A sprawl of chrysanthemum are delicately painted growing beneath the elegant curves of a Kanshi poem on this fine silk scroll by Kamisaka Sekka enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Pigment and ink on silk with silk border and black lacquered rollers. The scroll measures 11-1/2 x 73-1/2 inches (30 x 186 cm) and in fine condition. For more on this artist see the current exhibition at the Clark Center...

A rather unusual fan painting (senmen) portraying an image of a dragon rising above the clouds done using fingers. The tradition of finger painting is thought to have originated from China. Eccentric literati artists used their fingers instead of the brush to become one with the painting. Work contains a signature and seal by an artist named Sonsen. Additionally, the inscription on the fan reads: finger painted by Sonsen. Age: Early 20th century Size: Height 55.5" Length 27.5"

A hermitage lost in the early blossoms of the plum forest, ink and light color inside a wide gold border and mulberry frame typical of the Taisho era. Gold powder has been liberally applied intimating a shimmering mist throughout, creating an ethereal quality. Signed in the upper left corner, it is 68 x 149 inches (172.5 x 378 cm) and in overall fine condition. Akashi Shoun was born in Osaka on March 12, 1867, the first year of the Meiji era and a time of great change in Japan...

Japanese Taisho to Showa period vertical scrolled painting executed in sumi ink and wash on paper with a landscape scene featuring two figures at a bridge beside looming rockery, trees, a traditional hut, and a waterfall. Painted in the style of Sesshu. Signed with a red seal at the lower right. Bone scroll ends. Scroll: 50” x 16 1/8” (paper: 21 1/4” x 13”). Very good overall condition.

Oversized hanging scroll, portraying a beautiful young noble woman in travel dress, looking down and holding a large head. While her orange kimono is decorated with cherry blossoms, her overcoat is decorated with maple leaves in autumn colors. Signed: Tojo. Red seal: Seizan. Ink, mineral colors and gofun on silk. Japan, Taisho era, 1920s.

Image 74 x 32 inches
Mounting 90 x 40 inches. Wooden scroll ends.

Some minor cracks and losses to gofun, otherwise fine condition

The dreamlike quality which gave Taisho period art its unique flavor is readily apparent in this sumptuous composition by Kido Soi featuring long tailed birds along a tumbling stream. Pigment on silk mounted on applied gold flake in a silk border with a red lacquer wooden frame consistent with the era. It is signed in gold, Shunyo, the name used by Kido Soi in his youth, placing the screen easily before 1930...

A mandala from the Main Kyoto Nichiren Sect Buddhist Temple Honnoji cut from a hardwood slab used in the rebuilding of the great hall in the Taisho period. Written on back is “Given in Taisho 14 (1925) to the temple supporter’s representative as a prayer for good fortune upon the occasion of the ceremonial raising of the roof beam of the main temple structure (Honden), the plackard cut from wood used in the rebuilding”. It is signed Nichijo-gan...

Japanese scrolled painting on paper by Okutani Ichiyo, also known as Okutani Kazuyo, depicting a leafy vine with petunia flowers under the sliver of a moon. Signed Ichiyo with the red artist's seal below. Elaborate silk brocade scroll mounting with lacquer scroll ends. Early 20th century. Scroll: 75 1/2” x 12 3/4” (painting: 50 1/4” x 11 7/8”). Very good clean overall condition with only minor buckling and soiling evident.

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...

A superb Landscape by Yano Tetsuzan dated the second month of 1924 enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The arched rooves of Chinese style pavilions rise in the placed waters under th shelter of precipitous verdant cliffs, trees in fall colors in the foreground setting the stage. Above a long verse in Kanshi signed Tetsuzan. Ink and pigment on silk in a dark blue-green satin border with ivory rollers (the rollers will be changed for export)...

A very unusual set of three scrolls depicting the women of Shimabara looking down with trepidation at a Fumi-e (a Christian symbol) before lotus enclosed in a wooden box titled Shizan Shimabara-me Sanpuku Tsui (Shizan, Women of Shimabara Three Scroll Set). The Fumi-e was a bronze or wood placard embellished with a Christian symbol upon which people were forced to step to prove that they were not Christians during the ban on Christianity throughout most of the Edo period...

Antique hanging scroll. A dragon dressed in kimono and apron stands on hind legs, and holds up high a jewel, as if offering to an invisible celestial divine creature. Above them is a swirl.

Signed: Shoto …utsutsu. Seal: Moroku sensei.

Black ink and mineral color on paper.

Japan, Taisho era, 1910s, perhaps 1920s.

Painted area: ca. 52 x 13.5 in. (132 x 34.5 cm).
Total length ca...

Hanging scroll. Painting of two noble men on horseback. The men and the horses are dressed up beautifully and are obviously competing with each other in one way or another. Probably a scene on a horse track, the men shortly before or after a race.

Ink and mineral colors on silk, in a gold brocade mounting with bone scroll ends.

Signed in lower right: Shogai...

Additional photos of this fabulous Accordion book of 12 paintings by Kimura Seiun enclosed in a wooden box titled Atami Dan Ko-gasatsu and dated early Spring of Showa 4 (1929). The introductory page is written by Zen priest Hashimoto Dokuzan of Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto. The paintings are each signed with various names used by Kimura, mostly Seiun or Ren. The introductory and concluding pages are both dated 1929. It is 28 x 14 cm (5-1/2 x 11 inches) and in overall outstanding condition...

Japanese print YUHAN Ito (1867 – 1942) Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima. Woodblock print with ink and color on paper. Vertical ôban. Around 1910. A good model published by Nishinomiya. Framed.

Scroll painting depicting a humorous Daikoku, God of Wealth and kitchen, brings prosperity to the household. He is holding a mallet and a sack and standing on a huge daikon / radish. Painted in Zen style, ink on paper. Inscribed and dated: Taisho 1924, sealed and signed. Picture size: H 87 x W 30 cm. Scroll full size: H 175 x 39 cm. Condition: fair, a few stains. Recent mounting.

UNSKILLFUL AND INCOMPLETE LOVELY SECRET SCROLL

Practitioner’s secret manuscript scroll of the various hand-signs called 'Kuji-in' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuji-in) and ‘Tein’ (also ‘Inso’, ‘Ketsuin’) as the Mudra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra) of ‘Mikkyo’ (Japanese Esoteric Buddhism), as the symbolic or ritual gesture or pose performed with the hands and fingers for marking each secret of various buddhas, bodhisattvas, deities, etc...

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
A balcony scene with falling cherry blossoms
Date: 1920s.
Size: Oban. 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Faint matte line.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed as "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist. Works with these signatures had similar s...