Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (187)

Study of an elephant holding a piece of wood with its trunk, his skin hanging loosely about him. Dark brown patinated, light weight wood, the eyes inlaid in buffalo horn, the tusks bone. Japan, 19th century.
Length: 15.5 inches (39.1 cm)
Pupil to one eye missing, otherwise fine condition.

Hand shrine, or zushi, of the triptych type. Inside, in the middle section sits Amida Nyorai on a lotus base, flanked by Seishi and Kannon bosatsu. Inside the left panel, and inside the right panel tennin (apsara) flying over a lotus pond. Image of Western Paradise.
Sandal wood. The outside covered in a dark, translucent lacquer, sprinkled with clouds of nashiji and on the front two kiri-mon in slightly raised gold-takamakie and the overlap in the middle decorated with gold lacquer karakusa over silver lacquer background, imitating engraved hardware. The inside carved in raised relief in different levels, the background covered in lapis lazuli, the carving decorated with gold paint and touches of malachite. Silver hinges in the shape of butterflies.
Japan, Edo period, early 19th century.
Height: ca. 3 ½ inches; width when open: 5 ¾ inches (9 cm; 14.5 cm).
Lapis lazuli somewhat rubbed, all in all very good condition.

Hand shrine, or zushi, in the shape of a lotus bud, carved in two halves. On the inside, on one side the standing figure of Amida Nyorai on a lotus base, his hands in mudra. The other half of the lotus bud is decorated with a mutsume pattern (imitating a triaxial weaving) in kirikane (very thin strips of gold foil). Japan, Edo period, early 19th century.
Very light, soft wood. On the outside red lacquer, covered with leaf gold, that is partly rubbed off again. On the inside much of the carving is decorated with brush applied gold, and kirikane for the background of both halves.
Japan, Edo period, late 18th, early 19th century.
Total height: 4 ½ inch (11.4 cm).
One hand of the Buddha missing, the other glued, lower lip chafed. Few chips and dents at edges, all in all very good condition.

Small flat Buddhist shrine, constructed as a triptych. When open, the middle section houses Amida Nyorai in raised carving, sitting on a lotus throne under a baldachin and surrounded by clouds. On the left panel Seishi bosatsu with his hands folded in prayer, on the right panel Kannon bosatsu with the lotus in his hands. Both bodhisattva surrounded by clouds as well. Sandalwood with details of garment and baldachin in gold. Background in lapis blue.
The outside decorated in makie: A lotus pond with leaves and flowers in raised gold and silver takamakie and with okibirame. Over the pond clouds and two apsaras, playing the sho and the drum. Hinges in the form of silver butterflies. Japan, Edo period or early Meiji at the latest, 19th century.
Closed: 7.7 x 3.3 x 0.9 inches (12 x 8.5 x 2.3 cm).
Some warping, otherwise fine condition.

Shrines like these were often decorated on the outside by well known lacquer studios. Signatures were often put on the outside bottom of the case. In the 1915 Red Cross Exhibition a similar piece was shown (Sculpture, no. 24, and today included in the British Museum) that was described as carved by Naito Koseki and lacquered by Komatsu. This piece dates from the early 20th century. The quality of the lacquer work is clearly different from the piece here. Naito Koseki was a Buddhist sculptor who was still alive in the 1930s.

Two paintings of a abbots or patriarch sitting on a small pedestal. One of them holds a vajra in the right hand and a tip of his garment in the left hand. His sandals are underneath the pedestal as well as a ewer. The other priest holds a flat device in his right hand and a tip of his garment in his left hand. Underneath the pedestal are his sandals. Very detailed painting. Black ink, mineral colors, gofun and gold on loosely woven silk (ca. 30 over 14 threads). Japan, ca 14/15th century.
The painted areas are built up from 2 panes of silk each, stitched together in broad stitches, consistent with the Muromachi period.
Frames: ca. 54 ½ x 25 5/8 inches (ca. 140 x 66 cm).
Mounting scrollers cut off and framed with mounting. Very good condition.

