Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Priest in Snow on a Mountain Path
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Beautifully professionally framed with UV protective glass. Framed size: 22 x 13.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Title and Shotei seal lower left.
Reference: M-60 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

A complete set of the twelve animals of the zodiac by Miyashita Zenji, each enclosed in the original signed wooden box retaining the original Shifuku and Shiori. Sizes vary from 8 up to 16 cm (3 to 6 inches) and all are in excellent condition.
Miyashita Zenji (1939-2012) was born into the family of potter Miyashita Zenju, and graduated the Kyoto Municipal University of Art under Kiyomizu Kyubei and Kusube Yaichi...

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Flying Cuckoo
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 4.625 inches. 24.8 x 11.8 cm.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto Print Works. Cat. #360 tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight creasing where publisher's original tag is attached to back. Small dash mark indentation under bird.
- Rarely seen.

Antique Japanese jizai-kagi in the form of swirling clouds. In a Japanese home, water in a kettle or pot is heated over an irori (sunken hearth). The jizai hook hangs from a strong ceiling beam. From this, a long device is suspended with a hook on the end that can be adjusted up or down by moving the jizai-kagi. Often these are carved in the form of a fish. This unusual jizai-kagi is carved of kayaki (zelkova elm) wood with a dark patina from hearth smoke...

Five matching boxes covered in black lacquer decorated with togidashi feathers in silver and gold enclosed in the original wooden box signed Shunji (active Meiji-Taisho period) and titled Hane-no-zu Maki-tabaco Shoshi (Feather decorated tabaco chest). Each faceted wood box has been covered in polished ink-black ro-iro lacquer, the diaphanous feathers then created on the surface with powdered gold and silver; then all is covered again in lacquer and polished through to reveal the design...

This is a Fusube-kawa (Smoked leather) wallet from the Edo period(1800-1867). Fusube-kawa is a leather that smokes the ground black with the smoke of pine needles and leaves a white pattern. The pattern is expressed by collecting samples of Fusube-kawa type dyeing. It is a valuable item to know a part of Fusube-kawa crafts in the Edo period. Wealthy people in the Edo period put koban (gold coins) in this wallet...

Small gold lacquer tray, magnificent example of kirikane and multiple lacquer technical and multiple lacquering techniques. Absolutely exceptional quality, very rarely encountered. Presence of small details in mother of pearl. I think it must have been part of a set, most probably inside a box? But it is possible that it was created alone. Perfect state of conservation. Difficult to date exactly, I would say around 1800. Dimensions 105x80mm.

Rare bronze ewer Japan Muromachi period, cast in one part. Signature of the artist incised under the base. This type of ewer is very rare, we know only one other similar example, smaller and less elaborate which is housed at the Minneapolis institute (usa). Excellent state of conservation, beautiful original patina. H:290mm

Torii Kotondo
Combing Hair. From the Twelve Aspects of Women Series.
Date: 1933 (ca. 1980s edition)
Paper size: Large at 19 x 13 inches.
Publisher: Ishukankokai ("moneybag" seal).
Carver: Ito. Printer: Kajikawa.
Artist's signature and seal. Publisher's watermark below stamps.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
The color of the margin is uniformly bright on all sides. Please see adjusted lighting in subsequent photos.
Condition: Faint small dot on nose...

A large and very attractive, lobed Kutani vase with a high neck in porcelain. The piece is decorated w. a mottled, preussian-blue glaze over which are purplish splashes covering the upper part. Signed in the bottom with a seal Kutani Yasokichi (1907–1997), (second generation Tokuda, and father of Living National Treasure Tokuda Yasokichi. Accompanied by fully signed kiri-box. Japan, Showa, ca. 1970. H 29 cm. CONDITION: Flawless.

Antique Japanese small and detailed wood carving of standing Buddhist attendant figure. Gracefully positioned on a rocky out cropping, the male figure, possibly a Bosatsu himself exudes a sense of calm strength. Flowing drapery is carved with movement and intricately painted with mineral colors.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 9" high x 4 1/2" wide x 3" deep.

Antique Japanese wood carving of a pair of celestial maidens. From the group of heavenly beings known as Tennin in Japan, these beautiful female figures, Tennyo, or Apsaras, are similar counter parts to the western angel. These crowned women, floating in intricately carved swirling clouds, represent heavenly attendants of the Buddhist realm...

Antique Japanese carved wood figure of the esoteric Guardian of Buddhism, Fudō Myō-ō. The figure is simultaneously finely detailed and charmingly primitive adding to the authentic spirit of this Shingon temple guardian.

Also called Acala Vidyarāja (Sanskrit meaning unmovable king of esoteric knowledge), Fudō (sometimes simply called Fudō san in Japan) is usually the central figure in depictions of the five Wisdom Kings (Vidyarāja, Myōō)...

Ohara Hoson (Koson)
A Nest of Swallows
Reference: An uncatalogued design.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 10.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930. First and only edition.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Publisher's seal in right margin. Carver (Maeda) and printer (Komatsu) seals in left margin.
Koson's "Hoson" signature and seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight fading. Light creasing through artist's seal and lower margins.

This is a Japanese antique silk furoshiki textile. It is a rare furoshiki of the Edo period dyed with safflower, purple dyeing, indigo dyeing, hand-painting, and squeezing. It was made by hand in Kyoto and kept in a safe place. A connection pattern that is a metal fitting included in the horse's mouth. It has the meaning of a talisman that protects you from illness and accidents. It is a very auspicious design that has been used since the Heian period. All are dyed from natural plants...

Antique Japanese scroll painting of Buddha Amitābha also known simply as Amida Buddha. Here he stands with each foot on a lotus blossom, floating on swirling clouds against a black void as he descents. His hands are in vitarka mudra, also known as Raikō gesture of welcoming souls to Paradise (Jōdō or Sukhavati in Sanskrit). Amitābha (which means Infinite or Immeasurable light) is much loved for his gentle wisdom and his all accepting nature...

Eight paintings on paper illustrating some excerpts from The Chronicle of the Heike (1968), a historical novel by the Japanese writer Eiji Yoshikawa (1892-1962). He describes with great realism, the accession to power of the Heike clan warriors or Taira particularly his struggles with the Genji clan or Minnamoto...

This is a Japanese antique indigo dye silk Hand-painted dyeing child kimono.It is a very elegant and very beautiful children's kimono with hand-painted Yuzen dyeing and embroidery. It is a charming and elegant design of kaioke and chrysanthemums and peony. It has a light stain but is not noticeable.A "kai-awase" is an octagonal container that holds a game of shellfish (a large clam with portrait petals and Japanese poems written on it) called Kai-awase, which was held among the upper classes of...