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

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead with cherry red body and 2 clusters of white flowers and beautiful ribbed leaves. 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. Superbly made piece - see finely textured petals and yellow centers of the flowers and fine structures of the leaves, in perfect condition. Height 0.65 inches.

Unusual good size glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with hollow inside and bright design of 2 sunbursts with wavy blue and yellow rays. Rare technique of thick walled material with hollow inside, superb execution, beautiful colors. Rather stunning piece. Diameter 0.94 inches.

Vintage Japanese kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony) made out of natural clam shell painted with lacquer on the inside with of a gnarled trunk and cherry flowers. Very clever design, rather suggestive erotic (see Enlargement 6) connotation as is usual with clam shape in Japanese culture, two parts fit perfectly and stay closed very well, in superb condition. Signed with a seal of the artist that seem to read TOGAI. Wonderful piece in Japanese taste. Length 3 5/8 inches.

Vintage unusually small wooden Japanese okimono of a crouching alert toad. Excellent clever carving capturing the essence of the creature. The material is Yakusugi wood - that of Japanese cedar (sugi, Cryptomeria tree) growing on the island of Yakushima and belonging to the trees aged 1000 years or older. Beautiful layered texture, wonderful depiction of its bumpy skin. Eyes are 2-colored glass, the piece is in excellent condition. Length 1 5/8 inches.

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.

Vintage Japanese Komai metal obidome (sash ornament) with gold and silver decoration of bamboo stem and leaves. 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. Nice design, great quality crisp metalwork, two fittings for a cord on the back, in excellent condition. Stamped SUMIJI on the back. Diameter 1.4 inches.

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 wooden Japanese sumitsubo - a carpenter line, in a form of a base with a spike, and rotating spoked wheel with a thread on it. Unusual version of the tool - it lacks a vessel part for ink soaked cotton, but has a spike. I am not entirely sure how it functions, but it is probably fixed to a wooden beam by pushing in the spike, and the thread is pulled to the desired point to make a straight line...

Vintage Japanese burlwood stand of irregular shape to be used for placing objects during tea ceremony, or for display of ceramics or okimono. Wonderful dense wood with supremely beautiful texture resembling altocumulus clouds, in excellent condition. Length 5 1/4 inches, maximum width 3 inches, height 11/16 inches.

Vintage good size glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in barrel shape with subtle black, blue and green pattern. Beautifully made, pleasantly heavy, wonderful smooth surface. Diameter 0.94 Inches.

Unusual Japanese painted pewter scroll weight in a form of a seated boy wearing a shishi costume used in shishimai dance, one of his legs outstretched. Very well cast, pleasantly heavy, nicely painted, some wear to paint as can be seen on photos. Feels very nice in a palm, very appropriate piece for scholar’s desk. Length 2 1/4 inches.

Unusual early Showa period (1930s) Japanese mingei (Arts and Crafts) small shallow metal box with enamel decoration of a flowering prunus tree branches with leaves and blooms. Wonderful use of moriage (piled-up enamel) techniques, beautiful work, excellent patina, in perfect condition. Most probably made by the Ando company. Length 3 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 Chinese wooden stand of square shape, its sides with openwork carving. Beautiful dark dense rosewood with wonderful patina, in excellent condition. Very good for display of scholar’s objects. 4 13/16 inches square, height 15/16 inches.

Unusual good size glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with hollow inside and design of multiple blue and red spirals. Rare technique of thick walled material with hollow inside, superb execution, beautiful colors. Diameter 0.87 inches.

Vintage Japanese kiriwood okimono in a shape of Kan'ei Tsūhō - an Edo period coin with a value of 1 mon. Actual copper Kan'ei Tsūhō was a Japanese coin in use from 1626 until 1868. It was introduced by the Tokugawa shogunate to standardize and maintain a sufficient supply of copper coinage, and it was the first government-minted copper coin in 700 years. These coins would become the daily currency of the common people and would be used for small payments...

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead of flattened ball shape with inlays of a butterfly and cherry flowers. 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. Superbly made piece, in perfect condition. Diameter 0.78 inches.

Fukagawa Japanese porcelain vase of square section with indented corners, and underglaze blue and enamel decoration of a flowering prunus tree with chrysanthemum flowers at its roots. Excellent quality painting, skilled use of gold, green, tomato red, yellow and white enamels. Marked in blue enamel on the bottom with a mountain and inscribed FUKAGAWA TSUKURU (made in Fukagawa). Height 7 1/8 inches.