Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian (155)

Studio Japanese porcelain vase with bulbous body, wide shoulders and delicate Kakiemon palette enamel decoration of flowering chrysanthemums issuing from rocks. Great potting, underglaze blue painting of the rocks, fantastic quality painting with red, lilac, blue, yellow and 2 shades of green enamels, in excellent condition. Signed on the bottom KISEN in underglaze blue. Height 8 1/2 inches, diameter at the widest 7 1/4 inches.

1930s Japanese studio porcelain vase of modified double gourd shape with delicate Kakiemon palette enamel decoration of a flowering branch with leaves and blossoms. Great potting, fantastic quality painting with red, blue, green, yellow and black enamels, in excellent condition. Signed on the bottom AKIYAMA in red enamel. Height 7 3/8 inches.

Vintage pair of cut jadeite pieces to be used as Chinese scholar’s scroll weights. Stone of olive green color with natural lines and differently colored veins, sides showing the skin of the boulder from which the pieces were cut. Nicely polished, very pleasing objects for a scholar’s desk. Height (left one of the first photo) 2 11/16 inches, weight of the left one 265 grams (9.4 ounces), the right one 210 grams (7.4 ounces).

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead of dark blue glass with flower shaped swirls of tan and white. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Very well made, in perfect condition. Height 9/16 inches.

Netsuke carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century. Netsuke represents a doll of Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in monastic robe, and his eyes can pop in and out. Perfectly captured facial expression, beautifully incised and etched facial hair and 3 flowering chrysanthemums on his robe. It appears that the artist etched a different design on every piece of this model of his - see the other Darumas by Ryoshu on my site...

Netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Hyottoko - a perplexed peasant - carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century (see p. 886 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick). Wonderful expressive face, black and red ink highlights, beautiful finish to the surface. Signed RYOSHU on the back. Height 1 inch.

Hardcover book “THE BAUR COLLECTION: NETSUKE” by Marie-Therese Coullery and Martin Newstead in perfect condition. This book is number 716 out of limited numbered edition of 1500. One of the world's most important collections of netsuke is richly illustrated in this definitive volume. Arranged by subject with general subject description followed by exact description and photo of each netsuke...

Lot of 9 Sotheby’s catalogs from 1978 to 1983 relating to netsuke. Very good reference material, all in decent vintage condition, black and white photos, most of catalogs with prices realized.

Sotheby’s sale catalog FINE NETSUKE INRO AND LACQUER FROM THE ESTATE OF MADELYN HICKMOTT that took place in New York on February 8, 1989. Soft covers, 400 lots illustrated (some color, some black and white). Excellent reference book.

Book NETSUKE: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY BASED ON THE M. T. HINDSON COLLECTION by Neal Davey, Faber & Faber, London, 1974. Hardcover, dust jacket, 564 pages, 12”x8.25”. Absolutely essential reference book with thorough descriptions and black and white photos of 1322 netsuke with some 300 actual signatures. Most valuable part is an index of 3425 known netsuke artists with their names in Japanese characters, type of work, time period and preferred medium...

Ceramic chawan (tea bowl) for tea ceremony with multifaceted outside and enso circle shape foot. Unusual piece made in marbled technique with resulting surface perfectly imitating twisted patterns of a burl wood. The effect is achieved by laminating different colored clays together and throwing them on a wheel to develop a swirling and spiraling effect...

Rather unusual 1930s Japanese porcelain covered inkstone with underglaze decoration. The side of the base is inscribed with a very long text, the top of the cover has a short poem and a figure of a man in robe lighting his pipe from ambers in the brazier. Possibly Arita ware, very nice modeling of the central raised area with rougher side surface for grinding ink, remnants if dried ink in the well...

Vintage Japanese burlwood stand of irregular shape, to be used for placing small objects during tea ceremony or display of okimono. Wonderful dense wood with supremely beautiful texture resembling swirling clouds, in excellent condition. Length 4 1/4 inches, width 3 inches, height 1/2 inches.

Vintage Japanese burlwood stand of irregular shape, to be used for placing small objects during tea ceremony or display of okimono. Wonderful wood with supremely beautiful texture resembling swirling clouds, in excellent condition. Length 4 1/4 inches, width 2 3/4 inches, height 5/8 inches.

Vintage Japanese kiriwood kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony) in a form of an open fan with painted decoration of blooming kikyo-zaki (Japanese morning glory) with leaves and tendrils. Comes with tomobako (original storage box made by the artist) inscribed, signed and stamped with a seal of Munehiro Michiba, Very clever design, in perfect condition. Great piece in Japanese taste. Length 3 5/8 inches.

Japanese bronze okimono (also can be used as scroll weight or a brush rest) of a seated monkey with an outstretched arm by the artist Suga Shoen II (1897-1979), who was recognized in 1974 as a holder of Intangible Cultural Property - the term refers exclusively to human skills possessed by individuals which are indispensable to produce Cultural Properties. Excellent sculptural rendition of the animal capturing its essence, beautiful light brown to lightest green patina...

Japanese obidome (sash ornament) with polished moss agate stone, its natural pattern perfectly resembling a single tree with well defined branches. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Amazing natural picture, excellent finish and patina. Metal fitting on the back with two loops for an obi cord. Height 1 4/4 inches.

Netsuke carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century. Netsuke represents a doll of Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in monastic robe, and his eyes can pop in and out. Perfectly captured facial expression, facial hair and mandarin duck decoration on his robe beautifully incised and etched with ink. It appears that the artist etched a different design on every piece of this model of his - see the other Darumas by Ryoshu on my site...