WOODEN MOLD FOR BASEBALL CAP

Quite a rare vintage Japanese artisan's tool. Showa period, early 20th century. Simple and unique form with aesthetic texture. approx...

Wooden netsuke, a dog carrying a collar and small bell, baring her teeth, protecting her puppy.
Signed Tomokazu ( 友一 ).

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Height : 1.3 inches (3,3 cm) - Length : 2 inches (5 cm) -Width : 1.2 inches (3 cm)

Solid wooden folk art carving of a giant penis. Strapped around it are red and white twisted cotton cords (imenawash) with paper strips (gohei). Penises of this size were donated to Shinto shrines dedicated to fertility, in the hopes of getting pregnant. Or they were carried around during fertility festivals.

Cryptomeria (sugi) wood, red and white cotton, paper

Japan, 20th century

H 24.5 inches (62.2 cm)

Excellent condition

Sculpture of Fudo standing in front of a flaming halo from which three phoenix heads emerge. Fudo holds his sword in his right hand, his rope in his left. His flaming halo is curved, surrounding him in a dramatic way.
Exquisite carving in very soft wood, probably cryptomeria (sugi), lightly stained with a shade of darker brown.
Japan, Meiji period.

Height 10.6 in. (27.6 cm).

Excellent condition

WOODEN TABI PATTERNS

Five pieces set of wooden 'tabi' (Japanese socks) patterns and thick 'tatoshi' (folding case made of recycled paper), Taisho period (1912-1926), Japan, Large pattern: approx. 28 x 17 x 0.9cm (11.02 x 6.69 x 0.35in), Tatoshi: approx...

Sculpture - Inari. Symbolized by a pair of Japanese fox - Shinto kami. The foxes are represented seated on pedestals and take their place in a sort of painted wooden temple entrance door. Japan late Edo (1603-1868) 19th century. Dimensions of the wooden shelter: 24 cm x 25 cm. Dimensions of foxes: 14 cm x 6.5 cm. Inari is one of the main kami of Shintoism, mainly associated with agriculture, revered to protect the rice fields and provide an abundant harvest, a symbol of fertility...

Sculpture of a lifelike erected penis sitting on a base carved in the shape of two testicles, the bottom of which has been sculpted into a vagina. Either an erotic sculpture for fun or a votive phallus to be offered at a fertility shrine in the hopes of getting off-spring.

Sculpted wood with dark staining, rubbed in places

Japan, Showa era, mid-20th century

H 7.25 x D 5.4 x W 3.25 in.

Very good condition

Wooden sculpture of an old man and woman taking a break from the rice harvest. They are sitting on an elevation. He is preparing his pipe, taking tobacco out of his tonkotsu. She is getting out a lunch box and two tea cups, while the tea kettle is at her feet. Behind them a sheaf of rice and two sickles. Perhaps a modern reference to Jo and Uba, the old couple on the island Takasago who symbolize longevity...

Statue of Buddha, in monk's robes, standing on an elevated rounded stand, his hands in abhaya and varada mudra (symbolizing protection, peace, charity and compassion). Wood, with fine patina. Japan, mid Edo period, 18th century. Height: 18 cm. Slight abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition.

Sculpture of Shomen Kongo, standing with 6 arms, holding ghanta and sword, bow and arrow, halberd and chakra. Shomen Kongo protects against demons and diseases. Wood stained black, with metal parts. Japan, Edo period, shortly after 1800.
H ca. 11 inches.
Sword missing, few traces of usage. All in all very good condition.

This is an exquisite older "Hakoseko"! This is to be placed in the chest area between Obi and Kimono with the chains from Kanzashi dangling. Hakoseko is still being used in Japan only for very special occasions now. These older kinds are becoming very difficult to find. It is lined with orange silk with a mirror and thick brown "Washi" tissue papers still remains inside. The fabric is a beatifully woven silk, with the shiney red silk and metal (turnished silver?) threads...

Glaze Bidoro sweep upwards toward one red eye on this amazing tsubo by Yukuyoshi Manabe enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Yohen Tsubo. It is 11 inches (28 cm) diameter, 10-1/4 inches (26 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Yukuyoshi Manabu was born in Kagatonishi near the heart of Bizen country in 1941. After working in Osaka as a young man, he returned to Bizen to assist the family building supply company...

This is a breathtaking work of art, a cherubic figure forms the finial of this later Edo period ceramic incense burner. Atop the lid strides a youth in purple robes wearing a lotus leaf as a hat and blowing a flue, a staff lays at his feet. About the square box of the ash pot are exquisite-colored designs lined with gold like precious jewels dangling from the edge. Two beast heads protrude from the sides and the entire is elevated on a square foot...

An incredible work by Furutani Hirofumi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu Hen Hanaire. Crystaline green glass pools on one side, reaching down a hand to grasp the blackened shell impressions near the base surrounded in raw sunburnt clay. Opposite red discs surround shell marks where it was stacked in the kiln, beads of green forming like dew drops defying gravity on the rim. In between the earth is scorched and blackened, rivulets of olive running between...

Ash is blasted around from the charred front of this amazing Tsubo by Harada Togetsu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. What an amazing looking piece, highlighting all the best in Bizen qualities. The first time I spotted this piece I could not halt my expressing something about the godlike nature of Feces (oddly?!) It is 10 inches (25 cm) tall, roughly the same diameter and in excellent condition.
Harada Togetsu (b...

A jaw-dropping igneous chawan tea bowl by Inayoshi Osamu like a shimmering mineral deposit found deep inside some calcitic limestone cavern. When I asked him about the effects on the surface, he said that he could not wholly explain them, they were some mystery of the kiln, caused during the firing. The bowl is 13.8 x 13 x 9.5 cm (5-1/2 x 5 x 4 inches) and in excellent condition. It comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box with shiori and shifuku, hand-picked from the artist this summe...

Very rare XII Eiraku Wazen (1823–1896) Kiseto Sake Cup (Sakazuki) with original box. The seal of the potter is stamped on the bottom.

XII Eiraku Wazen (1823–1896) belongs to one of the most influential pottery family in Kyoto in 19 century.
He became the head of the family in 1843 at the age of 20 with the name Wazen after retirement of his father Hozen.
His works are held in Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Size
Diameter 10.1cm
Height 3....

Sake Cup made in 1970s by XIII Kakiemon Sakaida (1906-1982), decorated in bright polychrome enamels over a clear glaze and signed Kakiemon.

XIII Kakiemon Sakaida was born in Arita in 1906. In 1924 he graduated from Arita Industrial School and started to help his father Kakiemon XII.
XIII Kakiemon became the head of the family in 1963 after the death of his father. He was given a title of Living National Treasure in 1973.
Later in 1978 he was awarded by the Japanese Emperor w...