A Japanese bamboo stick with two finely carved ryu dragons facing each other with horn eyes. Meiji Period second half 19th century Sizes: 107 x 10 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Takahashi Shotei
Red temple in rain; priest over the steps
Date: ca. 1920s-30s.
Size: 5.75 x 3.5 inches
Reference: S-7 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Compare with our Shotei127.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Sudden Night Rain Near a Bridge
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15 x 6.75 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Hiroaki seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
No. 539 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. M-50 in Shotei catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top center margin has transparent tape residue.

Six(6) panel Japanese Screen, early 1930's, 52" wide when all open, 8 1/2" wide for each panel, and 14" high, Water Color Painting of Japanese Farming Village Daily Life, boy on the Buffalo or Ox playing flute instrument while father is working in the farm, village people having lunch during lunch break by the lake, Monk is going rounds, village store owners are selling steamed buns in the mountain background, with brocaded silk border within black lacquered wood frame...

Beautiful small wooden jizai, or pothook. This type is called Daikoku, after the shape of Daikoku’s hat. These hangers were suspended with a rope from a heavy beam, over the sunken hearth. From the hanger an adjustable hook was hung that held the kettle. Good piece of mingei.
Zelkova wood with rests of smut, especially in the grooves.
Japan, 19th century.
H 9.5; w 9.25; 2.75 inches.
Slight traces of usage, very good condition.

Japanese Wood Block Print, "Eisen" in black lacquered frame and mat, 18' x 14 for frame size, 14' x 9' for image size, Mt. Fuji background in bright orange color sunset, fishing boats going out in the Lake, and it is in good condition.

If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a set of sake cups he describes as “Ou-tekko” (pyrite) and “Ammonite” (same in English - a kind of sea fossil). Part of a series he has been developing, the ancient Ammonite fossil has been the inspiration behind his latest creations. Pyrite, meanwhile refers to the metallic patterning on the outer surface of the clay body...

If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a sake set he describes as “Ou-tekko” (pyrite) and “Ammonite” (same in English - a kind of sea fossil). Part of a series he has been developing, the ancient Ammonite fossil has been the inspiration behind his latest creations. Pyrite, meanwhile refers to the metallic patterning on the outer surface of the clay body...

A Japanese articulated wood Karashishi mask in dark patina, himotoshi on the back next to the signature. Signed Munenaga. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 4 x 3 x 2 cm Condition report: Very Good condition

A set of five exquisite Sencha Tea Cups of crackle-glazed pottery covered outside with black lacquer decorated with golden plum blossoms. Each bears an impressed seal in the base reading Toyosuke from the Nagoya studio of Toyoraku (also read Horaku) dating from the later 19th century. Inside each cup is a stylized single plum blossom. This set is exceptional! It is enclosed in a custom made wooden box. Each is 6.2 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter, 4.8 cm (2 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Antique Japanese small scroll painting for a shrine depicting the goddess Benzaiten (Benten). One of the 7 Lucky Gods, Benten is the goddess of good fortune, wealth, music and knowledge. She originates from Saraswati, goddess of music. Here in this painting, she is in her 8-armed form called Happi Benzaiten. Each hand holds a specific buddhist attribute. She stands atop a dragon which hold a precious magic pearl in it's claws. On her crown is a small torii gate...

Shrine with the very rare image of the death of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, called nehan-zu, and his entrance into the state or perfect peace, called nirvana or nehan. The Buddha lays stretched out on a rectangular lotus base, his head resting on his right arm. Although normally in nehan-zu one will see gathered around the bed 52 kinds of beings, human and animals mourning the Buddha, there are none present in this zushi. From the ceiling of the case hangs a curtain of sorts...

The size of Bowl 6 5/8" Dia x 2" High. Japanese Ko Imari Porcelain Bowl. The bowl is bit larger than regular Namasu bowl. The bowl has the unusual design of archer sitting at the front of Japanese house with wave design. Arrow hit dead eye center. There are two sections divided by gold decoration of dragon with flower design around. The condition of bowl excellent, no chip, no crack and no hairline...

Old sake bottle of strong conical shape with a short neck and everted rim.
Underneath the beautiful milky feldspar glaze a cobalt bue and black sketch-like drawing of sprigs of bamboo. Bottom glazed brown, as is typical for this ware. Mingei.

Most likely Ofuke (or Ofukei) ware, made near Nagoya, Japan.
Edo period, circa 1800
H ca. 6 x diam at bottom ca. 5.5 in.

Ofukei has a historical relation to Seto ware...

A beautiful example of a Hakeme style bowl, this one quite rare as it was made around 200 years ago by the son of the founder of the Dohachi line of potters. Traditionally decorated using a brush made from rice straw, a white slip is applied to the darker clay body with a wide sweeping stroke to achieve the effect seen here...

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Hikawa Park, Omiya
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Date: 1930.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Round, red 6 mm seal at lower left, indicating a lifetime printing (1946-1957).
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Reference: Hotei #207.
Condition: Excellent. Top back margin corner has paper residue.
"Omiya...was prosperous during the Tokugawa period (1600-1868) as a post-station on the Nakasendo." - Hotei.

Here we have a very unique ceremonial tea implement made by one of the most important figures from Japanese tea culture in the past century...

A striking lidded Mizusashi fresh water jar by female porcelain legend Ono Hakuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kinrande Mizusashi. It is 15 cm (6 inches) diameter, 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition retaining the original shiori and shifuku.
From Aichi prefecture, Hakuko was trained by her father initially in the ceramic arts. However she was most strongly influenced by the great experimentive artist Kato Hajime (1901-1968) and his work with gold. Th...