Enigmatic natural forms seem fossilized on the white surface of this rare guinomi by female pottery star Hattori Makiko enclosed in a black lidded wooden box signed and dated inside Heisei 27 (2015) and titled simply Shuki. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. This was from way back when we could acquire works by her. Those days are long gone, and this is the last of its kind.
Hattori Makiko was born in Aichi prefecture in 1984...

A fabulous 17th century Koro (Momoyama to early Edo period) covered in black lacquer inlayed with minute mother of pearl shippo designs around circular windows featuring floral motifs. The lid is solid silver, pierced with overlapping floral designs. The windows feature grape, plum, bamboo and other seasonal imagery important in Asian cultures. It is 11 cm diameter and in overall excellent condition considering the age.

A Japanese boxwood netsuke depicting Shojo crouched in a typical posture, with his hand resting on his knee, while sleeping from the effects of too much sake, the kimono is finely carved with geometric motifs as well as the long hair on the back. Similar examples of the Nagoya carvers are illustrated in Meinertzhagen, MCI, p.844, Davey, MTH, p.189, no.570 and Lazarnick, NIA, p. .1063. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 3,3 x 2,7 x 2,6 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Kozu, Osaka
Souvenirs of Travels, Third Series.
Date: 1924.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.50 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe C seal at right margin, indicating printing between 1929 and 1942.
Reference: Hotei #118.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Lovely mauve horizon...

Delicate pink and blue fan-shapes like the scales on some iridescent tropical fish or feathers on an exotic bird rise in an overlapping pattern to form this open flower receptacle by Kusaba Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Neriage is well known in Northern Japan thanks to living National Teasure Matsui Kosei who worked in colored clay, however it is unheard of in Southern Japan, and in this case, made of colored porcelain...

Height: 12.7 cm (5.1 in)
Width: 7.7 cm (3.1 in)
Depth: 4.2 cm (1.7 in)

Fine Japanese Satsuma moon vase; shows two panels of nobles and samurai in rural settings; the edges, along with top and bottom borders, are decorated in raised gilt diaper work; collection number and old label present on the base; good condition

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Removable hinged door opens to two large compartments where merchant books and store records were kept. Below are two drawers for additional storage. Side handles allow for easy placement of the chest in a room.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 25 3/4" Wide by 41 1/8" High by 17 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Yonezawa Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kuri (Chestnut) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles and the round lock plates. Three large drawers provide spacious storage for organizing. Side handles provide for easy carrying of the chest. Originates from the Yonezawa region of Japan.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 26 1/2" Wide by 23" High by 13 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Nagoya Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original bronze hardware. 2 section set. Upper section features 2 sets of sliding doors and four side by side drawers below. Bottom section has a pair of sliding doors and 3 side by side drawers. Originally used as a kitchen chest to store large jars of water, dishes, cooking utensils and serving ware...

An antique Japanese Kuruma Choba Tansu (wheeled merchant chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the full moon style lock plate and interior Warabite handles. Hinged doors open to a 12 sectional compartment area where valuables were organized and stored. Below are two drawers where additional storage was used...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish including the full moon lock plates and the Warabite style handles. 3 full width drawers with a 3/4 width drawer and small drawer at the bottom. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)Dimensions: 22 1/8" Wide by 22 1/2" High by 12" Deep

A 2 section Japanese Isho Biraki Kamo Tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware. Constructed using high quality Kiri wood from the Aizu snow country region of Japan known for their slow growth and dense grain. Upper section features 2 hinged doors behind which are 7 Kimono trays and three small side by side drawers. A secret interior wood latch locks the left and right drawers from opening while the left drawer has a secret drawer accessible from the back...

Asa (hemp) noragi (work wear) with fine kasuri pattern which is katazome (stecil-resist-dye) and vegetable indigo dye. Both weft and warp are hand-plied. This kind of thick hemp textiles are found in Tohoku district. Generally in good condition but has some mending patches and stitches and wear in shoulder lines. Late 19th to early 20th century. W:116cm x L:76cm, Measurement of details, please inquire.

Boro sodenashsi (vest) made of cotton stripes for outside and hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye cotton inside. It has 2 layers indigo cloth with sashiko and 3 layers with stripes parts. The first half of the 20th century from Tohoku district. Shoulder W:36cm, Hem W:53cm, L:69cm

Hiroshi Yoshida
Tansui (Danshui, China)
Date: 1941.
Print size: Chuban. 10.625 x 8 inches.
Brush signed and sealed in the image. Titled and signed in pencil in lower margin.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating a first edition self-printed by the artist.
Publisher: Hiroshi Yoshida
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Abe catalog #244.
Condition: Some toning and fading. Tape at top back margin.

Antique Japanese tall ikebana basket made of wide and flat strips of split bamboo. The mouth and overall shape is an elongated square with a curved handle made of two pieces of bamboo woven together. The corners of the basket are reinforced with bamboo and knot work. The bamboo has a dark, rich finish...

Antique Japanese small ceramic teapot in the form of lotus leaves. Buff color clay with light brown glaze and glossy speckles. Leaves sculpted with naturalistic details. The spout is a folded leaf and a small round leaf functions as the thumb rest. The underside of the teapot is sculpted to match.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2 1/2" high x 3 1/2" wide x 4 1/2" long

This is a large and spectacular 18th Century Bronze Cloisonne, Twin-Handle Urn with great Archaic form and color. It has two Dragon Head Handles. It is enameled with Penny Flowers and Leaves motif. It has a large mouth (five-inches wide), and it is decorated with a one-inch belt that separates its bulbous body from its neck. It has a raised foot rim...