A pair of hanging scrolls. One depicting a beautiful young woman in a black kimono decorated with open fans; the other depicting a blue demon sitting in a gauze priest’s garment in front of a bronze bell on a stand, holding a hammer in one hand, a rosary in the other. Black ink, colors, gold on silk. Seals in the lower left and right corners: Kason. Seal of Suzuki Kason (1860-1919). Japan, Meiji period. Ivory scroll ends.
Comes with the original wooden box.
Painted areas: ca. 52.9 x 19.5 inches (134.4 x 49.5 cm); total length ca. 89.5 inches (227.3 cm)
Bijin painting with brown spots on lower part, bleeding onto the back. Upper roller of oni painting warped, sporadic brown spot on front, some spots on upper part of back.

Suzuki Kason was a nihonga painter from Edo, studying different types of painting, including ukiyoe style. At the first Bunten Exhibition (a juried art salon, established by the Ministry of Education to stimulate the traditional arts in Japan) in 1907 he received a prize and at the third Bunten Exhibition (1909) he received an honorable mention. He was member of the Imperial Fine Arts Academy. He is above all a fine painter of birds and flowers and landscapes. Woodblock prints with birds by Kason are well known. One of his better known pupils was Ohara Shoson/Koson, who was famous for his paintings and prints of animals, especially birds.

Hanging scroll with image in ink, red, gofun and gold on paper of the bodhisattva Fugen in twenty-armed form sitting on a lotus throne guarded by the four guardian kings each standing on the head of an elephant, the whole being carried by a crowd of elephants. The black outlines printed, the image subsequently colored by hand. To the lower left the name of the donor: Reiun Jogan. Japan, Muromachi period.
Painted area: 21.4 x 12.75 inches (54.3 x 32.2 cm). Total length: 56.25 inches (142.9 cm).
Several restored damages, consistent with its age.

Reddish brown shrine with three very fine sculptures: Benzaiten in the middle, to her right Daikoku, and Bishamon to her left. Benten is seated on a lotus, depicted in her 8-armed appearance, holding a jewel, her other attributes are lost. On her head a crown with jewels and the snake-shaped Ugajin. Bishamonten stands on a demon and holds a pagoda, his staff now lost. Daikoku stands on two rice bales and holds a hammer and a bag. All of them on separate rock shaped bases. Excellent carving with extremely fine painting. Japan, 18th century.
Height: 9.5 inches; width: 8.75 inches (24 x 22.2 cm).
On the back two old paper labels. One is the address label of B.H. Collins , Coins and Curios in Washington, DC. The other label is a catalogue description of this piece (with correction).
Inside: most attributes lost, otherwise very good condition. Box with finely engraved hardware: few traces of usage, mostly very good condition.

Rare pair of shrine guardians in the shape of foxes, both sitting on a two tiered elevation. The right one holds a moving jewel in its mouth, the left one a stick. Middle brown, dense wood with a beautiful patina where hands touched the backs and heads of the foxes and the bases. Red staining on inside of ears, inside the mouths, in nostrils. Crystal eyes. Bases made of the same wood. Bases inscribed: Hono, Osaka, shinshachu (in faith of mankind); Hokkinin (sponsors), Osaka, Minami Horie, jogo: one base with the name Umezaki Jisaburo, the other with the name Shimezaka Jihei. The bottoms of the bases signed in black ink: Sowajima … minami … Shitakawa Yasujiro chokoku (carved by Shitakawa Yasujiro). Japan, Meiji period.
Height with base: ca. 27 in. (ca. 70 cm), height base: ca. 9 ¾ in. (ca. 25 cm).
Fox with jewel: short crack at right hindpaw, cracks in the body that show less or worse, depending on temperature/humidity, few abrasion and chips at feet. Fox with stick: cracks in the body that show less or worse, depending on temperature/humidity, few abrasion and chips at feet, stick of later date. All in all very good condition.

Minami Horie is a district in Osaka, west of the quarter of Minami, where the bunraku, kabuki and no theaters are. The pieces must have been standing in front of a Shinto shrine that no longer exists today.

