An actor in street attire standing in front of a row of shops and tea houses by Osaka artist Sadahiro (active 1830-1851) dating circa 1845. A pupil of Kunisada, Sadahiro's woodblock prints were published in Osaka in the 1830's and 1840's. The seal of the publisher Iseya Sensaburo appears on the actor's head. The artist's signature is in black ink at the lower left. Exceptional color and impression with lacquer highlights on the edge of the inner kimono and mica in the background. Chuban-siz...

A rare large wooden shrine dating from the late 19th or early 20th century (Meiji/Taisho period) covered in black and red lacquer with gold highlights featuring 12 fully carved wooden panels. Over the gold columns is a lovely carving of 2 dragons vying for possession of a flaming pearl; with clouds, cranes and angels carved around them. Below are panels with tempestuous seas inset into the base. It is very intricate and heavy, indicative of the use of a hardwood base, as opposed to the easily...

The delicate ladies in waiting Japanese hina dolls for the Japanese Girl's Days in February. They are extremely beautiful with delicately detailed gofun (crushed shell with paste) faces and hands. The photos could not caputured it. Their face, hair, hands and costumes are superior to many other "Jyokan" dolls, obviously the work of first rated Kyoto made dolls. The standing dolls are 8 7/8" tall. One of the sleeves on the standing doll is soiled (enlargement 8). Circa Taisho to early Sho...

Large Japanese Imari charger, 18 3/8” in diameter, with vibrant enameling and excellent facial expressions. The subject matter is 'The Seven Sages of Bamboo Grove'. One hairline at the bottom rim and crazing on the rim. Meiji Period (1868-1912).

Antique Japanese silver and gilt Kanzashi; a hairpin with a humorous design of an old lock placed on "kinchuku", a moneybag, with coral beads. With a clear message, it will be a great gift to someone special. Length 7". Meiji period (1868-1912).

This hair comb and kogai hair pin set is probably from the Taisho to early Showa period, 1920 to 1945. Tortoiseshell. There is an artist signature on the hair pin. Please wear this with a half of signature on each side for better fitting -- see enlargement6. Other than that, it is in good condition.

A magnificent and seldom found set of Ao or Blue-Bizen Tokkuri Sake decanters dating from the Edo period enclosed in an ancient kiri-wood box. The hand-turned pieces are in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks. The undecorated clay of each pinched vessel is an unusual shade of blue/gray, thus the name. Each piece measures roughly 6 inches (15 cm) tall. An exceptional and highly sought after addition to a collection of Japanese ceramics.

A brilliantly textured Oni-Hagi bowl dating from the early 20th century by Deika (Sakata Deika XII, died 1934), the radically fissured surface ruptured by exploding inclusions; the scars connected by cracks in the glaze giving the appearance of constellations written into a yellow sky. Outside the bowl is an earthy beige, mostly eclipsed by pale white. Inside the basin is the same earthy color, while all the walls are like salt foam. Surrounding all of the scars is a gray mist, accenting and ...

A lovely set of Taisho period studio pottery Tokkuri sake decanters; the very thin walls made of fine clay covered in earth-toned glassy glaze crackled along drip edges. A bundle of twigs alongside a kindling hearth are painted in iron on the side, with a grinding bowl and pestle of dark clay in raised relief. Along the base of one is the artists stamp reading Hozan. The base diameter is 2-1/4 inches (5.7 cm) and they stand 4-3/4 (12 cm) tall. Hozan was a popular ceramic artist active in the...

An incredible ivory netsuke of a Hannya devil mask with inlayed eyes. The detail in the Faust like features is absolutely superb. In this case I will let the photographs speak for us. Although not contemporary, this Netsuke dates from the mid 20th century. Due to certain features, we believe it was made in China prior to or during World War II, during Japans occupation (1932-1945). The, inlay in the eyes is consistent with this interpretation and the ivory appears to be of Indian origin. I...

Japanese woodblock print of a beauty and child from a series depicting powerful individuals by Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) published by Hayashiya in 7/1852. The image is signed at the right side "Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga" (used circa 1850) within a gourd shaped cartouche. The red Yoshi Kiri seal is beneath the signature. Vertical oban size measuring 14 1/2"V x 9 5/4"H. Fair impression quality. Very good overall condition with minor soiling. The print is not backed and the image and baren m...

Hanging scroll of mandala with Guanyin sitting on a rock, surrounded by two worshiping deities in front of him and by a guardian figure in the upper left corner. Beneath him the gods of thunder and wind and rain in the clouds. Below these, Chinese figures in a mountainous landscape, occupied by different activities. On top of the painting a printed text. Unfortunately we were not able to identify the mandala and thus the meaning. Ink and color on Chinese paper. 19th century, China.
50 ¼ x...

A hand forged antique iron water pot with bronze lid for use in the Japanese Zen Tea Ceremony; handles in the shape of dragonflies embedded in the side. The upper half is grooved with concentric rings; spread wings of the dragonflies conform to the shape of the bowl while jointed bodies project out in 3-D almost 1 inch from the surface. 2 antique iron ring handles (included) are run through the body between the wings. The heavy bronze lid features a 5 petal plum blossom finial. The piece mea...

An Kamakura period Enso-ga in cream-colored patterned brocade with maple brown extensions and featuring rosewood rollers signed Renshabo. Renshabo was a high ranking samurai named Jiro Naozane and confidant of 13th century General Minamoto no Yoritomo. After losing a son at the battle of Ichinotani, and killing the great Heike warrior Atsumori, he became saddened by Bushido (the way of the warrior) and became a disciple of the priest Honen Jonin in Kurodani, Kyoto, whereupon he was given the n...

A superb Bizen Yaki Okimono of an Okoze (stonefish) by ceramic artist Takahashi Satoshi (b. 1934) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The features of the beastly creature are very well defined, with each spine accentuated by the natural color of the flame, giving the stonefish a realistic appearance. It is 12-1/2 inches (32 cm) long. Satoshi apprenticed to Kanashige Toshiuemon, has been the recipient of numerous awards and currently resides in Okayama prefecture. This piece dates fro...

A large baluster form Sumidagawa vase decorated in slips of green and black glaze over crackled red with a three-dimensional tokage (lizard) crawling down the side. The detail on the creature is superb, from the textured body to the white claws with which it seems to grip the sides of the slippery surface. On the backside is a raised gourd shaped stamp reading Ishiguro Koko (One of the most prominent Sumidagawa potters). Sumida ware was first produced around the beginning of the 19th century,...

Large Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) stoneware jar with two loop handles incised with a leaf pattern. Above each handle is a rectangular appliqued ogre mask cartouche. Circa 1st century B.C. Measures about 9"H x 9 1/2" diameter. Above the waist, the vase is decorated with three sets of three raised incised line bands running around the circumference. A mottled olive green glaze accents the upper section of the vase. The lower portion of the vase is an unglazed light terracotta-brown color w...

Antique Tansu cover (yutan) with a family crest of crane. There are few Yutans left in original shape like this one. The fabric is a loosely hand woven cotton and is made to fit over the tansu (cabinet), the size of 40" by 18". This cover can be dissembled into a flat cloth of 27 inches by 118 inches. The condition of the fabric appears to be in new condition with two holes between the 72" to 74" location. The color is uneven in some area; small areas show blue than green, some uneven co...