A fabulous image in blue of a wide shouldered beast by Shigemori Yoko enclosed in a signed wooden box titled simply Dobutsu (animal). The clay is rolled and folded, attached and glazed in blue prior to bisk-firing. Due to this unusual method, the blue seems to permeate out of the clay, not into it. This style was a particular staple of the work of Shigemori after 2000 and the animal series came after her early abstract sculptures, and prior to her three-dimensional landscapes...

Collection of 10 pages of Arabic and Farsi calligraphy. Ink, colours and gold on paper. Largest 18cm tall. Undated, estimated to be 17th century to 19th century. Provenance: Sotheby's London 1987

Noh theater mask, with a vivid fierce expression, representing the character of Otobide. Wood, painted in gold, silver, black and red to enhance the mask features. Japan, 19th century. Height: 21.2 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old accidents and restorations, otherwise good condition.

KANNON BOSATSU WITH ELEVEN FACES

Wood carving 'Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu zazo' (Seated statue of Kannon Buddhisattva with eleven faces), Edo period, 19th century, Japan, H 20 x 11 x 11cm (7.87 x 4.33 x 4.33in)...

SEA BREAMS AND WAVES

Wood carving decoration with the remains of original bule paint as the actual fragment of a certain Japanese temple/shrine construction, Edo-Meiji period, 19th century, approx. 58 x 30 x 6.5cm (22.83 x 11.81 x 2.55in)...

MAD POETRY BY SHOKUSANJIN

Hanging scroll with such unstrained and refined calligraphy of 'Kyoka' (lit. 'Mad poetry' - Humorous style of Japanese tanka poetry with joke or irony or satire / ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Dka) by a late Edo-period Japanese poet, 'Nanpo Ohta' (1749-1823 / ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cta_Nanpo) aka 'Shokusanjin' (lit. 'Copper mine man'), circa 1810-1823, Total: approx. 35 x 181.5cm (13.77 x 71.45in)...

A bowl deeply impressed with Jomon rope designs by Living National Treasure Shimaoka Tasuzo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 7.5 (3 inches) tall, 13.5 cm (5-1/4 inches) diameter.
Shimaoka Tatsuzo (1919-2007) was born in Tokyo and enrolled in the Tokyo Kogei Daigaku Ceramics division in 1939. The following year he would meet Mashiko Mingei potter Hamada Shoji, and the course of his life was thought set, graduating in 1941...

Box in gilded bronze, in the shape of two superimposed fans finely decorated with lake landscapes, flowers and birds. The shape is complicated and rare. Inside very beautiful gilding, carved with birds and plants. The black patinated underside bearing the workshop's signature in gold. The box rests on three short legs. There are 2 shades of gilding, yellow and greenish. Good condition, no repairs. 62mm x 28mm

CAT

Pure and heartwarming Japanese wood carving cat okimono, with the sign of its artist's name and the year of make (1992) when he was 74 years old. H 15.5 x 34 x 14cm (6.10 x 13.38 x 5.51in)...

It's Alive! Metal staples hold together this Frankenstein vessel in elegant white with patches of glimmering gold and platinum by Masatomo Toi enclosed in an artist signed wooden box. The rough looking sutures contrast wtih the white porcelain with its transparent skin. The vase is just less than 30 cm (12 inches) tall and in perfect condition, directly from the artist...

Hard porcelain dish, painted in cobalt blue under glassure. Decor typical of the second half of the 18th century. Japanese work, Arita kilns. Below are drawn 6 Chinese characters, apocryphal mark of Emperor Ming Tchenghoa. The shibata collection of the Porcelain Museum in Arita hosts a dish with a similar decoration. Good condition. Diameter: 215mm

IMAGE OF BIRD

Woodblock print of a Japanese‐style painter, Kono Bairei (1844-1895 / ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dno_Bairei). Paper: approx. 15 x 21cm (5.90 x 8.26in), Frame: approx. 27 x 33cm (10.62 x 12.99in). Highlight of such Bairei's true worth expression for the both of recognizing the subject correctly and feeling of vitality by catching the instant of movement at the same time...

Magnificent Late Edo period (19c) Shino ware Chawan for tea ceremony Wabi Sabi

The fine crackle look with natural kiln vivid cracks gives the bowl an authentic wabi sabi feel. Overall, it is a great example of an old, beautifully crafted Shino tea bowl.

Size:
Height 10.3cm
Width 15.5cm
Weight 655g

Condition
Very good.
No damage...

Three gods of fire which are unglazed earthenware made of clay. Fire has been thought as sacred and gods of fire have been put near furnaces, cooking stoves (kamado) and open fireplace (irori) for protecting from disasters and uncleanness. It is not clear where they are from, probably Tohoku district. All in good condition, no chip or crack.19th century. Height:20cm, Width:11 to 12cm

DECORATIVE HORSE ROPE

Tied-up rope made of twisting white and organic indigo dyed cotton once used for ritual horse-decoration, early 20th century, Japan. Tied as seen: approx. 30 x 90 x D 18 cm (11.81 x 35.43 x 7.08 in), Untied: approx. 1000 cm (393.70in)...

Japanese sosaku hanga woodblock print depicting an alert dog lying in rest set against a lacquered patterned background titled "Dachshund (A)" by Kiyoshi Saito (1907-1997). Signed in white ink and with the artist's red seal at the lower right. Circa 1950s. Unlimited edition. Paper size: 11 1/2" x 17 1/4” (image size: 10 3/16" x 15 1/8”). Very good overall condition. There are three small areas of tape residue on the back upper edge at the center and corners.

An interesting and modern vase of raw, hard-fired clay with natural fire pattern by Terada Teppei (b. 1975). The gaping, irregular sprout stricking outline some sort of volcanic vent. Shaped as a bamboo root, it is one of the “Carbon trapped” series. Signed on the bottom: Fe (Teppei’s signature on his carbon-fired pieces). Terada Teppei is son of Terada Yasuo 4th generation of the Bizan Kiln in Seto, Aichi...

Square-shaped ivory netsuke manju depicting four lacquered frogs in different positions. It has a cavity inside where the himotoshi hole is located. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 1cm. State of conservation: Very good