Pair of amusing maki-e lacquered wooden spoons with an insect motif on the spoon, a cicada and a butterfly. Handle with braided rope pattern. Label on the back : 坧耒 ? (uncertain transcription).

Japan – 20th century
Width: 1.38 in. (3.5 cm) – length: 6.57 in. (16.7 cm)

Celadon tea cup with corded patterns glazed in the Jômon zogan style made by Tatsuzô Shimaoka (1919-2007, Mingei school). Developed by himself, this style is inspired by ancient processes such as the Jômon string-printing technique (ca. 13,000 – 800/300 B.C.) and the Korean process of the Joseon period (1392-1897) of adding white slip with decorative indentations...

Wooden suzuribako decorated with two hares with red eyes in gold and silver lacquer surrounded by grass.

The interior is made of negoro-nuri lacquer. This is an ancient technique, developed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) at the Negoro temple in the ancient province of Kii (now Wakayama prefecture). It is characterized by vermilion color, made from cinnabar and showing natural brush marks...

Wooden sculpture of a hare with coral eyes. In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are designated by a single word: usagi. The hare has an important place in Japanese legends and superstitions. Like many other animals, it is supposed to reach a fabulous age and become blue at five hundred years. Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912) Height: 7.28 in. (18.5 cm) - width: 6.5 in. (16.5 cm) - depth: 13.58 in. (34.5 cm)

Bamboo toad on a bluebell flower. The node of the wood is used as the base of the statuette.

The toad and the frog, referred to under the same term in Japanese (kaeru) are associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "toad/frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the toad to return to the pond of its birth every year...

Bamboo sitting toad. The node of the wood is used as the base of the statuette.

The toad and the frog, referred to by the same term in Japanese (kaeru) are associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "toad" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the toad to return to the pond of its birth every year...

Three-legged toad in bronze.

The three-legged toad, originating from Chinese mythology, is a Feng Shui symbol of prosperity and wealth.
Chan Chu, the three-legged toad, is mentioned by the poet Qu Yuan in The Songs of Chu...

Brown silk homongi formal kimono with dots in jacquard and with gold threads interwoven, so that the fabric sparkles when the light hits it. The upper part is undecorated, except for three crests of the Sakagami family on the back...

Japanese dated Edo period rectangular form wood "senryo-bako" hinged coin box on two geta feet with cast iron hardware including edge brackets, hinges, handle, and front lockplate. A barely readable black ink inscription on the bottom dates the box to the first year of the Bunkiu era (1861). Excluding protruding hardware, the wood measures about 15 1/4" long x 5 7/8"deep x 5 1/2" high. Good, solid overall condition with typical wear from age and use...

A long verse is incised into the side of this tea bowl by Otagaki Rengetsu. The poem reads:
Yorozuyo mo 10,000 ages
tae nu nagare to enduring the surge
shimetsu ran so well
sono kame no o no From Turtle Tail Mountain
yama no shitamizu. The water flows
The bowl is 12.2 cm (5 inches) diameter and in perfect condition. It comes wrapped in a silk cloth pouch, enclosed in an old box with original lid inside of which is a long verse...

Wooden panel covered with a thick layer of green urushi lacquer decorated with a lake landscape. A pontoon on stilts in light relief brown, ocher and yellow lacquer is surrounded by flowering Irises. The leaves are also in green thick lacquer and the flowers are in mother-of-pearl and eggshell, probably ostrich. The work is particularly neat and very solid. No signature, but certainly an excellent artist...

Cloisonne enamel vase on hammered copper base. The meticulously positioned wires are in silver, as are the borders. The decor is simple, showing a bridge between two hills but exceptional because of its historical interest. Indeed it is a vase commemorating the bold construction of an aqueduct by a Japanese electricity company in the 1900s. The Chinese characters written below must relate the event, date it and also probably give the name of the creative artist or that of the enameling workshop...

This pair of vases was recovered from an estate in the Castroville/Watsonville area of California, over 20 years ago. This area is known as the Artichoke Capital of the world. When I recovered these vases they had been lamps and have since had the bottom drills hole restored. These vases are old but probably not Meiji era. They do have silver rims with scalloped wire trim at the edges of the enamel...

Hiroshige Ando
Seven Song-birds (aka. Gourds and Japanese White-eye)
Size: Approximately 7.5 x 5.25 inches. 19.4 x 13.2 cm.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 26).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Small spot where back Matsumoto label is attached.
The Matsumoto catalog notes, "Seven mejiro (known as Japanese silver-eye) perching on a melon-vine."

KANNON BOSATSU WITH ELEVEN FACES

Wood carving 'Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu zazo' (Seated statue of Kannon Buddhisattva with eleven faces), Edo period, 19th century, Japan, H 20 x 11 x 11cm (7.87 x 4.33 x 4.33in). Such a kind and merciful face as is.


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Kawase Hasui
Vermillion-lacquered Temple Gate in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 6.125 x 4.125 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Hasui seal at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei Hp-48.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Mandarin Ducks
Date: 1930s.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.75 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten.
Reference: Koitsu catalog no. TK-DH-76.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi.
This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Back top margin has tape residue.
Note: An usual subject for Koitsu.

A large Kuro-Oribe chawan, hand thrown and carved from fine Mino clay during the later Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). It comes with a very good Japanese wooden box.

Oribe-yaki – I guess no other pottery had a greater influence on the aesthetics of Japanese pottery.

Oribe ware is a historically important Japanese pottery variety that emerged during the late Momoyama and early Edo periods in Tajimi, in modern day Gifu prefecture.

Developed under and named after th...