel (vacant) in engine-turned frame radiating leaf and scroll ornament on lined ground. Wide and flat rim with embossed curvilinear scrollwork and ovals (vacant) between beaded borders. Fully marked including maker’s (Koch & Bergfeld) and retailer’s (Gebrüder Friedländer) stamps. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 1/4 x D 6 1/2 in. Well diameter: 4 in. Weight: 3.5 troy ounces. #BY...

Midcentury Modern sterling silver centerpiece bowl. Made by Alphonse La Paglia (d. 1953) in New Jersey. Deep and tapering with flared rim. Raised foot with short support in the bead and ring arrangement that proved influential with other American silversmiths. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 116. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 1/4 x D 10 1/8 in. Heavy weight: 33.3 troy ounces. #BZ270

Modern sterling silver tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1915. Round with tapering shoulder and reeded rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 18975 (first produced in 1915), and director’s letter m. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3/8 x D 11 in. Weight: 18.8 troy ounces. #BX721

German silver figural bird bowl, ca 1920. A swan with s-scroll neck, closed bill, and direct expression. Webbed feet in glide mode. Fine delineation of feathers from scaly neck to downy wing plumes. Hollow gilt-washed interior; frosted glass liner with scalloped rim. Silver marked “Sterling Silver Germany”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 1/4 x L 5 1/4 x W 4 in. Weight (silver only): 6 troy ounces. #BZ279

Fujiwara Fuseki
A Scenic Spot in Atami, Mt. Izu Coast
Not dated. ca mid-century.
Publisher: Nisshinbo
Size: The artwork measures 5.75 x 3.75 inches and is attached along its top edge only to a 7.5 x 5.75 inch paper frame.
Sealed by the artist.
Medium: While this piece has the look of a watercolor, the cover states "hand-printed woodblock print".
Condition: Artwork is excellent. Paper folder is toned.
Note: The print features mica highlights.

Cyrus leRoy Baldridge (1889-1977)
Soo-Chow Canal
Date: 1944.
Size: 16.5 x 12.25 inches.
Signed, titled, and dated by the artist.
Medium: Etching.
Condition: Creasing primarily in margins. Please see last photo. Marks in margin. Small tear at mid-right margin.
Note: Cyrus Baldridge was also a woodblock print artist. See examples in our gallery.

Masaharu Aoyama (1893-1969)
Man Cutting Hay by Hand
Date: ca. 1950s.
Print size: Oban. 16.5 x 12 inches.
Signed in pencil.
Aoyama's seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along top edge only to original holiday card.
Condition: Creasing (See last photo).

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of these works and light-colored windows are created using feldspar. These high-contrast areas then act as a canvas upon which abstract, minimalistic, and often naturalistic themes are painted.

As can be seen here, this piece is of the green variety and looks to be from the mid-to-early Edo period as can be determined ...

German 800 silver playing card box, ca 1920. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with chamfered tab; top flat with two glazed windows faced with a King of Hearts and Queen of Spades. Interior wood-lined and partitioned with ribbon tabs. Leather-lined bottom. With cards. Perfect for a quiet evening at home. Marks include maker’s stamp HB (probably Hermann Bauer). Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 5 5/8 x D 4 1/2 in. Gross weight (box only): 11 troy ounces. #BZ291 ...