Ohara Hoson (Koson)
Monkey surrounded by four young, carrying a persimmon
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 10.75 inches.
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Publisher's seal in right margin...

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to asymmetrical clay bodies and light-colored windows are created using feldspar. These high-contrast areas then act as a canvases upon which abstract, minimalistic, and often naturalistic themes are painted...

A striking large Tsubo in silvered Bizen ware by innovative Bizen artist Matsui Tomoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Ginsai Tsubo and dating circa 1990. It exhibits all the features of great Bizen, the smooth clay struck with flashes of darker color. The sense is that of seeing a Bizen Tsubo in an old tintype photograph, a most unique approach. It is 10-1/2 inches (27 cm) diameter, 12 inches (30 cm) tall and in excellent condition...

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest of drawers) from the Kyoto region. The chest has an open shelved compartment, with a money slot on the bottom shelf that drops into the drawer below. With black iron Warabite style handles on each drawer, 3 of which also have squared lock plates with Chrysanthemum studs...

Japanese mid 20th century bronze vase with swirling floral design by KURITA YUKIO. The vase comes with TOMOBAKO, or original artist signed wooden storage box. The vase measures 11 3/8" tall and 7" in diameter.

1800's, excellently hand-carved Japanese mix-materials netsuke depicting Okame performing the Japanese custom of Mamemaki (bean scattering) during Setsubun (the day before the beginning of Spring) to cleanse away all the evil (demons) of the former year, and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come...

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...

A very interesting chawan (tea bowl) dating from the Korean Joseon period (Richo in Japanese; 1392-1897). This particular piece appears to date from the 17th or 18th century and comes with a box that looks to have been furnished within the last 100 years. Over the long history of tea practice in Japan, at varying times, Korean-ware came into high fashion and ships full of the finest ceramics were brought over to Japan...

Kawase Hasui
Tamon Temple, Hamahagi, Boshu
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1934.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Round 6mm seal in lower right corner, indicating a lifetime edition printed between 1946-1957.
Signed and sealed by Hasui at lower left.
Reference: Hotei #349.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Two original drying pinholes in left margin.
- A rarely seen design.

A rare late 1950s to '60s sculptural work by Kitade Fujio, an artist credited with bringing Kutani into the modern age, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hekimen Ni Seshite Okizaru Kaki (Vase left abandoned by the wall). The clay is quite pure, covered in blasts of black and beige. It is 9-1/4 x 5-1/2 x 11 inches (24 x 14 x 28 cm) and in excellent condition. Kitade Fujio was born in 1919 the first son of potter Kitade Tojiro...

Japanese iron tetsubin, or tea kettle, with finely cast decoration of a bird seated on lifelike branches with berries in high relief. The handled and lid are made from bronze with a flower and orb shaped finial. The side of the tetsubin is signed with 4 character artist's mark.

Dimensions: 7" x 6 1/2" x 10" H

An exquisite vessel by Seifu Yohei IV decorated in slight relief under pale green glaze. It is 8-1/4 inches (21 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Seifū Yohei IV (Seizan: 1872-1946), the second son of Seifū Yohei III (1851-1914). He studied literati-style painting under Tanomura Shōsai (1845-1909), a son of Tanomura Chokunyū, in Osaka for three years. In 1914, he succeeded to the head of the family and produced works mostly in his father’s style...

Japanese iron tea kettle, or tetsubin, all hand-cast iron with landscape scenes of oceanside cottages around the body. The handle is inlaid with two silver birds and held into place by a pair of iron chimera on each end. The bronze lid is signed underneath, and the backside of the iron body has a 4 character artist's cartouche.

Dimensions: 7" x 6" x 8" H (with handle up)

This is a fine 12 inch Japanese Cloisonne vase done with the very popular draping wisteria pattern. The enamel and wire silver wire work in the wisteria decorations are of a high standard. From the scroll work it appears to be an early Ando, Ito or Kinuken piece. The form is unusual and the piece is better than the images show. Condition is excellent.

This white porcelain statue depicts a small seated Bodhisattva deep in meditation. Bodhisattva, otherwise known as bosatsu in Japan, are enlightened beings who have postponed Buddha-hood in order to remain on earth and help others to break their cycles of karma. The base of this statue is unglazed showing the fine porcelain clay from which it is crafted...

Japanese 2 section isho tansu (clothing chest of drawers) constructed of Kiri (paulownia) wood with Keyaki (elm) burl front panels, and hand-forged iron plating and hardware. The top section of the chest holds a large open compartment with five drawers below. The bottom section of the tansu holds five drawers for clothes storage.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35" x 16" x 62 1/2" H

A young Maiko parts the curtains of an Okiya Tea-house entrance, perhaps on her way to training, or to begin a night of traditional entertainment through song and dance. Pigment and ink on silk in a fine brocade border with lacquered red wooden rollers. It is 25 x 78 inches (63.5 x 198 cm). There is some loss to the gofun in the center where it was obviously folded once before being mounted in its current state.