Kokeshi, wooden folk doll of NE Japan. H. 6.25". This is an example of Zao-kei (Zao Onsen [Hot Spring]) of Yamagata Prefecture. The artisan is Kobayashi Chuujiro, who made this piece in his 60's, ca. 1990. For more information on "dentou" (traditional) kokeshi, please visit our weblog, which is accessible via our Trocadero homepage.

Japanese woodblock print by artist Mayumi Oda (1941-present), titled "Ancient Sea Spider Conch", number 19/45 in its series. Signed in pencil. Pairs with another print titled "Ancient Sea" Largest prints she has made. Size: 38.5" height, 25.5" width

Kokeshi, folk toy of NE Japan. Wood, Height 9.875". Tougatta-kei, Miyagi Prefecture. Although of the Tougatta classification, the maker, Umiya Yoshiemon (Umitani Kichiemon?) lived in Sendai City. He was born in the 38th year of the Meiji Era (1905) and passed away on April 20th, 1985 at the age of 79. This particular kokeshi probably dates from the 1970's or earlier. The "bun" haristyle is an interesting feature of this kokeshi, which also appears on some other Tougatta style dolls.

We kindly like to offer you a fantastic Chinese Zisha Tea Pot of Yixing clay, made by famous Bao Zhiqiang.

It has an artistic form, rare to find and it is marked with 'BAO ZHIQIANG'.

Yixing clay (traditional Chinese: pinyin: Yíxīng; Wade–Giles: I-Hsing) is a type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. Its use dates back to the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) when Yixing clay was first mined around Lake Taihu in China...

Beautiful solid brass hunt horn chandelier. arms. 25" diameter, 29" drop. Vintage piece, they don't make quality like this anymore! Slight patina, but nice high polish. Freshly wired.

Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) with a colorful design of flowers and birds done in the Tsujigahana-zome (dye) style. The old Tsujigahana dye technique was used on the clothing of the Muromachi to Momoyama period elites. Inside the tie dyed area, flowers and birds were painted with blue, purple and black ink. Tsujigahana-dye was short lived and completely vanished by the early 17th century because of its extreme complexity...

Sakiori obi for an everyday kimono. It is handwoven of cotton and silk strips of old kimono and cotton yarn for warps. Some wefts are from kimono with kasuri. In excellent condition. 20th century. W:16.5cm, L:2m92cm

Chinese meiping porcelain vase with blue and white design of scrolling vines, flowers and 5 dragons. Narrow at the base, tapering outward with high, wide shoulders and very narrow neck. A band of waves decorates the neck and foot. Meiping vases are traditionally used to display flowering plum branches. Quinlong reign mark on the bottom in blue.

Age: circa 1980

Dimensions: 12 1/4" high x 7 1/2" wide

Korean mask for use in dance performances widely known as talchum or Yangju Pyolsandae Nori. Though these dances vary by region, they all share common themes such as exorcism, ritualistic dance, satire, and parodies of wealthy upperclassmen and would often be performed on the day of Buddha's birth and other seasonal festivals...

Four-panel kon (dark-blue) indigo-dyed cotton bed cover, red and white threads woven into warp and weft creating patterns of circles , squares, and checks. Top cover only, no backing or wadding, very good condition. Early 1900’s. L.69”(175cm) x W.55”(140cm.) Futonji, bed covers, were a common bridal trousseau item in feudal and early-modern Japan. They may have been made by the bride before marriage (in very rural areas,) or more likely commissioned by the bride’s family...

Cotton and silk, mixed weave haori with shibori asanoha (hemp leaf) pattern which is dyed with the root of murasaki or murasaki-sou (lithospermum), one kind of grass. It is called "shikon-zome". Murasaki was grown since Asuka period (very late 6th to early 8th century) and purple was thought as the noble color...

A pair of goldfish lantern made of washi (handmade paper) and bamboo strips which is the origin of Nepta (or Nebuta) used at Nepta festival in Hirosaki city in Aomori prefecture. The goldfish lantern made of paper and bamboo strips were used till around 1980s, but now it is replaced to one made of vinyl and wire. In good condition except for some brownish spots in the white parts. Large one: H:35cm W:34cm, Small one: H24cm W20cm

張大千/山居圖 設色紙本立軸 1980年作 款識：六十九年元月寫寄摩耶精舍八十二叟爰。鈐印：大千長年。張大千是二十世纪中國畫壇影响巨大、又最富傳奇色彩的國畫大師，在繪畫、書法、篆刻、詩詞方面都有相當造詣。早期專心研習古人書畫，特别在山水畫實踐和理論方面頗有建樹。後旅居海外，畫風工寫結合，重彩、水墨融为一體，尤其是開創潑墨與潑彩，发展了中國畫全...

