Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (201)

A pair of miniature wood sculpture of Ebisu and Daikoku which are two of the Japanese Seven Dieties believed to bring good luck. Ebisu is a diety of fishery which brings plentiful catch and Daikoku is a diety of agriculture which brings good harvest. Both are in excellent condition with an original wood box. 20th century. H:5cm each, w:3.6cm each.

A large wood tray in red and black urushi (lacquer ware). Generally in good condition, but minor hairline in the surface and some parts where urushi came off and wear in the back. 20th century. Diameter:40cm, H:4cm

A wood suzuri-bako (ink stone box or writing box) which has layers of colors of urushi inside. It has a memo that it belonged to a noted Japanese painter, however it is not proven. The first half of the 20th century. It has some hair lines and cracks in the painting. 17cm x 27cm x 4.8cm

Wood board used by a "nushi", a lacquer-ware artisan in charge of lacquering urushi. It has natural dripping and dried glue(natural) while lacquering. Both sides are beautiful. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 9.5cm x 91cm x 0.9cm

Ema (pictorial offering) with a pair of "Aka Oni and Ao Oni"(red and blue ogres) which is hand-painted. It is an offering at Kijin Shrine in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo which is the one of four shrines worshipping ogres in Japan. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. 14cm x 8cm x 0.8cm

A folding pillow made of wood used on travel. It has two cushions made of cotton velour. Women had a largely fixed hair with wearing kimono, so this kind was used. It has carved letters "Beppu" and the scenery, so that it was made or sold there. Beppu is famous for onen, hot spa, located in Oita prefecture in Kyushu. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. L:21.5cm, W:5.8cm (folded)

4 sheets of Chiyo-gami with autumn leaves designs which are woodblock prints. The paper is washi, a handmade paper made from mulberry fiber. Chiyo-gami was originated in Kyoto and developed in Edo later. It was used for paper dolls and paper crafts. Generally the larger one is the older. Clockwise from top left: 53cm x 37cm, 52cm x 37.5cm, 41cm x 32cm, 53cm x 37cm The top left one has rather thick texture and others have thin texture. The fourth one has a break in the corner...

Katagami which is used for katazome (stenci-resist-dye), made of many layers of washi (Japanese handmade paper). It is painted with kakishibu (persimmon tannin) for waterproof and strength. The pattern "Kanze-mizu" is derived from the crest of the Noh drama player Kanze Dayu which is whirl of water. He was the founder of Kanze style Noh (15th century). In good condition. 20th century. 38cm x 45cm

Four sheets of Chiyo-gami which is woodblock print on washi (handmade paper). It is originated in Kyoto and developed in Edo later. It is used for paper dolls and paper crafts. The first half of the 20th century. 53cm x 38cm (the largest one)

Three pieces of wood plates with red and black urushi (lacquer). The bottom two are same ones but the top one is a bit different. Generally in good condition but have some minor flaws. Top: 10.3cm x 3cm, Bottom two: 10cm x 2.5cm

A wood bowl used by a lacquer ware maker. It has layers of red and black urushi. It is used by a craftsperson of Aizu-nuri, from Aizu in Fukushima in Tohoku district. The first half of the 20th century. Diameter:15.8cm, H:6.5cm

Thin wool unlined kimono with katazome dots pattern. The wool kimono was made in 1950s. The ground is off-white and dots are red. It looks it was barely worn and in excellent condition. 1950s. 130cm x 154cm

Two pieces of yogi (bedding) which are hand-sewn by a girl student at the sewing school which were established around 1880. It is called "hinagata" and generally one third of measurement of a real one. The left one is sodenashi yogi (sleeveless top cover) and the right one is yogi (top cover with sleeves). The purpose of making sewing samples is efficiency for time and material. It has been made till 1940s in the sewing school of which students are mostly girls...

A fisherman's work wear hand-woven of hemp for both wefts and warps. Both natural color and indigo stripes are hemp yarn, which are hand plied. It is from Tsushima in Nagasaki prefecture, an island located between Korean Peninsula and north Kyushu, and the textile is called Tsushima-asa. It had been woven till 1930s, but haven't been woven since then, so it is precious, especially in this excellent condition one. The first half of the 20th century, 110cm x 116cm

Rare item. Two fragments which are thick silk crepe (oni-chirimen) with katazome Ainu design. It might be haori (jacket) or kimono. In good condition but has some light stains and a hole (1cm x 0.5cm) The first half of the 20th century. Left one: 39cm x 96cm, Right one: 39cm x 116cm

A sashi (obi) made of plain weave silk with katazome design whose motifs are Edo Hikeshi (fireman) such as hanten (jacket) with brigade's marks, matoi (brigade's symbol) etc. Lining is twill weave black silk cloth. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 31cm x 4m12cm

Hand-woven silk sakiori obi (sash) whose weft is bunch of mixed color of silk yarn and warp is black cotton yarn. Generally sakiori is hand-woven of recycled strips from old cloth for wefts , however, we call the one also sakiori, whose wefts are bunch of yarns. In excellent condition. Black borders are recycled cotton strips. 20th century. 13cm x 2m56cm

Hand-woven silk sakiori obi (sash) whose weft is bunch of mixed color of silk yarn and warp is off-white silk yarn. Generally sakiori is hand-woven of recycled strips from old cloth for wefts , however we call the one also sakiori whose wefts are bunch of yarns. In good condition but has folded line along the length. 20th century. 25cm x 3m42cm