Tsuchiya Koitsu
Ushigome Kagurazaka.
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. 17 x 11.375 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Doi watermarked paper.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi. This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-056.
Condition: Top back corners have tape residue. Faint toning apparent in margin to former matte edge.

Woodblock Print of Traditional Japanese Folk Potteries by Serizawa Keisuke. Issued by Nihon Mingeikan (Japan Folk Craft Museum) in 1970. H. 20"(51cm) x W. 26"(66cm.) Excellent colors, light toning to paper. Printed text in Japanese. See also SK-1 in English. Keisuke Serizawa (5/13/1895 - 4/5/1984) was designated a Ningen Kokuho (National Living Treasure) in 1956 for his work in katazome stencil dyeing...

Japanese woodblock print by Okiie Hashimoto (1899-1993). # 2/60 in its series, titled "Quiet B (Nagasaki)", signed in pencil. Red cartouche in upper righthand corner.

Hashimoto was born off the coast of the Tottori Prefecture of Japan in 1899. He graduated from the College of Art in Tokyo in 1923 and continued his studies under Itaru Tanabe and Shod Hirata...

Kikuchi Yuichi (aka Tomokazu)
Shinano Taisho Pond
Date: 1954.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 9.75 inches.
Publisher: Adachi. Seal on back.
Yuichi seal at lower left.
Condition: Slight fading. Flattened crease along top margin.
Most Kikuchi Yuichi prints are small. This oban-sized work is rarely seen.

Katharine Jowett (1890-1965) Sunset Behind East Gate, Peking.
Date: ca. 1930.
Size: 10.5 x 6.0 inches.
Pencil-signed by the artist.
Medium: Woodblock print.
Condition: Light crease. See additional photos. Top back margin has transparent tape from previous framing.

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 small dish fashioned from coarse clay and covered in a silky ash glaze. Slightly oblong with one edge gracefully arching upwards, both sides of the dish have been traditionally repaired using lacquer and gold...

Judging by the tomobako, the shifuku, and the patina of the bowl, this piece was likely fired in early Showa (1926 - 1936) when Sosen was thought to be most active.

Perfectly formed and resting firmly on a well-grounded kodai (foot/ pedestal), this chawan is vivid, light in the hand, and has a calming presence. The artist, Asao Sosen (1897 - 1978), was known for making chagama furo (Japanese ornamental brazier used in tea ceremony) as well as “Unge” stoneware of various forms...

According to the potter who crafted this fine piece, “The clay from our area in the north is alive. We listen to it in order to divine the most suitable objects to create.” Here we see the clay wished to become a well-formed ceremonial tea bowl with an impressionistic rendition of a Japanese Iris. Simple, well formed, and with a soft rusticity; a cup of tea becomes a meditation on the charms of quiet country living.

Originally from Iwate (b...

Kasamatsu Shiro (1898 - 1991)
Yasaka Pagoda in the Rain
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.5 inches.
Date: 1934.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. 1946-57 edition. 6 mm seal at lower left corner.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Removed from original folder. Two original drying pinholes at left margin.
A superb example with well-preserved greens, yellow, orange, purple, pink and red.

Woodblock Print of Traditional Japanese Folk Potteries by Serizawa Keisuke. Issued by Nihon Mingeikan (Japan Folk Craft Museum) in 1970. H. 20"(51cm) x W. 26"(66cm.) Excellent colors, light toning to paper. Printed text in English. See also SK-2 in Japanese. Keisuke Serizawa (5/13/1895 - 4/5/1984) was designated a Ningen Kokuho (National Living Treasure) in 1956 for his work in katazome stencil dyeing...

Artist: Kawase Hasui
Title: Daimotsu, Amagasaki
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo, 6mm seal.
Date: 1940. The 6mm seal was used between 1946 and 1957.
Size: Oban, approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Condition: Pristine. Unframed. Never displayed. The two left margin pinholes are the original state.

Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870 - 1949)
Tokaido Numazu Harbour.
Date: 1940.
Size: Oban. Approximately 17 x 11.25 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Publisher's watermark at upper left margin.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi. This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Reference: TK-DH-63.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Paper is slightly toned.

Hiratsuka Un-ichi
Pagoda of Joruriji Temple, Kyoto
Date: 1960
Edition: 21/80
Size: Approximately 20 x 13.25 inches.
Artist's seal lower left. Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back margin has tape remnants. Outer margin toned.

Hanten with sashiko and mending patches which is from Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture. It is made of many indigo dye cotton fragments as cotton was precious in regions with cold climate. It has beautiful vegetable indigo faded and worn-out parts. The first half of the 20th century. W:85cm, L:90cm

A Chinese grayish and russet nephrite statuette of a Pixiu, a Chinese mythical hybrid creature. 20th century. Condition: Good with some natural veins, please refer to photos for details. Length: 2-1/2"

Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870 - 1949)
Spring Snow at Maruyama Park
Date: 1936.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.875 x 11.0 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten with Doi watermark.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi.
This seal combination indicates an early postwar edition.
Koitsu catalog no. TK-DH-30
Condition: Slight fading.

Antique Japanese Kanban soroban (abacus). Used by merchants, this large sized abacus has eyelets for hanging. It has 21 rows of wooden beads with 5 beads in each column (105 beads total). The beads are fitted onto wooden dowels. Behind each dowel is a boar's hair bristle which holds each bead in position when it's pushed upward even while the soroban is hanging sideways.

Showa Period (early-mid 20th century)

Dimensions: 43" wide x 12" high x 2 1/4 deep.

