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...

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...

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. The glass is hand formed with various metals and elements contained within. Once cooled the artist then applies lacquer, gold, silver and other elements to the inside in a process unique to himself. It is 13 x 12.5 x 8.5 cm (5 inches diameter, 3-1/2 inches tall) and in perfect condition, directly from the artist...

Muted gold glimmers softly on the outside of this Te-Oke shaped water container by Hattori Shunsho enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Mizusashi, Tsuki no Umi (Moon on the sea). The top of the box is covered in a design of inlayed mother of pearl rippling over a glistening gold orb like the moon reflecting off of water. It is 22.5 cm (9 inches) diameter, 24 cm (9-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Described as a “Tsuki-no-Umi” (Ocean of the Moon) sake cup we can see immediately the inspiration for this recent work from Kurokawa Daisuke. Fashioned from glass, the smooth and luminous interior starkly contrasts; yet, oddly compliments the textured and crater-marked exterior that refracts light in a brilliant kaleidoscopic display...

A beautiful geometric design covers this lacquer box by Hattori Shunsho enclosed in the original signed wooden storage box. It is 11 x 15 x 3.5 cm (4-1/4 x 6 x 1-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Hattori Shunshō (1943–2018) was born in Kyoto, and studied under leading lacquer masters Uehara Kiyoshi and Banura Shōgo. In 1963, he was first accepted into the Nitten Exhibition, marking the beginning of a distinguished career. He continued to exhibit his work at Nitten and other p...

A modernist Lacquer Vase in red and black in the shape of a traditional Jizai Kagi (a wooden implement used over the hearth in a traditional home) signed Kyuho. It is 12.5 x 22 x 30 cm (5 x 9 x 12 inches) and in excellent condition.

This lacquer box by Okada Yūji exemplifies the contemporary refinement of makie and raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) techniques. The black lacquer surface is articulated with bold geometric patterns inlaid with iridescent strips of abalone shell. The composition is meticulously structured: concentric, angular motifs converge at the center, forming a luminous cross that draws the eye inward, while the sides extend this rhythm in vertical alignments, creating a dynamic interplay of reflection and de...

A butterfly soars like Icarus before the sun, the horizon in layers of silver, gold and mother of pearl flakes far below, on this exquisite work by Inami Tadashi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 33.5 x 9 x 24.5 cm (13-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 10 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Inami Tadashi (1923-2011) was born in Kanazawa as the eldest son of the second-generation artist of the distinguished Kaga maki-e tradition. After graduating from the Tokyo Fine Arts School in 1944 —w...

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

Done in a style reminiscent of Japanese Mingei art, this striking yet functional folk-craft piece is the creation of Chikuunsai Tanabe III. Made entirely of traditional materials, the red lacquer is quite eye-catching and is sure to liven up any setting.

As the name suggests, Chikuunsai (1940-2014) is from a line of woodworkers—“Chiku” in this case meaning bamboo. This family of generational artists currently stretches to the 4th generation—the 4th being known for his large...

A very modern and sleek interpretation of the classic lacquer sake warmer otherwise known as a “chōshi” in Japanese. The author of this piece, Kado Isaburō, was born in the town of Wajima in Ishikawa in 1940. Born into a crafting family, he learned the family trade from a young age from both his mother and father and would later go on to do an apprenticeship under Hashimoto Tetsuhiro. In 1962 he would win his first award at the prestigious Nitten exhibition for modern art with ...

A box for keeping incense – kogo – decorated with a carriage used by court nobles and members of the Imperial family of the past in dense gold dust sprinkle on a black lacquer background. The sky sprinkled with clouds of nashiji. Insides with dense nashiji. The bottom section decorated with a rock surrounded by bamboo in gold togidashi and kao of tea master Hisada Soya. Silver rims.

Tiny signature in gold lacquer on the bottom: Gaho.

The kogo was made for the tea master Hisada So...