Two stacks of each 5 flat boxes or trays for storing kozuka, fuchi-kashira or other small and flat objects, the tops both covered with a lid. Both stacks stand on a rectangular bottom plate, tied with a braided silk rope. Shitan (sandal wood). Meiji period, around 1900.
Bottom plate: 9 7/8 x 8 5/8 in. (25 x 21.8 cm). Each tray 8 3/8 x 4 ¾ x 1 1/16 in. (21.4 x 12.1 2.8 cm).
Bottom plate with split, traces of re-gluing at the trays, braid virtually worn down, minor warping of the sides of the trays, one short crack in one cover, one cover coming loose. All in all good condition with minor traces of usage.

Japanese Buddhist scroll painting with the image of Amida raigo, the descent of Amida Buddha from the Western Paradise to earth. He comes down to transport the newly deceased devotee to the Western Paradise. In the middle Amida, to his right the bodhisattva Seishi, hands folded in prayer, to his left Kannon holding the lotus throne for transporting the deceased to Paradise. A ray of light comes from Amida’s urna. All three figures are standing on lotus thrones, floating on white clouds. They are surrounded by a dark indigo blue background with scattered flowers that seems to be tumbling around in the sky. The outlines of the figures finely done in red. The garments of all three decorated in very fine flower and geometric designs in gold. Japan, 18th century.
Painted area: 37 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. (95.3 x 41.9 cm). Total height: 75 1/2 in. (191.7 cm).
Some paint rubbed off (mainly in flowers), some scratches in blue background, partly retouched (minimally), basically very good condition. Modern, Chinese mounting.

Japanese Buddhist scroll painting with the image of Amida raigo, the descent of Amida Buddha from the Western Paradise to earth. He comes down to transport the newly deceased devotee to the Western Paradise. In the middle Amida, to his right the bodhisattva Seishi, hands folded in prayer, to his left Kannon holding the lotus throne for transporting the deceased to Paradise. Rays of light surround Amida’s head. All three figures are standing on one green and one pink lotus, floating on white clouds. They are surrounded by a dark brown background. The outlines of the figures finely done in dark gray or black. Two inscriptions in gold in the lower part. Gilt copper hardware with engraved lotus decoration. Japan, 17th century.
Painted area: 31 7/8 x 14 ¾ in. (2 x 38 cm). Total length 59 ½ in. (152.5 cm).
Silk slightly rubbed, damaged or thin at places (all small spots, hardly visible), one crease to Buddha’s right shoulder, one crease to his right, portly cracked open. Mounting of later date. All in all very good condition.
Comes with kiribako (inscribed 'Sanzon raigo butsu' and 'Shuso daishi tengan ….’ (sect founder, great Buddhist teacher, eye drops, …) ; and with two authentication papers, dated Meiji 16 and Meiji 23(?). One of the authentications dates the painting into the Genbun period (1730s).

Shrine with inside the figure of the bodhisattva Jizo. He sits on a lotus base, positioned on a rock, his left leg hanging down, the foot resting on a small lotus base. In his left hand he holds a sacred jewel, in the right he formerly held his staff. The rock is placed onto a six tiered hexagonal, elaborately decorated base. Inscription on back of case in ochre colored lacquer, indicating that inside is a sculpture of Jizo, that an offering of 6 to (108 liters ??) was made, that the name of the donator was Naga Nobumasa. Japan, Edo period, 17th/18th century.
Height of case: 14 inches (36.1 cm).
Case: lacquer chips at bottom plate (baring the underlying wood), partly touched up, some minor touch-ups at upper rim, lacquer dull. Basically in very good condition. Figure: lacquer cracks along the seams of the wood blocks (on the right side of his body), some minor lacquer chips and cracks, hardly visible and soot. Staff missing. Necklace broken, but more or less complete. All in all very good condition.

