A Japanese Contemporary Large Bamboo Sculpture made of thin strips of madake bamboo and lacquer. The artist is using an irregular, open work plaiting technique creating a kind of large cocoon shape. It can be seen from different angles and it can also be use for flower arrangements as there are openings through which a receptacle can be placed inside. But it can be admired simply as a sculpture. Made by Homura Reiryu ( b. 1970 ) from Oita prefecture, Kyushu, Japan...

A sumptuous wood grain bowl by Tanaka Eiko covered outside in red and black lacquer, the lacquer thin enough to allow highlights of the tiger-striped grain to show through. Her tree of choice is the Horse Chestnut (Jap. Tocchi), which has unparalleled grain patterns. A perfectly fitted black lacquered lid with elegant finial covers the bowl. It is 10 cm (4 inches) diameter, signed on the base and comes in her red paper box with shiori card...

A sumptuous wood grain bowl by Tanaka Eiko covered outside in thin black lacquer, the inside clear to best present the exquisite grains of the wood. Her tree of choice is the Horse Chestnut (Jap. Tocchi), which has unparalleled grain patterns, here visible through the black outside as a soft glow about the center of the bowl. Inside black lines like an abstract ink painting decorating the straight grains. She brings the rim up to an extremely thin edge, abrupt, both delicate and challenging...

There is something deeply elegant and feminine about the work of the female Maki-e artist Arai Etsuko, clearly evident here in this glass sake set decorated with olives in colored lacquer and precious gold powder enclosed in a compartmentalized and signed wooden box. Inside, the simple black silhouette, outside, various shades of green connected by gold branches from which hang fruit in various stages of ripeness. The Tokkuri is 17 cm (6-3/4 inches) tall, the cups 5 cm (2 inches) diameter...

A splendid antique cut glass cup selected and decorated by contemporary female lacquer artist Arai Etsuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Glass Maki-e Hai, Yoake (Glass Sake Cup named Breaking Dawn). She said that when she first saw the glass in a street market, she instantly envisioned how the engraved patterns could be accentuated by colors and powdered precious metals. Here an interesting comparison of techniques is possible...

Perhaps because of its proximity (or lack thereof) to central Japan, the beautiful lacquer wares of Akita may be lesser known than other regions. Here is an exquisite sake cup and katakuchi serer of turned wood covered in multiple layers of soft, black lacquer by Sato Fumiyuki of the Kawatsura lacquer tradition. A belt of gilded binding wrapping the body is the only decoration...

Like the layered hills of Kyoto at twilight, this vase is of Kanshitsu dry lacquer body with layers of colored Urushi by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. in the dark blue about the base glimmers tiny flakes of mother of pearl. The rim is covered in white Chogai shell applique. About the flaring neck, is a slight indentation, a very challenging form to be polished out. It is 34 cm (just more than 13-1/2 inches) tall and in perfect condition...

The last work by this important artist, a five piece stacking box decorated in iconic Dragonflies by Okada Yuji enclosed in a custom made wooden storage box. This piece was completed in 2022, shortly before he passed away. The dragonflies are performed in colored lacquer and gold powder with carved and polished Yellow and White Oyster-shell eyes. They fly over a swirling sea of Mother of Peral flakes. Inside is all Nashiji powdered gold...

A beautiful hand crafted box by Nitta Kiun enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tanzaku Bako (Poem Card Box). It is 40 x 11 x 7 cm and in perfect condition. Nitta Kiun was born in Wakayama in 1944, and studied woodcraft under his father, establishing his own woodcraft studio in 1980. He held his first Solo exhibition in 1985, and was accepted for the first time the following year into the Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Crafts Exhibition...

An exquisite gleaming glass bowl lined with lacquer and gold by Okushima Keiji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Glass lacquerware with gold leaf Bowl...

Gleaming golden lacquer coats the inside of this dark glass bowl by Okushima Keiji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hari Kyushitsu Wan Hakuoshi (Glass Bowl Lined with Lacquer). The glass is blue at the top, settling to olive green then to red tinge spotted with color. The bowl is 13.5 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter, 8 cm (just over 3 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Okushima Keiji was born in Kyoto in 1977, and raised in rural Shiga prefectu...

A fresh water jar for use in the Japanese Matcha Tea Ceremony made up of silver infused colored glass with a lacquered wooden lid enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hari Mizusashi. The wooden lid has been lacquered and covered in gold. The vessel is 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) diameter, 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) tall and in perfect condition, directly from the artist.
Okushima Keiji was born in Kyoto in 1977, and raised in rural Shiga prefecture just over the mountains from his birt...

A blown glass sake cup by Okushima Keiji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hari-Kyushitsu Hai Haku-oshi (Gilded Lacquer Lined Glass Sake Cup). It is 7.5 cm (roughly 3 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
This work can be purchased as a set with Tokkuri (OK4A) or Katakuchi (OK5A). This price is the price for Guinomi alone.
Okushima Keiji was born in Kyoto in 1977, and raised in rural Shiga prefecture just over the mountains from his ...

A stunning sake cup by Okushima Keiji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hari Kyushitsu Hai Hakuoshi (Glass Lacquer Lined Sake Cup). Ot is 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter) and in perfect condition.
This work can be purchased as a set with Tokkuri (OK4A) or Katakuchi (OK5A). This price is the price for Guinomi alone.
Okushima Keiji was born in Kyoto in 1977, and raised in rural Shiga prefecture just over the mountains from his birthplace. In 2000 he graduated Ritsumeika...

Okushima Keiji Titled Hari Kyushitsu Hai Hakuoshi (Lacquer Lined Sake Cup with gilding. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, directly from the artist. A sumptuous glasssake cup lined with lacquer and gilded with bold by Okushima Keiji.
This work can be purchased as a set with Tokkuri (OK4A) or Katakuchi (OK5A). This price is the price for Guinomi alone.
Okushima Keiji was born in Kyoto in 1977, and raised in rural Shiga prefecture just over the mountains from ...

An organic form like a flower or some under-sea creature in vibrant red by Sasai Fumie enclosed im tehorignal signed wooden box titled Mau (dervish) and dated Heisei 28 (2016). It is entirely hollow and light as a feather so easily hung on a wall. Hemp and layered lacquer, it is 54.5 x 45 x 8 cm (21 x 18 x 3-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition. Fumie uses the technique called kanshitsu (lacquer applied on a fabric mould) to shape her works. Then the artist uses the nuritate shiage techni...

A pair of wood candle stand painted with colorful urushi. The plate for candle on the top is made of metal. In excellent condition except for some tiny chips on the rim of the top plate and urushi came off in the bottom of one candle. 20th century. H:37cm Diameter of the bottom:10cm

Gold willows drape over the highly unusual silver-tinged blue lacquer surface of this water container by Tonami Sosai II enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Uwajima Nuri Seigin Yanagi Te-oke Mizusashi (Silver Blue Uwajima Lacquer, Willow, Bucket Shaped Mizusashi). The outside is a shimmering blue tinged with silver, while inside is black covered in powdered silver flake. A striking combination. The willow is delicately depicted in tendrils of gold about the circumference, on the...