Catalog (419)

Oshi-e, litterally "pressed picture" which is made of fragments of antique European prints and the motif is a young woman in Edo period. The history of Oshi-e date back to Heian period, found in Shosoin Treasures (around 10th century) It was very popular toy in Edo period with motif of Kabuki Theatre actors. The ground paper is "Itame-gami" which is ten layers of washi and has thin cotton lining so that it looks like a shallow relief. In good condition but black plain silk parts are deteriorated...

Sodenashi (vest) made of silk crepe fragments which are: katazome (stencil-resist-dye), stripes with yama-mayu (wild silk), itajime (clamp-board dye), plain etc. All vegetable dye such as indigo, benibana (safflower), shikon (root of purple grass). In excellent condition. The second half of the 19th century. 37cm x 57cm

Junrei's hakui (pilgrim's hanten) with many stamps of holy places in Shikoku, which is made of white hand-spun cotton. The ink letters reads "Shikoku Hachiju-hachi-ka-reisho" which means eighty eight holy places in Shikoku. It seems that the pilgrim visited all the eighty eight holy places. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 114cm x 87cm

A pair of wood sculpture of Ebisu and Daikoku which are two of seven gods. Ebis is for good business and Daikoku is for luck with money. They are put on the ouse shrine. In good condition but some parts are missed in Ebis (left). Late 19th to early 20th century. Base:15cm x 5cm, Height:12cm

Woman's kimono madeof hand-spun cotton with shibori pattern. It is dyed with vegetable indigo. The white cloth in the upper inside is also hand-spun cotton. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 126cm x 140cm

Long cloth with shibori which is worn by a woman when she worked in the fields to protect skin from sunburn or bug bites, which covers a head with only an opening for eyes. It was mainly used in the southern part of Tohoku district. It is made of cotton and dyed with vegetable indigo. The fronthead part has double cloth. In good condition but the white stitches have some ravels and a few small holes. The first half of the 20th century. 34.5cm x 170cm

Shima-cho, a sample book of cotton stripes and checks (check pattern was also called "shima" before. Some has both stripes and kasuri. Mostly vegetable indigo dyed but some of colored warps are chemical and some fragments are machine woven. 40 pages with 613 fragments. In excellent condition. Meiji (1868~1912) 24.5cm x 18.5cm x 2.5cm

A vest made of wash, Japanese handmade paper made from mulberry fiber and vegetable indigo dyed katazome (stencil-resist-dye) pattern. It is made in Toriyama in Tochigi prefecture, north of Kanto Plane. Washi has been made in the region from about 700 years ago. It is made by Fukuda Washi Producer. In excellent condition. Contemporary. 66cm x 77cm

Shima-cho, a sample book of cotton stripes. It has more than 600 fragments, mostly hand-spun and vegetable dye but some warps are chemical dye and also some fragments have silk threads. The second half of the 19th century. In good condition but some fragments are mildewy. 38 pages. 18.5cm x 13cm x 2cm

Bamboo tray handmade of bamboo strips. It is for uchiwa fan to be put in, which is one kind of fan used in hot summer. In excellent condition except for a loose strip in the bottom of th oval part. 20th century. 28cm x 33cm x 2.5cm

Silk Meisen unlined kimono with geometric pattern. Double kasuri (wefts and warps) is dyed with stencil-resist-dye (Heiyo-kasuri). Mid 20th century. In excellent condition. 126cm x 148cm

A bag made of deer skin with indigo dye hemp rope. It was used for coins which were distributed among citizens in Edo period. Paper moneys were issued later, in Meiji period (1868~1912). The first half of the 19th century. 26cm x 62cm

Silk meisen kimono with geometric design, whose colors are yellow ground with black, white and red triangles. Kasuri pattern for both warps and wefts are stencil-resist-dye (heiyo-kasuri). In excellent condition except for minor spots in front. 1950s Probably made in Isesaki city. 126cm x 146cm

Candle stand made of wood and bamboo. The wick and the saucer are made of copper. In excellent condition except for a hairline in the bamboo, but no problem for use. The first half of the 20th century. H:39cm Diameter of the bottom:18cm

Boro momohiki (panta) made of indigo dyed cotton and has mending patches. The first half of the 20th century. W: 80cm (flexble) L: 90cm

Silk crepe kimono with modern design whose techniques are katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and hand-painting. In excellent condition except for a few stains in the top collar, however unvisible as it is folded inside, and light blue color slightly faded in the jointing parts of the body and sleeves. 1960s or 70s. 130cm x 146cm

Asa (hemp）kimono with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) whose wefts and warps are hand-plied. Dyed with vegetable indigo. In excellent condition except for two rips in the center back (7mm and 5mm). The third quarter of the 20th century. 126cm x 134cm

Girl's ceremonial kimono with hand-painted auspicious motifs such as plum tree with flowers, pine trees and bamboos. It is made of asa (taima or choma, hemp or ramie) and both wefts and warps are hand-plied. It has a charm with silk threads in the back. The second half of the 19th century. In excellent condition except for minor wear in the white lining in the wrist. 69cm x 75cm

4 pieces of Nara Uchiwa whose history dates back to Nara period (A.D.710~794). It began as manual side line work of the Shinto priest of Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara. The traditional motifs (Tenpyo Moyo) such as peonix, deer, kylin (imaginary animal), dragon, Parrot etc. These four (originally five) were made by Ikeda Gankodo which is only existing maker of it in Nara. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. W:22cm L:37cm