Shrine with the exquisite carving of the eleven headed Kannon, holding the vase with the flower in the left hand, a rosary in the right. Dark wood. The garment, finely carved with pleats and scarves, decorated in gold with flowers and geometric designs. On the crown 8 of the 11 heads (three missing), with individual faces. The accessories on the chest and the crown in gilded metal. Kannon is standing on a nine tiered base (six tiers hexagonal, three tiers, the lotus, are round). Excellent piece. Japan, Edo period, 18th century or earlier.
Case height 15 ¼ in. (39.5 cm).
Case: obvious traces of usage (lacquer rubbed and chipped on outside), repairs to the bottom, gold lacquer inside strongly rubbed and sooted, some flaking toward the bottom. Figure: Three heads on top missing, parts of crown and necklace missing, rosary broken off, the left foot broken and restored, tip of toe to right foot broken. Mandorla with some repairs, but basically complete. Some tiny chips to base. All in all very good and stable condition.

More photos of case on request.

Finely carved wooden figure of Gyochu Kishimojin, the hands folded together in prayer, standing on an upside down lotus leaf, positioned on a rocky base. Plain wood, carved in a slightly facetted way that gives texture to his garment and skin. The base and the lotus gilded over lacquer. Inscribed on back: Kishibojin, opening of the eyes, Nichiren. Inscribed in black ink on bottom of lotus leaf: Hirono Naomasa. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Height without base 7 ¼ in. (18.3 cm).
Left foot missing, left hand pinky finger broken, chip at left sleeve, few minor old chips at edges, basically good and stable condition.

This piece is part of a Nichiren zushi, that is listed under no. 492282.

Plain wooden sculpture of the founder of the Nichiren sect. He is sitting, holding both his hands with the palms up. He is positioned on a rectangular elevation, decorated with water whirls and gilded over lacquer on the sides. Plain wood, carved in a slightly facetted way that gives texture to his garment and skin. On the back in black ink inscription reading "Nichiren". On the bottom inscription in black ink, partly covered by paper. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Height 4 11/16 in. (12.2 cm).
Crack into his left thigh, cracks in the back of his neck and in the upstanding part of his garment (back), partly filled in and stabilized. Part of left hand thumb missing.

This piece is part of a Nichiren zushi, that is listed under no. 492282

Plain wooden sculpture of the deity Shichimen Daimyojin. She is sitting on the top of mount Shichimen, crossing her left leg over the right, holding a jewel in her left hand. She is positioned on a rectangular elevation, painted green on top and gilded over lacquer on the sides. Behind her a jewel decorated nimbus. Plain wood, carved in a slightly facetted way that gives texture to his garment and skin. Crown of gilded metal. On the back in black ink inscription reading ‘Nichiren’. On the bottom inscription in black ink, reading ‘Kaneda[mura], Hirono Naomasa’. On the bottom of the base an inscription in black ink reading: Koshu, Yashiro gun, Kaneda mura, Hirono Asajiro Naomasa. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Height without base 7 ½ in. (18.8 cm).
Crack into at the front, sword missing, parts of crown missing, otherwise very good condition.

This piece is part of a Nichiren zushi, that is listed under no. 492282.

Fairly large shrine with three carved figures: Shichimen Daimyojin, Kishimojin and the patriarch of the Nichiren sect, Nichiren. All are positioned on a rectangular base. Although all three can be connected with the Nichiren sect, the formation is a rather unusual one, leading to the assumption that the pieces were carved to the specific order of someone, for a very specific reason. The crest on the outside of the zushi (tachibana branch in well) hints in the same direction. It may very well have been composed for a family shrine. Al pieces inscribed in black ink with more or less the same text: Koshu, Yashiro gun, Kaneda mura, Hirono Asajiro Naomasa. All figures have more or less the same inscription on the back. Japan, 18th century.
Measurements of case: h 14 5/8 in. (37.5 cm), w 16 3/8 in. (42.2 cm), d 8 13/16 in. (22.4 cm).
The case has clear traces of usage and two cracks in the back (one through and through, the other only on the inside), one piece of hardware missing, the other has come off, but is still extant.

Information on the individual pieces will be found under the numbers 492286, 492292 and 492299.