An antique oke-bound wooden bucket has been lacquered mirror smooth black inside with a natural bark handle added to create a superb sumi-tori charcoal basket for use in the Japanese tea ceremony. The original cask-like body is worn at the rim to an incredible degree, and yet remains structurally sound. It may have indeed been a lacquer-workers bucket, or perhaps used by a paper-hanger, decades of being bumped by the brush naturally wearing down the edges...

A Japanese, Ryukyuan type, lacquer charger. Inlaid mother of pearl decoration of figures in landscape on black lacquer in the center surrounded by red lacquer. A band of black lacquer also exposed just inside the rim - also with mother of pearl inlay. The egde of the charger rubbed for that prized negoro affect of exposing the black lacquer background through an invariably worn coat of red lacquer...

A beautiful Japanese red lacquer sake pot with stand. Decorated with sprigs of pine branches in accents of gold, it is in excellent condition. Measures 11" high by 5" square.

Each plate has the design of a single chrysanthemum (kiku) shifted towards the left side of the plate … but they were carved in a way that each has a life of its own. None of them look the same. The design is sharply cut into thick layers of black urushi lacquer – tsuikoku. It is known to be a difficult job – this later lead to Kamakura bori(carving) which is a technique of lacquering on carved wood. The plates are very light. It indicates a high quality, matured wood inside...

19th Century Meiji Period Black and Gold Lacquer Box. Features a stunning design of wonderful lacquer techniques. Though large it is very delicate in its presentation of leaves, flowers and branches. 13.75w x 11d x 6h inches, 35w x 28d x 15h cm.