An abalone shaped dish decorated in underglaze blue with trailing Clematis vine, Tessen. The dish is in “Ko Sometsuke” style based on porcelain specifically produced in China for the Japanese market in the first half of the seventeenth century and made to Japanese specifications. The abalone form was considered especially auspicious, as noshi, dried awabi strips, were formally presented with gifts...

An abalone shaped dish decorated in underglaze blue with trailing Clematis vine, Tessen. The dish is in “Ko Sometsuke” style based on porcelain specifically produced in China for the Japanese market in the first half of the seventeenth century made to Japanese specifications. The abalone form was considered especially auspicious, as noshi, dried awabi strips, were formally presented with gifts...

Loops of white decorate the dark pitted glaze of this quashed bowl from the kilns of Kyushu dating from the early to mid Edo period. The small foot is testament to dating, and there is much natural wear to the dark glaze. The vessel is 14 x 10 x 6 cm (5-1/2 x 4 x 2-1/2 inches) with an age darkened chip in the rim where it rolls over on itself. It comes in a silk bag enclosed in a black lacquered antique wood box...

An elegant Edo period Mokko-Gata bowl decorated in gosu floral motifs over yellow under a clear glaze from the kiln established by Chinese Ming émigré Chin Genpin (Chen Yuanyun 1587-1671) around 1660 in Nagoya under direction of the Daimyo of Owari Province Tokugawa Mitsutomo. The piece makes use of Seto clay covered in a combination of imported yellow glaze and local glazes mimicking the popular Annan Yaki of Southern China and Vietnam...

A substantial large Japanese Imari covered bowl with a tear drop finial decorated principally in underglaze blue with a Chrysanthemum vine arabesque overlaid with poem card, shikishi, shaped reserves of peach and rectangular form. The peach shaped reserves containing leaping Karashishi and rock Peonies and the rectangular shaped reserves a red ground with stylised Chrysanthemums. These rather striking bolder designs, which reflect Japanese contemporary taste, date to the period 1720-50...

A pair of large Japanese porcelain dishes, beautifully decorated in five colors: underglaze blue, overglaze black, -green, -aubergine, iron red and gold. Showing an asymetrical design of a courtesan with her servant under a cherry tree, the right side with flowers. The back with auspicious emblems, the base with spur marks and an underglaze blue apocryphal "Ming Jiajing" mark. Provenance: Swiss private collection. Dimension: diameter 27.5cm, 3.5 cm high...

A fine rendition of a plum by Tanaka (Zuitai) Ryurei (commonly known as Ryudojin, 1740-1804)). Ink on paper, it has been fully remounted in a silk frame with wooden rollers reflecting the original style. The scroll is 12-1/2 x 70 inches (31.5 x 178 cm).
Ryudojin was born in Owari, near modern day Nagoya. He is referred to also as Ryurei Zuitai and or Ryudo Reizui or simply Ryurei. Born into the Tanaka family, he was sent to the priesthood at Reigenji at the age of 11...

A mid Edo period (16th to 17th century) five plate cuirass (go-mai-do) of heavy iron emblazoned on front with a sun and moon in inlayed silver over the fierce god Fudomyo with protective sanskjrit characters in silver damascene on the sides and a five character phrase (The Gotoku or five precepts of Confucianism, also espoused in the book of five rings) on back, also in silver...

Height: 3.5 cm (1.3 in)
Width: 2.8 cm (1.2 in)
Depth: 1.7 cm (0.8 in)

Japanese netsuke; probably whale tooth or walrus; depicts a Hotei with his bag; early angular form; very good honey-coloured patina; good condition

Height: 4.1 cm (1.7 in)
Width: 3.8 cm (1.4 in)
Depth: 2 cm (0.8 in)

Japanese netsuke of a Hotei with one hand in his bag; natural material; early angular form; very good patina; good condition

A small square gold lacquer Japanese incense container with rounded corners. The lid is decorated with a relief of waves and rocks, inlaid in mother-of-pearl and lead. Interior and base with nashiji, the rims covered with lead. Later tomobako. Dimension: c. 9.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 2.5 cm. Condition: few traces of usage, a tiny chip (see photo No. 2 at 2 o'clock).

An Edo period image of plums blossoming on thick branches by Kitayama Kangan. Ink on paper in a patterned cloth mounting with beige piping in the Mincho style so popular int eh 19th century and featuring bone rollers. It is 21-1/2 x 78-1/2 inches (55 x 199 cm). Some minor loss to the piping at the top of the scroll, otherwise in surprisingly good condition.
Kitayama Kangan (Ba Moki, 1767-1801) was the grandson of a Chinese émigré...

A good quality large Japanese porcelain mug or tankard decorated in under-glaze blue with iron red, green and yellow enamels with Peonies and Chrysanthemums. It weighs 444 grams and has a capacity of over a Pint. It stands 15.5cm high and has a mouth diameter of 7.8cm, foot-ring diameter of 7cm and a body diameter of approximately 10cm...

An interesting Japanese Arita saucer form dish decorated in a transitional style incorporating elements of the Kakiemon style, notably the asymmetric elements within the reserves to the outer rim of the dish, with Katamono style motifs dating to the late 17th century or early 18th century and made for the domestic market. For a more sophisticated version of this type of design in Katamono style dated 1680-1700 see Shibata Volume II no 422...

An interesting Japanese Arita saucer form dish decorated in a transitional style incorporating elements of the Kakiemon style, notably the asymmetric elements within the reserves to the outer rim of the dish, with Katamono style motifs dating to the late 17th century or early 18th century and made for the domestic market. For a more sophisticated version of this type of design in Katamono style dated 1680-1700 see Shibata Volume II no 422...

This rare Edo period (江戸時代 1603~ 1868) silk covered accordian-fold book is hand painted on rice paper. The title and artist's seal appear on the cover. It is 9 5/8" long, 7 1/4" wide and 1" thick. The opening pages (both verso and recto) from either direction are blank, gold flaked rice paper; the end pages (bother verso and recto) are plain rice paper. The book contains 12 paintings, 6 paintings on each side. Every painting is 9 3/8" X 12 1/2" since each painting occupies both the ve...

Japanese Buddhist scroll painting of Eight Armed Kannon , the bodhisattva of compassion, seated in a lotus position. In her other seven arms she holds a staff, a trident, a bow and arrows, a Dharma wheel, and other attributes with symbolic meaning.

Standing figures are arranged below the seated Kannon, each holding various offerings for the bodhisattva such as rice, sake, dumplings, silk fabrics, and other material objects. Among the figures is the immortal Lucky God Daikoku, wiel...

An Arita porcelain small bowl with barbed lotus style lobed rim, a namasu, typically used in Japanese cuisine to serve various pickles. Potted in mid 17C transitional Chinese style without a foot-rim as such, but an unglazed ring, kodai. The interior of the bowl painted in ko-sometsuke style. One half painted with Su Shi’s “First Ode to the Red Cliffe”, divided into twelve columns reading from right to left. The stanza is not complete with several columns of characters missing at the end ...