Spoils of Time
Also in The Antique Center at Historic Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry Street, Savage Maryland

All Items: Asian Art: Japanese (59)
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Spoils of Time
$1,175
A carved keyaki (zelkova) wood Ebisu style Jizai-Kagi (pot hanger suspended over a home’s hearth). Ebisu was one of the seven gods of good fortune and this form is thought to resemble his hat. Good examples are sought after works of folk art. The well conceived shape and proportions of the present example, as well as its acquired patina, is attractive and the condition good and serviceable. Minor abrading of wood surface. 19th century. Somewhat on the small side at almost 10 inches, it is also therefore easily used in decorating.
Spoils of Time
$550
A well made and complex burl keyaki wood box of drawers and compartments. Compartments and drawers well suited to hold inkstone, colors, paper, brushes, works and accessories. Nice, handmade hinges and drawer hardware. Painted decoration of Shishi among peonies - nicely done in a charming, mingei (folk art) manner and likely by a previous owner of this kodansu. Late Edo period. There is expected wear from use, movement and checking of wood, and minor losses to the polychrome lacquer decoration. Otherwise an attractive and intriguing furnishing in serviceable condition. Length, 13 3/4 inches. Height, 10 inches. Depth, 8 inches.
Spoils of Time
$875
Daisho Bushu school iron tsuba. Sukashi decoration of basket weave panels and parcel gilt prunus blossoms. Each signed Bushu Ju Masanaga. A nice pair of tsuba having started life together. Edo period. Good condition. Larger, 2 7/8 by 2 3/4 inches. Smaller, 2 3/4 by 2 5/8 inches.
Spoils of Time
$3,000
A fabulous pair of daisho iron tsuba. Haruta school, with the character “Haru” still legible in the seppa-dai of the larger. Realistic depiction of weathered wood with a few gin-zogan (inlaid silver) woodworms in the decoration of the larger. I’ve seen similar work attributed to Hirata school, but that must have been misheard from Haruta. Excellent condition, and the two having started life together. Later Edo period, early 19th century. Larger 3 1/8 by 2 15/16 inches. Smaller, 2 13/16 by 2 5/8 inches.
Spoils of Time
$695
A pair of daisho iron tsuba of yatsu-mokko-gata (eight lobed) form. Sukashi motif of fans and gingko leaves (an interesting combination of similar shapes). Some chiseled texturing of the surfaces of the gingko leaves. Edo period, circa 1700. Good, serviceable condition with a few interrupted fan ribs on the larger. It is about 3 1/8 inches diameter. The smaller is about 2 7/8 inches diameter.
Spoils of Time
$1,350
Contact us if interested in only one
Two finely carved and parcel gilt iron tsuba. Each signed Choshu Hagi Ju Sakunoshin Tomohisa. Decoration of pine cone, gingko leaf, maple leaf and oak branch with leaves and acorns. This is also a known Bushu school motif. Edo period. Good condition. One 2 15/16 inches by 2 13/16 inches. The other 3 by 2 3/4 inches. Offered as a pair as they would work perfectly for daisho with a stout wakizashi, but we will entertain interest in just one as well.
Spoils of Time
$1,650
A fine pair of Chosho school maurugata form iron daisho tsuba. Sukashi work depicting blossoms on budding prunus branches. Strongly and well carved decoration. Edo period, 18th century. Good condition, with the nakago-ana filed larger at some point. Larger, 3 1/8 diameter. Smaller, 2 7/8 by 2 13/16 inches.
Spoils of Time
$450
Contact us if you’d like only one.
A matched pair of iron tsuba. Geese and ginger. Not a true daisho pair, the workmanship and subject are close enough to consider for a daisho with smaller kasane for the daito. Daigoro was a later Akasaka district artist known for this motif. Later Edo (19th century). Good condition. Larger, 3 by 2 5/8 inches. Smaller 2 5/8 inches by 2 3/8 inches. Note that the smaller one is a bit thicker (see pics).
