Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (184)

Baby's ceremonial kimono made of asa whose warp and weft are hand-plied. It looks choma (ramie) than taima (hemp), however it is not proven till it is looked by a microscope. Child's or baby's kimono was recycled from adult's and so did this one. It has some stains. The folded seam in the body is unseamed. The second half of the 19th century. 96cm x 115cm

A piece of hand-spun cotton cloth with chrysanthemum pattern, whose ground cloth in green is dyed with vegetable indigo and vegetable yellow, but the dye of the reddish-brown mum pattern is not clear. In excellent condition. 19th century. W:32.5cm, L:130cm

Three gods of fire which are unglazed earthenware made of clay. Fire has been thought as sacred and gods of fire have been put near furnaces, cooking stoves (kamado) and open fireplace (irori) for protecting from disasters and uncleanness. It is not clear where they are from, probably Tohoku district. All in good condition, no chip or crack.19th century. Height:20cm, Width:11 to 12cm

Bamboo basket container coated with urushi. It is handwoven of bamboo strips and covered with washi (Japanese handmade papaer), and then painted with black urushi. It has a label inside which says "Kataji kawago" which used to be a basket made of bamboo or wicker and covered with deer skin, or covered with washi later. It also says it was made in Ise in Mie Prefecture. It has vegetable indigo dyed washi lining. Generally in good condition but has many parts urushi came off, breaks and wear...

Katsugi or Kazuki which is worn over the head down and fully covers the body, which is made of hemp, whose wefts and warps are hand-plied. Originally, the kazuki was worn by a noble woman when she went out from Heian to Kamakura period (about 9th to 13th century) over kimono. The collar is lowered to cover a head. This one is probably made in early Meiji period (the latter half of the 19th century) in Shonai region in Yamagata Prefecture and worn at the wedding...

A carpet made of recycled washi fragments which were daifukucho (merchant's record book) or letters, and kakishibu (persimmon tannin) painted for strength and waterproof. It was generally put over tatami mats protecting them from sun beam or dust. It has letters "Kanei 6 (1853)", very late Edo period. It has rips, holes and moth bites. 204cm x 192cm

Kajibanten (fireman's jacket) with sashiko, made of cotton. It has hand-drawn "shachi" motif, which is a mythical carp with the head of a lion and the body of a fish and it is an auspicious protecter. Generally, in good condition but some wear in the neck and brownish stain near hem. 19th century. W:122cm, L:87cm

Juban (under kimono) made of three kinds of silk cloth. One is silk crepe with yamamayu (wild silk) stripes and the other is silk crepe with stripes. The third one is tsumugi (pongee silk) with katazome komon (stencil-resist-dye small pattern). All natural dyed. Yamamayu (wild silk) is rare and precious comparing with cultured silk. It is hardly dyed, so that it stands out shiny when woven together with silk crepe. It is sewn with very fine choma (ramie) thread so that it is rather old...

Large cloth which is recycled from hemp maku (shroud) with Tomoe-mon crest (three-way), dyed with vegetable indigo and painted with sumi (ink). Both warp and weft yarn are hand-plied. The original maku might have been used in the temple or shirine, or on the occasion of rites and festivals. Generally in god condition but has a few mending patches and the indigo blue faded parts and wear. 19th century. 148cm x 2m80cm

Tatou-gami made of recycled old washi (Japanese handmade paper) with kakishibu (persimmon tannin) for waterproof. Tatougami is used for wrapping kimono, precious items and so on. This was used for wrapping old books. It has four cords made of washi too. The second half of the 19th century. In good condition. 62cm x 67.5cm when it is flat.

A bag made of deer skin which coins were put in. The money distributed in civil society was mostly coins in Edo period. Paper moneys were issued in Meiji period (1868~1912) All hand-sewn and in excellent condition. The first half of the 19th century. L:65cm, w:24cm

Tatougami which was used at the pawnshop for wrapping pawned items. The name of the shop is "koyama Shichi-ten" and it has the shop's logo "小" in the square. It is a few layers of old washi (handmade paper) pasted together and painted with kakishibu (persimmon tannin) for strength and waterproof. Shichiya (pawn shop) appeared in Kamakura period and developed much in Edo period. 19th century. Top:82cm x 32cm, Bottom:82cm x 56cm

Kohai, a halo made of metal (copper). Very little bit of gold plate is left. 19th century. L:38.5cm, W:13cm

A pair of choku with mesh design which can be used for either sake or tea. One is in ecxcellent condition and the other has two minor hair line but no problem for use. 19th century. Diameter:6cm H:6cm

This is a set of woman's tobacco case and pipe case which are made of deer skin and has fine katazome ( stencil-dyeing ) komon pattern. The motif is pine needle. It has beautiful clasp of green bean motif which shows prominent craftsmanship in this age. The set also has a pipe, but it seems that it is not an original one as it is shorter than the case. 19th century. In good condition except for some patina. Tobacco case: 12cm x 6.7cm Pipe case: 2.7cm x 20cm

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

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

Cotton cloth with beautiful katazome (stencil-resist dye) with mum motif, which is made of hand spun cotton and vegetable indigo and natural brown dye. In good condition, however colors fades a bit from washing. 19th century. W:35cm, L:168cm

