Kawase Hasui
Senjogahara, Nikko (Senjo Plain Nikko)
Date: 1937. First edition
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe F seal (used 1934-41) at right margin.
Size: Oban. 16 x 11 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Reference: Hotei #410.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Pencil note at bottom back margin "artist - Hasui".

Kawase Hasui
Snow at Koshigaya
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.375 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1935. First edition.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Publisher's "E seal" (used 1932-42) in right margin.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Reference: Hotei #353
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight toning. Bump at tip of lower left margin corner.

A small four-fold iron tsuitate, damascened in gold and silver, showing a scene with a minogame turtle and two figures in a landscape. The reverse engraved with a crane among the "three friends of winter". Condition: fine, only minimal wear to gilding, base with little glue residue. Dimension opened: c. 15 x 27.3 cm.

CURSIVE BUDDHIST HYMN

Precious portable book of 'goeika' (Buddhist hymn) in such rare style of only 'hiragana' (Japanese cursive syllabary) when used for the Buddhist pilgrimage to the celebrated 34 Buddhist temples in Chichibu area and the 33 Buddhist temples in Kinki-Gifu area. Showa 8 (1933)...

A solitary thatched hermitage rises on the top of this stony crag set onto a beautifully carved and signed rosewood stand. Together they are 7.5 x 11.5 x 13 cm (3 x 4-1/2 x 5 inches) and in excellent condition. The box is titled Yasegawa-ishi, inside signed Seicho and dated a fortunate day in the second month of 1936.

Toast the new years with this solid silver sake set made for celebrations. 3 solid silver cups, as well as a beautifully shaped silver sake kettle with lid, each piece bearing the jun-gin (Pure or 100 percent silver) mark. They come enclosed in a wooden box titled Jungin-sei Shuki (Solid Silver Sake Set). The kettle is 13 cm diameter, 18 cm wide at the spout. The largest cup is 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) diameter. In total the set weighs 757 grams, or 1.65 pounds of pure silver!

A folding pillow made of wood used on travel. It has two cushions made of cotton velour. Women had a largely fixed hair with wearing kimono, so this kind was used. It has carved letters "Beppu" and the scenery, so that it was made or sold there. Beppu is famous for onen, hot spa, located in Oita prefecture in Kyushu. In good condition. The first half of the 20th century. L:21.5cm, W:5.8cm (folded)

A dynamic early porcelain work in vivid color by Kiyomizu Rokubei VI enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Futatsuki Kajutu Mon Kashiki (Sweets dish decorated with fruit) bearing his real name, indicating it predates his taking the name Rokubei in 1945. The box bears the seal of the Hattori Tokeiten, purveyors of fine art in Pre-war Japan. The porcelain is 19.7 cm (8 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, signed on the bottom...

Knitted bag made of asa (hemp or ramie) and kakishibu (persimon tannin) is coated with. It has mending parts, however, in good condition. It was used by a mountain worker. The first half of the 20th century. W:39cm, L:36cm

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Lake Kawaguchi at the Foot of Mt. Fuji
Date: 1938.
Size: Oban...

Vintage Japanese wood carving of the face of Bodhidarma with his fly whisk. Also known as Daruma, the legendary intensity of the monk is expressed in his downturned mouth and heavy eye brows over wide eyes. A popular sign of good fortune for any business. Lacquered details in red, white and black.

Age: Showa period (early-mid 20th century)

Dimensions: 23 1/2" high x 19 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" deep

Kawase Hasui
Vermillion-lacquered Temple Gate in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 6.125 x 4.125 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Hasui seal at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei Hp-48.
Condition: Excellent.

Hiroshige Ando
Fisher and Fire
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Date: 1930s.
Size: 6 x 4.125 inches.
Signature and seal at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent.

This pair of vases was recovered from an estate in the Castroville/Watsonville area of California, over 20 years ago. This area is known as the Artichoke Capital of the world. When I recovered these vases they had been lamps and have since had the bottom drills hole restored. These vases are old but probably not Meiji era. They do have silver rims with scalloped wire trim at the edges of the enamel. The colors and shading are wonderful...

Kawase Hasui
Terajima in the Snow
Date: 1930s.
Image size: 6 x 4.125 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-69.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Hasui seal at lower left.
Woodblock print is attached along its top edge to original 1930s card.
Condition: Excellent.

A beautifully sculpted image of a pheasant by Ogawa Yuhei enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 37 cm long and in excellent condition.
Yuhei Ogawa (1885-1945) was born in Takamatsu, Okayama prefecture an came to pottery a bit later than most. In 1923, while working part time at the Naval Hydrographic Department, he was deeply moved by seeing the solo exhibition of ceramic sculptor Kazumasa Numata. This gave him impetus to begin sculpting in his free time...

PHALLIC TALISMAN AND OLD HAND-COPIED SUTRA

Set of wooden charm with Somin Shorai's name (ref. 'Somin Shorai' - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somin_Sh%C5%8Drai) and the sutra with myriads of 'Hail Amitabha Buddha' in Japanese, originally acquired from the dealer from Tohoku region. Early-mid 20th century, Japan. Charm: H 20cm (7.87in), Sutra: 41 x 16.5cm (16.14 x 6.49in)...

Hanten with sashiko (quilting) which is made in Shonai in Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku District, which is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye. It has 2 layers of cloth with sashiko. The collar cloth is also hand-spun and vegetable indigo dye cotton with stripes. In excellent condition. The first half of the 20th century. W:88cm, L:75cm