Kawase Hasui
Springtime Forest
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.875 x 5.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-18.
Condition: Excellent.

This Edo period scroll depicts Meota Iwa—a famous Japanese landmark in Mie. Symbolizing the union between two divine deities, Izanagi (said to be the larger rock, though there is no consensus on this point) and his wife Izanami, the two are joined by a shimenawa (heavy straw rope used in Japanese Shinto ceremonies). This straw rope is quite massive and must be replaced several times a year in a special ceremony...

Pair of seated Rakan (Skt. Arhat; Ch. Lohan), one Rakan sculpted in ichiboku-zukuri from a single piece of wood and the other sculpted from four pieces of wood. Early-Edo Period ca. 1650. Old loss and traces of polychrome.

Height of Rakan with mandorla: 34 cm
Width: 67 cm
Depth: 8 cm

Height of Rakan without mandorla: 25 cm
Width: 81 cm
Depth: 8 cm

This pair originally was included in a complete set of 16 Rakan (Jp...

An eccentric crusty bowl, very different, by Hashimoto Tomonari enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Raku Yaki Yohen Chawan. Unlike his normal burnished and color ridden surfaces, this bowl is ominous, matte, shot through with pin-hole-textures and rivulets streaming from the rim. It is like something from deep within the universe, an ancient traveler which has been charred and scarred on its way through the atmosphere...

Peerless Mount Fuji
Unsigned. Artist not identified.
Date: 1934.
Size: Oban. Approximately 13.75 x 10 inches.
Origin: Issued as a folded insert to an N.Y.K. Line publication called, "Glimpses of the East". The folds are vertical.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A faint foxing spot at the upper left.
The composition of this print is reminiscent of the Fuji views of Tsuchiya Koitsu.

Seated Jizo Bosatsu, a hoju (sacred jewel) held in the left hand, sculpted from wood in two parts, i.e., the upper body and lap. Originally part of a grouping including 10 similarly sized and styled Ju-O (Kings of Hell), of which one example is featured in our stock #933 listing. Muromachi Period ca. 1500. Minor old loss, with traces of polychrome and overall patination.

Height: 35 cm
Width: 36 cm
Depth: 14 cm

Seated Ju-O (King of Hell), originally part of a grouping of 10 Ju-O plus one Jizo Bosatsu, sculpted from wood in two parts, i.e., the upper body and lap. Muromachi Period ca. 1500. Minor old loss, with traces of polychrome and desirable patination overall.

Height: 38 cm
Width: 37 cm
Depth: 16 cm

Crackled green glass pools in the center of this humble tea bowl by Ezaki Issei enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Chawan. The works of Issei personify the humble virtues of the tea ceremony. They are imbued with a sense of Musakui (Lack of intention), a bowl that has come to be, rather than a bowl that was created. It is 15.5 cm (6 inches) diameter, 5.5 cm (2-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Polychrome celadon ceramic four-lobed tray with two fish yôkai dressed in yukata, a light kimono worn in summer. The yôkai are supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. Most of the ceramic is glazed, except for the brown skin of yôkai which has a matte finish.
Unidentified mark.

Japan - Taishô era (1912-1926)
Height: 1.2 in. (3.4 cm) - diameter: 6.3 in. (16.3 cm)

Okimono of a Chinese cabbage made in woodbox. The texture and veins have been delicately detailed. Native from China, it is an herbaceous plant of the Brassicaceae family. It is eaten in many ways in Asia: in soup, in salads, stir-fried, in ravioli of filled patties. Japon – Meiji era (1868-1912) Height: 2.4 in. (6.5 cm) – Diameter : 1.6 in. (4.5 cm)

Ivory okimono of a toad carrying an orchestra of five monkeys.
Four monkeys is playing instruments such as the shamisen (long-necked lute with three strings), the shime-daiko (small drum) and the flute. The fifth monkey is larger and is singing while holding a book in his left hand and plugging his ear with the other...

Long suzuribako (calligraphy box) with nashiji lacquer background, plum tree decoration in a lake landscape in takamaki-e, kôrin maki-e and kirigane. The plum tree (ume), which blooms at the beginning of the year, announces spring. Its flower is a symbol of protection against demons. On the inner lid, decoration with seven flying birds near a coast with clouds...

Ivory netsuke of a human skull.

Japon – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height 1.2 in (3 cm) – length 1.4 in (3.5 cm) – width 1 in (2.5 cm)

Hishaku-gata style yatate in bronze with brown patina. The hishaku-gata style was developed at the beginning of the Edo era, in the 17th century. It is characterized by an ink compartment (sumi tsubo) in the shape of a ladle. Here it is decorated with a frog.
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...

Namban style chest with a semi-cylindrical lid made of black lacquered wood (urushi) with gold lacquer (maki-e) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl (raden).
Decorated with three main bands of floral motifs, middle surrounded by vertical bands of mother-of-pearl inlaid lozenges and framed by the hanashippô pattern (overlapping circles forming petals).
On the lied, acer (momiji) and plum tree flowers (ume)...

Okimono sculpture in bronze of a crow perched on a tree stump in varnished wood. Its eyes are in shakudo.
In Japan, the crow (karasu) is a symbol of gratitude and family love. It is also considered as the divine messenger of good omen. The Kojiki (713) relates that the crow Yatagarasu guided the mythical founder of Japan, Emperor Jinmu (660-585 BC), on a military campaign to Yamato.

Signed under the crow within an oval cartouche 義光, Yoshimitsu...

Polychrome Sumida-gawa ceramic bowl made from sandstone, also called Sumida-yaki. Some parts are glazed. Original decoration of an old man trying to climb the bowl.

Mark of Ishiguro Koko (石黒香香): 香二, Koko. The 二 marks the repetition of a character in traditional Chinese. His name can also be written 香々 or 香二). His real name was Ishiga Gôzô (石田郷三)...

A breathtaking Taireiji pottery vase by Kiyomizu Rokubei V enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Chrysantheum in raised relief grow ghosly white on the soft pink surface. It is 32 cm 12-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Taireiji was the most important development by this innovative artist, and pieces are exceedingly rare.
Kiyomizu Rokubei V (Shimizu Kuritaro, 1875-1959) initially studied painting and decorating technique under Kono Bairei, one of the foremost painters...