A boxed set of six pewter decanter labels or bottle tags for Scotch, bourbon, gin, vodka, brandy and sherry by Stieff for Historic Newport. Newport, RI was one of the most important pewter-making cities of Colonial America, and these tags are made according the 18th century models.

• Origin: America, ca. 1976.
• Condition: tags are excellent; box shows significant wear.
• Dimensions: tags, 2-5/8 x 1-1/4" (excluding chains).

Vintage Chinese red lacquered trunk with gilt lacquer designs of lotuses, reeds, and cranes. It has two metal handles on its sides, a front lock, and comes with a sheet of glass to lay over the top of the chest so objects can be placed over it without damaging the lacquer. Size: 12" height, 23.75" width, 13.75" depth

Original Japanese print by well known artist Mayumi Oda (1941-present), titled "Let Wisdom Arise Within Us" (Blue) , number 23/100, and signed in pencil along the bottom. Wonderful depiction of a goddess wielding a sword while riding on the back of a growling fu lion, surrounded by large bouquets of peonies, the flower petals blown around her by mystic winds.

Size: 19" W x 26" H

1900s

Each cake is molded with designs of scholars on the fronts and raised calligraphy on the reverse. The designs on the front are all gilded in two shades of gold, and the reverse has gilt seals and some script gilded as well. Each piece is unused and is in good condition.

Longest Height: 3 1/8 in., Widest width: 2 in. Box dimensions: 8 ¼ in. x 5 ¾ in.

Japanese woodblock print by Kiyoshi Saito (1907-1997) of a winter scene, with dark figures walking through a quiet village with a snow-capped mountain looming in the far background. Signed in pencil with artist's stamp. Size:11.25" height, 15.75" width

This is a beautiful Japanese wedding gown (uchikake). Featured on brownish orange (when you looked at it where the gold does not take over, the basic color looks more like brownish red) silk are flocks of white cranes and stylized water in roundels of gold. The tone of the gold is rich but soft. The design is unique, elegant, artistic and well executed with excellent workmanship. The condition is almost new...

A boxed set of six pewter decanter labels or bottle tags for Scotch, rye, bourbon, gin, vodka and brandy by Stieff for Historic Newport. Newport, RI was one of the most important pewter-making cities of Colonial America, and these tags are made according the 18th century models.

Origin: America, ca. 1976. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 2-5/8 x 1-1/4" (excluding chains).

This chawan was fired in the kilns of one of Kyoto’s best known raku-yaki potters, Sasaki Shoraku III (1944-). The Shoraku line began when the grandfather of the current potter established a kiln near the famous Kiyomizu temple, nestled at the foot of the eastern mountains in Kyoto. In 1945, the kiln was moved to Kameoka near the Yada shrine where it remains today.

Raku teabowls are made by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel...

Occasionally as I’m browsing through the temple markets of Kyoto or perusing backstreets tea-ware shops, an attractive piece will catch my eye for no particular reason. When this happens, I typically buy it immediately without hesitation, trusting that I will be able to decipher the Chinese script and give it proper attribution through the course of my research. In this case, I was only able to make it half-way there...

This is a beautiful dark blue Japanese Uchikake (wedding gown) made in Nishijin, Kyoto. The label states the name of Nishijin and the use of pure gold. The gown is woven with fans and Gosho (palace) flower carts which is one of the favorite motifs used for Japanese wedding gowns. They are remainders of the Heian period (794-1192) which was the last graceful era of the aristocrats. The gown is meticulously hand sewn to perfection as most Japanese kimonos are...

