This stunning freeform hardwood display stand with its natural raised edging was crafted from grapevine burl and likely made as a base for ikebana flower arrangements or a potted bonsai tree. Early 20th century, late Taisho/early Showa period. The stand’s swirling edge follows the natural tree shape, creating a wonderfully elegant movement. The natural knots add a further interesting element to its pure organic form. The inherent natural honey-colored hue of the wood enhances the rich dense grai... Click for details
Approximately early 20th century, exquisitely woven Japanese bamboo basket for flower arrangement. It has an artist inscription and excellent in condition.
In the Mashiko Ceramic Art Museum works can be seen by Hamada, Tomimoto, Kawai, Kamoda, Leach, Shimaoka, Murata, Sakuma, and Kimura Ichiro. In fact, a full retrospective of Kimura was held at the museum in 1998- such is his importance in Mashiko- even though his name isn't that well known in the west. Kimura(1915-1978) studied with Hamada starting in 1935. He had his first kiln opening of his own in 1947 and showed at important exhibitions including one at the Tokyo National Museum in 1964 where... Click for details
This is a fine pair of handmade Japanese folk art basket containers. They are made of tightly woven rattan reeds and bound by strips of thin bamboo that are reinforced with bronze straps bradded into the basket.
The smaller basket looks like it could have been a sewing basket or even a bento box (lunch box). It measures 7” long by 5” wide... Click for details
A large gourd in the shape of a stone bound by silk chord and enclosed in a period custom made wooden box; the shape reminiscent of the stone used to block a garden path in the tea ceremony. A dark wooden bung shaped like clouds of smoke ries from the top, cinched tightly by the silk chord. Gourds were traditionally used to carry water, and have long had an association with both Zen and the literati movements. It is 5 inches (12.5 cm) diameter and in excellent condtion. This is from a collec... Click for details
Japanese antique Jizai or "J" hook, made for hanging a large kettle by rope from rafters over fire pit, made of keyaki (elm) wood, wonderfully rough hewn and sculptural, carved with eight sides, great patina from smoke and use, Meiji Period (1868-1912).
Size: 30 1/4" high x 15" wide x 4" think (10" wide including small cross beam at top).
This unusually small late 1800’s jizai-kagi or kettle-hook hanger was once used for suspending a kettle over an open fire. It is crafted of beautifully grained keyaki (zelkova). This type of hook is named after the household god, Ebisu (deity of commerce). This shape reminded the Japanese of Ebisu’s court cap, the rear part of which sticks up like the taller section of this hanger. It has a wonderful patina and is in good condition except for some age cracks.
Height: 7 ½”
Width: 5 ¼”
De... Click for details
20th century, Traditional Japanese noh men mask of Okina made of Paper mache, by Gyokudo. It is excellent and comes with Gyuokudo's signed and sealed wooden fitted box.
This handsome lidded stoneware jar, typical of Onda ware (“onda-yaki”) pottery, is a quintessential example of Japanese ceramic folk art. Pre-war; ca. 1940 or earlier. The fine grayish-brown clay pot was first covered with a coat of white clay slip and then decorated with chatter-marking (“tobikanna”) before being coated with clear glaze and random splashes of green and brown glaze. The cover is decorated in the same fashion, and this combination of textures and colors provides wonderful contras... Click for details
This is a masterpiece of a jar in rich iron tones with overlapping nuka rich husk tones; Pollack in clay by the late great Mashiko potter Kimura Ichiro. In the Mashiko Ceramic Art Museum works can be seen by Hamada, Tomimoto, Kawai, Kamoda, Leach, Shimaoka, Murata, Sakuma, and Kimura Ichiro. In fact, a full retrospective of Kimura was held at the museum in 1998- such is his importance in Mashiko- even though his name isn't that well known in the west. Kimura (1915-1978) studied with Hamada start... Click for details
