Catalog (78)

These bottles are decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and colored enamels with a design of various painted fans floating on an iron red enamel ground that is covered with gilt spirals. The interiors and mouthrims are clear glazed. The bases are glazed clear and the footrings are unglazed, exposing the fine white porcelain paste. They are signed Kozan (Dai Nippon Kozan Sei) in underglaze blue. Both are in very good condition. Acquired from a collector in Fredericksburg, Virginia circa 1990.

Height: 8 in., Diameter: 4 ¼ in.

Published by Ise-ya Kanekichi, very good impression and color, light rubbing and slight wrinkling to edges, upper corners with small reinforcements, not backed.

Oban tate-e: 9 ¾ x 14 1/8 in.

Each dish is painted with a similar design in colored overglaze enamels with a phoenix bird in flight over a paulownia spray and leafy garlands in the background. Each dish is molded in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower, and set on a low foot. The footring is unglazed, exposing the fine white porcelain body. A “fuku” mark in underglaze blue is painted on the base of each, and an iron-red cash symbol is drawn on the exterior wall. The dishes are four graduated sizes and were intended for serving individual condiments for a formal meal. All are in good condition.

Width: 4 5/8 in., Height: 1 in. Width: 4 ¼ in., Height: 1 ½ in. Width: 3 ½ in., Height: ¾ in. Width: 2 7/8 in., Height: 1 in.

The central design of a stylized garden scene is surrounded by four peach-shaped cartouches in red, green, and gold enamels on a ground of underglaze cobalt blue plum blossoms highlighted in gold enamel. The reverse is encircled by underglaze blue chrysanthemums and a ring of enameled decoration around the foot. A spurious Chinese six-character Jiajing is written in underglaze blue on the base encircled by a single line of blue. An iron impurity in the clay has left a brown spot on the base. There is fine sand adhering to the foot from firing. The gilded mouth rim exhibits typical wear. Overall very good condition – no chips cracks or restorations. Acquired in Japan in 1975.

Diameter: 8 3/8 in., Height: 1 ½ in.

This tall, unusual stand is decorated with cobalt blue under the glaze and with overglaze enamels in iron-red, green, and gold. It has four large cutouts on the sides, revealing the interior that is glazed white. The cut edges of the open cartouches are dressed with gilt enamel as is also the top rim. The footrim is unglazed, exposing the white porcelain body. It is in very good condition with no repairs or damages, with only minor wear to the enamels.

Height: 6 5/8 in., Width: 7 ¼ in.

This is a design for a kimono textile that has skillfully incorporated the stylized woven fabric texture as part of the design as seen in the central field of flowering iris plants. The upper field appears to be a design of snowflakes, and the lower of an abstract water pattern. This was probably a leaf from an album of kimono designs. The print is of very good color, impression and condition on very thick paper, with some odd nicks and small tears on the edges, but not affecting the printed area.

Oban tate-e: 10 3/4 in. x 14 ¾ in., Image size: 7 1/8 in. x 8 ½ in.

Good impression and color, center fold, wrinkle to lower right corner, minor stain on center of upper margin, not backed

Album leaf: 9 ½ x 14 in.

Very good printing and color, very heavy paper with remnants of thin backing, very minor soiling overall

Overall size: 9 ½ x 14 ¼ in.

The bronze disk forming the base is decorated with an evening floral scene with an inlaid silver moon with incised stylized clouds. The incised plum branch is set with inlaid gilt copper flower blossoms. The large blossoms in high relief are overlaid with silver and have inlaid gold leaves and copper leaves in relief. The well is finely woven to resemble bamboo basketry using thin strips of patinated copper and finished off with a rim in bronze convincingly cast to look like bamboo. Good condition with excellent craftsmanship, some light wear and mottling to the patina, unsigned.

Diameter: 10 ½ in.; Height: 1 ½ in.

Pencil signed in the image beneath red artist’s seal, very good impression and color, untrimmed, full margins, light toning in margins, white tape residue on back of margins, printer’s seal on back of margin.

Overall size: 11 ½ x 17 in., image size: 10 ½ x 15 1/8 in.

The characters beside each design describe the motif and type of fabric.

Very good impression and color, vertical center crease, minor wear, remnants of old backing.

Overall Size: 9 ¾ x 14 in.

Published by Unsodo Co., title and printer’s name on left margin, good impression and color, margins somewhat trimmed, minor wear, very slight wrinkles, dated in Arabic numerals for export

Overall size: 9 ½ x 14 in.

This Satsuma ware tea caddy is made in the shape of a lacquer natsume tea caddy for use in the tea ceremony as a container for powdered green tea. This shape is given this name because it resembles a natsume plum. It is glazed overall with a finely crackled clear glaze showing the buff-colored clay body beneath. Overglaze enamels decorate the top and sides with open and closed fan designs. The interiors of both the lid and container are glazed as is also the base. The base is slightly recessed and a narrow portion of the foot is unglazed exposing the clay body—now darkened from use. The exposed inner rim likewise is naturally stained from years of use. Tea caddies of this form were usually made of wood and lacquer. Ceramic ones are not usually encountered. The design of this piece may have been inspired by the earlier, well-known potter, Nonomura Ninsei (c. 1574-1660), who worked in Kyoto and produced numerous articles in overglaze enameled earthenware for tea ceremony use. Good condition overall—some wear to the gilt enamel. No chips, cracks or repairs.

Height: 2 7/8 in.; Diameter: 3 in.

The interior is decorated in an underglaze blue sea creature design, and red, green and yellow enamel beneath the rim. The lip has been somewhat squared and turned-in, and the rim is gilded. The base has a six-character Great Japan Eiraku mark. Good condition, no cracks chips or repairs.

Height: 3 ¼, Width: 5 1/2 in.

Hirafuku Hyakusui was a noted painter and illustrator in Nihon-ga style, and was a professor at Tokyo School of Fine Arts and a member of Imperial Fine Arts Academy.

Publisher’s information on lower left with the number 21, good condition

Shikishiban: 9 ¼ x 9 ¼ in.

Carved, lacquered and gilded wood. There are losses to the right hand and both feet, otherwise, it is in good condition. Acquired in Japan in the early 1970s.

Height: 12 ¼ in.

No. twelve from the series: “Ukiyo Juni Ka Getsu” (Twelve Months of the Floating World) issued 1890

Signed Gekko with artist’s seal, dated 1890 in a red cartouche on lower left, margins intact, fine impression and color, some wear and light creasing, very light soiling, not backed.

Oban yoko-e: 9 x 13 in.

Very good printing (to simulate age and wear), color and condition

Overall size: 8 ¾ x 14 in.