Asa (hemp）kimono with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) whose wefts and warps are hand-plied. Dyed with vegetable indigo. In excellent condition except for two rips in the center back (7mm and 5mm). The third quarter of the 20th century. 126cm x 134cm

Japanese Uchikake (wedding gown) with Imperial Carts, flowers and gold color “maku” (outside cloth divider). The divider is used as a street on this gown leading the wagons to the large area at the bottom half. The background colors from the top are orange, light pink to dark gray at the bottom. The liner is red. The condition is excellent, like new.
53" W x 75 1/2" L (sleeve length 41")

This brilliant Tenmoku chawan displays gold and flaxen hues interspersed with dark ash glaze. The piece rests upon an unglazed clay pedestal showing the iron-rich clay the bowl is formed from.

Shodai-ware has a long and storied history stretching back as far as the Nara (710 - 794) and Heian (794 - 1192 ) periods...

Indigo-dyed heavy cotton shop Apron, Unknown business. Stencil-dyed on both sides with shop name and address: “Takara;” braided cotton waist tie. Top line: “Saikou Kyuu Hin” (Top grade Excellent Goods,) logo: “Takara” (Treasure) character with image of Daikoku’s (one of the 7 Lucky Gods) hammer, 3rd line: “Daibenkyo no Mise” (A Shop with great discounts/bargaining opportunities.) This apron could be used generically for any type of business. Very good condition. Late1900’s. L...

Hiroshi Yoshida
Sailing Boats, Mist from the Inland Sea series.
Date: 1926. This edition 1960s/70s.
Size: Double oban. Approximately 21.25 x 15.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image. Impressed signature at lower margin.
Publisher: Yoshida Studio.
Condition: Excellent front and back.

A deep, almost bulbous, Wan-gata Chawan by Ueda Tsuneji Titled Kikumon, or Chrysanthemum, enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The large bowl is covered in speckled green glaze turning blue on the lower edges, with a bodacious mum in blue and black. It measures 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) diameter, the slightly tapered rim just over 3 inches (8cm) tall. Ueda Tsuneji (1914-1987) was born the second son of a Kimono maker in Kyoto, the designs seen in his youth having a lasting impression on his...

Japanese framed sumi print by abstract artist Toko Shinoda (1913-present). This print is titled "The Shade", with very light shadows and intersecting calligraphy lines with a streak of red. Number 14/50, signed in pencil. Size: (entire frame) 16.75" length, 13.75" width, 1" thick (artwork only) 11" height, 8" width

Gorgeous art deco Tamekichi Mitsui III signed Kutani plate. He received his artist's name Tamekichi III in 1961 from his teacher, and was soon afterward commissioned to create a plate for Edwin Reischhauer's visit in 1962. He was a favorite of the royal family who bought numerous pieces in 1976. Also from 1979-1988 Japanese Prime Ministers took his works abroad as gifts during state trips. He was a professor of art in Washington D.C. from 1997-2004 and had his own exhibition at the Smithsonian M...

Chinese porcelain vase of a wide, rounded form and a long neck, with a robin's egg blue underglaze, decorated with a cluster of dimensional pink and yellow chrysanthemums on gold stems. The opposite side has four small pink and yellow butterflies. Qing Dynasty Signature on bottom. Size: 9.75" height, 5" width

Beautiful vintage Japanese sodenashi (work vest) made with indigo sakiori (rag weave) cotton, woven with multicolor areas to create a lovely patchwork effect, edged in solid indigo cotton, reinforced along the back, sides, and back of the neck in sashiko stitching. These vests were traditionally worn by workers in mountainous regions.

Early Showa period

Size: 13" W x 29" H

Japanese hardwood burl display stand of a unique natural shape with gnarled edges. Smooth silky finish compliments the beautiful natural woodgrain. 20th Century Size: 34" L x 18" W x 2" H

This eye-catching porcelain composition covered in red-glaze and highlighted with sensational gold-leaf inlay is an iconic design often employed by Ono Hakuko.

Ono Hakuko (1915 -1996) is an important figure in the world of Japanese ceramics and one of the only women in the field to gain wide acclaim and recognition for her work. Taught mainly by her father from a young age, Hakuko later found inspiration in the works of Living National Treasure Kato Hajime (1900 - 1968) whose style...

Yuasa Koufuu is an accomplished Japanese calligrapher. She is the recipient of many honors and prizes in Japan. Her style is very graceful and reminiscent of the famed Edo Period master, Rosetsu. In this delightful piece, Yuasa Koufuu describes the beautiful scenery in a mountain river. Frame: 20 x 14 inches, 51 x 35.5 cm; Artwork: 13 x 9 inches, 33 x 23 cm.