Antique ukiyo-e woodblock print of a woman with a look of frustration on her face, wearing a black kimono, decorated with light pink and blue sakura blossoms, and a salmon pink under robe. Behind her are several cottages with trees and mountains, and stylized signatures in the top right corner and middle left side. Ukiyo-e is a genre of woodblock print that was popular during the 17-19th centuries in Japan. The print is set behind glass in a large frame, and the back of the frame lists artist: ...

Antique ukiyo-e woodblock print of an anxious person in a brown checkered kimono, with light blue trim and obi with black flowers, assisting a rather bored looking woman in a gorgeous, long black kimono with pink and blue blows, blue trim, and a pink under kimono and obi. By artist Ichiyosai Toyokuni Okada. Size: (entire frame) 21.5" height, 17" width (artwork only) 14.75" height, 9.5" width

Japanese Modern silver flask, ca 1950. Curved and faceted sides with flat bottom. On front bright-cut leafing-scroll lozenge (center vacant) between side borders. Back hand hammered. Tall and straight exterior cover and cork-lined interior cover; both threaded. Marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 3/8 x W 4 x D 1 3/8 in. Weight: 5.7 troy ounces. #BZ410

Charming rectangular Shakudo brooch with gold and silver detail featuring a laughing man. The brooch is braced by a 12K gold mount. Made in Japan. Meiji era, ca. 1880. Excellent condition with fine patina.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x L 1 7/8 in. #1119

Japonesque mixed metal napkin ring. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1882. Hand-hammered sterling silver ring applied with cooper ornament: A man in pointy hat is seated on the ground, smoking while a small dog approaches from behind, interrupting the opium-induced serenity. Above is a darting butterfly. Engraved name “Edward Hegeler”. Hegeler (1835-1910) was a German-born American industrialist and publisher. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, no. 675, and date letter. Very good conditi...

A testament to the brilliance of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, this lacquered mizusashi—skillfully handcrafted from bamboo—showcases a deep crimson hue that radiates warmth and sophistication. Its seamless design and flawless finish reflect the skilled hands of the first generation artisan who crafted it, achieving a harmonious balance between form and function. Designed for use in Japanese tea ceremony, this indispensable implement would love to be put back into service o...

Rare Japonesque mixed metal tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1878. Square with curved sides and straight edges. Two birds soar and glide. One is viewed from below and the other from above (that is, from bird’s eye). An original and jokey design incorporating the exotic flattened Japanese perspective. Feathers are gold, and beaks, eyes, and wispy, dangly talons are copper. Crescent frame engraved with calligraphy-style presentation dated 1879. Ground hand hammered. Corner leaf-and-sc...

American Modern ring with cabochon tiger eye in 14k yellow gold setting; brilliant-cut diamond on each shoulder. Hallmarked. Excellent condition.

Size: 8 1/2. Weight: 10.5 dwt (16.3 g). #1223

Pair of German silver Renaissance hunting figures, ca 1890. The man wears doublet over baggy chemise and hose with belt hanging loosely around hips. A long hat feather drapes gracefully along his arm. The horn is raised expectantly while the other hand rests on his sword. The woman wears a bodice-revealing fitted hip-length coat over a pleated skirt. Her braids are coiled in the back and her hat sports a jaunty feather. On a raised arm perches a falcon. The figures stand on rocky mounds with sca...

This small vessel, similar in a shape to a tokkuri, is a fine example of Oni Shino (carbon trap and natural ash glazing) that Tsukigata is so well-known for. Coining the term in the mid-50’s after countless failed experiments—which ultimately culminated in the discovery of this unique style of pottery—“Oni” translates roughly to demon or ogre. Fired at extreme temperatures for days in an anagama, the iron in the clay and in the glaze fuse, drip, and coalesce—while at the same time bl...

Japanese bamboo crafting, known as "Takezaiku," is a traditional art form that involves the skilled manipulation of bamboo to create various functional and decorative objects. Craftsmen trained in this art carefully select bamboo of appropriate size and quality, then use specialized tools to cut, shape, and join the bamboo pieces. Techniques such as splitting, bending, weaving, and binding are employed to achieve intricate designs and durable structures. Bamboo crafting encompasses a...

Jumbo big game-era safari flask. Made by George Unite in Birmingham in 1888. Glass body. Upper part encased in leather with cut-away vertical windows. At bottom detachable sterling silver cup engraved with armorial. Sterling silver collar with hinged and cork-lined ball cover engraved with same. The alpha model. Holds enough booze for everyone around the campfire. Fully marked. Very good condition with some handling wear from all those big sweaty hands.

Dimensions: H 11 x W 5 x D 2 1/2 in. #B...

The artist who produced this piece, Wataru Motomura, prides himself in living a traditional life in the eastern hills of Kyoto—long known for its rich clay and idyllic pastoral lands. Though the form of this vessel appears innovative and modern, the techniques and materials used to produce it have been around for many hundreds of years. Taking inspiration from the varied pottery traditions of his native Hyogo, Motomura is also known to use clay and methods from the Shigaraki region and many of...

Beautiful hand-hammered sterling silver and mixed metal perfume. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1880. Baluster with double-scroll side handles and threaded cover. Vertical stylized vegetation and darting insects (butterflies and dragonflies) applied to honeycomb ground. With chain for hanging on a lady’s chatelaine. A small-scale confluence of Japanese inspiration and Arts & Crafts technique. Hallmark includes pattern and order numbers, director’s letter M (1873-91), and phrase “St...

Japanese Mugiwara pottery emerged in the Mino region of Japan during the Momoyama period in the late 16th century. It is renowned for its distinctive straw-rope patterns etched into or painted on its surfaces that typically contains hues of indigo, mustard, hazel, ochre, and sometimes greens. The creation of Mugiwara pottery involves a process of hand-building or wheel-throwing clay pieces—typically serving dishes, vases, and teaware items—and then meticulously applying a straw-r...

The pottery style know as “nerikomi” or sometimes “neriage” in Japan is a technique where various colors and consistencies of clay are stacked together and then cut through to reveal a unique pattern. Here we see a beautiful execution of this approach by potter Wakasugi Naomi (b. 1974) who spent many years perfecting the technique. Wakasugi typically uses Shigaraki clay and porcelain clay from Kyoto in her works and says that when she first started out very few people were ma...

Sugimoto Sadamitsu (b. 1935) is one of the most important Shigaraki potters alive today and continues to create master works into his old age. Originally a resident of Tokyo, at the age of 33 he moved to Shigaraki and started creating high-quality tea-ware implements, most notably, fine tea bowls in the style of early Raku masters. A devotee of Zen and a lover of tea, Sugimoto is able to create tea bowls that are not just attractive, pleasant to hold in the hand, and a joy to drink f...

Sugimoto Sadamitsu (b. 1935) is one of the most important Shigaraki potters alive today and continues to create master works into his old age. Originally a resident of Tokyo, at the age of 33 he moved to Shigaraki and started creating high-quality tea-ware implements, most notably, fine tea bowls in the style of early Raku masters. A devotee of Zen and a lover of tea, Sugimoto is able to create tea bowls that are not just attractive, pleasant to hold in the hand, and a joy to drink from; but tha...