PHALLIC ASSEMBLY

Unique sculpture based on Japanese phallic worship made from the root of wild tree applied its natural form to ten phalluses and two vaginas by minimal carving. Showa period, 20th century. 22 x 22 x 13 cm (8.66 x 8.66 x 5.11in)...

Oshie (raised cloth picture) with samurai, which is displayed with hina-dolls on the Girl's Festival, or Hina-Matsuri, on March 3rd. It is from a collector in Matsumoto city in Nagano prefecture, and this one was made by a craftsperson in the city too. Made of several kinds of silk, gold brocade, silk crepe, black satin, etc. The face is hand-painted. The back side is washi. In excellent condition. Late 19th early 20th century. W:33cm, L:45cm

This is a Japanese antique shibori cotton kimono. Indigo dyeing and Shoen dyeing. There are some remaining grains (protrusions) from the aperture. It is in good condition with no damage. Size: Length: 136cm (38.5") / Cuff to cuff, full back: 122cm (48")

An early brutal vase by female pottery legend Tsuboi Asuka covered in running colors enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nagashi-yu Tsubo. It is 25 cm (10 inches) diameter 20cm (8 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Tsuboi Asuka was born in Osaka in 1932, but the family moved to Tokyo when she was 12...

An unusual Kakiemon dish the outer register finely painted with the Shochikubai. The pine, bamboo and prunus painted separately with elongated trailing branches growing from rockwork. The centre painted with a single bough of flowering Camellias, Tsubaki, symbolic of the season of Spring. The reverse painted with a continuous vine arabesque, karakusa and four supur marks arranged in a "Y" shape. An identical dish is to be found in the Sakaida (Kakiemon) family collection...

Love lasts beyond the grave, here a skeleton walks, her pate decorated with flowers and a bundle of daisies in her hand as she strolls grinning under the shade of a dilapidated umbrella held by an attendant, a poignant painting signed Shoken dating from the Taisho period (1922). The four character verse above is taken from the Lotus sutra (Hanya-Shingyo) and reads shikisokuzeku, meaning (loosely) all color is void, the void is all color...

A wildly crafted bronze image of a shishi lion breathing out a cloud forming the basin for a flower arrangement (known as an usubata). The curly hair has been somehow flaked off and maintained during the casting process, quite an exceptional example. The basin can be removed from the mouth of the creature. Assembled it is 32 x 28 x 33 cm tall (12-3/4 x 11-1/4 x 13 inches) and weighs 4390 grams (9.5 pounds). It is in fine original condition.

A radical Iga wall vase by Atarashi Manabu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Kakehana-ire. It is 36.5 cm (14 inches) long and in perfect condition, directly from the artist.
Atarashi Manabu has been growing in popularity as one of the leaders in the Iga pottery tradition since the first time I saw his work nearly 20 years ago when visiting the family showroom in Iga village...

A floral sweep of wheat is incised into the side of this blue tinged white porcelain incense burner by Japanese Living National Treasure Inoue Manji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hakuji Some Mugi Chomon Koro (White Censer Incised with Blue Wheat). It is 12 cm (just less than 5 inches) to the top of the finial and is in excellent condition...

Love the work of this elegant artist, here is an exquisite beer cup by Doi Masafumi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seiji Tensenmon Mugi-shu-Hai. It is 13 cm (5-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist. This would make a stunning gift for someone born in summer.
Doi Masafumi was born in Nara prefecture in 1972, and graduated the Aichi prefectural ceramic research facility in 2000...

A finely potted dish decorated with a pattern of scattered shibagaki, bundles of brushwood, which would have formed part of a decorative garden hedge, with boughs of Plum blossom. This pattern was made for the domestic market and would have been particularly appropriate for the celebration of the New Year. The design is referencing the strong winds and storms of early spring. The dish is decorated in a combination of underglaze blue and “Kakiemon” enamels, over-glaze blue, green...

Wow! Here is a radical piece from deep in the embers of Sugimoto Sadamitsu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Iga Hanaire. It is utterly simplistic in form with dramatic and complex kiln effect born from placement and the inferno. The vase is 26.5 cm (10-1/2 inches) tall, 12.5 cm (5 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Sugimoto Sadamitsu was born in Tokyo in 1935...

A dragon writhes among the astounded population on this sometsuke blue and white vessel by Kawamoto Goro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Sometsuke Ryumon Utagaki Tsubo. It is 6 1/2 inches 16.5 cm square 8 inches 21 centimeters tall and in excellent condition dating circa 1980.
Kawamoto Goro (1919-1986) was born in Seto to a family of potters. He studied in Kyoto at the same institution as Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji...

Very rare Japanese comic demon Buaku Kyogen mask dating from the early Edo Period, the golden age of Noh Drama. The Buaku mask is a Kyogen version of the Noh Beshimi character. Kyogen were short, humorous skits performed between Noh acts to lighten the mood. The heavily knit brows and wide leering grimace are wonderful characteristics of this mask. It is covered in layered colored gofun (oyster shell lacquer)...

Pair of 6-panel screens; ink, colors, gofun (crushed calcified crustacean shell) and gold on paper framed by a double silk brocade border. The screen on the right represents numerous geese (14), some flying down in front of a black moon, others in search of food or resting among the grass at the edge of a body of water with a background of a mountain. The left screen depicts egrets (7), three of which are perched on the trunk of a majestic weeping willow, covered in a white pigment represent...

A fine rectangular vase or incense stick holder of slab construction with applied leonine taotie style handles to its narrow sides. The front and back sides of the vase decorated with contrasting triangular blocks of diaper brocade in underglaze blue with iron red and gold highlighting the gobenka and pine motifs in the cells and an aka-e kinrande pattern with budo-karakusa (grape vine) in underglaze blue with gilt outlining. The sides decorated with Chinese style sansui landscapes wit...

An unusual mask with gaping jaws and flattened features covered in red and black lacquer with golden teeth and eyes dated a lucky day in the 6th month of Tenmei 2 (1782). The mask is of carved wood covered in cloth over which has been applied layers of colored lacquer, gold and gofun (powdered shell) to form the white eyebrows. It is quite unusual in configuration. Most masks are open at the back, however this is carved with curling hair all the way down to the neck. Two holes in the teeth we...

A masterpiece basket made from used split bamboo arrows by Maeda Chikubosai enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Jidai Yadake-sei Hanamori (Basket made of Old Arrows) dated Showa 5 (1930). Hints of red and gold lacquer give clues to the origin of the bamboo shafts, making this an example of one of the most sought of all types of baskets by this elusive artist. It is roughly 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) diameter, 49 cm (19 inches) tall and in excellent, original condition. Maeda Chikubos...