Yuzen hinagata (sample book of yuzen-zome) of kosode (kimono with narrow opening of wrists) which is a reprinted edition of Edo kosode hinagata. It has 20 pages and 40 Yuzen-zome kosode designs. The book is made of washi (Japanese handmade paper.) Published by Yoneyama-do in Tokyo in 1927. In excellent condition. 18.5cm x 27cm x 0.5cm

Yuzen hinagata (sample book of yuzen-zome) of kosode (kimono with narrow opening of wrists) which is a reprinted edition of Edo kosode hinagata. It has 20 pages and 40 Yuzen-zome kosode designs. The book is made of washi (Japanese handmade paper.) Published by Yoneyama-do in Tokyo in 1926. In excellent condition. 18.5cm x 27cm x 0.5cm

Large cotton furoshiki with poem with shibori which is the first half of the famous poem from Manyoshu (The Anthology of Myriad Leaves). The original meaning is "It seems spring has gone and summer has come as white clothings are hung to dry in the Mt. Amano-Kaguyama". In excellent condition but it has some indigo color faded part. Dyed with vegetable indigo. Sewn by machine. The second half of the 20th century. 112cm x 148cm

Kappa (cape) made of cotton kasuri on both sides which are hand-spun and natural indigo dyed. It is called "maru-gappa" or "hiki-mawashi" in old days. It was worn on the occasion of travel over kimono. It has washi (Japanese handmade paper) between two cotton cloth which is washed out and soft. The word "kappa" came from Portuguese "capa". The Portuguese first came to Japan in 17th century. The piping　is made of handwoven hemp. Generally in good condition but has some holes and wear in cords. ...

Very large furoshiki with many mending patches which are all original and beautifully done. It is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed, ground cloth as well as mending patches. In good condition. The second half of the 19th to early 20th century. 164cm x 164cm

Ainu woman doll made of clay with cotton clothing which might be "ru-unbe" or "kaparamip". The Ainu pattern is hand-drawn. In excellent condition. 20th century. H:25.5cm

Basket made of bark of hiba, a family of the Japanese cypress. It is used by a mountain worker, and tools, lunch or collected mushrooms are put in. In good condition except for a few breaks in the rim. The first half of the 20th century. W:28cm H:31cm

Chogappo made of fragments of asa (choma,ramie or hemp) whose wefts and warps are hand-plied. "Pojagi" is the general name for the wrapping cloth and "chogappo" is one kind of pojagi which is patch-worked with asa or silk fragments.(reference source: "Korean Embroidery and Wrapping Cloths from the Choson Dynasty" published by Japan Art & Culture Association in 1995) Late 19th to early 20th century. In excellent condition except for one hole in the longest belt. All hand-sewn. The four belts are ...

5 panels of noren made of asa (hemp) whose wefts and warps are hand-plied and vegetable indigo dyed. The top hem and belts are hand-spun and vegetable indigo dyed cotton. The beige stripes are cotton threads. In excellent condition. 19th century. 160cm x 138cm

Se-ate (kind of vest only for back) hand-woven of mawata (floss silk) and vegetable indigo dyed. It is very light and warm so that was worn under kimono in cold weather or in cold region. In excellent condition. Late 19th to mid 20th century. 32cm x 54cm

A pair of hina dolls, Obina (male,right) and Mebina (female, left) which are displayed on Hina Matsuri on March 3rd . It is also called "Momo-no-sekku" or "Girl's Day" History of Hina dolls can trace back to Heian period (A.D.794~1185), but Hina doll display began in early Edo and became more gorgeous later. Paper Hina dolls were made in early Edo period (early 17th century) They have beautiful hand-painting of women on their costume. In good condition but have some damages. 17th century. 21cm x...

Wa-sarasa futonji made of cotton and dyed with pigments. Wa-sarasa is Japanese calico which is first made in Edo period immitating calico from abroad and stencil-resit dye or woodblock print. The product places were Nabeshima (Saga Pref. in Kyushu), Sakai (Osaka), Nagasaki (Kyushu) etc, however it is not clear where this futonji was made. In excellent condition. The latter half of the 19th century. 130cm x 168cm

Baby's ceremonial kimono made of machine woven cotton with hand-painting with motif of noble people. It has se-mamori (charm) with silk thread. The diagonal stitches to the left means it is boy's kimono ( to the right is girl's ). In old days, it is believed that evils come from back and a baby is vulnerable without seam in the back, so se-mamori is put. In good condition but a bit dusty from aging. Dry cleaning only. Late 19th to early 20th century. 62cm x 76cm

Design book of Japanese traditional patterns which are originally designed by Katsushika Hokusai (1760?~1849), a notable and prominent Ukiyo-e-shi. The title is "Shin-gata Kommon-cho", a new komon design book. It has a pair of two designs, which are woodblock print, black line in one page and colored in the other and each has a name. 74 patterns in a ciecle. In excellent condition. Published in Taisho 14 (1925) by Okamoto Ihei in Kyoto. 22cm x 17cm x 2cm

Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) with bold and nice family crest design which are katazome (stencil-resist-dye). It is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dyed. In good condition but has two mending patches and a few breaks. 19th century. 130cm x 126cm

Vest made of tiny bamboo beads and all hand-strung with cotton threads. It was worn till early 20th century (Quin Dynasty) as an underwear of silk garments, especially in the southern China or neighboring countries. It made a wearer keep cool and avoid the outer garment wetting by sweat. Generally in good condition but almost 30 beads are missing. 19th to early 20th century. 48cm x 52cm

A set of 5 chataku (saucer for tea cup) made of brass and black checker pateern looks painted with urushi. In good condition but some parts where black urushi came off and hair lines. It has engraved mark, "Shobido" in the back. 20th century. Glass tea cup is not included. 11cm x 11cm x 1.2cm