Spoils of Time
$1,800
A fine daisho pair of Akasaka school iron sukashi tsuba. The concentric rings motif reminds of kamon designs but also could be symbolic of the rings on a Buddhist monks prayer staff. Very good spatial design consistent with earlier, sophisticated yet austere samurai taste. These started life together for use on the long and short sword pair. Circa 1700. Excellent condition and consistent as a pair in all respects. Larger, 2 15/16 by 2 7/8 inches. Smaller, 2 13/16 by 2 3/4 inches.
Spoils of Time
$975
A matched pair of iron tsuba. Wasp and antler motif. Relates to a Japanese saying (we’ll research and get back with an account). Not a true daisho pair, the workmanship and subject are more than just close enough to appropriately use well on daisho swords. Edo period Shoami work, circa 1800. I’ve also seen this motif attributed to Kanayama (the surface texture would be consistent). There could be overlap as Shoami was more a movement than a region-bound school. Good condition. Comparable dimension for each, about 3 1/4 inches high by 3 1/8 inches wide. One round and spatially larger.
Spoils of Time
$1,450
Daisho ko-Shoami marugata form (round) tsuba. Gunbai-uchiwa motif (gunbai referring to a war signal fan and uchiwa referring to the form of the fan). A pair being understood as a daisho (though one tsuba being for the longer of two swords, and the other for the shorter sword, they are more often than not graduated in size). These started life together. It also being understood that a ko-Shoami tsuba would be iron - the Shoami tsuba movement issuing from armor makers and “ko” (old) relating these tsuba to earlier in that movement. Good, simple, Samurai taste of the late Muromachi era. 16th century. Good condition. Larger, between 3 1/8 and 3 3/16 inches diameter. Smaller , between 2 7/8 and 2 15/16 inches diameter. Thickness each, about an 18th inch.
Spoils of Time
$975
A set of five Ao-Kutani palette rhombus form mukozuke. Hydrangea and butterfly decoration in blue, teal, chartreuse, aubergine and yellow enamels. The verso with chidori and waves in green outside the foot and yellow with green Fuku mark inside the foot. Uncommon to encounter an original set of five still together. Good condition with varying states of kiln residue. Probably mid 19th century (post Yoshidaya). Each length just over 7 inches. Each width just over 6 inches. Each height from foot just over 1 inch.
Spoils of Time
$2,350
A very finely made Satsuma alms bowl form kōro (incense burner). Clear glaze pooling to a light, warm green tea tone over the off-white earthenware body. The reticulated surface of the vessel enclosing a smaller, solid surface to hold burning incense (a technical feat demonstrating the imagination and skill of the potter). Relief key fret band around the rim and comb pattern around the base. Similar relief decoration on three shaped feet. The cover a single reticulated surface allowing essence from the incense to pass. An unglazed ring on the bottom, centered within the three feet, surrounding a smooth surface where at least two incised kanji characters are almost legible under the glaze near one of the feet. With fitted wood box, the cover inscribed ‘Satsuma [?] kiln, basket weave incense burner’ and signed ‘Gyokumeizan’ (a celebrated line of ceramists), each with seal stamps. “Satsuma” is the old name of the province and the namesake of its ceramic tradition. We are not sure if “Satsuma” on the box is reference to a municipality or a market enterprise (as the trailing kanji character could be the same for ‘city/town’ or for ‘market’). We believe this tour de force to be about Taishō era. Condition is good. The reticulated work of the top has one tiny surface loss which does not disrupt the pattern and is barely discernible. The side of the vessel has one spot of thicker glaze softening the definition of the reticulation with opacity at that point. Diameter, about 5 inches. Height (covered), about 4 inches.
