How to describe the texture on this very unusual vase? It is porous, like a thick coat of lichen on the surface. This is one of the many unusual pieces we have come to expect from the artist Koinuma Michio, ever a surprise! The body is sculpted with thick undulating lines in relief, and covered with this earth-toned porous glaze. It is 10 inches (26 cm) tall, 12 x 5-1/2 inches (31 x 14 cm) and is in excellent condition. It is stamped on the base by the artist and signed Koinuma Michio, S...

A Japanese tobacco tray, known as tabako bon in Japanese. The set comes with a hi-ire or the container for the charcoal, two drawers to put tobacco in and a kiseru or bamboo pipe. The tray is done in lacquer emulating the pattern on wood grain, as if the tray was done simply with wood and a light stain. The metal fittings on the handle are decorated with pine and the lid for the hiire is decorate with motif of gourds...

A massive celebratory image of Tai (sea bream) by important 20th century artist Imai Keiju in superb mounting enclosed in a wooden box signed Gorei. These fish have attitude! Sea Bream are an auspicious image in Japan due to their name (Tai) which is a homonym with medetai (celebration). The pigment on silk image is framed in patterned brocades and features bone rollers. The scroll is 51-1/2 x 78 inches (130 x 199 cm)...

Green or Blue, which will win this contest? Two shishi lions vie for our attention on this absolutely fabulous pair of 19th century screens. The images are performed with pigment on applied silver, not an easy medium from the start. One creature pounces, mouth open, teeth barred while the other crouches, mouth shut, ready to leap. Peony, a flower typically associated with the creatures, grows about them. Each screen is 68 x 137 inches (173 x 348 cm)...

This is a very attractive Cloisonne jewelry chest from Inaba. It is a vintage piece, but still there a lot of work that went into this jewelry chest. It is decorated all over. There are two working drawers and both sides of the doors are also decorated. In the bottom area is a wind-up musical mechanism, that does work. The Phoenix Bird decoration on the top is very nicely done. The box is very heavy and it measures 7 1/4 inches tall, 6 inches wide and 3 1/4 inches deep...

The lid with a sage or immortal holding a book, the handles in the shape of mythical animals, the body decorated with dragons and clouds, the censer is carried by three kneeling boys. There is a signature at the bottom. Dimensions: H. 37 cm, W. 32 cm, D. 18 cm. Weight ca. 10 kg. Meiji period (1868-1912). Very good condition and wonderful patina. From a Dutch private collection.

Japanese Enamel Cloisonne pale lavender color vase, Ca. 1880-1920, Meiji period, 8 3/8" high, 4 1/2" wide-widest part, 2 3/4" diameter-top rim, with wireless decoration of snow capped Mt. Fuji, and silver wire and enamel decoration of the Shrine on the higher ground under the Cedar trees, fishing boats in the lake near the small island, with silver mounted top and bottom rim...

A large bronze sculpture in the form of a censer decorated with auspicious motifs, cranes, and scrolling clouds. The lid has a small sculpture of Shoki, the demon queller standing on top of a rock with crashing waves. The side of the censer are two dragons staring at the central figure. The bottom of the censer is held up by four spirits known as shojo, known for drinking large amounts of sake and often seen in Kabuki and noh plays...

A carved wooden advertisement with two metal pieces to hang the board. The advertisement is for a cold medicine named, Phenyl which is the chemical name for cold medicines even still today. The advertisement states on one side that this medicine effectively reduces fevers and on the other the name of pharmaceutical store that makes the medicine, which is Yamada Kaiseido. On the top is the logo for the medicine with the words trademark...

A four panel shoji screen decorated with carvings of cranes, pine, and bamboo framed in a black lacquered frame. The screen is often seen on the side of a Japanese alcove so that the light during the day can shine in and illuminate the alcove while protecting the piece decorating the alcove. Age: Late Showa Era:1970-1980. Size: Height: 39.5" Length: 69.75" Width: 1"

Kawase Hasui
Lingering Snow at Hikone Castle, 1934
Series. Selection of Views of the Tokaido Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
First edition. Bears the Watanabe C seal (sausage seal) used between 1929 and 1942.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.50 x 10.25 inches.
Reference: Hotei #226.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight age toning.

Depicting a Taoist immortal with a little boy. Very well carved, signed at the back. Good wear and patina. H. 6,5 cm. 19th/early 20th century. From a Dutch private collection.

A very fine carved bamboo okimono, depicting a saint or deity whose ear is being cleaned by a small boy. Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912. H. 5 cm. Good condition, nice patina. The piece has some written monograms of a former owner. From a Dutch private collection.

A simple utilitarian tool often used by Japanese carpenters and woodworkers known as a sumitsubo or an ink pot used to measure and portion pieces of wood. Traditionally, the sumitsubo were made by carpenters and how well a sumitsubo is made showed how skilled a carpenter was. Age: 19th-20th century Size:Height: 3.75" Width: 4" Length: 11.5"

A set of a tobacco container carved in the form of either two sages or eccentric spirits. The container is carved in the form where the figure is sitting inside a jar while the other is has the distinct eccentric smile seen in images in sages. The piece contains a signature which reads Nissho Age:20th century Size: The container: Height: 3.5" Diameter: 2.1" The figure: Length: 1.75" Width: 1.5" Height: 8"

It is beautiful silk dangawari(Dyeing) jyuban kimono textile of the Taisho era(1912-1926). It is the color that very impressive, and is beautiful. It has a few thin stains. However, it does not stand out. There is not damage, and it is very good condition. size:144cm x 127cm (56.6" x 49.9")

Very fine and extremely rare Japanese Haniwa sculpture of a farmer with a charming expression, pointed hat, large hoop ear jewelry below a butterfly hairstyle, arms held to the front, 3rd Century AD (Kofun Period) created for a rice farmer to represent wealth. Rice farmers were among the most prosperous of Japanese society in the Kofun period. Provenance: Property formerly owned by the Honolulu Academy of Art. Collection Number is on the bottom of the piece...

Rare Japanese Female Haniwa Sculpture, Kofun Period, 4th century AD...