This is a really fine piece of Japanese Golden Age cloisonne with a very pleasing form. This phoenix design and form are unique. We have only seen one other like this and it was the mate to this one that recently sold. Condition is excellent except for a superbly filled surface chip. The before and after images can be seen in the last images. The vase is large standing 12 inches tall.

Slightly distorted cylinder shaped (tsuzu) tea bowl with straight walls, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife around the foot ring.

The bowl was covered with black iron oxide glaze of the non glossy type (preferable!) and then covered with a black glaze in the style of a Seto-guro bowl...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Spring Evening
Date: Pre-1936. This is the more rare creped edition.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 12 x 5.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Shotei seal at right.
Reference: Shotei #M-12. Watanabe #212.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent color. Paper residue at top back margin.

Deluxe impression Edo period Japanese woodblock print depicting an actor portraying a man carrying a bucket in a scene from kabuki theater by Yoshitaki (1841-1899). Circa 1860. Exceptional color with lacquer highlights to the collar of the outer kimono. The background at the left side of the print contains fine calligraphy executed in silver. Chuban-sized print with margins evident on the top and right sides. Paper size: 9 7/8" x 7 1/8" (image measures 9 5/8" x 7")...

Ohara Koson
Crow on Snowy Bough
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Unsigned as originally issued.
Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi).
Reference: #48b on page 72 of Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Never displayed.

A pair of powerful Shishi guardian carvings dating from the later Edo period, 18th-19th century, in the Ah-Un expression (Exhaling and inhaling). Ah-Un has many allusions, it is the beginning and end of the alphabet, summarizing all in between, and is said to be inhaling good fortune, and exhaling bad. Glass eyes inset into very human faces. They are 10-1/2 inches (26.5 cm) tall, 9-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches (24 x 14 cm)...

An Arita porcelain deep dish painted in shades of underglaze blue with fishermen in a boat in a river landscape. This item was made in Japan, during the Edo period, in the second half of the 18th Century. Condition: there is a glaze imperfection (bottom left) below the boat; no damages and no repairs or restoration. 22 cm / 8.7 inches diameter

Pair of Japanese damascene candlesticks, the body of each with dramatic imagery of serpentine dragons and fireballs. The foliate petal rims decorated with chrysanthemums and coiling vines, and the tripod feet with auspicious objects and flowers. Both candlesticks are signed "Kuma" in gilt pigment on the base.

19th Century Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/4" x 9" H

Antique Japanese small tansu chest made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. The chest is configured with seven drawers of various sizes: 3 small drawers above 2 medium drawers above 2 large drawers. Black iron hardware includes 7 round lock plates, circular corner bracing and square drawer pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 23 1/4" high x 27" wide x 13" deep.

Antique Japanese Scroll Triptych, signed Sumiyoshi Hirosada (1793-1862) , 7th head of the Sumiyoshi line of painters. Three paintings: One painting is of two men meeting on a mountain path, pines and blossoming plum trees dot the hillside and the rooftops of a fishing village can be seen emerging through the mist. Another scroll depicts a lady seated at her writing table by her pavilion window. Outside, the moon shines above pine covered hills...

Nishimura Hodo
Summer Rain
Date: 1930s.
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 15.5 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Shokai (stamp in left margin). Takemura Hideo label on back.
Signed by the artist. Takemura seal below signature.
Edition: First and only.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back corners have paper residue.

A fine and large stoneware dish by Sakuma Totaro (1900~1979). Decorated with a flowering plum tree against a transparent ash glazed ground. The back is plain and glazed with a clear ash glaze. Mid 20th century.

The original wood storage box (tomobako) lid is inscribed in ink with a title and the signature of the potter with his red seal.

First son of Sakuma Fukujiro, a mingei potter in Mashiko, Totaro studied ceramics with his father...

A fine and large stoneware dish by Sakuma Totaro (1900~1979). Decorated with a flowering plum tree against an oatmeal coloured ground. The back is plain and glazed with a clear transparent ash glaze.

The original wood storage box (tomobako) lid is inscribed in ink "Mashiko decorative dish with plum in iron oxide", the signature of the potter with his red seal.

First son of Sakuma Fukujiro, a mingei potter in Mashiko, Totaro studied ceramics with his father...

A splendid stoneware dish by Sakuma Totaro (1900-1976) with the original signed and inscribed storage box, tomobako. Showa period, mid 20th century.

A substantial dish with deep brown iron glaze leaves on a jade green copper glaze. The back of the dish is undecorated and covered in a transparent ash glaze...

Man's han-gappa which was worn over kimono when he went out and made of hand-spun cotton, both outside and the lining. It is in very dark green, dyed with natural indigo and vegetable yellow. It has beautiful two kinds of katazome (stencil-resist dye) for lining which is natural indigo dyed. The collar is made of imported wool...

A Japanese Arita deep dish, early 19th century. The dish is decorated with Ho-o birds and branches of flowering paulownia. The back with clouds and bats and a single spur mark. The Dutch refer to this palette of red and gold on white porcelain as ‘Milk & Blood’.

There is the remains of a collectors mark on the back

Approximately 20 cm diameter...

A Japanese Arita deep dish, early 19th century. The dish is decorated with Ho-o birds and branches of flowering paulownia. The back with clouds and bats and a single spur mark. The Dutch refer to this palette of red and gold on white porcelain as ‘Milk & Blood’...

Occupation era original Japanese shin hanga woodblock print titled "Kanetsuki Hall Bell Tower, Okayama" by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) dated in the lower left margin Showa 22 (1947). The artist's black ink signature and red seal are at the lower left corner of the image. The 6mm circular seal of the publisher Watanabe (used 1946-1957) is at the lower right corner. Paper size: 15 1/2" x 10 1/4" (image size: 14 1/4" x just over 9 1/2"). Excellent condition. Never framed. There are two tiny pinholes...