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.

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.

Dubya-era sterling silver mint julep. Made by Scearce in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Straight and tapering sides, and beaded and molded rim and foot. A great barware cup from the surprisingly long ago aughts. Marks include maker's stamp and presidential date code "GWB". Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight: 5.4 troy ounces. #BY876

George V sterling silver box. Made by Sampson Mordan in London in 1914. Rectangular with straight sides and curved corners. Cover hinged with tapering tab and gently curved top. Cedar-lined and partitioned interior. Leather-lined underside. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 5/8 x W 9 x D 5 1/2 in. Heavy gross weight: 41.8 troy ounces. #BZ316

English Modern sterling silver box, 1919. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover curved and hinged with short tab; on top inlaid agate in form of stylized thistle in rondel. Silver lined interior. Leather-lined underside. Indistinct marks include Birmingham assay stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/8 x W 5 1/8 x D 3 7/8 in. Heavy gross weight: 15.2 troy ounces. #BZ292

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

Ohara Koson
Bird and Flowers (given title)
Image size: 5.5 x 3.625 inches.
Matte window size: 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Etching paper size: 8.0 x 5.875 inches.
Paper frame size: 8.5 x 7.375 inches.
Date: ca Early twentieth century.
Very small Koson signature and seal at lower right.
Features gofun embossing on bird and flowers.
Medium: Etching.
Condition: Toned and soiled paper. Margin corner chip. Attached at margin to paper frame.
Note: We could...

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 figural bird spice box, ca 1900. A raven with hunched shoulders, tucked-down wings, and spindly legs; detachable head downturned with pensive eyes and long pointed beak. A brooding desk ornament guaranteed to ensure stately solitude. Marks include Hanau maker’s stamp (Neresheimer). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 11 x W 6 1/2 x D 3 3/4 in. Weight: 18 troy ounces. #BZ289

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 ...