Japanese limited edition woodblock print by French artist Paul Jacoulet (1902-1960) titled "The Squatting Man. Chinese" (L'Homme accroupi. Chinois) published November 20, 1947. This image is illustrated on page 66 (plate 88) of “The Prints of Paul Jacoulet” by Richard Miles, 1982. It is described on page 108. The print is pencil-signed and bears the red owl seal at the lower right corner of the image. The seal of the carver and printer (Maeda/Honda) is at the lower right margin corner...

Japanese framed woodblock print by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979), (1913-1979) "Moon and Tree", signed in pencil, circa 1978.

Size: 10" L x 12.5" H (entire frame) 5.25" L x 8" H (print only)

Looking as though it were cast from molten rock, this chawan has a very earthy and primal feel to it. The rich clay shows through in places hinting of ochre, yellow, and even a subtle metallic blue—cleverly mimicking the way mineral formations appear in nature...

Chinese Blanc de Chine Quan Yin seated on a resting elephant. Quan Yin, goddess of great compassion, is holding 2 lotus flowers, one of which is broken symbolizing a broken spirit. She is holding both pieces of the stem in her hand. The lotus symbolizes purity, spiritual enlightenment, and in this case, new beginnings or rebirth. Excellent detailing and in excellent condition, it dates end of 2nd quarter 20th century. Measures 7.5ʺ wide × 4.5ʺ deep × 12ʺ high.

Basket made of yama-budo (crimson glory vine) for body part and akebi (akebia vine) for handles. It is from Tohoku region, North-East of the Honshu. In excellent condition. 20th century. 48cm x 33cm x 16cm (body part)

Ohara Koson (Shoson)
Group of Egrets
Size: Oban...

Andrew Kay Womrath (1869-1939)
In collaboration with Yoshijiro Urushibara (1888-1953)
Venice at Night
Size: Chuban. Approximately 11.625 x 8 inches.
Edition: 3/50 OR 33/50. Numbered in pencil at lower left.
Date: ca 1920s.
Signed "A Kay Womrath" in pencil.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Foxing nearly entirely in margin. Margin blank at lower left.
Note: An example of this night scene is paired with its daytime version in the Smithsonian ...

Kiyoshi Saito
Maiko
Date: ca. 1960.
Size: Oban. Approximately 17.25 x 11.5 inches.
Pencil signed and sealed by Saito.
Self-published by the artist.
Silver mica is used on the collar.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Back margins have adhesive residue.

Ohara Koson
Fishing Boats at Twilight
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 8.25 inches.
Board measures 14.0 x 11.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Daikokuya.
Koson signature and seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: K44.26 and cataog image #132 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Laid down to board. Some dots and light scratches in the sky
Note: This is the rarely seen chuba...

Republic chinese pair of ceramic wall vases with charming flowering vines and peony flowers and butterflies. Studio ware, one with red rectangular seal on base. They measure 6" tall, 3/4" deep.

Made by Living National Treasure, Fujiwara Yu (1932-2001), this Bizen Hidasuki sake bottle was made about 50 years ago. Yu Fujiwara, one of the most well-known Bizen potters of his time, has become the fourth Bizen Living National Treasure in 1996. There are only five people having such title for Bizen pottery and his father, Kei Fujiwara, became the second Bizen Living National Treasure in 1970. Prior to that, Fujiwara Yu was designated as an Intangible Cultural Property of his native Okayam...

Hand-carved Chinese Shoushan stone seal, Dragon Tortle. Dimension; 4.53 x 2.32 x 2.32 inches. Weight 1.86 lbs/845 grams. Tips about Shoushan Stone Chinese Fujian Shoushan stone is one of four Chinese traditional stamp stones. There is more than one hundred variety of Shoushan stones. Except for stamps, Shoushan stone is produced for carving people, animal, flower and bird, landscape, stationery, tool, and other art objects.

Attributed to Eijiro Kobayashi
High Bridge at Night (Inspired by James Whistler's "Nocturne")
Date: This edition 1938-60.
Size: Approximately 10 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Marginless as originally issued.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. A few small surface scuffs.
After "Nocturne in Blue and Gold; Old Battersea Bridge" by James Whistler

Wood fired Mino-ware with a deep and expressive iron glaze, this tea bowl is a delight to hold in the hand.

A native of Aichi Prefecture, the potter Kajiura Soshyu was born in 1916 and studied under Hayashi Sekko and Kimura Giichi. A multitalented artist, he is also rumored to have worked in painting and calligraphy. While little information can be found on this artist, the few works that I have seen show great competence and sensitivity to aesthetics.

In excellent cond...

Tsuchiya Koitsu
A Long Spell of Rain
Date: 1930s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Reference: Koitsu catalog no. TK-TM-060.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent color. A couple of scuffs and a very light crease near top.

Eijiro Kobayashi
Evening Cool on Sumida River.
Series: Hasegawa Night Scenes.
Date: 1910s-1938. Early edition.
Eijiro seal at lower right.
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 7.125 inches.
Publisher: Hasegawa Takejiro.
Reference: No. 1244 in Hasegawa catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Ohara Koson
Barn swallow in flight above water with large waves
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: Early 20th century.
Reference: K28.8 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Publisher: Daikokuya
Signed and sealed by the artist.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Light foxing.
Embossed waves and splashes in this lively design.

Shoda Koho
Country Scene (With Moon) from the Hasegawa Night Scenes series. Also known as "Canal by Moonlight"
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.75 x 8.0 inches.
Date: 1938-60.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku.
Sealed by artist. "Made in Japan" stamped on lower right verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Light crease at lower left corner.
Compare with our Koho073 Country Scene With Moon (Canal) (1).

Hotei
Crow on Cherry Branch
Date: 1920s.
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 15.25 x 6.75 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.