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All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1960 item #1489004 (stock #11097)
Welcome To Another Century
$450.00
Small rectangular box and cover. The box is made of wood covered in a thin layer of clear lacquer on outside and inside. The top of the cover is decorated on the outside with the two circles (mon). One is filled with a gohei (ceremonial wand with paper streamers), the other with an open and closed umbrella in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood). The flat makie work is executed in gold, silver and colored lacquers and gold sprinkle.

Inside of the cover signed with black lacquer seal: Tairei; bottom of box impressed seal of the wood worker who made the box: ‘To’ inside a double gourd.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Ko…, tabakohako (Small…, tobacco box). Signed inside of cover: A spring day in Showa 26 (1951), Tairei saku and red seal Tairei. Bottom inscribed, as well.

Japan, Showa era, 1951

H 1.25 x W 3.25 x D 2.75 in.

Excellent condition

From the collection of Ed and Julie Lewis, Chicago

Takai Tairei (1880-1971) was trained in the workshop of the Imperial Artist Ikeda Taishin. He lived in the Aoyama ward of Tokyo. In his young years he made inro and pipe cases in the Zeshin/Taishin style. Later on, he produced boxes and trays with lacquer decorations directly applied on the wooden objects (kiji makie), such as the one presented here. After World War II, Tairei made his living by manufacturing lacquered jewelry: obi pins, brooches and rings, while continuing making kiji makie objects. His brother-in-law was the famous lacquer artist Akatsuka Jitoku, who was married with his elder sister Takai Kei (1877-1946).

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1960 item #1489003 (stock #11101)
Welcome To Another Century
$550.00
Small rectangular box and cover. The core of the box made of wood covered in brown textured lacquer on the outside and red lacquer on the inside. The top of the kiri-wood cover is decorated on the outside with the fruit of a hozuki (Chinese lantern plant) in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood). The fruit is bright red takamakie, while the husk of the fruit is done in gradating red and gold takamakie. The cover shows a thin crack that has been beautifully restored with three small dove-tails.

Inside of the cover signed in gold lacquer: Tairei.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Hozuki, .. tabakohako (Lantern plant, small box in tobacco box). Signed inside of cover: Tairei saku and seal Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

H 1.5 x W 3.8 x D 3.4 in.

Cover with crack (through fruit), traditionally restored with dove tails.

From the collection of Ed and Julie Lewis, Chicago

Takai Tairei (1880-1971) was trained in the workshop of the Imperial Artist Ikeda Taishin. He lived in the Aoyama ward of Tokyo. In his young years he made inro and pipe cases in the Zeshin/Taishin style. Later on, he produced boxes and trays with lacquer decorations directly applied on the wooden objects (kiji makie), such as the one presented here. After World War II, Tairei made his living by manufacturing lacquered jewelry: obi pins, brooches and rings, while continuing making kiji makie objects. His brother-in-law was the famous lacquer artist Akatsuka Jitoku, who was married with his elder sister Takai Kei (1877-1946).

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1960 item #1487179 (stock #11099)
Welcome To Another Century
$300.00
Small box and cover made of very thinly cut kiri (Paulownia) wood, in the shape of a Daruma doll. The cover is decorated in gold, silver and red kiji makie technique (lacquer decoration applied to natural wood) with three tumbler dolls: rat, farmer girl, samurai boy.

Inside the surface is covered in plain black lacquer, the cover signed in makie gold lacquer: Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

1.25 x 4.3 x 2.7 in.

Few traces of usage on the inside of the box, overall in excellent condition

From the collection of Ed and Julie Lewis, Chicago

Takai Tairei (1880-1971) was trained in the workshop of the Imperial Artist Ikeda Taishin. He lived in the Aoyama ward of Tokyo. In his young years he made inro and pipe cases in the Zeshin/Taishin style. Later on, he produced boxes and trays with lacquer decorations directly applied on the wooden objects (kiji makie), such as the one presented here. After World War II, Tairei made his living by manufacturing lacquered jewelry: obi pins, brooches and rings, while continuing making kiji makie objects. His brother-in-law was the famous lacquer artist Akatsuka Jitoku, who was married with his elder sister Takai Kei (1877-1946).

