The artist who produced this piece, Wataru Motomura, prides himself in living a traditional life in the eastern hills of Kyoto—long known for its rich clay and idyllic pastoral lands. Though the form of this vessel appears innovative and modern, the techniques and materials used to produce it have been around for many hundreds of years...

As mentioned before, what I love about the work of Teramoto Mamoru is it is so vivacious and full of life, full of movement. This vase has all that life and movement on a perfect, elegant form. Here also is another dimension, with the pebble textured surface breaking up the reflection of light granting a tactile quality to the silver. It comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ginasi Hachi (Silver Glazed Bowl) complete with Shiroi and shifuku...

Incense box of irregular circular shape. Over a light gray clay thickly applied opaque, lightly crackled glaze with feldspar that leaves bare a few small areas uncovered, which colored orange red during firing. On the cover a few circular black-brown underglaze "brush strokes".
Although bottom and cover clearly match, they do not make an airtight close line, but leave a couple of gaps. Few very short firing cracks.
Shino ware, Japan...

A Carved and Gilded Buddhist Reliquary containing a polished pink stone exhibited at the Shimane Prefectural Musuem Arakawa Kisai exhibition in 1974 enclosed in a custom-made wooden box and retaining the loan papers from the museum as well as the original pamphlet. The wood body has been carved in tempestuous waves, lacquered black and gilded, with a polished pink orb inside a flame shaped finial. It is 7 inches (18 cm) tall and in excellent condition...

An antique architectural Japanese Buddhist temple carving of opposing flying Ryu (dragons) protecting a Hoju (sacred Buddhist jewel) with the eyes made using the reverse glass painting technique. The detailed relief carving shows their coiled bodies circulating amongst the stylized clouds with one dragon open mouth to expel evil spirits and the other closed mouth to keep good spirits in. Their serpentine body reveals 4 appendages with classic three claw anatomy...

Katsuhara Shinya (Tatsuhara Inuki) (1951-2015)
A woman with mirror in art deco style
Size: 16.25 x 7.25 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Date ca.: Late 20th century, pre-1995.
Edition: 72/200 numbered in pencil on back.
Signed "Shinya" in the image and sealed.
Enlargement 2 shows the upper part of the print in which the black background features a checkerboard pattern that only becomes visible in side light.
Condition: Excellent.

Pair of Japanese bronze Sheep, one male (ram) an one Female (ewe). Well model with realistic details. Both are solid bronze and have their original natural aged patina.

Both signed: Bikai, comes with original kiri wood tomobako signed Bikai: Reading pair of bronze sheep.

Meiji period (1868 - 1912)

Dimension Box: 9" wide X 7 3/4" deep X 7" high Dimensions Ram: 6 1/2" long X 2 1/2" wide X 5 1/2" high

A fabulous Bizen Tane-Tsubo Seed Jar in the Momoyama style by Living National Treasure Kaneshige Toyo enclosed in a wooden box annotated by Kaneshige Kosuke. Beautiful Hi-iro flame coloring brightens the sides and a smattering of yellow flying ash clings to the shoulder about a line of waves. The tsubo is marked on the base with the fundo weight mark of Toyo. It is 23.5 cm (9 inches) tall, 20.5 cm (8 inches) diameter and in excellent condition...

Pair of finely detailed full size silver Japanese temple candlesticks. Embossed with wild flowers and scrolling vines. Blooming flowers are seen from the base, up the stem to the top. Gorgeous original patina consistent with age. Overall very good condition.

Edo Period C. Early 1800's

Dimensions: 9" wide X 25" high

A reversible leather firefighter's hanten 半纏 (heavier weight coat made popular in the 18th century). At this time in Japan, fireman were vollenters and carried other professions. In this case, The inside logo represents that the wearer would have been a high ranking carpenter for roof making.

Features tsutsugaki 筒描 (resist dying process) using the smoke of pine needles to produce the light patterns, and ink to dye the black side...

A pair of small Japanese shrine candlesticks. Each would received a long standing candle inserted onto each small spike. Swirring vines and flowers depicted on both half round base and round lipped top. Unusual small size.

Great accent piece for the contemporary home.

Meiji Period C. 19th Century Dimensions: 4" X 4" X 11 1/2" High

A unique antiqueJapanese suiban inlaid with natural mother of pearl red lacquer over wood. Suiban are traditionally shallow oval or rectangular dishes used to display viewing stones (suiseki). Suiseki. Japanese viewing stones. 水石 - Suiseki is the Japanese art of stone appreciation, which values aspects like stability, longevity and immortality. Formed through time by wind and water, stones can take several sizes and shapes, reminding us of natural objects...

A Boxwood Mask Netsuke. As two masks of Okame and Daruma. Japan 19thC. Height: 3.5 cm. Condition: excellent

Japanese scrolled painting on silk by Kikuchi Yosai (1788-1878), also known as Kikuchi Takeyasu, depicting the sun rising behind Mount Horai. Signed in black ink at the lower left and with the artist's red Takeyasu seal below. A symbol for Japan, Mount Horai (Treasure Mountain) is a lofty mountain covered in pine, prunus, and bamboo on a mythical island of immortals in a distant sea...

Large Japanese Meiji period Imari porcelain deep bowl likely produced for New Year's celebration purposes in the Year of the Rabbit . A central roundel is bordered in an underglaze blue comb pattern band. It features an overglaze enameled Ship of Good Fortune (takarabune), which is laden with treasures and is known to carry the Seven Gods of Good Luck into port at New Year’s...

Japanese Nippon Porcelain Potpourri Jar and top and inner cover, 1940's, 4 1/2" high, 4 3/4" widest, 2 3/8" diameter top cover, with six(6) open reticulated coin shape openings, various floral and birds design on yellow background. The condition is good.

The kabuki actors Otani Tomoemon V (left), Nakamura Shikan IV (center), and Ichikawa Kuzo III (right) in a scene from the play Oshu Adachigahara. This Edo period Japanese woodblock print triptych by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) was published by Izutsuya Shokichi in 1865. Each panel measures about 14 1/8" x 9 5/8." Very good color and impression quality with strong wood grain evident in the background. The print is not backed and the image and baren marks are clearly visible on the back...

This is a strong, first edition, first state woodblock print,1849-1850, with clear lines and strong colors.The visible part of the image itself measures 9-1/2" X 14". Examples can be found in the British Museum as well as the Tokyo Museum. Not examined outside the frame, so I cannot state whether the print has been trimmed, or the extent of any foxing, damage, etc. It does not appear to have been glued down inside the frame, but I can't be sure. The following description is taken from the catalo...