Hand-sashiko is a hand-spun, moderately soft cotton cloth dyed with high-quality indigo dye. The good color of natural indigo dyeing and the stabbed with soft hand-spun cotton cloth make a beautiful change with moderate effort. It is the tranquility used by wealthy farmers in the Shonai region during the Edo period. This modified natural indigo dyeing has something in common with the dark blue comfort of Van Gogh's painting The Night Café...

A superb Landscape by Yano Tetsuzan dated the second month of 1924 enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The arched rooves of Chinese style pavilions rise in the placed waters under th shelter of precipitous verdant cliffs, trees in fall colors in the foreground setting the stage. Above a long verse in Kanshi signed Tetsuzan. Ink and pigment on silk in a dark blue-green satin border with ivory rollers (the rollers will be changed for export)...

Karhu, Clifton (1927-2007) was born in Duluth, Minnesota of Finnish descent. He was one of the most renown American woodblock artists to work in Japan. Round Format woodblock print depicting Medium:Woodblock Print, framed under glass. Date: 1983. Edition: 49/100. Size: D. 31 cm. Title: Nishijin corner. Signature: C KARH. Condition: Very good color, impression and state. Nishijin is a district in Kamiyyo-ku, Kyoto.

Japanese limited edition woodblock print by French artist Paul Jacoulet (1902-1960) titled "Birds of Paradise. Menado, Celebes" (Les Paradisiers Menado, Celebes) published December 25, 1937. This image is illustrated on page 53 (plate 46) of “The Prints of Paul Jacoulet” by Richard Miles, 1982. It is described on pages 98-99. The print is pencil-signed and bears the red tea jar seal at the lower right edge of the image...

A Bronze elephant under attack by two tigers, one tiger is on his back, and one is under his front foot. The elephant has a finely chased hide and original ivory tusks, and the tigers have etched bronze strips. There is a makers mark inscribed on the bottom of the elephant's right front foot which says "Jonon"(south castle). The okimono measures about 7" wide x 7 1/2" tall, and dates to the Meiji Period. The condition is excellent, and it comes with a burl wood stand...

HORNED TRAINEE MONK

Details unknown, but I think he must be a very great old man, since it has remained for long years until today as a wood carving statue. Edo period, 19th century. approx...

Hanging scroll. The founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan, Kobo daishi (774-835), seated at a priest’s seat, holding a vajra and a rosary in his hands.
His shoes and a ewer stand underneath his chair.
Ink, mineral colors and gold on silk.
Japan, 19th century.

Painted area: ca. 34.7 x 15.95 inches (93.1 x 40.4 cm); total length 65.2 inches (165.5 cm)

Scratch through upper part, few horizontal dull creases, basically good condition...

Fabulous carved florals rise in vibrant color off the surface of this yellow glazed vase by Kato Keizan II enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 31 cm (12-1/2 inches) tall, 24 cm (9-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Kato Keizan I (1886-1963) was born in Tajimi city, Gifu, a pottery center in its own right, however came to Kyoto to apprentice under Kiyomizu Rokubei IV...

Kane gong or bell of a very simple, cylindrical or dish shape, without any sort of decoration. Two loops for cords to hang the gong on a wooden rack. Yellow bronze (sentoku).
Inscription incised in the rim on the back/inside. It mentions the dedication of this gong at the Zenshoji temple in Meiji 40 (1907).

Diam. 12.5 in.; H ca. 3.5 inches.

There are several temples in Japan with that name...

Mizusashi or kensui in the shape of a Chinese boy, or karako, holding Hotei’s large bag over his shoulder, as if dragging it.

Over brownish beige very fine stoneware a layer of mottled brown glaze has been applied, over which a blue-green finely crackled flambé dripping glaze. The inside covered with brown mottled glaze, the outside bottom left unglazed.
Impressed mark in the bottom: Kato Shuntai.
Japan, 19th century.
Height: 3.25 in.; diameter: 6 in...

Kato Tsubusa Celadon Asymmetrical Vessel in Seihakuji Glaze Of irregular shape, with some sharp cut and other stretched edges, standing on 3Three small feet...

Very small portable shrine, zushi. The figure of Amida Nyorai is standing on a lotus base with intricately carved curled lotus petals. His slender body covered in a finely, gold ornamented garment, his left hand pointing down in mudra, his now missing right hand would be held up in mudra, as well.

Soft wood stained dark brown, with gold painted decoration and some red.
The insides of the doors decorated in reddish brown with meandering flowers over gold foil on black lacquer.

...

An antique Japanese large rare Ema (votive prayer board) hand painted in Makie gold over a black lacquer background. A hand forged iron pin mounted to the top center of the frame was used to securely hang this dedication sacred object at a Japanese shrine.

Back in the day, live horses were donated and dedicated to a shrine. As the times changed, prayer boards were donated instead with painted horses replacing the live ones. More recently, all forms of subject matter are shown on the J...

An antique Japanese Byosho Bako (peddler's chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Two loop rings where a carrying rope was once attached allowing the merchant to carry this chest on his back. The hinged door opens to 5 drawers used for the storage of wares for sale. A few small ink stains on the upper surface attests to the merchant using the top as a writing surface when writing sales.

Meiji Period (1870-1890)

Dimensions: 12 1/2" Wide b...

A stunning and unusual Chawan tea bowl in burnt orange glaze with abstract splashes of black by Kawamoto GOro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Perfectly formed, with a wide base and slightly concave sides leading to a pouty rim, all draped in this haunting ochre with poured black graffiti. A masterpiece by this important artist. It is 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches) diameter, 8 cm (3-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kawamoto Goro (1919-1986) was born in Seto to a family...

Iron kozuka inlaid with a bronze or brass lobster.Details in silver. Simple but powerful good work. It reminds me of the Onin style tsuba. This kozuka seems to me very old 18 ° or before. Its simple appearance while being of good quality, its solidity makes me think that it was not made during the peaceful and sumptuous Edo period but before during the agitated war period of Muromachi. Dilmensions about 100x15 mm

Iron kozuka inlaid with a bronze or brass paddle wheel and waves.Details in silver. Simple but powerful good work. It reminds me of the Onin style tsuba. This kozuka seems to me very old 18 ° or before. Its simple appearance while being of good quality, its solidity makes me think that it was not made during the peaceful and sumptuous Edo period but before during the agitated war period of Muromachi. Dimensions about 100x15 mm

Okimono in bronze of a frog.
Seal of the founder or of his factory on its belly, not identified.

The frog (kaeru) is associated with luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the frog to return each year to the pond of its birth. A gong in the shape of a frog can thus sometimes be used as a door hammer or to protect a house.

Japan - Meiji Era (1868-1912)
Height: 0.9 in. ...