The warrior’s armor and helmet, samurai sword, spears, banners and paper carps (later cloth) in the sky are all tools used to showcase boy’s day in Japan. This tradition started early Edo period (1603-1868) by samurai families wishing their son’s good health and studies to be honorable samurai.

This set is made in Kyoto, Japan and is called “Kyo-armor”. Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. The culture there was developed to serve the best for the emperor...

A box for keeping incense – kogo – decorated with a carriage used by court nobles and members of the Imperial family of the past in dense gold dust sprinkle on a black lacquer background. The sky sprinkled with clouds of nashiji. Insides with dense nashiji. The bottom section decorated with a rock surrounded by bamboo in gold togidashi and kao of tea master Hisada Soya. Silver rims.

Tiny signature in gold lacquer on the bottom: Gaho.

The kogo was made for the tea master Hisada So...

A wild boar kōgo by famous Kyoto potter Imai Masayuki 今井政之 (1930-2023). Decoration is a stylized version of the ancient Chinese character for wild boar. Masayuki used his famous inlaid colored clay technique in producing this piece. Imai Masayuki and the late Miyashita Zenji are considered the two masters of the colored clay technique in Japan. Title: Inlaid Zodiac Wild Boar Incense Container (Zōgan kanshi i kōgo 象嵌干支亥香盒) Colored and inlaid stoneware, 3.8 cm high a...

A fine openwork Bamboo Flower Basket, Hanakago by Buseki Suigetsu. A slender and elegant bamboo basket for Ikebana Flower Arrangement made with the hexagonal plating technique called: mutsume ami, using thin strips of madake bamboo. Signed on the bottom: Suigetsu, Buseki Suigetsu. It comes with the Otoshi water container. No box. H 46 cm. Condition: Very good, no brakes. BUSEKI Suigetsu ( Tokyo, 1930-2003)studed under his father Buseki Suishin (1888-1984) which was in the lineage of the great To...

A female dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting. As is often the case with this artist, these two paintings do not bear his signature or seal, however the depiction of the figures with rich cheeks and long jaws shows typical expression of people of high social rank during medieval periods, which he exaggerated the expression was originated ...

A male dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting. As is often the case with this artist, these two paintings do not bear his signature or seal, however the depiction of the figures with rich cheeks and long jaws shows typical expression of people of high social rank during medieval periods, which he exaggerated the expression was originated fr...

Antique Japanese “Yogi” bed comforter, hand-spun cotton with "tsutsugaki" paste resist dye in aizome Japanese indigo dye. The design is auspicious symbol, Sho-Chiku-Bai (pine, bamboo, plums). The shoulder and collar areas are accented with "kasuri" cotton. Excellent condition - no holes on the front except one small L shape cut (3/4"x3/4") on the lower area, some repairs on the liner. Cotton wadding was taken out and cleaned (but not washed). Approximately 57" wide x 77" long, ...

Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku-ware and especially in works produced by the Tamamizu kiln, such as the 300+ year old ceremonial tea bowl seen here. The first in this line of potters was Yahē (1662 - 1722), an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (1615 - 1768) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho). Though he is the first potter of this branch, he is sometimes referred to as Tamam...

Conceived by 20th century master ceramicist Kawai Kanjiro—here an abstract depiction of flowers is used to adorn an exquisite “henko” shaped vase. The glaze used is known as “tetsu-yu” for its use of iron compounds to achieve this distinctive look. Though many pieces by Kanjiro remain today, this exact combination of style, shape, and glazing is uncommon, making this a must-have work for serious collectors. Interestingly, though it may likely not have been intentional, the abstract sym...

A beautiful hand thrown stoneware vase of tapering shape with three very small ears; mottled blue glaze / rubbing eggs glaze creating a stunning effect made by Ito Tosan. Ito Tozan I (1846-1920) or Ito Tozan II (1871-1937). Seal mark underneath reading Tozan, enclosed in the original stamped cotton bag. It comes with a collector box from the 50´s. Late Meiji to Early Showa, 20th cent. H. 26, 5 x Diam 7,5 cm. Condition: Fine. **** Ito Tozan I (1846-1920) started his artistic career as ...

Fine Tall Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Lady with Oxford TL Test (44cm)

Arguably the most desirable and collectable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 906) is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This figure is a large and particularly elegant example.

The lady stands upright with her hands clasped together under her voluminous robe. Note also the elaborate hairstyle but most striking are the fine details to her face: simply exquisite! It is made from a buff-col...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Pottery Amphora (206 BC - AD 220)

A superbly conceived design; jars of this general type have been found in excavations dating as far back as the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC). Although perhaps not obviously Chinese in design, this type of vessel is one of the most recognisable forms of Han Dynasty pottery and is thought by some archaeologists to be anthropomorphic, with the shape and "swirling" design of the main body based on the female human form. 

Th...

Chinese Zhou / Warring States Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel with Cover (8/8/88)

This rare bronze vessel dates to the Eastern Zhou period (770 - 221 BC). Such vessels are invariably referred to as "ritual wine vessels". It is of a rounded rectangular form. The body stands on four feet, one in each corner and of a mythical winged-human form. The front has a loop handled surmounted with a stylised buffalo head, its mouth open wide. The cover has a reticulated oval final in the form of interlinked s...

A pair of 10 inch tall Pairpoint candlesticks in colorless glass with amethyst additions. The sticks are decorated in the classic “Waterford” pattern and are identified as shape F1622 Florentine candlesticks in the 1915 - 1920 company literature as illustrated in Padgett’s “Pairpoint Glass.” There is no damage to either candlestick.

A large Persian book cover made of papier-mâché with leather-binding. Both sides hand-painted in polychrome gouache and gold under lacquered varnish. The outsides showing a dignitary with consort on a throne surrounded by musicians and a festival with horsemen, musicians and veiled women, both depictions framed by inscriptions. The interior with scrolls of tendrils in gold on red ground. Condition: some craquelure, flaking and wear, traces of age, some retouchings. Dimension: closed: 30 x 43 c...

Great example of a Durand champagne glass with ruby red cup and foot joined by an ambergris stem. The cup, stem and foot are nicely ribbed and measure 6 inches tall. The cup is 4 3/8 inches in diameter and the foot is 3 1/16 inches in diameter. The foot has a rolled rim and has a small polished pontil mark. This example is pristine.

Sabra Field (American, born 1935)
Going Home
Date: ca 1980 (as noted on separate board)
Paper size: 13 x 8.5 inches.
Image size: 9.5 x 5 inches.
Medium: Woodcut print.
Condition: Light scuff on mountain.

A colorless Webb ewer or cruet decorated with an acid etched floral design and having an acorn stopper. The 7 ½ inch tall piece is 10 inches tall with the stopper in place. The stopper is not the original but is the correct style of stopper for this piece.