18th century consecrated Japanese dragon (Ryu) temple carving. Its serpentine body reveals his 3 appendages with classic three claw anatomy. The high relief carving engulfs the dragon in flames. The rendering of the dragon's face exudes power and compassion.
The dragon carving was part of the architectural decoration of a Buddhist temple. It has been sanctified with sutras, located in the dragon's eye during the "Eye Opening Ceremony" (Kaigen-Kuyo)...

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Owl
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.25 by 7.5 inches.
Date: 1930s. This edition ca. 1960s.
Publisher: Doi.
Reference: Koitsu catalog No. TK-DH-75-V1.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Deer Strolling Along Kasuga Shrine, Nara
From the series, Shinto and Its Architecture.
Date: 1936.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.25 inches.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei #Hb-s7
Condition: Excellent.

Antique Japanese single section tansu with locking bar. With Keyaki (elm/zelkova) hardwood front panels in original red lacquer finish and black lacquer frame. The top and bottom drawers feature a large iron lock plate in the form of a flying phoenix, while the middle drawers are secured by the vertical locking bar with original key. The bottom corner of the chest holds 2 small drawers behind a safe door...

A most exciting find, a scroll by five of the greatest scholar-painters of the Meiji period, Tanomura Chokunyu, Suzuki Hyakunen, Tomioka Tessai, Nyoi Sanjin and Yamanaka Shinten-o; all of whom resided in Kyoto during the Meiji period. Ink on paper in a brown cloth border befitting the Daoist figures. It comes in an annotated by by Tessai from 1911. The scroll is 29-1/4 x 75-1/2 inches (74 x 192 cm) and is in excellent condition...

A museum quality work by 19th century great Oda Kaisen featuring vines burgeoning with ripe fruit under the epitaph “Painted on a muggy date (possibly “by moonlight” as the term keigetsu refers) in 1840”. Ink on silk in brass colored Satin patterned with tendrils of mist and featuring white piping in the Mincho style and ivory rollers typical of literati painting of the 19th century. It is 18-3/4 x 72-3/4 inches (47.5 x 184.5 cm) and is in excellent condition...

An elegant elongated form displaying in a rustic, manner the various affects of rough Iga clay by Tanimoto Kei enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Hanaire. A dark shadow climbs up the side where the piece had been buried in a cloud of ash during the firing. Where it was not so protected, yellow green glaze accentuates the various textures benath. It is 21.3 cm tall, 9 cm diameter and in excellent condition...

GETA SKATES

Unique and rare old Japanese footgear for ice skating when kimono was still everyday dress for the people, Meiji-Taisho period, early 20th century.

Length with iron blade: approx. 28cm (11.02in). Height: approx...

Large Japanese framed print by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979), signed in pencil, number 30/99 in its series, dated 1974. Scene of a silvery tree covered in snow with metallic silver on mint green ground.

Dimensions: 29" x 29.5" H (entire frame) , 22.25" x 23" H (print only)

A Japanese woodblock print of a kneeling male figure drying a shō, a traditional musical instrument of the reed family, a form of mouth organ, over a brazier. The print is attributed to Kitao Masanobu, 1761~1816 and probably dates to the late 18th century.

A good impression with some gauffrage on the kimono collar. The mount is inscribed in pencil “Mafsanobu”.

Approximately 20.3 x 14.4 cm. The print is laid by the edges to thin card. It is foxed at the edges...

A fine and expressive carved stag horn netsuke of Shoki, The Demon Queller. Early 19th century.

Shoki is the Japanese styling of the Chinese spirit Chung Kui who protects households from malevolent demons. In this example the gifted carver shows Shoki studying closely, an off stage, mischievous oni whilst carefully hiding his Chinese sword close to his body.

Approximately 4.8cm high...

Jagged bands of color like the climbing mountains surrounding Kyoto rise up the sides of this majestic work by Miyashita Zenji enclosed in the original signed wooden box exhibited at the 5th Kyoto Modern Ceramic Artists Exhibition in 1985. It is 14 x 17 x 37.5 cm (5-1/2 x 7 x 15 inches) and in excellent condition. It is a reasonably early work in this saidei oeuvre of the artist...

Blue and white bell-shaped inkwell of molded lotus leaf design. Japanese, Hirado Mikawachi, late 19th century. Height with lid "4 ¾ / 12 cm. Condition: chips to upper and lower rim, glass liner (not original) as seen in pics.

A Japanese Imari dish decorated with various celebratory motifs within an octagonal border. The back with a ‘running fuku’ mark. 19th century.

Approximately 24 cm diameter...

Precision cuts create bursting fireworks on the surface of this vase by Kitamura Junko enclosed in the orginal signed wooden box titled Hanaire. It is 8 inches (20 cm) tall and in excellent condition. Kitamura Junko learned under the tutelage of Suzuki Osamu and Kondo Yutaka of the influential Sodeisha. Like Mashiko artist Shimaoka Tatsuzo, her work is influenced by Jomon pottery, however her approach is very different. After impressing patterns into the clay with bamboo and firing once wi...

A trumpeting Chinese form by Miyanaga Tozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kiji Kodo Gata Kabin (Yellow Porcelain Vase in the Shape of Ancient bronze) and retaining the original Rosewood base. It is 12-1/2 inches (31 cm) tall plus the base, and in excellent condition.
Miyanaga Tozan I (1868-1941) is one of the most important names in Kyoto ceramics. He was born in Ishikawa prefecture, and graduated from the (now) Tokyo University of Art. While a government employee, h...

A large tsubo in gold and white slip by Miyashita Hideko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Haku-a Kaki Rin to Shite Yo. The title speaks of standing up alone, and the artist told me it was a piece she created when she came to terms with the grief of her husband passing away and had decided to make a fresh go of life. The form was influenced by ancient Chinese maternal sculptures, thus the forward, broad stance. An image of one of the sculptures can be seen on a ticket stub fro...

Rare antique Japanese 2-Section Mizuya (kitchen tansu) made from Keyaki wood (elm). The top section contains 2 roomy e compartments behind sliding door panels with floral motif pulls and 3 drawers along the bottom. The lowermost section holds another compartment with sliding doors, 3 small and two larger drawers along the bottom. The sides of the piece are reinforced with horizontal panels.

Dates from the Meiji Period c 1900 Dimensions: 44" L x 17" D x 63" H