The glaze on this sculpted form by The Bear of Echizen Kumano Kuroemon (also Kurouemon) is covered in the most fantastic crustations of glaze. Thick white over scarred red over shatterd black on an unconventional shape the artist has titled marukawara (round tile). It has Tomo everything, Artists history, wrapping cloth, with his ubiquitous calligraphy all over the signed box. The piece is 29 x 17 x 8 cm (11-1/2 x 6-1/2 x 3 inches) and is in perfect condition...

The sides are scorched from flame on this large, flattened ball form tsubo by Koie Ryoji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The raw Shigaraki earth is scored with strikes from a paddle and deep gouges from the artist fingers. The Tsubo is roughly 8 inches (20.5 cm) tall, the same diameter. Born in Tokoname, 1938, Ryoji graduated the Tokoname industrial school and moved on to work at the City Ceramic Research Facility. In 1966 he established his own studio...

18 cm long set of Kanzashi with five Bira dangling from a branch to which is caught a court cap, possibly dragged from the wearers head during a horse race, or perhaps flung off in a passionate moment. For someone interested we have a museum quality collection of combs and hair pins which I would prefer to sell together in accordance with the previous owners wishes. Birakan (bira Bira Kanzashi) were hair pins used by all classes of society and were one of a woman’s most prized possessions...

This is a wonderful set of Japanese bridal kanzashi (hair ornaments) from the Meiji to Taisho period, late 1800s to early 1900s, made out of tortoise shells. We assume that this kanzashi was decorated with the auspicious emblem, a phoenix bird in paulownia tree, with some elements (leaves, flowers and birds) altered to the family of the bride. It has an aura of nobility and power. The family crest on the box is three ivy leaves...

Flames of red flash form the bird resurrected on the side of this large Cloisonne vase by the Ando company of Nagoya; Japan’s premier cloisonne studio. The color is hard to describe, seeming to be lit from within. A combination of wire and wireless design using gold wire with silver rim. Ando mark on base, the vase measures 37 cm (14-1/2 inches) tall, 32 cm (12-1/2 inches) diameter and is in excellent condition. It comes enclosed in a fine, custom made kiri-wood box.

Yuasa Koufuu is an accomplished Japanese calligrapher. She is the recipient of many honors and prizes in Japan. Her style is very graceful and reminiscent of the famed Edo Period master, Rosetsu. In this delightful piece, Yuasa Koufuu describes the beautiful scenery in a mountain river. Frame: 20 x 14 inches, 51 x 35.5 cm; Artwork: 13 x 9 inches, 33 x 23 cm.

Early Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga “kappa-ban” (stencil print) by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992) titled “Okeya” depicting two barrel makers at work. This image is from a 1973 series of prints featuring artisans. The series is illustrated in a 1985 exhibition catalogue titled “Mori Yoshitoshi Kappa-ban.” The print is pencil-signed “Y. Mori” at the lower right, with the artist’s red seal above. It is dated ’73 and numbered 66/70...

A turned kiri-wood kogo incense case decorated with painting of plums and camellia with a silver rim. Inside wide leaves in god outline underlie the artist’s signature and stamp. The piece is 4-1/2 inches (11.5 cm) diameter.
Sekka (1866-1942) is known as the last great Rimpa Master, an artist of many talents who worked in painting, wood and lacquer. Taken from Wikipedia (they say it so much better than I) In 1910, Sekka was sent to Glascow to study Western art and craftsmanship...

A set of 12 uniquely crafted masks of devils dating from the Meiji period enclosed in a period custom made kiri-wood box titled Kodai-men Hina-gata Juni-ko (12 miniature ancient masks). They are created from clay covered in gofun and mineral pigments with inset eyes of glass and ivory teeth and horns. Each mask is roughly 9 x 8 x 5 cm (3-1/2 x 3-1/4 x 2 inches). There are some minor losses to the coloration but otherwise all are in fine condition...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga “kappa-ban” (stencil print) by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992) titled “Goro in the Rain” (“Ame no Goro”) dated 1980. This boldly colorful kabuki theater image features an actor portraying Soga Goro, one of two historic samurai brothers who avenge the death of their father. In this image, Soga Goro is dressed in fine clothing and holds an umbrella though no rain is evident. He is apparently travelling to the pleasure quarter to visit a courtesan...

A colorful work by Ueda Manshu (1869-1952) enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nangokufushu (Taste of a Southern Wind). A boy rides the back of an Ox through a marsh, he happy and dry and the beast happy in the cool water. One can also be reminded of the Zen tales of the Ox-herd, and connotations of enlightenment. Very much in the Taisho style with equal effort on the background as on the fore...

Fine Japanese miniature garden kit, all made with natural material, ca 1940-1960, original wood box. We used a simple cardboard box as a tray with small black pebbles under. You can created/draw water if the sand is used instead. The dimension of the box are 15 3/4” x 7 3/16” x 3 5/8”. Fence: 9 1/8 long (flattened for storage) x 3 3/4” high. Board with a frog: 5 1/8” long. Please ask for other measurements.

Oversized Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Tadashi Nakayama (b. 1927) titled “Butterflies and Trumpet” featuring Nakayama’s daughter’s face in profile beside a trumpet with butterflies in flight around her. This image is pencil-signed “T...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga “kappa-ban” (stencil print) by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992) titled “Onna Joruri” features a female performer singing traditional narrative music to the accompaniment of a shamisen. The print is pencil-signed “Y. Mori” at the lower left, with the artist’s red seal above. It is dated ’73 and numbered 56/70. The lower edge of the paper also contains the title and the original purchase price of 70,000 yen. The paper measures 19”V x 13 5/8”...

A dark charred Chosen Karatsu kamahen Mimitsuku Mizusashi by Nishioka Koju (b. 1918) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. All is deeply coated in thick burnt ash. Red shows through rivulets of dark olive burnt to the side of the body. The raw clay is visible through the thick ash drips on one side. It has a custom black lacquered wooden lid and is in fine condition but for the handle on the lid, which was broken and repaired. It is 6 inches (15.5 cm) tall, 7 inches (17.5 cm) diamete...

Antique Japanese MEIJI polychrome and ink painting on paper with "IMAO KEINEN" mark depicting an autumn scene with flowers and birds (woodcock/Asian Dowitcher in a pond with an insect in it's beak). Condition good, has a folding crease just below 2nd character and a water spot. 19th Century, framed with 100% silk passe-partout. Size: H. 24" x W. 14.5" (61 cm x 37 cm).

A most extraordinary glaze like green velvet covers this tall bottle form vase by modern Japanese pottery master Imai Masayuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating circa 1970. The long tapering from is expertly rolled at the mouth, the soft absorbent textured glaze lying perfectly smooth over all. The hada, or feeling of the surface is unlike any I have ever seen, and a drop of water is instantly absorbed by the porous surface. The vase is 16 inches (45 cm) tall and in excellent ...

Three fine 20th century Japanese lacquer trays. Each with boats and pine decoration in gold tones upon a dark brown ground. The trays gradually bowed and of square shape but with slightly curved sides and raised on four, shaped feet. 11 1/16" x 11 1/8" (about 28cm square). Reasonably good condition with some light abrading easily enough cared for by a specialist.

Together with another, 19th century tray (bottom portion of a box now missing its cover) with beautiful cranes decoration. 11 3/...