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1960 item #1487177 (stock #11098)
Welcome To Another Century
$450.00
Small box and cover. The base of the box made of kiri wood (Paulownia), the cover made of kiri and keyaki (Zelkova) wood, diagonally joined together. The outside of the cover is decorated with two black shijimi fresh-water clam shells in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood).

Inside of the cover signed with red lacquer seal: Tairei; bottom of box stamped seal of the wood worker who made the box: ‘To’ inside a double gourd.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Shijimi, kiri kobako (Clam shell, small box in Paulownia wood). Signed inside of cover: Tairei saku and seal Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

H 1.25 x 3.3 x 2.75 in.

Excellent condition

From the collection of Ed and Julie Lewis, Chicago

Takai Tairei (1880-1971) was trained in the workshop of the Imperial Artist Ikeda Taishin. He lived in the Aoyama ward of Tokyo. In his young years he made inro and pipe cases in the Zeshin/Taishin style. Later on, he produced boxes and trays with lacquer decorations directly applied on the wooden objects (kiji makie), such as the one presented here. After World War II, Tairei made his living by manufacturing lacquered jewelry: obi pins, brooches and rings, while continuing making kiji makie objects. His brother-in-law was the famous lacquer artist Akatsuka Jitoku, who was married with his elder sister Takai Kei (1877-1946).

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1950 item #1485188 (stock #11094)
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Sculpture of a lifelike erected penis sitting on a base carved in the shape of two testicles, the bottom of which has been sculpted into a vagina. Either an erotic sculpture for fun or a votive phallus to be offered at a fertility shrine in the hopes of getting off-spring.

Sculpted wood with dark staining, rubbed in places

Japan, Showa era, mid-20th century

H 7.25 x D 5.4 x W 3.25 in.

Very good condition

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1482788 (stock #11089)
Welcome To Another Century
$500.00
Hanging scroll painting. Title: Kyokojitsu (Rising sun). A bright red sun rising above the clouds with a golden glow. Nihonga.
Ink, mineral colors and gold wash on silk.
Signed Wakō, seal Wakō.

Mid-20th century or a little later.

Mounting: H 67 x W 23.5 in. (inc. scroll ends)
Painting: H 42 x W 16 in.

Very good condition. Scroll ends are plastic, imitating ivory.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Inscription outside: Kyokojitsu (Rising sun). Inside signed Wako and with red seal Wako.

Wakō is the artist name of Kasai Toshiyuki (b. 1917 in Gifu Prefecture) who was active during the Showa era (1926-1989). He studied painting under Katō Eizō (Nihonga artist, 1906-1972 from Gifu Prefecture). He was chosen for the Nitten 20 times, 9 times for the Nisshunten. He won many awards.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Wood : Pre 1950 item #1472816 (stock #23-01)
Welcome To Another Century
$1,200.00
Very rare carving of the Three Wise Monkeys, sanzaru in Japanese, sitting on two logs. The one who hears no evil (kikazaru) and the one who speaks no evil (iwazaru) are sitting together. A little separated from them sits the one that sees no evil (mizaru). Carved in facet-cut (abstracted style) in soft cedar wood (sugi).

Signature in the bottom: Masahide.

Japan, first half of to mid-20th century.

H 3.25 x W 8.75 x D 2.1 in.

Short splinter on the base, otherwise very good condition

The monkeys are macaques, which are indigenous to Japan. The Three Wise Monkeys were probably introduced in Japan through Tendai-Buddhism, which came from China in the 8th century. They were popularized by the carving over a door of the Toshogu shrine in Nikko, constructed in the 17th century.

The name Masahide is connected to wood carving. Several carvers by that name have been identified. However, the signature cannot be assigned to anyone in particular.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Textiles : Pre 1980 item #1471868 (stock #22-87)
Welcome To Another Century
$250.00
Brown silk homongi formal kimono with dots in jacquard and with gold threads interwoven, so that the fabric sparkles when the light hits it. The upper part is undecorated, except for three crests of the Sakagami family on the back.
On the section that is underneath the obi, there are hand-painted crossing strips, decorated in bright colors blue, purple, red, orange, green, yellow, silver and gold sprinkle with geometric, auspicious motifs: Waves, shippo, diamonds, kikko hanabishi (hexagons with flowers). Each strip is bordered by a double stitched line of gold thread.

On the inside white silk lining in top half. The bottom half, the inside of the lower part of the lapels and along the inside edges of the sleeves, has been lined the same fabric as the outside.

