This is an indigo-dyed Shibori cotton kimono made by Arimatu Narumi during the Taisho period. Shibori is squeezed by hand, so the Shibori pattern changes little by little. You can enjoy the interesting changes in the handiwork of folk craftsmen. There are a couple of slight stains, but they are not noticeable. condition is good. Length 147cm x Width 128cm Box.G

A pair of sake cups / bowls, thinly potted Japanese porcelain in white and gold with decoration of Ho-o birds and chrysanthemum, both of which symbolize happiness and prosperity. Unsigned, Meiji. An identical pair was in the collection of businessman Gustaf Wallenberg who also served as Sweden’s envoyé /ambassador to Tokyo and Beijing in 1907 - 1918.These sake bowls seem to have been gifts from the Japanese emperor to foreign dignitaries. Diameter "3 ¾ / 9.5 and height "1 2/3 / 4 cm...

A bronze and ivory okimono depicting a street entertainer playing the shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument. The player wears a traditional kimono, rests his right foot on his box which he carries along with his umbrella on his traveling journey. It is signed Jōnan 城南 with engraving on the bronze. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji 19th century Dimensions: 21 x 20 x 15 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Boxwood netsuke depicting a snake wrapping around a pumpkin. The snake is a symbol often associated with rebirth, transformation while the pumpkin is a symbol of fertility, abundance and prosperity in Japanese tradition. Signed Yoshimasa (吉正) under the pumpkin in “ukibori”. For similar netsuke see the Katchen collection, published N7, vol.2, p.31, no.K329. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century. Dimensions: 3 x 3.5 x 3.3 cm. State of conservation: Very good

A fine Japanese cloisonné cigarette case. The top showing a cartouche with a bird flying among flowers on a green ground, the rock with little aventurine. The reverse with blossoms. The interior, the edges and wires are gilt. Condition: fine, minor traces of usage. Dimension: c. 8.8 x 7.7 x 1 cm.

Futonji with tsutsugaki (glue resist dye by free hand) made of hand spun cotton. It has traditional "Karajishi-Botan", imaginary lion and peony motif. The green ground cloth is dyed with vegetable indigo and natural yellow, the painting is colored with pigments. It is remade to futonji from originally yogi, which is a futon in the shape of kimono. The tsutsugaki technique is excellent and in excellent condition. Meiji period (1868~1912).

An ivory okimono, carved from a single block, depicting a hunter accompanied by an onagadori rooster and a child with a net in his hand. Yukiharu 之晴 signature in relief seal under the base within a rectangular reserve in red lacquer. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 29 x 7.5 x 6 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Satsuma ceramic plate adorned with polychrome and gold decorations within numerous reserves of unique shape and size, depicting scenes of Japanese daily life. The plate is signed under the base 'Dai Nihon Yokohama Hotoda shōten seizō'. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 4 x 29 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Large bronze vase depicting an egret, in relief, on a perch in the center of a watercourse, surrounded by four swimming fish. The figure of the egret emerges from the vase with remarkable three-dimensionality and depth. Signature engraved under the base within a rectangular reserve. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 46.5 x 22 x 23 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Satsuma vase, with slender neck and terminal part adorned in pure gold decorated with a garden of chrysanthemums, made with enamel and gold in relief. Different varieties of chrysanthemums are depicted, with precision and detail, which differ in the shape, color and size of the petals, creating a fascinating visual effect. Signed under the base Kinkozan in gold on a framed black background and signature imprinted in the ceramic. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dim...

Ivory okimono which portrays an affectionate scene of daily life: a father holding his child in his arms while holding the toy desired by the child. The okimono is signed Tomokata under the base. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 17.5 x 6.3 x 5.3 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Watanabe Seitei (1851-1918)
Winter Landscape
Date: Early twentieth century.
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi / Daikokuya.
Sealed by the artist.
Size: Shikishiban. Approximately 9.25 x 9 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
The print has backing paper attached at the left and right edges only.
Condition: Very good with left edge vertical crease corresponding to the location where backing paper is attached.

Arai Yoshimune
Carp in a Pond
Date: ca. 1910.
Size: Approximately 8.75 x 6.125 inches.
Artist's signature and seal at upper right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 387). Tag on back.
Condition: Bottom margin discolored. A couple of very faint foxing marks in image.
Note: Very rare. We could find no other example of this design.

Ohara Koson
Wild Geese Over the Sea
Size: Approximately 17 cm x 12 cm. 6.625 x 4.625 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 441). Tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Two dashes in left sky.
An early and rarely seen design similar to K11.21 "Two white-fronted geese flying above water" in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).

Ohara Koson
An Eagle on a Tree
Size: Approximately 17 cm x 12 cm. 6.625 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 442). Tag at back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
An early and rarely seen design not listed in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland). The design is similar to K13.3 (Eagle on leafless tree) in the above catalog.

Uehara Konen (1878-1940)
Pagoda and Moon
Size: 5.0 x 3.25 inches. 12.8 x 8.4 cm.
ca. 1910.
Published by Kobayashi Bunshichi. The publisher's shop and many works did not survive the 1923 earthquake.
Artist's seal lower right.
Publisher's seal right.
Cartouche with number 262 in Japanese at right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Ink dot in tree.

Japanese female mask in the style of a Noh mask. This face may have been considered beautyiful many years back, but now it carries a heavy-duty insult to any ladies if they were to be called Otafuku-chan or Okame-san in Japanese. Otafuku-kaze is the mumps and there are popular snack beans called Otafuku-mame, shaped exactly like this face.

Otafuku simply means “much happiness”. Also known as Okame or Uzume, this face has been the symbol of good wishes for health and happiness...