Figural depiction of Urashima Taro standing upon his sea-faring turtle mount, a fan held in the right hand and a good-luck gourd in the left, sculpted from a high-quality granite incorporating pink quartz, which lends the stone and the lichen accumulated upon it a pink cast. Edo Period ca. 1850...

A dark charred Chosen Karatsu kamahen Mimitsuku Mizusashi by Nishioka Koju (b. 1918) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. All is deeply coated in thick burnt ash. Red shows through rivulets of dark olive burnt to the side of the body. The raw clay is visible through the thick ash drips on one side. It has a custom black lacquered wooden lid and is in fine condition but for the handle on the lid, which was broken and repaired...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga “kappa-ban” (stencil print) by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992) titled “Onna Joruri” features a female performer singing traditional narrative music to the accompaniment of a shamisen. The print is pencil-signed “Y. Mori” at the lower left, with the artist’s red seal above. It is dated ’73 and numbered 56/70. The lower edge of the paper also contains the title and the original purchase price of 70,000 yen...

Oversized Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Tadashi Nakayama (b. 1927) titled “Butterflies and Trumpet” featuring Nakayama’s daughter’s face in profile beside a trumpet with butterflies in flight around her. This image is pencil-signed “T. Nakayama,” numbered 45/95, and dated 1985 in the bottom margin. The bottom margin edge also contains the title and original purchase price of 270,000 yen. The red Nakayama seal is verso...

Fine Japanese miniature garden kit, all made with natural material, ca 1940-1960, original wood box. We used a simple cardboard box as a tray with small black pebbles under. You can created/draw water if the sand is used instead. The dimension of the box are 15 3/4” x 7 3/16” x 3 5/8”. Fence: 9 1/8 long (flattened for storage) x 3 3/4” high. Board with a frog: 5 1/8” long. Please ask for other measurements.

A colorful work by Ueda Manshu (1869-1952) enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nangokufushu (Taste of a Southern Wind). A boy rides the back of an Ox through a marsh, he happy and dry and the beast happy in the cool water. One can also be reminded of the Zen tales of the Ox-herd, and connotations of enlightenment. Very much in the Taisho style with equal effort on the background as on the fore...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga “kappa-ban” (stencil print) by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992) titled “Goro in the Rain” (“Ame no Goro”) dated 1980. This boldly colorful kabuki theater image features an actor portraying Soga Goro, one of two historic samurai brothers who avenge the death of their father. In this image, Soga Goro is dressed in fine clothing and holds an umbrella though no rain is evident. He is apparently travelling to the pleasure quarter to visit a courtesan...

A set of 12 uniquely crafted masks of devils dating from the Meiji period enclosed in a period custom made kiri-wood box titled Kodai-men Hina-gata Juni-ko (12 miniature ancient masks). They are created from clay covered in gofun and mineral pigments with inset eyes of glass and ivory teeth and horns. Each mask is roughly 9 x 8 x 5 cm (3-1/2 x 3-1/4 x 2 inches). There are some minor losses to the coloration but otherwise all are in fine condition...

A turned kiri-wood kogo incense case decorated with painting of plums and camellia with a silver rim. Inside wide leaves in god outline underlie the artist’s signature and stamp. The piece is 4-1/2 inches (11.5 cm) diameter.
Sekka (1866-1942) is known as the last great Rimpa Master, an artist of many talents who worked in painting, wood and lacquer. Taken from Wikipedia (they say it so much better than I) In 1910, Sekka was sent to Glascow to study Western art and craftsmanship...

Early Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga “kappa-ban” (stencil print) by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992) titled “Okeya” depicting two barrel makers at work. This image is from a 1973 series of prints featuring artisans. The series is illustrated in a 1985 exhibition catalogue titled “Mori Yoshitoshi Kappa-ban.” The print is pencil-signed “Y. Mori” at the lower right, with the artist’s red seal above...

Stone gorinto (lit. 5-tiered stupa) sculpted in four parts from a medium-weight volcanic stone. Muromachi Period ca. 1500. Very minor old loss. Good lichen accumulation.

Height: 49.2 cm.

The gorinto is a uniquely Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms, which correspond (from bottom) to earth, water, fire, wind, and ethereal space. The Japanese Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism views the gorinto as a symbol of Dai-Nichi Buddha, who, underlying all things, manifests himself in...

Yuasa Koufuu is an accomplished Japanese calligrapher. She is the recipient of many honors and prizes in Japan. Her style is very graceful and reminiscent of the famed Edo Period master, Rosetsu. In this delightful piece, Yuasa Koufuu describes the beautiful scenery in a mountain river. Frame: 20 x 14 inches, 51 x 35.5 cm; Artwork: 13 x 9 inches, 33 x 23 cm.

Flames of red flash form the bird resurrected on the side of this large Cloisonne vase by the Ando company of Nagoya; Japan’s premier cloisonne studio. The color is hard to describe, seeming to be lit from within. A combination of wire and wireless design using gold wire with silver rim. Ando mark on base, the vase measures 37 cm (14-1/2 inches) tall, 32 cm (12-1/2 inches) diameter and is in excellent condition. It comes enclosed in a fine, custom made kiri-wood box.

Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu in characteristic seated pose of royal ease, figurally sculpted from a medium-density volcanic stone. Mid-Edo Period ca. 1725. Minor old loss, most notably to the lower-front edge. Good lichen accumulation.

Height: 38.0 cm
Width: 24.2 cm
Depth: 15.0 cm

A classic Nyoirin Kannon stone, elegantly sculpted and with significant age.

This is a wonderful set of Japanese bridal kanzashi (hair ornaments) from the Meiji to Taisho period, late 1800s to early 1900s, made out of tortoise shells. We assume that this kanzashi was decorated with the auspicious emblem, a phoenix bird in paulownia tree, with some elements (leaves, flowers and birds) altered to the family of the bride. It has an aura of nobility and power. The family crest on the box is three ivy leaves. There is always a chance that the box may not be original but ...

18 cm long set of Kanzashi with five Bira dangling from a branch to which is caught a court cap, possibly dragged from the wearers head during a horse race, or perhaps flung off in a passionate moment. For someone interested we have a museum quality collection of combs and hair pins which I would prefer to sell together in accordance with the previous owners wishes. Birakan (bira Bira Kanzashi) were hair pins used by all classes of society and were one of a woman’s most prized possessions. ...

Seated Amida Buddha, the hands placed centrally on the lap in the Amida jo-in concentration mudra, sculpted in relief from a gray-hued igneous stone. Mid- to late-Edo Period ca. 1800. Very minor old loss.

Height: 43.8 cm
Width of base: 18.5 cm
Depth of base: 17.5 cm.

A charming Edo-Period Amida Buddha in excellent condition.

The sides are scorched from flame on this large, flattened ball form tsubo by Koie Ryoji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The raw Shigaraki earth is scored with strikes from a paddle and deep gouges from the artist fingers. The Tsubo is roughly 8 inches (20.5 cm) tall, the same diameter. Born in Tokoname, 1938, Ryoji graduated the Tokoname industrial school and moved on to work at the City Ceramic Research Facility. In 1966 he established his own studio. Largely displayed and pri...