Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (63)

Hanging scroll. Black ink, light colors and gofun on paper.
Painting of the demon of Rashomon stealing back his severed arm from Watanabe no Tsuna. Excellent use of dry-brush technique.
Signed: Yoshimitsu saku, seal Hoko. Japan, Taisho/Showa era.
Newly mounted with original embroidered brocade.
Image: 24 x 12.5 inches.
Total length: 58 inches.

Few old water stains on brocade, few tiny stabilized damages in paper, some damage to embroidery, all in all very good condition.

Bronze sculpture of a pair of geese, necks stretched out. Both are abstracted into a beautiful silhouette with only the most essential lines to indicate movement and character. One goose is stretching its head towards the sky (or full moon), the other stretching its neck towards its companion.
Bronze with brown patina.
One goose signed Sou for Saegusa Soutaro
Japan, Showa era, ca. 1950s.
Geese (and full moon) are a symbol of the fall

H 12 ¾ and 6 ½ inches

Excellent condition

Saegusa Soutaro (1911-2006) was a well known artist. During his working career he specialized in oil painting and large scale public sculpture. It was after his retirement in 1986 that he started to focus on animal sculpture. For another piece by the same maker, see item no. 10994, a leopard.

A long woman’s summer obi made of thin silk, woven in jacquard and openwork techniques with chrysanthemums or asters interlaced with fences of plaited bamboo leaves. On this, in Yuzen dye technique, imitating an ink drawing, several areas painted with cart wheels floating in waves.
The obi has been opened; a practice quite common in order to have the material cleaned. There is a paper (dry) cleaner’s tag on the obi.
Japan, ca. 1950s.
L ca. 13 ft, H ca. 13 inches

Few black ink stains, all in all very good condition

Wooden cart wheels were put into water to prevent the wood from drying out. It is a beloved image in decorative arts, as it alludes to the simple (idealized) rural life.

Long obi, woman’s sash for fastening a kimono. Silk with decoration in yuzen silk painting technique and silk and gold- and silver-thread embroidery. The story of Momotaro, Peach Boy, fully illustrated. The old couple, Momotaro’s foster parents, the boat that brings Momotaro and his friends the dog, the monkey and the pheasant to the island of the demons (Onigashima), the demons surrendering the treasures they stole. Momotaro, with the banner ‘Nihonichi’ (no. 1 of Japan), sits like a war general, while the demons bring the treasures in front of him.

Japan, Showa era, 1930-1940s.

Small silk laundry? tag with the digit 3 written on it.

H 12.75 in. x L 13 ft.

Minimal traces of usage, excellent condition

More images available upon request

Incense box of irregular circular shape. Over a light gray clay thickly applied opaque, lightly crackled glaze with feldspar that leaves bare a few small areas uncovered, which colored orange red during firing. On the cover a few circular black-brown underglaze "brush strokes".
Although bottom and cover clearly match, they do not make an airtight close line, but leave a couple of gaps. Few very short firing cracks.
Shino ware, Japan. Showa era, mid-20th century.

H 1.25 in.; W 2.25 in.

One tiny chip on a rim, otherwise excellent condition

Small covered box in the shape of a clam shell. Cream-colored stoneware with translucent brown glaze, partially covered with opaque beige-colored glaze with blue and purple streaks. Bottom left unglazed. Takatori style. Japan, first half 20th century.

H ca. 1-1/4 x L 2-1/2 inches

Fine condition

Paper collection label with no. 106. From a private FL collection of incense boxes, water droppers and other antiques

Small food dish for vegetables, relish etc. of round shape with small indentations in the rim. Thin, light colored stoneware, covered in cream-colored glaze with very fine crackle and pinkish brown swirls. In the bottom a highly stylized kotobuki character (longevity) in iron brown and three green glaze splashes on the rim. Glazes have left a few spots uncovered. Oribe ware, Japan, early Taisho era, 1920s.
H 2 x diam. 4-1/2 in.

Minimal traces of usage, fine condition.

Wall vase for ikebana flower arrangement, to be hung at one of the vertical beams of the tokonoma. Brown stoneware with white inclusions, splash of greenish glaze. Metal eyelet through hole in the back for hanging the vase up (new replacement).
Signature in bottom: Jinsai.

Shigaraki ware, Japan, mid-20th century, before 1977, when Jinsai changed his name.

H 5 - 5-1/4 inches, diam 3-1/4 inches

Fine condition

Ogawa Jinsai was born in 1914 as the eldest son of the Ogawa Tokusai III, a master of Shigaraki ware. The family was founded in the late Edo period. The founder was a master at replicating ancient Iga warea and was invited by the Todo clan in Iga to make such warea. In 1977 Jinsai took over the family business and became head of the family, changing his name to Tokusai IV. He made tea and sake wares, firing in a traditional cellar kiln. He passed away late Showa/early Heisei era.

