Here in Kyoto our gallery is located along the Kamo River in a district known as Shobu-en Machi, which roughly translates as “Iris Town.” As you can imagine, the scene depicted in this painting of irises and cranes is one that can be commonly witnessed in our neighborhood in the spring (May) when these flowers are in full bloom. Close inspection of the painting shows one crane amusing itself in the swirling eddies created by rocks on the river bed, while another lifts its head to admire the ...

A very rare Yuan dynasty blue and whie large paper / scroll weight, good condition with hairline at the rim, please see picture for detail, size: 10 cm diameter, 8 cm height.

Large snuff bottle, made of silver, of circular and flat shape, lavishly decorated with animal, floral and geometric design on one side and foliage, lotus and geometric design on the other side. Tiny silver stopper at the end of a small spout on top of the bottle. Opening on one side to allow access to the tobacco powder, with relief stylised lotus decor, on one of the two sides. Fine patina. Tibet, 19th century. Height: 11 cm. Very good cndition.

This striking chawan is a fine example of “Oni Shino” (carbon trap and natural ash glazing) that Tsukigata is so well-known for. Coining the term in the mid-50’s after countless failed experiments—which ultimately culminated in the discovery of this unique style of pottery—“Oni” translates roughly to demon or ogre. Fired at extreme temperatures for days in an anagama, the iron in the clay and in the glaze fuse, drip, and coalesce—while at the same time blending with the molten as...

A rare stucco sculpture which originally had three heads on this Deity, two are remaining and part of a third one remains. This type of Diety had it's influence from the Gandhara also was a jewel of Buddhist civilization. Scholars of Gandhara traveled east to India and China and were influential in the development of early Mahayana Buddhism. Size with stand. H. 23.3cm. W. 15 cm.

Finely cast bronze censer on four linked feet with very elegant flower décor on the body and fretwork on the rim, patinated in a rich brown. Bottom decorated in low relief with repeating, extremely fine fretwork of faces. Seal on bottom: Dai-Nihon Bunsei nen Seimin sei. Japan, Edo period, early 19th century.
H H 2-7/8 x diam. 6 ½ inches.
Excellent condition

Murata Seimin (1761-1837), bronze sculptor active in Edo, well-known for his fine casting of bronze vessels and animals.

This antique Seto piece features a warm matte ash glaze with several patches of darker and lighter pigmentation. The molded clay shows striations that resemble textured wood grains—highlighted by a soft patina developed over many decades of use.

Seto is a pottery tradition established in the 12th century with the aim of reproducing fine Chinese porcelain and tenmoku-style chawan—which were hard to come by in Japan at the time. Later, during the Muromachi period, Seto potters es...

Beautiful and slightly distorted masterpiece Mizusashi (water jar for tea ceremony) of dark Seto yaki with black and brown glaze. Around 1900, Meiji Period. No chips, no cracks.

Size: 18 cm height x 13 cm diameter on top.

Shipping included

This remarkable tea bowl is from the kilns of Yoshida Shuen (1940-1987)—an apprentice of Miwa Kyusetsu (1910-2012) who was awarded the status of Living National Treasure in 1983. It features a warm milky beige glaze with light umber accents and shows a bit of exposed clay on the kodai (foot) where the artists seal is located.

Hagi-yaki has a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery. Hagi-ware is prized for its subdued colors and class...

An excellent example of Japanese rustic charm that transcends its humble origins to embody a refined artistic work, this mizusashi, or fresh water pot used in tea ceremony, displays a beautiful natural ash glaze that includes dazzling ochres, browns, grays, and yellows splashed across the intentionally rough and contoured ceramic landscape.

Iga-ware pottery dates back to 7th and 8th century and—like so many other pottery styles in Japan—takes its name from the region where it wa...

A very rare 19th century elaborate head dress (Kanmuri or crown) of gilded parts inset with glass surmounted by a phoenix flanked by two dragons for use in the Japanese Noh Theater. A golden phoenix takes flight from the peak, surrounded by sun, moon and flaming jewel from which are suspended extravagant chains of glass and coral beads and gilded ornaments. Made of brass, paper, wood and thin wire, the entire is covered in gold with the sun and moon in enamel and burning jewels in glass. On t...

Ohara Koson
Monkey in a Tree
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1910-1923.
Publisher: Daikokuya
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: K41.21 and plate 30 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent with very slight bend at lower left corner. Uncirculated.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.

A stunning Miniature Polychrome Oval Painting of SHAH JAHAN (1592-1666), 5th MUGHAL EMPEROR Mirza Shahabuddin BAIG MUHAMMAD KHAN SHAH JAHAN, framed, 19th Century. Very good condition. Size: 11 x 8 cm.

A very rare round tea stand made of huanghuali with an insert burl wood top by a round stretcher and the splay legs ended in "Lin Zi" head feet. Age: Early 19th century.

Japanese indigo ikat cotton coat, with neutral color sakiori (rag woven) cotton collar, its edges reinforced with white sashiko stitching.

Size: 35.25" L x 36" H

Antique Tibetan gilt bronze Dakini, with traces of silver, inlay of coral and turquoise. In her hands are a raised kappala (or skull cup) filled with the elixir of life, and a curved blade. She is dancing on top of corpses to show her rule over ignorance and ego. Her lotus pedestal is made of gilt copper.

The Dakini are wrathful female deities often shown nude with long, flowing hair and glowering expression. Their name means "sky dancer" in Sanskrit as they lead the deceased into th...

Tibetan gilt bronze Buddhist deity figures, posed into a tantric Yab-yum ("Father / Mother") position is a common symbol in the Buddhist art in India, Button, Nepal, and Tibet. It represents the primordial union of wisdom and compassion, depicted as a male deity in sexual union with his female consort. Its also a reincarnation image of creation. The male deity figure wears an elaborate crown with inlay of diamonds and pointed finial. He holds in his hands a vajra (mean...

Fifteen-piece Japanese Satsuma earthenware tea set consisting of lidded teapot, lidded sugar vessel, lidded creamer, six cups and six saucers. The set is densely decorated with the Kannon, Rakan (Buddhist disciples), and dragon pattern in raised moriage enamels and gilt. “Great Japan Satsuma” mark to base. Meiji period (circa 1900). Teapot: 6 1/4" high x 7 1/4" wide (handle to spout); sugar vessel: 5 1/4" high; creamer: 4 3/4" high; saucer: 5 1/2" diameter; cup: 1 7/8" high x 3 3/4" diam...