A Takatsuki stand of wood covered in black lacquer decorated with scrolling vines among which are randomly placed crests in the design of the Daruma Wheel on the stem, and the heraldic Mitsuba-aoi hollyhock crest within the tray. Slightly warped and worn with the centuries, finding a piece from this era in such good, original condition, is exceedingly rare. Early Muromachi, 14-15th century, it is 30 x 30 x 28.5 cm (12 x 12 x 11-1/2 inches)...

The title does not lie, this is one against which all others might be measured. A celebratory sake set consisting of three cups and a stand enclosed in their original lacquered wooden boxes. The cups are over the top, decorated with plum pine and bamboo in taka-maki-e gold over red replete with bits of kirigane gold and ke-uchi details. The cups are equally gorgeous on top and bottom, the design extending even inside the foot ring...

Creatures congregate among the fallen leaves and small grasses surrounding this incredible Kanshitsu (dry lacquer) box by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yafu (Field Wind). A plethora of techniques have been used to create this box. First the dry lacquer technique means perhaps a year in creating the egg-like shape, due to drying time of the many layers. It is covered in polished black lacquer, with leaves of gold maki-e riven with kirigane cut gold chips...

A Kanshitsu Jikiro (Dried Lacquer box) by Okada Yuji covered in dark lacquer decorated with Kanshitsu-ko (powdered dried lacquer) and gleaming strips of mother of pearl and polished suzu-ita metal over billowing clouds of mother of pearl enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seifu (Blue Wind). On top a ring of fine mother of pearl flakes studded with solid discs of hirame gold indicate the sun...

Refined lacquer inro with three compartments expertly decorated in gold with numerous bamboo plants. This inro is enriched with dense nashiji lacquer dots and a detailed maki-è decoration that features an elegant pattern of bamboo plants in contrast to some stems and leaves of mother-of-pearl flakes inlaid on the surface...

A quintessential 16th century design in worn gold covers all the dark surfaces of this lacquered wooden box dating from the Momoyama period. Here auspicious cranes and turtles, reported to live a thousand years, laze among pines. About the lid boaters enjoy leisure seas. Ichimonji checkerboard patterns rising diagonally up the sides alternate with garden trees, the ends decorated with wisteria and ivy. The box retains the original inner tray in festive red decorated with garden grasses...

A small wall hanging in Togidashi maki-e surrounded by a checkerboard pattern of polished Suzu-ita metal squares by Okada Yuji dating from the mid 1970s. The Togidashi technique requires the artist to create a design in Maki-e, then cover the design entirely in a layer of lacquer, polishing the lacquer through to reveal the image below. A labor intensive and time-consuming practice...

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. It is 31 cm (just more than 12 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project...

A 7 tiered pagoda like Tower in red and black lacquer by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 13th Nitten National exhibition in 1981 titled Hokuto no Shirushi (Guide to the North Star). It is made of wood cores around a metal box, each “wing” covered in alternating layers of red and black with sheet suzu metal edging. On top is an acrylic panel engraved with a target finder-like symbol (guiding us North). It is roughly 60 cm (2 feet) square, 38 cm (15 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

A wave like form seemingly cut from stone decorated with a river of black lacquer in which flows inlayed mother of pearl and Suzuita metal strips by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 32nd National Modern Crafts Exhibition in 1993. An exciting and striking work sure to inspire conversation. It is 43 x 55 cm. The height is dependent upon how it is displayed (we currently have one side elevated to flow like a waterfall)...

A large two panel screen of etched copper plates mounted on wooden panels by Okada Yuji, the first piece by the artist to be accepted into the Nitten National Art Exhibition in 1972. The acid etched copper plates have been mounted on the panels, then covered in lacquer, which has then been polished down to reveal the high points of the copper plate, while leaving some color in the etched surface. The screen is signed in the lower left corner...

Thick hirame polished gold disks glimmer on the surface of this peach-shaped container by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Toju...

Geometric designs in glimmering Raden (abalone shell) cross the surface of this intricate box by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Youko. Inside gold nashiji glistens on the mirror black surface. It is 15 x 15 x 11 cm (6 x 6 x 4-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project....

Kodansu in gold lacquer and mother of pearl, with silver hinges and decorated with naturalistic motifs. The surface is covered with a delicate and shiny golden lacquer on a nashiji background which gives the box set brilliance. Decoration with naturalistic motifs in lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlays depicting stylized peonies and phoenixes in flight, creating an evocative contrast of colors and a fascinating texture. The inside of the kodansu hides three drawers decorated with silver kno...

A fine Japanese incense burner, made of wood with pierced gilt copper lid, the interior with copper lining. On a black lacquer ground slightly raised decoration showing a landscape with rockwork and trees in different gold lacquer techniques. Condition: please look at the photos carefully, traces of age and usage, few small lacquer losses, rim with two cracks, lid slightly distorted. Dimension: c. 8.4 cm high, c. 4.8 cm long and wide.

Extraordinary Kodansu entirely lacquered in hira and taka maki-e gold (flat areas and reliefs) kirikane, gyobu nashiji, nashiji (powder and small gold leaves) representing numerous scenes from Japan, the golden pavilion, the kyomisudera (temple on stilts), bamboos, maples, pines, cherry trees, various rural and floral landscapes of Japan, all inserted into fans. The interior reveals 3 drawers of different sizes and floral decorations of cherry trees. The drawer grip buttons represent cherry blo...

A wooden basin covered in thick lacquer, red on the outside, mottled green within enclosed in the original wooden storage box darkened with age. All about dragonflies in black lacquer alternate with those inlayed with lead into the surface separated by golden spirals over wavering silver eddies. The basin is 45.5 x 30.5 x 5 cm (18 x 12 x 2 inches and is in overall excellent condition. One lead dragonfly wing is missing. It is signed on the base Heian Sesshin.
Art Deco arrived in Japan ...

A striking design of five petaled plum blossoms between dual strips of mother of pearl inset into a rust-colored belt circling the black lacquered body of this art-deco influenced vase dating from the early to mid-20th century. The vessel is turned from a single piece of bamboo, the node still clearly visible inside. It is 31 cm (12 inches) tall, 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. It comes in a contemporary wooden collectors box.
Art Deco arrived in Japan during the...