A large and very attractive, lobed Kutani vase with a high neck in porcelain. The piece is decorated w. a mottled, preussian-blue glaze over which are purplish splashes covering the upper part. Signed in the bottom with a seal Kutani Yasokichi (1907–1997), (second generation Tokuda, and father of Living National Treasure Tokuda Yasokichi. Accompanied by fully signed kiri-box. Japan, Showa, ca. 1970. H 29 cm. CONDITION: Flawless.

A large presentation tray in finely carved polished wood in the shape of a rounded stump cutout. The sides mimic the knotty grain of a tree trunk. This type of tray was used to present bonsai.

Japan – Shôwa era (1926 – 1989)
Length : 15.75 inch (40cm) – Width : 9.9 inch (25cm) – Height : 0.8 inch (2cm)

A graceful vase with elongated neck covered in spotted celadon by rare early 20th century female artist Suwa Sozan II enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 25 cm (10 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Suwa Sozan (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875. Over the next 25 years he would gravitate between Tokyo and Kanazawa, working at various kilns and research facilities...

Kiyoshi Saito
Daitoku-Ji Kyoto (C) 1959
Edition: 99/100
Size: 23.5 by 18 inches. Matte size: 26.125 x 21.75 inches.
Date: 1959.
Self-carved and printed by the artist. (See tag).
Signed and sealed in the image.
Titled, numbered, and dated in pencil.
Condition: Margins heavily foxed. Front image area has minimal foxing. Two bits of tape residue at top back margin.
The temple dates to 1326...

No discussion on 20th century Kyoto ceramics can skip over the importance of the Kyoto Shi Tojiki Shiken-sho ceramics research facility at which all the luminaries studied and laid the foundation for a number of the early Living National Treasures...

Edo Period (1603-1868) Mishima calendar (Koyomide) tea bowl (三島暦手茶碗) with Ogata Kenzan mark.

Mishima pottery is a slip inlay technique brought to Japan from Korea in the 16th century.

In the city of Mishima there is a Grand Shrine of Mishima that was famous for publishing an almanac/calendar with bars for describing each day with its good and bad luck connotations.

The Koyomide bowls seemed to mimic these almanacs...

A great stoneware vessel of oblong shape on an elevated foot decorated with all-over tetsu-yu, mottled iron-rust glaze with irregular brush lines in black red and green. This is absolutely one of the best Buichi's piece! H. 17 x L 17 x W 11 cm. Showa Period. Very good condition. **** Kawai Buichi (1890–1989), was a nephew of Kawai Kanjiro, Japan’s most famous potter of the 20th century. He began his training as a potter under his uncle in 1928 in Kyoto...

An exceptional sake cup by Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ki Ho Rai Tai Sen Mon Hai. It is covered in his famous shattered-ice-like glaze with metallic drips circling the rim. It is 6 cm diameter (2-1/2 inches), 4 cm tall and in excellent condition, complete with the original Shiori and Shifuku.
Shimizu Uichi (1926-2004) was born in Kyoto the son of a ceramic dealer...

Japanese embroidery circa 1900 showing an eagle Above 3 USA flags with stars and stripes. Beneath is a banner with E PLURIBUS UNUM Made as a souvenir for US fleets passing through Yokohama. Excellent condition, mounted in gold coloured card. Currently in original wood and glass Frame for local collection, will be unframed for shipping.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Peddler in the Snowy Night
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.875 x 7.0 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Artist's seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
No. 509 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. C-29 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Antique Japanese woodblock triptych print of a large samurai battle scene by the artist, Yoshitora Utagawa. Active during the late 19th century, Yoshitora Utagawa was best known for his dynamic battle scenes as well as prints of samurai, firemen, kabuki actors, beautiful women and foreigners. He was born in Edo but the exact year of his birth and death are unknown. He studied with the great print artist, Kuniyoshi Utagawa but later left his school and changed his name to Mosai...

Large natsume in black lacquer covered with gold powder (maki-e). Gold and silver snowflakes decoration in togidashi maki-e on nashi-ji background. The interior is made of dense nashi-ji lacquer.

The natsume is a tea box intended to contain matcha tea for the preparation of the tea ceremony. It is named for its resemblance to the natsume fruit, i.e. the jujube (also called the Chinese date). It is round, short and has a flat lid. It is often made of lacquer...

Bronze sculpture of a giraffe beetle (Prosopocoilus girafa). The top of the abdomen is raised, revealing a perfume burner. The lucanus, in Japanese kuwagata mushi, is highly valued for its playfulness and aesthetic value.
Insects (mushi) have a very important place in Japanese culture. Insect hunting is a popular pastime, especially among children. Using nets and cages, they catch cicadas, beetles and other insects to observe them...

Okimono in bronze of a frog.
Seal of the founder or of his factory on its belly, not identified.

The frog (kaeru) is associated with luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the frog to return each year to the pond of its birth. A gong in the shape of a frog can thus sometimes be used as a door hammer or to protect a house.

Japan - Meiji Era (1868-1912)
Height: 1.4 in...

Ivory netsuke representing a bamboo shoot (takenoko).

Netsuke constitute the major part of Japanese ivory of great quality. Since the Japanese costume (kimono) had no pockets, the objects were passed under the belt and the netsuke, held by a cord, was used to hold them.

From imaginary animals to natural and domestic elements, the subjects represented in netsuke are varied. The netsuke could represent elements of daily life. Netsuke carvers supplied for posterity ...

A nahi-ji and maki-e decorated wood lacquered lidded sake pourer (Hisage). The interior is in red lacquer. It is equipped of a sheath for the spout. Tokugawa and Daigo mons (emblems) are represented on the lid, the extremity of the sheath, the handle and the two sides of the pourer.

Sakes pourers (Hisage) are traditional pitchers intended for sake (“rice beer”) service. Contrary to the tokkuri, a ceramic bottle also destined to the sake se...

Fine iron jizai of a butterfly with articulated wings.

The butterfly (choho) in Japan is perceived as "the soul of the living and the dead", the spirits of the dead taking the form of a butterfly on their journey to the other world. The butterfly spreading its wings is a symbol of femininity. It can also symbolize joy and longevity. This last motif is taken up by the samurai, seeing in its twirling figure a motive of good omen allowing them to reach immortality. The...

Antique Japanese tea bowl made by Sen Sosa VI, Kakukakusai Genso (1678-1730) who was the 6th Iemoto of Omotesenke school.
There is the "Fu-niko" mark and the inscription which says "with Shigaraki sand soil".

A museum quality masterpiece made by the head of one of the main tea ceremony school in Japan.

Kakukakusai Genso, the son of Soei Hisada, was adopted by the 5th generation Zuiryusai Ryokyu, and inherited the Iemoto title of Grand Master of Omotesenke tea ceremony ...