Antique small Hirado ware figure of a boar. Made of porcelain and glazed white with great detail and charming expression. Hirado ware was first developed in the village of Mikawachi located in the area of Kyushu which was, along with neighboring islands, controlled by the Hirado daimyo. Initially Hirado ware was made exclusively for the daimyo's use. Later, Hirado ware found it's way west through Japan's trade with the Dutch East Indian Company.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)
...

An antique Japanese Ikebana bamboo basket in a cylindrical form mimicking a Gourd. It was woven in a vertical stitch pattern juxtapose a visually lesser diagonal weave. The artist used the thin and medium bamboo strips to contrast and undulate texture and movement within the basket. The base forms a hexagonal circle with a six point star pattern at the bottom.

Age: Meiji Era (1900-1910)Dimensions: 6 1/4 Diameter by 19 1/4" High

An antique Japanese Jizai Kagi fish hearth hook made of bamboo and wood. Hand carved wooden fish. All original patina built-up over years of use and display. A wonderful work of Mingei art.

Age: Late Meiji (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 13 1/4" Long by 2 1/4" Wide by an adjustable 55 1/2" to 82 1/2" High

Chinese Republic period Yixing stoneware tripod censer with compressed globular form body and upright handles on two sides decorated in relief around the circumference with two four-clawed dragons chasing a pearl encircled with circular form shou characters. A pair of bats chasing a similar flaming pearl is on the back. A ruyi border encircles the top shoulder below an upright neck. The three cabriole legs extend from animal head masks. A square four-character incised mark reading “Fan Fu Chou...

Chinese Qing dynasty rectangular form rosewood footstool or stand with four square legs connected by hump-back stretchers. 19th century. A nearly identical piece described as hongmu is illustrated as lot 6500 of Bonham’s 14 October 2014 auction in San Francisco. 24 3/4" long x 11 1/2" wide x 5” high; weight: 9 lb. Very good, solid overall condition. There is a small amount of shrinkage evident at one side of the top floating panel. From the collection of a former American expatriate to Ho...

This rare little gem is made by Morihiro Hosokawa (b. 1938) who served as the prime minister of Japan from 1993 to 1994.

He is also the head of the Kumamoto-Hosokawa clan, one of the noble families of Japan.
The clan was descended from the Seiwa Genji, a branch of the Minamoto clan, and ultimately from Emperor Seiwa (850 – 881) himself.
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, also claimed descent from this lineage.

Morihiro Hosokawa s...

Kiyoshi Saito
Siamese Cat (2) (Early Cat)
Date: ca. 1940s-50s.
Paper size: Approximately 23.675 x 18 inches.
Image size: Approximately 19 x 14 inches.
Sealed but not signed.
Self-published by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Laid down to board. Wrinkling. Stain at lower margin.
Note: In the last image, I show this print paired with another cat (our Saito 026). These cats also appear together in another Saito design known as "Ca...

An antique Japanese corbel apprentice sample of a Shishi made and hand carved from one solid block of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood. Beautiful art sculpture that resonates the Japanese and Buddhist spirit. It would also make a wonderful plinth.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 9 3/4" Wide by 13 1/2" High by 8 3/4" Deep

Antique Japanese cloisonné vase decorated with various types of blooming chrysanthemums from a large white variety to purple then small red and yellow flowers. The ground is a deep blue. The interior and bottom are covered in green enamel.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 7 1/4" high x 3" wide

A Korean soapstone box that has a square section carved out for the ink pad plus space to store soapstone seals. The box is cut out of one block of red soapstone measuring about 4 3/4"w x 3 5/8"d x 3"h. The red block is marbled with white and gray grains and spots. The top of the box is inlaid with the Chinese character for double happiness. The condition is very good with no repairs. There are some small chips from use, and the largest loss is to the side of one of the feet. There is also ...

A lidded Japanese ewer for serving saki or wine. The white porcelain pot is decorated with cobalt blue and then foliage and friezes were applied using red, green, and gold enamels. The cover has a flattened knob, and is decorated so as to match the body of the vessel. The kettle's body measures about 5 1/2"h x 6"d (with handle 7 1/2"h)(with spout 7 3/4"w), and dates to the second half of the Edo Period. The condition of the ewer is very good with no damage or repairs. The gold enamel decorati...

LARGE Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Dish - Binh Thuan Shipwreck

This impressive large porcelain dish was made in the late 16th century, during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty, and was recovered from the cargo of the "Binh Thuan" wreck. It is of the type known as "Swatow" or "Zhangzhou" ware. It is coated in a thick crackled glaze, the bold underglaze blue decoration featuring in the centre, a standing phoenix, surrounded by various floral patterns including pa...

Antique Japanese pair of shokudai (candle sticks) for butsudan. Made of bronze and decorated with unusual silver crest. Each with small animal head handles on either side. Nice weight and patination.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 11" high x 4" wide each

A modernist sculpture in bronze on a wooden base by pioneering female artist Katsura Yuki (also Yukiko 1913-1991). The humorous figure is reminiscent of the works of Okamoto Taro and Akutagawa Saori, another pioneering female artist from Japan who lived in New York around the same time as Yuki. The image is 10 inches (26 cm) tall and in excellent condition. Katsura Yuki (1913-1991) was a Japanese artist whose career spanned from the prewar to the postwar eras. She was enrolled in a girl’s ...

Noh theater wood mask representing the character of Shakumi, a middle-aged woman. The loose strands of hair give her the careworn air of one who has suffered and survived countless trials. Note the slight sag to her cheeks and the creases on either side of her mouth. She often appears in the role of a mother. Japan, early 20th century. Height: 21 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. A few signs of use, otherwise very good condition.

Antique Japanese small ink stone. Carved with leaves and fruit on front and back. The front is accented with three tiny pieces of coral. The entire back side is carved with intricately interlacing vines, leaves and fruit. A small mouse sits off the the right side. Comes with kiri wood tomobako.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/8" high x 3" wide

Red Raku Chawan made by Ennosai Tetchu Soshitsu (1872-1924), 13th generation head of the Urasenke tea school.
Ennosai's mark is carved at the bottom.

Intentionally imperfect, the bowl is very solid and fits perfectly into the palm of the hands giving strong presence and the sense of space.

Ennosai Tetchu Soshitsu became the head of Urasenke at the age of twelve.
He devoted himself to preserving and restoring the school's cultural traditions (which were on the ver...

A Banko ceramic vase fired at the famous Banko Kilns in central Japan, recently known for museum quality art deco vases. The kilns had their start in the Edo Period (17th, 18th and 19th centuries). This sensational modernistic piece is signed by Hiroshi Shimizu and in its original box. Shimizu, born in 1944, is from a long line of legendary Banko artists. His father was declared a human cultural asset by the Government. Hiroshi himself has won a number of awards and prizes including the Minister...