Japan, Showa era, 1960s-1990s.

H (shoulder seam to bottom) 62 x W (side seam to side seam) 22 in.

This kimono has been worn, but rarely. It was shortened about 3 inches in the area that is covered by the obi. The collar can be shortened (half height) by use of snap fasteners. On the seam that thus forms, the fabric is discolored (red line). Generally in very good condition.

From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami, former mistress of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.

Homongi kimono with family crests are worn at formal occasions.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Textiles : Pre 1980 item #1471580 (stock #22-86)
Welcome To Another Century
$275.00
Chirimen (crepe) silk kimono imprinted with Okinawa bingata design of irregular bands of flowers and plants of the seasons, in roundels, on waves, on vines etc. The outlines and basic forms are in brown, ochre and brown-red, while the flowers and leaves are colored in the red, yellow, green, and purple. Along the bottom is a band of stylized waves in red and brown.

On the inside white silk or rayon lining in top half. The bottom half, the inside of the lower part of the lapels and along the inside edges of the sleeves, has been lined with reddish brown silk with a pattern of manji in jacquard weave, and sprinkled with small yellow dots.

Japan, Showa era, 1960s-1970s

H (shoulder seam to bottom) 63 x W (side seam to side seam) 23 in.

This kimono has been worn. It has been shortened about 2 inches at the level where it is covered by the obi; the collar can be shortened by use of snap fasteners. Generally in very good condition.

From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami, former mistress of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.

This type of kimono would be worn at an informal occasion or outing.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Textiles : Pre 1980 item #1471565 (stock #22-84)
Welcome To Another Century
$95.00
A silk fukuro obi sash. In jacquard weave with 2 hues of gold-thread and red, green, yellow and brown silk. Clematis meandering upwards against a yellow-golden background, partially obscured by copper-golden stylized flower shapes.

The back of the obi is plain cream-colored silk, as is about 1.5 meters on the front, which would be invisible when wrapped around the body. The last 16.5 inches of the obi seamlessly fit onto the rest of the design.

Japan, Showa era, ca. 1960s-1990s.

L 164 x W 12 in. (ca. 415.5 x 30.5 cm)

The obi has been worn and shows stains on the plain inside silk

From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami-Baum, former owner of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.

Fukuro obi are made from one strip of decorated fabric, and are lined with a solid-colored strip. Si it is sewn in two parts. It is worn at formal occasions.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Textiles : Pre 1980 item #1471481 (stock #22-83)
Welcome To Another Century
$120.00
A silk fukuro obi sash. On a background of woven gold-thread and cream-colored silk is a repeating diamond-shaped pattern of stylized flowers and feathers in gold-thread brocade and brightly colored silk (orange, yellow, green, blue, red and white).

Woven-in manufacture mark turned inside and obscured by the seam.

Japan, Showa era, ca. 1960s-1990s

L 169 x W 11.75 in. (ca. 429.5 x 29.5 cm)

The obi has been worn and shows wear on the gold thread background and broken gold and silk threads in the embroidery/brocade.

From the collection/ward robe of Reiko Sakagami-Baum, former owner of the Man O' War horse farm in Lexington, KY.

Fukuro obi are made from one strip of decorated fabric and are lined with a solid colored strip. It is sewn in two parts. It is worn at formal occasions.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1950 item #1471378 (stock #11075)
Welcome To Another Century
$1,500.00
Round tea bowl of more or less circular shape on a bamboo node foot. Fine cream-colored stoneware with decoration in the form of an abstracted character in slightly raised slip relief on opposite sides of the bowl. The bowl is covered in a light gray glaze on the inside, the outside is covered in a bright copper red glaze, turned brown along the foot.

No potter’s mark, but the bowl has strong resemblances to works by Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966). The foot, the underglaze slip-trail decoration, the clay and the glazes are all pointing to the master. No storage box.

Japan, first half 20th century

H 3.6 x Diam. 4.25 in.

Mint condition

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Wood : Pre 1960 item #1469865 (stock #10510)
Welcome To Another Century
$1,000.00
Solid wooden folk art carving of a giant penis. Strapped around it are red and white twisted cotton cords (imenawash) with paper strips (gohei). Penises of this size were donated to Shinto shrines dedicated to fertility, in the hopes of getting pregnant. Or they were carried around during fertility festivals.

