Japanese woodblock print entitled "Kanetsuke Hall Bell Tower, Okayama" by the artist Kawase Hasui. The bell tower stands high above the other rooftops as the rain falls on the street below. I figure with an umbrella can be seen in the distance walking with an umbrella. The wet street reflects the latticework of a window. With black 6mm seal. Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Produced during the lifetime of the artist...

Antique Japanese geta tansu (shoe storage chest). Made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with marquetry of various woods on the front. The top sliders open to reveal a compartment with a shelf. The lower sliders open to a compartment with 2 shelves. On the right hand side is a compartment with a full height hinged door originally intended for storing umbrellas.

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 34 3/4" high x 28" wide x 14" deep

Antique Japanese kuruma tansu (wheeled storage chest) from the Northern Sendai area closer to Iwayado. The front of the chest is made with keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with lovely grain and original red-orange translucent lacquer finish. The frame is made of sugi (cryptomeria). The large, raised iron lock plate on the top drawer depicts a pair of cranes flying in clouds. The middle two drawers are held in place with a locking bar (bo) with pine tree shaped ironwork...

A gourd shaped black Bizen Tokkuri by Oiwa Tomoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Tokkuri. A pleasure to view, the off-kilter form is blasted with powdery dry ash on one side which turns to molten rivulets on the edges crawling around to bead up on the opposite dark shiny clay. The Tokkuri 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Acquired on our recent trip to Bizen in June...

Excellent painted work of Okuda Mokuhaku (1800–1871) who is known as the reviver of the Akahada ware traditions during the late Edo and the early Meiji periods.

Mokuhaku Okuda, a wealthy merchant, was also a notable tea master of the nearby city of Koriyama, worked in the Akahada kiln in the mid 1800`s...

Red Raku Chawan made by Ennosai Tetchu Soshitsu (1872-1924), 13th generation head of the Urasenke tea school...

Suna-Gohon (sand is added to the clay) tea ware was fired at the Japanese consular office in Busan in the early Edo period (1603-1868) and sent to the Tokugawa family and other daimyo. The kiln was closed in 1718.


Size
Diameter 13.3cm
Height 8cm

In good antique condition.
There are minor cracks, old gold lacquer and foot repairs.
Supplied with modern wooden box.

Vermillion lacquered gourd confectionery bowl (Kashiki) made by Ishikawa artist Maehata Harusai, the 3rd.
Elegant rounded shape with color contrast gives a graceful appearance.

The bowl was exhibited at Mitsukoshi Art Club in 2012 in "Tea Ceremony Lacquering Thirty Years - Harusai Maebata Exhibition".

3rd Maehata Harusai is one of the leading lacquer artists from Ishikawa province.
Born in 1964 as the eldest son of Harusai, the 2nd, he studied Kaga Makie under Min...

Lovely Seto ware chaire (tea caddy) made by Japanese Seto ceramist Kato Bakutai (1861-1943).
The mark of the artist is stamped at the bottom.

Kato Bakutai was a prominent potter who initially worked under Kato Shuntai (1802-1877) being responsible for revival of Seto ware techniques in Japan in the 19th century...

Rengetsu Otagaki (1791-1875) was Buddhist nun who is widely regarded to have been one of the greatest Japanese poets of the 19th century.
She was also a skilled potter and painter and expert calligrapher and adorned her ceramics with poems written in her unique calligraphic style.
The cup style and the age of the glaze is consistent with authentic Rengetsu work.

Size
Diameter: 5.8 cm
Height: 4.3 cm

Condition
The cup has a crack but it is not a probl...

Drawer box (kodansu). The exterior is entirely covered with vegetable fiber basketry surrounding reserves in the shape of fans in silver and gilded copper, chiselled with birds and flowers. The interior is soberly lacquered in black (roiro) and bears powdered Chinese characters...

Kawase Hasui
Pagoda in Snow.
Date: 1950s ~ 1960s.
Print size: 5.75 x 3.875 inches.
Card size: 7.125 x 4.75.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Hasui seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to original blank card.
Reference: Hotei Hp-57.
Condition: Excellent.

Silver designs are inlayed into the surface of this mid-century bronze by Honbo Keisen enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 29 cm (11-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. It is signed in a silver cartouche on the base. Honbo Keisen (1910-1987) was born in Takaoka City, one of the main production centers of Bronze in Japan. Work by him is held in the Takaoka Municiap Museum.

Kawase Hasui
Kinkakuji
Date: 1930s. This edition 1950s-60s.
Print size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Not sealed by the artist. Sealed versions exist.
This example may have been re-carved by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to a 7 x 4.625-inch blank card.
Condition: Upper left corner has light crease.

Antique Japanese carved bamboo kakehana, wall vase for flowers. This section of bamboo has been carved with the figure of Quanyin (Kannon). The Goddess of Mercy is seen floating amidst storm clouds, ribbons of lightening streaking across the sky around her. There is a small rectangular hole in the back of the vase so it can hang from a hook or nail in the wall.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8" high x 2" wide

Japanese 4-panel screen painting (byobu) of two white herons and a weeping willow tree. One bird stands on the edge of a lake while another flies overhead. A weeping willow tree bends it's branches over the water. Painted in sumi-e ink and mineral colors on silver leafed paper. Signed.

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 36" high x 70" wide

Kawase Hasui
Bridge with Sailboat
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-25.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

An elegant carved porcelain set of guinomi and Tokkuri, perfect for chilled sake on a hot summer night, by Masafumi Doi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seiji Chomon-Hineri Shuki (Celadon Swirl-Carved Sake Set). Sheer perfection, the design drapes like earrings (or Christmas ornaments) from the top above a belt of raw clay below which swirl waves, all performed simply with one glaze utilizing shadow and depth. The cup is 5.5 cm diameter (2-1/4 inches), the same height...