Tsuchiya Koitsu
Lake Yamanaka
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Doi watermark upper right corner.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi.
This seal combination indicates a 1950-62 edition.
Koitsu catalog no. TK-DH-54.
Condition: Slight fading. Very light creasing.

A 19th century Bronze incense burner int eh shape of a burning Buddhist jewel supported on five legs of curling smoke tendrils, alternating with five looping handles. It is 20 cm (8 inches) tall to the finial, and in excellent condition.

Antique Japanese root wood basket. Made of a single piece of carved burl. Beautiful grain.

Age: Taisho Period

Dimensions: 5 1/4" high x 12" long x 7 3/4" wide

A fascinating Jar-shaped set of stacking food boxes known as a Jubako in multi-color dating from the early 20th century. Jubako were used to serve food to groups or family on festive occasions, where the food was presented in the box, and each person would take what they wanted, rather than have the meal served on individual dishes as in more formal Kaiseki meals. Assembled it is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter 32.5 cm (13 inches) tall and is in overall excellent condition.

A sparse image of tiny boats, sails stretched with wind floating out off the coast by Shirakura Niho enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Enko Hobari (Sails Stretched in the Distant Harbor). Pigment on silk bordered in patterned cloth extended in beige. The scroll is 65.5 x 132.5 cm (25-3/4 x 52 inches). There is some toning to the silk typical of age, but is in overall fine condition...

A masterpiece of Akahada Pottery ware in the shape of a wooden bucket with elaborate scrolling feet from the kiln of Okuda Mokuhaku. It is 18 x 18 x 19 cm (7 x 7 x 7-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, enclosed in a modern wooden collector’s box.
Okuda Mokuhaku (1800-1871) was born the son of a merchant in Sakai Machi Yamato Koriyama in Nara Prefecture that served the local lords with hair ornaments, make-up supplies and other fashionable items...

This piece is fired in anagama with red pine fire woods for 10days, and covered with natural ashes. The shigaraki clay has been colored to beautiful scarlet by the flames. Size: 10.8cm (D) 13.5cm(H) Accessary: wooden box signed by artist

A fine so-called “Deshima”, or more likely a scene of Scheveningen in the Netherlands or an imaginary composition based upon it, after an unknown original by Frederik van Frytom. The bowl is decorated with four elements of the pattern, two figures in a field, a female figure with cow held upon a leash, a rider in a landscape, and a “light-house”, beacon upon a hill...

A fine so-called “Deshima”, or more likely a scene of Scheveningen in the Netherlands or an imaginary composition based upon it, after an unknown original by Frederik van Frytom. The bowl is decorated with four elements of the pattern, two figures in a field, a female figure with cow held upon a leash, a rider in a landscape, and a “light-house”, beacon upon a hill...

A moulded rinka-gata form dish decorated in underglaze blue with additional enamels in the so-called Kakiemon palette. The outer register painted in underglaze blue with repeating pattern of a landscape with small weathered rocks from which grow auspicious Pomegranates and Peonies. The centre painted with a Chrysanthemum spray. The reverse painted with a simple Karakusa scroll and a six character mark for the Ming Emperor Chenghua...

Rare yellow glazed Ido style bowl made by Raku Kichizaemon X Tannyu (1795-1854) with original box signed by the artist.

Tannyu was born as the second son of 9th-generation master Ryonyu. His father retired at the age of 56, and his elder brother had died young, so Tannyu became Raku master at the age of 17...

Late Edo Period (1603-1868) Ko Takatori small Chawan named "Kiyomoto" decorated with a single plum blossoming branch, with box signed by 8th gen. Yabunouchi tea ceremony school Grandmaster Shinshinsai Chikuho Jochi (1792-1869).

Shinshinsai Chikuho Jochi (1792-1869) lived during the time of Meiji restoration which deprived Japan of many features of a sovereign nation and costed millions of lives...

I find this piece captivating, the golden thorns rupturing the rough and blank matte white clay. When I asked the artist about his concept, he explained the clay body is the individual formed by self-image, societal pressure, ego, all the things which constrict our actions and channel our emotions. The thorns are the true inner self bursting out of the surface, irrepressible, they pierce the shell and shine like the sun...

Height: 3 cm (1.2 in)
Width: 2.7 cm (1.1 in)
Depth: 3.8 cm (1.6 in)

Quality Japanese netsuke, carved from natural material to depict a man sharpening a tool; finely detailed throughout; inlaid horn eyes; signed on the base, Masakazu; light honey-coloured patina; good condition

Height: 4.8 cm (1.9 in)
Width: 2.8 cm (1.2 in)
Depth: 2 cm (0.7 in)

Japanese carved netsuke of an Oni carrying Okame on his shoulders; fine details throughout; natural material; lacquer tablet on the base; good condition

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Arashiyama
Date: 1930s. Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.25 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura. Koitsu.com catalog number: TK-TM-64
This print is rare.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Nara Horyuji, 1930s
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo
Koitsu catalogue no.: TK-TM-72
Condition: Tipped at top to original cardstock. Toning and light foxing.

Ohara Koson
Monkey in a Tree
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1910-1923.
Publisher: Daikokuya
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: K41.21 and plate 30 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent with very slight bend at lower left corner. Uncirculated.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.