Cryptomeria (sugi) wood, red and white cotton, paper

Japan, 20th century

H 24.5 inches (62.2 cm)

Excellent condition

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Metalwork : Pre 1930 item #1469862 (stock #22-60)
Welcome To Another Century
$1,200.00
Large incense burner in the shape of the holy Mount Fuji. At the foot of the mountain, between some pine trees rests a deer. The triple cone is the cover, in which two openings in the shape of small clouds.
Cast and patinated bronze.

Japan, Meiji/Taisho era, early 20th century

H 7.25 x W 14 x D 7.5 in.

Small casting flaw in cover, repaired (strictly speaking a casting flaw is not a damage), two larger casting flaws in bottom (not restored), a few scuffs, all in all very good condition.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1980 item #1469849 (stock #10860)
Welcome To Another Century
$600.00
Wall vase of irregular cylindrical shape. Middle brown stoneware with irregular natural ash glaze dripping decoration. Metal eye at the back for hanging. Marked with 3 dots at bottom, which is the mark of the Karatsu potter Nakazato Toraemon XII Muan. Japan, around 1960s/1970s.

H ca 7 in., W at foot 4 ¼ in.

Mint condition. The piece does not come with a box.

Nakazato Muan (1895-1985) inherited the artist name Taroemon XII, in 1927, following his father who was Taroemon XI. In 1928 he reconstructed the Ochawan kiln that had been used since feudal times. He studied old Karatsu ware, which had died a long time ago, in an attempt to revive it.
1955: Acknowledges as an Intangible Cultural Asset for Karatsu ware
1967: Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
1969: Received the Fourth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure
1970: Received the Western Japan Culture Award
1976: Acknowledged as an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for Karatsu ware
In 1959 Taroemon XII retired and entered priesthood in Daitokuji in Kyoto, carrying the name Muan henceforth. His son took over the business under the name Taroemon XIII. Muan dedicated himself from there on to creating his original pottery.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Sculpture : Pre 1970 item #1464090 (stock #10652)
Welcome To Another Century
$3,500.00
A pair of abstracted foxes, sitting at their haunches, tails curled wound their feet, their heads turned upwards, gazing at the moon.
Brown patinated bronze with roughened surface.
Each fox signed on the bottom ‘Kozan’ in archaic script.

Japan, mid 20th century.

Height 10 and 10.1 inches (25.2 and 25.8 cm).

Comes with the original tomobako storage box; the cover inscribed on the outside ‘tsuki miru kitsune’ (foxes looking at the moon) and stamped ‘seido sei’ (made of bronze); the cover signed on the inside ‘Kozan saku’, and sealed ‘Kozan’.

A few tiny dents at the bottom edge of one of the foxes, otherwise excellent condition.

The signature Kozan belongs to the artist Sakai Kozan, who was active in Takaoka during the Showa period, from the mid to late 20th century. The Sakai bronze manufacture is still active today.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1960 item #1463956 (stock #10038)
Welcome To Another Century
$450.00
Large peach-shaped bowl decorated on in- and outside with a bold Rinpa design of flowering red, white and blue camellias and leaves. Over a cream-colored coarse stoneware a thin layer of cream-colored slip has been applied, on top of which overglaze blue, black, green, red, white enamels and gold.

On the outside in a white rectangular reserve with black outlines the signature Kenzan. Japan, 1950s.

In the style of Ogata Kenzan or Ogata Kenzan studio.

H 4; w 12 inches.

Tiny chip on inner rim, otherwise excellent condition.

All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Textiles : Pre 1950 item #1463893 (stock #22-50)
Welcome To Another Century
$200.00
Rectangular cover for over a gift, called fukusa made of green (front) and purple (back) silk satin. On the front is an image of three turtles walking towards the water, with a bamboo grove in the back of them. The hand-made decoration is done in velvet, hand painting and gold thread embroidery.
On the back in light gray velvet against purple is a round family crest.

Green and brown braided tassels in the corners.

Japan, first half 20th century

H 22 x W 19.25 in.

Some of the velvet slightly worn, minimal traces of usage, folds from storage, all in all excellent condition. One tassel missing.

The turtle stands for longevity, bamboo for longevity and resilience. Auspicious image, excellent for gift giving. The fukusa would be put over a box or a tray holding a gift. The fukusa was just as important as the gift itself.