A container for gun powder used by samurai. It is in shape of hyotan, but made of wood and painted with urushi. The netsuke in the shape of mokugyo (temple block) with delicate carving. 19th century. In good condition. H:14cm Diameter:8cm

Sample book of fragments which are mostly hand-spun cotton with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and also has ramie and hemp with kasuri pattern and bashofu with katazome. It has about 80 different fragments. In good condition. The second half of the 19th century. 8cm x 24cm x 3cm

Sake (or water) container made of hyotan painted with kakishibu (persimmon juice) many times. It has hand-bladed silk cord for decoration and carrying. In excellent condition except for a bit of wear in the tassels. Late 19th to early 20th century. L:44cm Diameter:8cm

Hanten remade from Echigo-jofu kimono which is handwoven with choma (ramie) and both weft and warp are hand-plied. Echigo-jofu has been woven in Echigo region in Niigata prefecture since ancient time. Especially, pictorial and cross double kasuri patterns were very popular and much produced in late Edo period (the first half of the 19th century). Those Echigo-jofu with cross double kasuri kimono are seen many in Ukiyo-e. This hanten has double kasuri pattern and stripes. 19th century...

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

This is a suo kamishimo ( top and bottom which were a formal kimono for samurai in Edo period ). The occasion when this suo kamishimo was worn is not clear ( ceremony or stage ). This suo kamishimo is made by hand-plied and hand-woven asa ( hemp ) cloth with bold tatewaku pattern which is katazome ( stencil-dyeing ). It has round bunches of asa threads for ornaments which are called "kiku-toji" or "kikuji". In excellent condition except for a small moth holes and a rip ( 11th and 12th photos )...

Andon-sara which is a bobeche to receive oil in "andon", a paper shade lamp. It is made in Seto in Aichi prefecture, which is one of major six old kilns in Japan. It has hand-drawn flowers and a butterfly design. 19th century. In good condition. Diameter:22cm, H:1cm

Han-juban (short under kimono) made of hand-spun cotton and katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and shibori (tie-dye) pattern which are vegetable indigo dye. Shibori is made in Yokote in Akita prefecture. Late 19th to early 20th century. 56cm x 59cm

Cotton cloth with tsutsugaki flower motifs which is hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye. Originally it might have been used as 'yutan' (cover for drawers or a chest) with crests, however this one is used for futon cover as it has cotton dusts in the back. In excellent condition except for a minor beige stain in the white part. The second half of the 19th century. 160cm x 65cm

Cotton Kurume kasuri futonji with a castle motif. Kurume in Fukuoka Pref. in Kyushu has been one of the main product places of indigo dyed cotton kasuri since late Edo period (early 19th century). It is made of hand-spun cotton that means probably it was made before Meiji 15 (1882) and vegetable indigo dyed. In excellent condition except for minor brown stains only in the back. It has white cotton belt for hanging in the back. The second half of th 19th century. 129cm x 158cm

Pilgrim's sodenashi made of hand-spun cotton with writhings which are the name of the pilgrim, the year (Meiji 5, 1871) etc. The places of pilgrimage is Saigoku Sanju-Sansho (33 holy places in the west) which are for worship of Kannon and the oldest places of pilgrimage. Those are located in Kyoto, Osaka, Gifu, Hyogo, Nara, Shiga and Wakayama. The cloth in the back is also hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. In excellent condition. 45cm x 57cm

A gun powder container (kayaku-ire) made of twisted paper string and urushi (lacquer) is painted. It is very sturdy and light-weight so that it was made to many living wares such as a bowl, a sake cup, jingasa (hat), tobacco pouch, trunk, etc. from Edo period. In excellent condition with a deer skin pouch. 19th century. W:7cm H:16.5cm

A piece of Iyo-zome cloth which was futonji (bedding). It is made of hand-spun cotton and has katazome (stencil-resist-dye) pattern. The name Iyo-zome is originated from Iyo sudare (bamboo screen) since the pattern looks like wood grain by looking through two layers of them. Stripes are dyed with two katagami (stencil paper), one is vegetable indigo and the other is natural brown dye. Two katagami are dyed by displacing them so that they make wood grain like pattern...

This is a samurai's hanten ( jacket ) and maetate ( apron ) which are worn in case of fire. It is made of handwoven asa ( hemp ) cloth. In good condition except for some tiny moth holes in the back. Edo period ( 18th or the former half of the 19th century ). 118.5cm x 79cm

Man's han-gappa which was worn over kimono when he went out and made of hand-spun cotton, both outside and the lining. It is in very dark green, dyed with natural indigo and vegetable yellow. It has beautiful two kinds of katazome (stencil-resist dye) for lining which is natural indigo dyed. The collar is made of imported wool...

A piece of Iyo-zome cloth which was futonji (bedding). It is made of hand-spun cotton and has katazome (stencil-resist-dye) pattern...

Twelve Shinsho are guardian Buddhas of Yakushi Nyorai and they are 12 worriors and armoured. They have 12 animal symbols on the head. This one looks "Sarugami", monkey judging from the apprearance. Early 18th century. In good condition but some parts are lost. Height:29cm Width:12cm

Wooden Buddhist statue, probably one of the 12 Shinsho who guard Yakushi Nyorai. Both arms and other parts are lost. 18th century or earlier. H:16.7cm W:6cm