Fabulous carved florals rise in vibrant color off the surface of this yellow glazed vase by Kato Keizan II enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 31 cm (12-1/2 inches) tall, 24 cm (9-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Kato Keizan I (1886-1963) was born in Tajimi city, Gifu, a pottery center in its own right, however came to Kyoto to apprentice under Kiyomizu Rokubei IV...

Kane gong or bell of a very simple, cylindrical or dish shape, without any sort of decoration. Two loops for cords to hang the gong on a wooden rack. Yellow bronze (sentoku).
Inscription incised in the rim on the back/inside. It mentions the dedication of this gong at the Zenshoji temple in Meiji 40 (1907).

Diam. 12.5 in.; H ca. 3.5 inches.

There are several temples in Japan with that name...

Mizusashi or kensui in the shape of a Chinese boy, or karako, holding Hotei’s large bag over his shoulder, as if dragging it.

Over brownish beige very fine stoneware a layer of mottled brown glaze has been applied, over which a blue-green finely crackled flambé dripping glaze. The inside covered with brown mottled glaze, the outside bottom left unglazed.
Impressed mark in the bottom: Kato Shuntai.
Japan, 19th century.
Height: 3.25 in.; diameter: 6 in...

Kato Tsubusa Celadon Asymmetrical Vessel in Seihakuji Glaze Of irregular shape, with some sharp cut and other stretched edges, standing on 3Three small feet. The light blue glaze pooling inside the tray. Size, L 28 w 16 h 12,5 cm. Enclosed in inscribed and signed storage box ( the lid of the box has water marks). Condition: Excellent. *****Kato Tsubusa, born in 1962, a well-established ceramic artist from Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture...

Very small portable shrine, zushi. The figure of Amida Nyorai is standing on a lotus base with intricately carved curled lotus petals. His slender body covered in a finely, gold ornamented garment, his left hand pointing down in mudra, his now missing right hand would be held up in mudra, as well...

An antique Japanese large rare Ema (votive prayer board) hand painted in Makie gold over a black lacquer background. A hand forged iron pin mounted to the top center of the frame was used to securely hang this dedication sacred object at a Japanese shrine.

Back in the day, live horses were donated and dedicated to a shrine. As the times changed, prayer boards were donated instead with painted horses replacing the live ones...

A spiraling form rises to a small opening creating this temporal vase by Takatsu Mio enclosed in the original signed wooden box from the artist this year (in fact she is signing the box right now!). The mouth is at an angle, allowing the viewer a unique image depending upon viewpoint. It is 13 cm (5 inches) diameter, 21 cm (8 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Takatsu Mio (b. 1976) was raised in Gifu prefecture among the scattered kilns of Mino...

An antique Japanese Byosho Bako (peddler's chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Two loop rings where a carrying rope was once attached allowing the merchant to carry this chest on his back. The hinged door opens to 5 drawers used for the storage of wares for sale. A few small ink stains on the upper surface attests to the merchant using the top as a writing surface when writing sales...

A stunning and unusual Chawan tea bowl in burnt orange glaze with abstract splashes of black by Kawamoto GOro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Perfectly formed, with a wide base and slightly concave sides leading to a pouty rim, all draped in this haunting ochre with poured black graffiti. A masterpiece by this important artist. It is 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches) diameter, 8 cm (3-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Iron kozuka inlaid with a bronze or brass lobster.Details in silver. Simple but powerful good work. It reminds me of the Onin style tsuba. This kozuka seems to me very old 18 ° or before. Its simple appearance while being of good quality, its solidity makes me think that it was not made during the peaceful and sumptuous Edo period but before during the agitated war period of Muromachi. Dilmensions about 100x15 mm

Iron kozuka inlaid with a bronze or brass paddle wheel and waves.Details in silver. Simple but powerful good work. It reminds me of the Onin style tsuba. This kozuka seems to me very old 18 ° or before. Its simple appearance while being of good quality, its solidity makes me think that it was not made during the peaceful and sumptuous Edo period but before during the agitated war period of Muromachi. Dimensions about 100x15 mm

Red oxidation swirls among the crinkled white covering the sandy clay of this tea bowl by Hori Ichiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 11 cm (4-1/2 inches ) diameter 9.5 cm (3-3/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Hori Ichiro (b. 1952) graduated the Tajimi School of Industrial Design and apprenticed under Kato Kozo...

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: 0.9 in. ...

Modern limited-edition Japanese etching by Takahiko Hayashi (b. 1961) titled “The Wind Filled with Roots, Countless Small Beginnings” dated 2001. Pencil-signed, titled in kanji, and numbered 45/50 in the bottom margin. Paper: 25” x 23” (frame: 26” x 23 1/2"). Very good overall condition. Floated on an archival mat in a shadow-box frame with UV glass. The wood moulding has a coppered finish. From a Tucson, Arizona collection.

Japanese dai-oban size shin hanga woodblock print titled “Mt. Rainier in Winter” by Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995) dated 1972. The print is dated and titled in English and Japanese at the lower left margin corner. The artist's black ink signature and red seal are at the lower right corner of the image. The print is pencil-signed in the lower right margin. Plate: 11 3/4" x 19 1/2" (visible paper size" 12 3/8" x 20 1/4"); frame: 19 1/2" x 27 1/2." Framed with archival materials. The print has...

Japanese shin hanga woodblock print titled “Tasogare” (aka Dusk or Twilight) by Yamakawa Shuho (1898-1944) depicting a beauty in dressed summer kimono holding an uchiwa (non-folding fan) from the series “Four Images of Women” published by Bijutsusha in April 1928. This is the oban edition with gaufrage and mica highlights. The Shuho signature and red maple leaf seal are at the upper right. Plate: 14 1/4” x 9 3/8” (visible paper size: 14 5/8” x 10 1/8”); frame: 21" x 16 5/8." ...

A very beautiful and attractive vase covered with a red, mottled glaze in the shape of a squat bottle with flat but slightly curving sides. Signed Eizo,* a disciple of Kawai Kanjiro. The piece is signed with the artist’s impressed seal in the bottom. Original, inscribed and signed box. H 21,5 x 20 x 12 cm. ca. Condition:Perfect. Mukunoki Eizo Shunsui (born in Shimane in 1942) after graduation from the Shimane prefectural ceramics research facility, moved to Kyoto and in 1958 he began his stud...

A modern, openwork bamboo flower basket, Hanakago, by Chikuhosai, made with the hexagonal plating technique called “kikko sugashi ami” using very thin strips of madake bamboo. Made in an elongated gourd-shape with a tall handle. Signed on the bottom “ CHIKUHOSAI ZO “ (made by Chikuhosai). It comes with the original, lacquered bamboo insert for flowers. From 1960-70’s. Measurement: H. 53,5 cm Ø 16 cm.