Occupation era original Japanese shin hanga woodblock print titled "Spring Evening at the Kintai Bridge" by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) dated in the lower left margin Showa 22 (1947). The artist's black ink signature and red seal are at the lower left corner of the image. The 6mm circular seal of the publisher Watanabe (used 1946-1957) is at the lower right corner. Paper size: 15 5/8" x 10 3/8" (image size: slightly over 14 1/4" x 9 1/2"). Very good overall condition. Possibly lightly faded...

Antique Japanese bronze sutra container of a pagoda form with very tall finial and calligraphy inscription. The bronze shows beautiful green patina inside and on the foot and the lid shows old corrosion. The burial of sutras in sutra mounds began in 1007 when Fujiwara no Michinaga had a gilt bronze sutra container inscribed upon its burial at the Kinpusen sutra mound in Yoshino. It is apparent that a variety of reasons lay behind the creation of these sutra mounds...

Unusual Japanese hardwood low shop desk tansu. Original red lacquer finish with heavy iron plates and mounts. The table surface is hinged with three doors that open to interior compartments for papers and other merchant's effects. The middle door has a lady's portrait with calligraphy inscriptions detailing the piece is from a merchant business in "Ume-yashiki, Tokyo" with the merchant name "Shimbashi Kotatsu" and dated 25th year Meiji 1893...

Antique Japanese 3 drawer gyosho bako or merchant's box, with original red lacquer finish. The top of the box has a carrying handle and the 3 drawers are opened by hirute shape iron pulls with square locks and corner hardware.

Dates Edo age c1800 Dimensions: 17" x 14" x 15 1/2" H

A White porcelain ware figurine of a Japanese puppy. The puppy has a small hole in its' neck, and an open mouth, and functions as a water dropper. Water droppers were used by a scholar to add water to the ink stone when mixing ink. The puppy is very attractive with Hirado style pierced eyes, large ears, modeled toe nails and a raised left foot. The puppy measures about 4" high x 5" long x 3 1/2" wide and dates to the late 19th, early 20th Centuries. The condition is excellent/perfect...

Unusual Japanese Kiri (paulownia) tansu with 8 drawers and a lift away panel opening to a shelved interior with spacious room. The 8 front drawers feature small round locks and warabite pulls. Original finish and condition.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 25" L x 12 1/2" D x 19 1/2" H

Japanese Erotic Shunga Prints. 8 double-page book illustrations in colours from a shunga book (6 with erotic motifs). Extremely good details of the interiors and clothing. Also part of the lot are 3 pages with poetic inscriptions. Probably by Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865). Japan, late Edo, c. 1850. H 18.5 cm, L 26.5 cm. Condition: Good colours, general fine state of preservation with minor worming (repaired) on a few of the leaves.

Japanese heavy Brocade silk Shrine Uchishiki, or altar cover, Meiji period, 1868-1912, 26" x 26" square, Gold and Silver brocaded double Phoenix birds in the gold metallic background and narrow bands of egg plant color background between. Water stain in one corner on the silk backing, not in front, otherwise the condition is good, still retain the thread to keep the edges flat. There are some writings in the back, but not able to read.

Woman's kimono madeof hand-spun cotton with shibori pattern. It is dyed with vegetable indigo. The white cloth in the upper inside is also hand-spun cotton. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. 126cm x 140cm

Small shunga book (vol. 1) with indistinct title in oblong format. 14 colour prints with erotic motifs and texts, five scenes in black ink and other pages with text only. Japan, late Edo, early 19th century. H 8 cm, L 18 cm. Condition: Good impressions and bright colours. Some wear to paper.

Japanese tenmoku ware ceramic vessel with ribbed handle, short front spout, and wide open top. The thick oil slick glaze stops just short above the foot left in buff. Tenmoku glaze is made with feldspar, limestone, and iron oxide. The more quickly a piece is cooled, the blacker the glaze will be. Tenmokus are known for their variability. During their heating and cooling, several factors influence the formation of iron crystals within the glaze...

An elaborately decorated Japanese porcelain elephant with applied beads of enamel and large areas of gold trim. There is a large five point gold leaf centered on its' back. The elephant measures about 9" long x 6" high x 4 1/4" wide, and dates to the early 20th Century. There is a badly worn "Made Japan" mark on the bottom of one foot. The condition is excellent, except for minor wear to some of the gold high points, like the forehead and ear edges...

Japanese lacquer suzuribako or calligraphy writing box. The box is wood with lacquer, gold gilt sprinkled lacquer, and inlaid shell on the lid, adorned with scrolling leaves, floral medallions and motifs of sparrows. The box interior is red lacquer with gold lacquer patterns. The inside box contains an attached inkstone, a brush, and a small brass water dropper. Underneath is a shallow compartment for the storage of calligraphy papers...

A large figure of 24 armed seated Kannon, gold gilt over wood carving of the bodhisattva of compassion, seated in meditation atop a lotus pedestal, two of her arms clasped in prayer, the other pair of front hands with palms pointed upwards and thumbs touching, in a meditation mudra...

Large Japanese Imari porcelain charger decorated in a free-form pattern of underglaze blue geometric, floral, and phoenix bird patterns with overglaze polychrome and gilt highlights. Two white floral areas in the center are raised in slight "moriage" relief, giving the charger a rich texture. The underglaze blue decoration on the back surrounds a six-character apocryphal Chinese Ming dynasty Chenghua reign mark...

Japanese vintage original 12 pc. silverware set with five spoons, five two prong forks, and a butterknife and scalloped spoon. Each piece in the set is stamped on the handle with Martian mark, trademark of Sato Shoji, Japan. Four of the pieces show natural patina from being exposed to oxygen. Included with original storage box marked Espoir on the lid.

Dimensions: 5" L x 1" W per piece, storage box 7 1/4" x 6" x 3 1/2" H

Rare Japanese gyosho bako or peddler's chest, constructed with Kiri (paulownia) wood in original dark brown/black lacquer finish...

Japanese small Kiri (paulownia) tansu, with pair of sliding panels concealing a shelved interior compartment, and five drawers of various size with metal pulls and locks. Original condition and finish.

Taisho period (1912-1925)

Dimensions: 24" L x 12" D x 19" H