A basket made of akebi (Akebia quinata) vine which is from Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku district. In excellent condition, no break. The first half of the 20th century. H:22cm, W:30cm, D:20cm

Ito Sozan
Geese in Moonlight
Date: pre-1936.
Size: Tanzaku. 15 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Made in Japan stamped on verso.
Artist's signature and seal at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back has pencil note and slight residue at top.

A Japanese unusual stag antler netsuke depicting the head of a swan in finely carved and engraved deer horn, himotoshi under the neck. Meiji period late 19th century Sizes: 2,4 x 6,3 x 1,8 cm. Condition report: Good condition

First edition Japanese Meiji Period woodblock print titled "The Curtain and the Announcements" from the series "The Calendar of Events in Edo Theater" co-designed by Adachi Ginko (1874-1897) and Torii Kiyosada (1844-1901). Three editions of this series are known. This print is from the first edition and contains the publisher's information and date of Meiji 30 (1897) 1st month 11th day in the left margin. Ginko's red seal is on the bottom of the curtain...

First edition Japanese Meiji Period woodblock print titled "Pubic Reading (Yomitate)" from the series "The Calendar of Events in Edo Theater" co-designed by Adachi Ginko (1874-1897) and Torii Kiyosada (1844-1901). Three editions of this series are known. This print is from the first edition and contains the publisher's information and date of Meiji 30 (1897) 4th month in the left margin. Kiyosada's signature can be found on the billboard at the upper left...

A rectangular moulded vase of stoneware with a short powerful neck. The body of light grey colour splashed with iron and blue glazes. It comes with fully inscribed and signed storage box tomobako. H. 17 x 7 x 6,5 cm. Perfect condition. Made by Kawai Buichi (1908–1989), Kawai Kanjiro’s student and nephew. Buichi’s pieces, like those of his sensei, are unsigned. He began his training as a potter under his uncle in 1928 in Kyoto...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles. Two pairs of sliding doors were used to store merchant records and books. 6 drawers were used for keeping business accessories and valuables. Main drawer lock plate features an incised Turnip with leaves. Constructed using dovetail joinery and side support slats...

An antique Japanese 1 section tall Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron and bronze hardware including the Hirute style handles. It features 2 pairs of large sliding doors and a lift-out door behind which were kept store records and books. 12 exterior drawers were used for storage and organizing. A small pair of sliding doors near the bottom hides two small drawers where valuables were kept...

A vintage mid century 2 section Kamo Isho Tansu made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware including the central Peony flower lock plates on the doors and the arabesque back plates to the drawer handles. Constructed using dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Behind the hinged doors of the upper section is housed 6 full width Kimono trays and two Obi trays with 3 small drawers for fashion accessories like Tabi, Kami-kazari and Himo...

Pair of six leaves screens with decoration of horse-races on golden relief paper. The decoration offers a multitude of characters combining all the social classes gathering in the sanctuary of Kamo to Kyoto, to attend the taking place horse-race the fifth day of the fifth month : the Kamo Kurabe-Uma (加茂競馬).

This race count twenty riders in costume of Heian period split in two teams...

Rare hat made of rice straw and indigo dye cotton cloth which is hand-spun. It was worn by a hunter or a worker in the mountain. From Yamagata prefecture in Tohoku. Generally in good condition. The first half of the 20th century. L:52cm (indigo cloth 42cm ), W:32cm

Wood Sumikiri-bon with red urushi. Summikiri means a tray whose four corners are cut. Four sides have painted in Negoro style which has partly black urushi. Used and some scratches and chips in both sides . Late 19th to early 20th century. 36.5cm x 36.5cm x 3.5cm

Ivory netsuke representing a bamboo shoot (takenoko).

Netsuke constitute the major part of Japanese ivory of great quality. Since the Japanese costume (kimono) had no pockets, the objects were passed under the belt and the netsuke, held by a cord, was used to hold them.

From imaginary animals to natural and domestic elements, the subjects represented in netsuke are varied. The netsuke could represent elements of daily life...

An eye-catching combination of brown-black colors and old expertly applied gold repairs on a classic Japanese E-Karatsu tea bowl dating from the middle of the Edo-Period (1603-1868).

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for...

This is the pinnacle of production for imperial artist Seifu Yohei III, a large Taihakuji porcelain vase with carved designs enclosed in the original signed wood box. Museum quality would be an understatement...

Cranes rest in the boughs of a massive blue pine overlaying the white clouds billowing on the pink tinged body of this large vase by Seifu Yohei III enclosed in a signed wooden box annotated by Seifu IV. An identical vase held in the collection of the Ashmolean is visible on page 19 in the book Sandai Seifu Yohei (Seki Kazuo, 2012). Seifu III was known to have made few large works, so this is a very important piece. It is signed on the base Dai-Nippon Seifu Zo. It is 46 cm (18 inches) tall, 26...

An antique Japanese single section Kimono Tansu (chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Front corner reinforcements on all drawer fronts with two side handles on each side for carrying this tansu from room to room. Constructed using thick straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: Late Edo Era (1800-1868)

Dimensions: 36 1/2" Wide by 28" High by 17 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite stye handles. 5 exterior drawers for storage and organizing with 2 sliding doors behind which store records and books were kept. Hinged door secures 2 small drawers where valuables were hidden away. Horizontal side slats provide strength and a visual design element complimenting the sliding door slats. Through mortise a...