Antique Japanese woodblock print in triptych by the artist Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) depicting a scene from the Kabuki play "Koharu no Mitsugumi Sakazuki". Here, the outlaw murdurer, Shirai Gonpachi (left) is challenged by the famous otokodate (dashing hero), Banzui Chobei (center and with his traditional brown and white plaid fabric).

Kunisada was born to a family that owned a ferry boat service allowing him the time and money to devote to art. At an early age, he impressed the gr...

Baluster-shaped, the vase decoration represents a procession, in gold and polychrome enamels, very finely detailed, of guards surrounding palanquins, servants equipped with lanterns, and others with fans, banners and standards. Period: Meiji (1868-1912). Sign under the base with missing characters. Height: 20 cm.

A rare antique Japanese Chinese lion figure "karashishi", made of Hirado porcelain with underglaze blue details. Condition: few traces of usage. Dimension: c. 19.4 cm high x 16.3 cm long x 11.6 cm wide.

An inviting poem for the 8th month is engraved among the leaves and grapes clinging to the vines forming the handle on this tall ewer covered in pale white glaze by Otagaki Rengetsu dating from the 19th century. It is 22 cm (9 inches) tall, 13.5 x 19 cm across the handle and is in excellent condition. The poem reads:
Okazaki no tsuki mi ni ki mase
Miyakobito
kado no hata imo nite matsura nan
Come see the moon in Okazaki
People of Kyoto
And I will serve you bo...

A cluster of Blue and White Edo period Imari bowls which melted together in the inferno and fused, three becoming one in a fortuitous accident. The Japanese have long held these flaws in high esteem, accentuating the ideas of Wabi-sabi and the ephemeral which permeate Japanese culture. Roughly 24 x 16 x 8 cm (9-1/2 x 6 x 3 inches), a very interesting addition to the table.

Small flask or vase in the shape of a double gourd. Thin and fine, whitish stoneware covered in translucent glaze, decorated in overglaze, colored enamels and gold with a cord and tassels and maple leaves floating on a sinewy stream.

Unsigned/unmarked. Kyoto (Kiyomizu) ware.

Meiji era, late 19th century, Japan

H 6 in.

Excellent condition

A set of five sake cups, each engraved with a unique poem by the artist/nun Otagaki Rengetsu dating from her 83rd year enclosed in an antique Sarasa cloth pouch with silk pads between enclosed in an old wooden box. They are each 5 cm (2 inches) diameter and all are in excellent condition. The poems read:
1 Wakabae no yanagi no ito no mijikaku te furiwakegami no kokochi koso sure
The newborn willow fronds are short and feel to me just like bobbed hair
2 Umazake no miwa no sugi z...

Rare and beautiful late 19th Century painting of the Korean Mountain Spirit (Sansin) with a scarce sacred white tiger and boy attendant (Dongja) alongside a stream in an idyllic mountain landscape on finely handwoven silk mounted on a gold silk scroll. Sansin's tiger is the animal lord of the mountain and the messenger for Sansin and the enforcer of his will. The white tiger holds special meaning in Korea. It was believed that when a tiger survived challenges and attained wisdom, his fur turned...

An interesting Japanese porcelain plate decorated with a central roundel of prunus, pine and bamboo, The Three Friends. The remainder is decorated with stylized flower heads on a cracked ice ground. The detail and spur marks indicate that this piece is Japanese with Chinese Kangxi design references. Measures 11.25 inches in diameter

Four Chinese woodcuts from the famousvTen Bamboo Studio series. Each 28x23 cm. They have been removed from old frames with labels on the back as shown. From the UK Arts Council collection with catalogue numbers and inscriptions dating them 17th century. Beneath those labels were other smaller ones of C. E. M. A which stands for Committee for the Encouragement of Music and Art which was set up during World War 2 and went on to become the Arts Council. Undated apart from the label. The fi...

Antique Japanese carved boxwood figure of Yulan Guanyin with fish basket. In this form she is the patroness of fishermen. There are various stories of Guanyin in this form. In one, she descends as a beautiful young fisherwoman to a town of evil men with the intention of converting them to Buddhists. In another story, she uses her fish basket to capture a sea demon. This figure is carved with beautiful details and signed "Shun yun" on the underside of the basket.

Age: Meiji period...

Antique Korean carved jade seal (chop) of with a tiger seated on a square base. The seal is the symbol for "king". The tiger is looking over his shoulder with teeth bared. Nice dark green nephrite with reddish brown striations.

Age: Joseon Dynasty (circa late 19th century)

Dimensions: 5" high x 3 1/2" wide

A hand painted cloth banner decorated with imagery by various artists including the Nanga School literati artists Tanomura Chokunyu (1814-1907) and Nakanishi Koseki (1807-1884) as well as Tanaka Koha of the Kagetsuan School of Sencha and Confucian scholar Goto Shoin (1797-1864) and Hirose Kyokuso (1807-1863) who were two of the most important followers of Rai Sanyo. The date Konoe-saru (year of the monkey in metal) is visible in both the central leaf and the lower left gourd image. Judging then...

A fine Chinese snuff bottle, made of molded porcelain decorated with a dragon and a phoenix among clouds in relief. With gilt mouth and base rim. The stopper is lost, the mouth with an old restoration. Condition: traces of usage, mouthrim with restoration, without stopper, slightly pitted. Dimension: total height: c. 7.6 cm, c. 4.1 cm wide, c. 2.5 cm deep.

Cast solid silver cane. Very high relief decoration of 2 dragons and 2 bats surrounded by clouds, the carvings are precise. On the side the Chinese character "Shou" is inlaid in gold. The background is chiseled with amati. It is rare to find a cane of this excellent quality in solid cast silver, usually this type of cane being made of simply embossed silver. Dragons' legs have 5 claws (ancient imperial characteristic), one dragon is larger than the other (teaching), bats are in pairs (happiness)...

Cane in embossed silver, decorated with 2 dragons evolving among clouds. Above are represented 4 Chinese characters whose meaning is unknown to us. The background is chiseled with amati and has a yellow reflection which could be the remains of missing gilding . The barrel is made of carved wood, and appears original. Length:875mm Width:115mm

Roll-shaped, they present a decoration, with very fine gold and polychrome enamels, of Kannon accompanied by children and dragons on one side and couples of partridges, among flowering branches on the other. The quality of the decorations in the rectangular cartridges is excellent. All on a midnight blue background and gold flower scrolls. Mark of the Shimazu clan and in a Matsumoto Hozan gold cartouche. Height : 24 cm.

1900's Japanese Iron Mixed Metal Komai Style Damascene Box Marked

It is 2.25 inches (3.8 cm) tall by 4.25 inches (11.5 cm) wide and 6 inches (16.5 cm) long. It is 2.4 lb.

It is tarnished and has rust, oxidation, small gaps between two of the feet, rubbing of gold, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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