Height: 2 cm (0.8 in)
Width: 3.8 cm (1.6 in)
Depth: 3.2 cm (1.3 in)

Finely carved Japanese wooden netsuke of a snake coiled in an interesting way; good old patina; good condition

An open mouth sings in French on the side of this flattened bottle by preeminent Avant-Garde potter Yagi Kazuo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hakushi-mon Henko. It is 10-1/2 inches (26.5 cm) tall, 7 x 2-3/4 inches (18 x 7 cm) and is in excellent condition. Dating circa1950. For a nearly identical piece see: Crafts in Everyday Life in the 1950s and 1960s (Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, 1994)...

A framed etching and aquatint print by Tanaka Ryohei. Scene of a thatched rooftop with a large flock of birds flying and trees branching out from behind the house. Signed in pencil and numbered 19/120. Dated 1994.

Framed: 22.75" high x 26.25" wide

Size of artwork: 13.5" high x 17" wide

"Snow and Thatched Roof" framed etching and aquatint print by Tanaka Ryohei. Scene of heavy snowfall against a thatched rooftop blanketed by trees. Signed in pencil and numbered 113/120. Dated 1993.

Framed: 28.5" high x 26.75" wide

Size of artwork: 15.5" high x 15" wide

Sadao Watanabe
Look at the Birds of the Air
From the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:26)
Stencil on momigami paper.
Date: 1968.
Edition: 40/50.
Signed and dated by the artist.
Image size: 21 x 17.75 inches. Paper size: 26 x 23 inches.
Condition: Paper edges wrapped to thin backing. Margin outer edges toned from previous framing.

Kawase Hasui
Rain at Shinobazu Pond
Date: 1929.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. A lifetime edition bearing the Watanabe 6 mm seal faintly on the bench to the right of the Hasui seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back margin has two pieces of tape.

A beautiful example of Oni Shino by world famous Tsukigata Nahiko enclosed in a wooden box signed by his student Ayukai Kogetsu. Wild glazing and a shinshoku fissure filled with glaze on one side define the work, showing reason for this artists great demand. Signed on the base it is 10 inches (25 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Tsukigata Nahiko (1923-2006) was not only an accomplished ceramic artist, but also a painter, calligrapher, sculptor and musician...

"Barn and House" framed etching and aquatint print by Tanaka Ryohei. The Japanese artist is best known for his intricate prints of rural Japan. This print is most striking in it's simplified, dramatic composition. The roofs are pictured from the side against the black sky. Signed in pencil and numbered 60 of 120. Dated 1993.

Framed: 24" high x 29" wide

Size of artwork: 18" high x 14" wide

An iron vase intentional rust and damascened silver of a Flat-fish on one side, the other au-natural by Sano Hiroshi exhibited at the 48th Kofukai Tenrankai Exhibition in 1962 and enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Karai (flat-fish). It is 53.5 cm (21 inches) wide, 37 cm (14-1/2 inches) tall and in fine condition.
Sano Hiroshi was born in Jūshiyama, Aichi prefecture in 1930, and graduated the Nagoya Municipal School of Crafts in 1950...

A rare and unusual Japanese cho bako ("cho" meaning small and "bako" meaning box). Made of Keyaki (elm) hardwood with its original lacquer finish. The upper region of the piece holds a pair of narrow sliding door panels, with a center locking pin to hold them securely shut, and vertical slats of branches...

One made of silver alloy in the "bira-bira" style, showing a blossom with tiny coral beads forming the center and attached butterflies. The second one is a "tama" kanzashi with pierced mixed metal ball showing floral decoration. Both ending in a mimikaki (ear spoon). Condition: the first one with missing butterflies. The second one with minimally bent prongs and little wear. Dimension: 17 cm and 16 cm long.

19th Century, excellently hand-carved in rare Persimmon Wood Netsuke depicting a realistic version of a Cicada that is laying upon a half Walnut shell. This netsuke is carved in intricate detail; faithful in form and image to the subject in nature that it represents. It is attributed to the Iwami School, because it presents all the characteristics of netsuke made by carvers of the region in Japan (See partial illustration - photo #10 - of the book 'Iwami Netsuke from the R. S...

This is a finely carved boxwood netsuke depicting the Skeleton of the Buddhist Priest Danka beating oa a Mokugyo, or Buddhist Temple Drum. Very nice detail and wonderful symmetry all throughout, rich patina. Signed Tomoyuki, a disciple of Tomochika, in an irregular oval reserve, on the bottom of the netsuke. Netsuke measures 0.92 inches (2.3cm) wide, 1.40 inches (3.5cm) long, and 1.27 inches (3.2cm) tall...

19th century finely hand-carved Japanese boxwood netsuke of a muscular blind masseur or Totsuka Beggar crouching and trying to lift his hugely distended scrotum. He is wearing only a fundoshi. Excellent detail and patination; he grimaces as he attempts to lift the large stone. His left eye and teeth are inlaid with light and dark horn. Very nice uneven himotoshi. Signed Hakudosai on a rectangular reserve on the bottom of the netsuke...

19th Century, very fine hand-carved netsuke depiction of a Naturalistic Human Skull (See photo #11 for comparison with actual Human Skull), with seven natural material teeth in the upper jaw, and fine parietal lines covering the cranium. Attributed to Tomochika, because of its close likeness to a spectacular netsuke of the same subject auctioned by Lempertz Auction House (photo #9), that rivals the skulls made by Sukenao (Photo #10)...

This is an excellently and intricately carved boxwood netsuke depicting a Boat full of passengers (11 of them) dressed in various garb, carrying different articles and set in different poses. One of them, in the rear of the boat, seems to be either sunbathing or nurturing an ailment; another is wearing a large Amigasa Kasa hat; there is woman carrying a baby in her arms. It is full of great form and expressions. Unsigned. Netsuke has a rich patina...

Hiroshi Yoshida
Kamogawa in Kyoto (The Kamo River)
Date: 1933.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image. Titled and signed in pencil.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating a first edition self-printed by the artist.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Abe catalog #186.
Condition: Light toning and fading. Top margin corners are thin...

19th Century, excellently hand-carved boxwood netsuke depicting a seated Tanuki, or Japanese Badger (raccoon dog) raising his right paw in order to beat his belly, or distended scrotum as it if were a drum. Outstanding hair work, a distinguishing characteristic of this netsuke master. Wonderful natural himotoshi that is formed by the bending tail of the Tanuki over its right hind leg...