Oversized hanging scroll, portraying a beautiful young noble woman in travel dress, looking down and holding a large head. While her orange kimono is decorated with cherry blossoms, her overcoat is decorated with maple leaves in autumn colors. Signed: Tojo. Red seal: Seizan. Ink, mineral colors and gofun on silk. Japan, Taisho era, 1920s.

Image 74 x 32 inches
Mounting 90 x 40 inches. Wooden scroll ends.

Some minor cracks and losses to gofun, otherwise fine condition

Stoneware water jar or mizusashi as used in the tea ceremony with round bottom developing into a diamond shaped edge. Greyish smooth stoneware, decorated with horizontal grooves, covered with brown iridescent glaze on the outside and with a mottled greenish-yellow glaze on the inside, dripping over the outside edge and down. Black lacquered, diamond-shaped coved. Takatori style, Japan, early Showa era, circa 1930-1950s.

H without cover 5¾ in.; with cover 6½ in.

Jar in fine condition, cover with 2 chips.

Bronze cylindrical handwarmer (shuro or te-aburi) with decoration of gourds plastically dangling from a band of low relief leaves and vines. The spokes in the shoulder and cover also in the shape of gourds. The flat part of the cover with fretwork in the shape of leaves and engraved vines. Playful combination of brown and yellow bronze. The handles wrapped in soft leather. Japan, Taisho/Showa eras, 1920s-1930s.
Comes with the original fitted tomobako signed and with inscription on the outside of the cover:
Nakagawa Joeki tsukuru and seal Joeki; Bronze handwarmer with [design of] gourds and vines …

H ca. 12 in. diameter ca. 8 ½ in.

Few scuffs consistent with usage, leather a bit dry and brittle.

Nakagawa Joeki X (1880-1940) was famous for excellent metal work in beautiful art deco style. He came from a family of armor makers, going back to the 16th century. His son, Joeki XI (b. 1920), is the current head of the Nakagawa family.
Although the handwarmer itself is not signed, the craftsmanship and the storage box identify the master

Stoneware receptacle, probably used as a kensui, or waste-water jug, in the tea ceremony. Relatively high, straight sides with a constriction under the edge, decorated with the typical green glaze patches and geometrical patterns and plant motives in iron brown on white slip. Bottom inside left unglazed. Impressed seal in bottom, in the shape of a flying plover. Seto ware, Oribe style, Japan, Taisho period or early Showa, 1920s-1930s.

H 4 ¼ inches, diam. circa 4 ¼ inches.

Inside with water stains (chalk), slightly calcified crackle of green glaze on outside, tiny glaze chip, all in all very good condition.

Pair of golden yellow silk fukusa or gift covers, with diamond pattern with water birds design in brocade weave, over which is embroidered in different hues of pink and in goldthread. The larger fukusa is decorated with a lobster carrying a treasure boat, holding several of the treasures. The smaller fukusa is decorated with a treasure boat, as well. Reverse decorated in brocade technique with a family crest in white silk. Japan, Taisho or Showa era, ca. early to mid-20th century.

H 29 ¾ x W 26 ½ inches and H 24 ½ x W 22 ¼ inches.

The smaller one with slight bleeding on the reverse (consistent with usage). Otherwise both in excellent condition.

Snake carved out of a natural piece of twisted keyaki (paulownia) wood, stained dark brown. Japan, Showa era, perhaps a bit earlier.

H ca. 24 in.

Excellent condition.

Figure of an eight-armed octopus, lying down in an almost elegant pose. Stoneware with gradient brown-beige color glaze. Signed on the back Hakushi or Hiroshi. Japan, later part of Showa era.

Length ca. 13 ½ x D ca. 9 inches.

Mint condition

Kabuto maedate, or ornament that sits in the front of the Japanese helmet. Aizen Myoo, flames coming out of his mouth. On top of his head a lion. Polychrome lacquered resin-like material, mounted on a metal base plate. Japan, 20th century.
Height ca. 5 ½ inches, width ca. 6 ½ inches.
Fine condition

Kabuto maedate, or ornament that sits in the front of the Japanese helmet. Long-horned monster face with big teeth and fangs and pointy ears. Wood with reddish color. Japan, 20th century.
Height 9 inches, width 8 ½ inches.
Fine condition

Wooden sculpture of an old man and woman taking a break from the rice harvest. They are sitting on an elevation. He is preparing his pipe, taking tobacco out of his tonkotsu. She is getting out a lunch box and two tea cups, while the tea kettle is at her feet. Behind them a sheaf of rice and two sickles. Perhaps a modern reference to Jo and Uba, the old couple on the island Takasago who symbolize longevity.

Signed on bottom: the 74 year old man, Tomoyuki.

Probably Taisho era (1912-1926) or early Showa at the latest.

H ca. 11 inches, W at bottom 10 ½ inches.

Few thin age/stress cracks, all in all fine condition.