Small bronze cannon of this type where made for shooting flaming arrows at ships, launching fireworks at festivals, and for signaling purposes. The example of cast bronze with a bore that is described as at the breach and the bore is reduced to a half round section to form a chamber for the powder mount for use. The gun would be imbedded into a wooded block such as the lower half of the barrel and the entire breach end is covered...

Decidedly modern, Japanese, and minimalist; the textures, colors, and form of this fascinating tea bowl all suggest inspiration from natural objects. The grey, smooth, polished interior of the tea bowl contrasts nicely with the textured ferrous dark ochre ash glaze on the exterior...

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Snow at Shiba Park, 1931.
(Shiba Koen no Yuki)
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6 mm seal at lower right, indicating a lifetime edition produced between 1946 and 1957.
Reference: Hotei #244.
Condition: Excellent. Very faint mark near left side of top margin.

Japanese two section clothing tansu, constructed with natural finish Kiri (paulownia) wood. Original condition. The four drawers with classic design of round iron hand-forged locks and pair of warabite drawer pulls, iron corner hardware and side handles.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 3/4" L x 16 1/2" D x 40 1/2" H

The shape of the this tea bowl is known as “tsutsu” in Japanese and is regarded as being especially attractive. Tsutsu bowls are used mainly in the depths of winter to keep in the heat and prevent the tea from cooling too quickly. Though most tsutsu bowls are defined by their smooth, curved edges and contoured clay bodies, this piece is distinct in having more defined edges and straight sides...

Stunningly beautiful Japanese Taisho Period C.1925 bamboo flower basket. Double ami warp and weft weaves with bamboo insers. Butterfly knots on handle are superb. In original paulownia wood box. 13" high and 9" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Evening Rain in Kawarago
Date: 1947
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Edition: First. Watanabe 6mm seal at lower left corner. Used 1946-1957.
Reference: Hotei #504.
Stamped "Original works of art" on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Pencil notation at upper right margin. Partial stamp at lower right margin.

A pair of large Japanese porcelain dishes, beautifully decorated in five colors: underglaze blue, overglaze black, -green, -aubergine, iron red and gold. Showing an asymetrical design of a courtesan with her servant under a cherry tree, the right side with flowers. The back with auspicious emblems, the base with spur marks and an underglaze blue apocryphal "Ming Jiajing" mark. Provenance: Swiss private collection. Dimension: diameter 27.5cm, 3.5 cm high...

Frank Brangwyn and Yoshijiro Urushibara
In the Docks
Series: "Ten Woodcuts" No. 8.
Paper size: Approximately 11 x 9.5 inches.
Image size: Approximately 8.5 x 7.0 inches.
Date: 1924
Edition: No...

An Edo period image of plums blossoming on thick branches by Kitayama Kangan. Ink on paper in a patterned cloth mounting with beige piping in the Mincho style so popular int eh 19th century and featuring bone rollers. It is 21-1/2 x 78-1/2 inches (55 x 199 cm). Some minor loss to the piping at the top of the scroll, otherwise in surprisingly good condition.
Kitayama Kangan (Ba Moki, 1767-1801) was the grandson of a Chinese émigré...

A delightful Japanese wood tray in the shape of a lotus leaf. Chiseled Katabori with raised veins and stem and stippled leaf rolled back on sides. The back of the tray is as detailed as the top with an intricate pattern of veins and curved stem. The tray is used in the tea ceremony.

Date: Meiji Period circa 1890

Dimensions:12" X 9" X 1"

An exquisite vessel by Bizen legend Yamamoto Toshu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Meipin. The form is perfection, covered with a dusting of ash revealing a flame colored eye on one side, everything about the proportions timeless. This is a piece I could wax on for hours about, but will leave that up to the viewer. It is 8 inches (20.5 cm) tall and in perfect condition.
Yamamoto Toshu (1906-1994) began working in a pottery at the age of 15...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu made of Kiri wood (paulownia). Charming round lock design, overall with 6 drawers and safe door compartment with two drawers behind. Good condition overall.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Measures: 19.25"H x 21.5"W x 12"D

Occupation era original Japanese shin hanga woodblock print titled "Snow at Hinuma Swamp, Mito" ("Snow at Hi Marsh, Mito") by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) dated in the lower left margin Showa 22 (1947). The artist's black ink signature and red seal are at the upper right side of the image. The 6mm circular seal of the publisher Watanabe (used 1946-1957) is at the lower right corner. Paper size: 10 3/8" x 15 3/4" (image size: 9 1/2" x 14 1/4")...

Ohara Koson (Shoson)
Crows in Moonlight
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1927. This edition 1946-1957.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6 mm in lower left corner of image.
Shoson signature and seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: S5.3 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Excellent. A couple of very faint spots in white sky at lower right.

An antique Japanese Shinto Shrine (also known as a Kamidana, Yashiro or Omiya) housing the deities Ebisu and Daikoku. The shrine was made from Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) while the deities were hand carved from Tsugenoki (Boxwood).

Ebisu is characterized by the lucky Sea Bream (Tai) fish that he holds under his arm. Sitting on a rocky shore, he looks to the water as a protector of fish, fisheries, seafood, fishermen, sea merchants and anything else that is related...

Unique handworn / polished natural burl wood brush rest in the shape of a mink okimono. The low long shape makes for an ideal brush rest for an calligrapher...

Wooden nyoi (ruyi in Chinese) scepter, an implement used by Buddhist priests during a ceremony or during formal preaching. Carved naturalistically in the shape of a lotus bud on a long stem with a lotus leaf wrapped around the stem. Rose wood or sandal wood. Made in two pieces.
Japan, 19th century.

Length 13-1/8 inches

Tiny chip at leaf edge. Fine condition.