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

Beautiful Okinawan uchikui which is a furoshiki (wrapping cloth) with cherry blossom design. The dye technique is tsutsugaki and bingata-zome which is traditional Okinawan dyeing technique adding colorful vegetable color or pigment. Uchikui is dyed with either tsutsugaki or katazome (stencil-resist-dye). Uchikui is used for not only wrapping but also covering gifts. This uchikui is two panels sewn together. Wefts are choma (ramie) and warps are cotton...

Kimono, called "suzukake" worn by a Shugen-sha or Yamabushi who practiced Shugendo. "Suzu" means bamboo grass. Shugendo is the Japanese unique religion combining Buddhism, Shintoism, and worship of nature (mountains). A practitioner (shugen-sha) trained himself in the holy mountains that is ascetic and very painstaking. It is made of thick cotton and dyed with sumi (ink)...

Yuki-boshi (snow hat) made of weed and from Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. It is said it was worn by "matagi", a hunter. It has fragments of washi dyed with kakishibu (persimmon tannin) for waterproof. The second half of the 19th to early 20th century. In good condition. 45cm x 50cm

Wood Sumikiri-bon with red urushi. Summikiri means a tray in the shape which four corners are cut. Four sides have painted in Negoro style which has partly black urushi. Used and some scratches and chips. Late 19th to early 20th century. 36.5cm x 36.5cm x 3.5cm

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

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

Ema, a wooden pictorial offering on which writing one's wishes. This one is rare one with miniature iron swords which belong to Fudo Myoo (Cetaka). It has writings, "Fudo Myoo", " Ohshu, Sukagawa Nakamachi". It is the place in Fukushima prefecture in Tohoku district. In good condition. The first half of the 19th century. L:47cm, W:28cm

Woodblock print, Ukiyoe, the original picture is painted by the third generation of Utagawa Toyokuni (Utagawa Kunisada, 1786～1865）The place is Nihon-bashi in Edo, the first stage of the "Tokaido Fifty-Three Stages". The man is a "katsuo-uri", bonito fish vender. In good condition. Mid 19th century. W:25cm, L:37cm

A wooblock print book whose pictures were originally by Ando Hiroshige (or another name Utagawa Hiroshige) who was a prominant and well known ukiyoe-shi (1797~1858). This book was edited in Ansei 2nd (1855). In good condition but has some patina from aging. 11.5cm x 18cm x 0.5mm 38 pages

A woodblock print on washi with 29 ways of wearing tenugui which is the Japanese hand towel made of cotton. It has been using as hand towel as well as hat or scarf. In good condition except for a break in one of the corners. Printed by "Isetatsu which was founded in 1864, very late Edo period in kanda in Tokyo. The second half of the 19th century." 25cm x 37.5cm

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.

Urushi sakazuki (sake cup) made of wood and painted with black urushi. It has hand-painted sculp with red urushi which is for a charm against evil spirits and used in a temple or a shrine. It is from Akita prefecture in Tohoku. Late Edo period (The first half of the 19th century). In good condition. H:3.5cm, Diameter:10.3cm

Zabuton, a floor cushion made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. One side has kasuri pattern. It has four layers of cloth and sashiko (quilting) with white cotton yarn. Generally, in good condition but has wear or breaks in hems. Early 20th century. W:58cm, L:59cm.

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...

Uma-gake (horse cover) made of hand-spun cotton and has hand-drawn tsutsugaki design whose motifs are hyotan (gourd), tassel and kanji letters. Letters can be either the place or horse's name. This colorful one was used for a festival or a ceremony. It has red cotton lining. In excellent condition. 19th century. 31.5cm x 2m36cm The last image is one hint how uma-gake was used from the woodblock print, ukiyo-e by Katsushika Hokusai (1760～1849).

Uchishiki which is one of temple decorations put under the altar. This one is made of "hangiri" (pants), which is one of No costumes. It is made of blue ground silk satin with "hiun and uroko" (flying cloud and fish scale) design with gold treads. It has kanji letters "Meiji 5 (1873)"in the back, however it is the date when it was dedicated, so the age of the cloth might have been from late Edo period. Real gold thread is woven for the design...

Two pairs of fireman's gloves made of cotton and hand-stitched sashiko. Long ones are used but in good condition. Short one look almost new. The second half of the 19th century. Long gloves L:40cm, W:17cm. Short gloves L:24cm, W:14cm

Cotton futonji with tea utensil motif, which is hand-drawn with tsutsugaki technique and made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. Futonji with tea utensil motif was produced in the regions where tea ceremony was active such as Iyo (Ehime Pref.), Sanuki (Kagawa Pref.) and Izumo (Shimane Pref.) Tea kettle in the center, chawan (tea bowl), cha-ire (tea container), kamashiki (placement for the tea kettle), sumi-kago (chacoal basket), trivet, flower vase and so on...