A very unusual lacquered Jubako stacking box in the shape of a water cauldron made for serving food at events and celebrations. It is finshed with metallic textured silver-black lacquer simulating old iron. The lid and base are shiny black lacquer, the interior coated in festive red. Cranes and turtles, symbols of longevity, populate the inside in gold. It is 20.5 cm (8 inches) diameter and comes enclosed in an age darkened period wood box titled Kamagata Kashiki...

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Street After Rain (雨後の街)
Date: 1920s-30s.
Size: Oban. 19.75 x 13 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
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...

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Street in Front of Restaurant
Date: 1920s-30s.
Size: Oban. 19.75 x 13 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist...

Snow covered bamboo. Painted with ink on silk. Signed and sealed.

Suzuki Shonen (1848-1918) was a Japanese painter from the Meiji(1868-1912) to Taisho periods(1912-1926). Born as Suzuki Hyakunen's eldest son, he learned painting from his father from an early age. Shonen became a teacher at the Kyoto Prefectural Painting School in 1898. He was good at portrait painting and received awards at national industrial exhibitions, etc...

Antique Japanese copper censer with handles. The pierced copper lid has a repousse design of a dragon in swirling storm clouds with lightening. The body of the censer is hammered copper and has two warabite shaped handles on either side.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 7" high x 11" wide (including handles)

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Rain at Omiya
Date: 1930
Size: Oban. 16.75 x 12 inches.
Date: 1930. This edition later.
Publisher: Shobisha (Acquired original blocks from Kawaguchi and Sakai).
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Reference: Hotei #215.
Condition: Crease at top center margin (photo). Light toning. Top back margin has tape. Framer's pencil note in back bottom margin.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Fireworks, Shubinomatsu
Size: Mitsugiriban. 15 x 6.75 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Sealed and titled in the image.
Reference: Shotei catalog M-23. Watanabe #222, Ota-ku #195
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back edge has paper residue.

An Edo period coat (haubergeon) and “kote” (mitons) of linked chain over layers of indigo dyed blue cloth decorated with family crests in gold. The chain, Kikko collar, outer layers of cloth and leather piping are all in overall excellent condition, the original pale blue lining is much worn away. This is made for an adult.
In Japan, mail is called kusari which means chain...

Lovely large art deco signed Shino ceramic vase from one of the masters Takeharu Kobayashi. Undulating waves of raised ridges creates a textured masterpiece. In a signed original box. Fired at the 'Chikurin Kiln. 40cm diameter x 35cm tall. Ca. 1980. Ask for shipping quote.

A small Tsubo by Living Natioanl Treasure Tokuda Masahiko (Yasokichi III) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 15.6cm (6 inches) diameter Roughly the same height and in excellent condition.
Tokuda Yasokichi III (Masahiko, 1933-2009) was born the first son of Tokuda Yasokichi II who had been adopted as a teenager into the Tokuda family. Masahiko graduated from the Kanazawa school of arts, and took up apprenticeship under his grandfather and father Yasokichi I & II...

A fabulous bowl by the first-generation Kato Keizan enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tenranji Zuicho Moyo Hachi (Bowl with Blue Glaze Decorated with Auspicious Birds). Tenran is a blue glaze made by the official kiln of the Qing Dynasty in China. On this in raised white auspicious birds with long tails like dragons circle the rim over archaic symbols reflecting continental taste popular from the Meiji through Taisho to early Showa period...

A beautiful hand thrown stoneware vase of tapering shape with three very small ears; mottled blue glaze / rubbing eggs glaze creating a stunning effect made by Ito Tosan. Ito Tozan I (1846-1920) or Ito Tozan II (1871-1937). Seal mark underneath reading Tozan, enclosed in the original stamped cotton bag. It comes with a collector box from the 50´s. Late Meiji to Early Showa, 20th cent. H...

Marine ivory okimono depicting Shoki grasping an Oni, who is attempting to take a rolled scroll on top of a box. Shoki holds the demon with one hand while in the other he holds a sword, a symbol of his courage and his will to protect what is sacred. Signed under the Gyokushi base. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 4 cm. State of conservation: Very good

An exquisite vessel of pure white carved with ripples by Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuho) Maeta Akihiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seihakuji Chomon Henko. It is 27 cm (10-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Maeta Akihiro was born in Tottori city in 1954, graduating the Osaka University of Art in 1977...

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Snow at Asakusa Kannon-do
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-22 in Shotei catalog.
Provenance: From the collection of Canadian missionary Sybil Courtice, who was in Japan from the early 20th century up until WWII.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Spring in Daigo, Kyoto
Date: 1950.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Black 6 mm seal at lower right, indicating a first edition (1946-57).
Hasui signature and seal at lower left.
Size: Oban. 15.25 x 10.5 inches.
Reference: Hotei #537.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: At the perimeter of the verso, a conservator has removed tape and reinforced the paper.

Antique Japanese cast copper jizai okimono of an articulated cricket. Small, articulated metal figures of this type are called jizai okimono (literally "free decorative object")...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Teahouse in the Night
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.625 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Artist's seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
No. 564 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. M-57 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.