Ex collection, Robert Berg (Ichiban Antiques)
Ex collection, David Callens (Meiji Bijutsu)
Spoils of Time
$675
A large Japanese footed dish. Ao-Kutani palette polychrome enamel Chinese style decoration of a fisherman in landscape and the crimped cavetto with karakusa pattern with three pomegranate and stem reserves. A chocolate brown glazed rim. The back with two prunus sprays and the base with blue underglaze double ring and Fuku mark. Subtle, broad chatter marks can barely be seen within the foot under the glaze. “Ao” refers to blue and complimentary colors yellow, green, aubergine and iron red enamels used on a matte white glazed biscuit porcelain. Ao-Kutani and Ko-Kutani are often confused. “Ko” refers to old Kutani (at least 17th century). Most, not all, Ko-Kutani pieces are in the Ao palette. An entrepreneur going by “Yoshidaya” revived the Ko-Kutani tradition in the 19th century and all such works are in the Ao (blue) palette. A 19th century example similar to this dish (same motif) can be seen in The Met, accession #91.1.144 (Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891), in their Gallery 199 as of this writing. This dish is probably a bit later and is in excellent condition. About 9 3/4 inches diameter. Stands just over 2 inches from the foot.
Spoils of Time
$1,900
An unusual and fun Kakiemon dish. Decoration in underglaze blue, persimmon red, teal and yellow-green enamel. The rim meticulously lined with chocolate brown enamel resist before adding the glaze. A central ‘Ju’ character similarly encircled with a band of persimmon red enamel resist on the biscuit before glazing. The porcelain surface exhibits an early feel (I think of it as a fine ‘pear skin’ texture) that later production doesn’t achieve. The ‘Ju’, or ‘Toshi’, kanji character is a celebratory wish here for longevity. This would not be unusual in context of a superior’s or esteemed’s birthday. There is some precedent for longevity motif from Chinese doucai porcelains, with stylized ‘Shou’ character (the same as for ‘Ju’), of Qing dynasty China (from which much decorative arts influence has conveyed to Japan over the centuries). The surrounding chrysanthemums number twelve, each with 12 main and 12 overlapped petals (24 petals each). The main imperial line would use 32 (16 petals and 16 overlapped petals). The use in this case could relate to a lesser line of the family, a feudal lord or it may be simply an exuberant expression. A group of five kiln spurs appear within the foot revealing the well refined kaolin retaining light, fine grit from the kiln. Edo period, first half 18th century. A small round chip just inside the rim, otherwise good condition (an excellent candidate for 'kintsugi'). Diameter, about 9 1/2 inches
Spoils of Time
$240
A small Japanese porcelain footed dish. Chrysanthemum sprays in the cavetto, issuing from the rim. Butterflies further adorn the bowl. Probably late 19th century Koransha production. Some Nabeshima characteristics are used including the deep form of the dish, the tall foot with comb pattern, precious objects decoration around the outside, partial blue underglaze decoration in the bowl finished with polychrome enamel, and cash motif along the flattened rim. Departure is made from Nabeshima style, however, with the prolific use of various colors and abundant details. Excellent condition. Dimensions will be added later.
Spoils of Time
$195
The small, scalloped bowl with persimmon, light teal and yellow floral decoration with red and black outline. A molded decoration of dragon with jewel in the center. A nicely executed chocolate brown rim consistent with tradition. The verso plain and exhibiting impurities and open bubbles in the white glaze. Raised on a ring foot exposing a relatively refined clay. This could be work from another Arita kiln, but perhaps as likely relaxed Kakiemon production after collapse of the supporting export market. We estimate later 18th century. Good condition. Diameter, 5 1/2 inches. Stands about 1 and 1/2 inch from the foot.
Spoils of Time
$875
A finely made, large mid 20th century Kakiemon style shallow bowl with lobed rim. Persimmon red, light blue, light green and bright yellow enamel decoration with black and red outline of two Hōō (mythical birds of heaven) in the bowl and of Kiri kamon on the verso. The Kiri (or Paulownia) kamon was used by the Toyotomi, branches of the Imperial family, branches of the Matsudaira (related to the Tokugawa) and other prominent families. Very good condition with only minor kiln imperfections attesting to hand production. We are indicating an estimate of mid-20th century origin though it must be either pre-war or post-war (such porcelain production and decorative arts industry having been interrupted). This work already demonstrates some success in reviving Kakiemon traditions (note the well formed foot and relatively pure porcelain visible from the foot). But we know that the traditional pure kaolin body was not successfully repeated (without failure in the kiln) by the Sakaida masters until the later 50s. Diameter, 9 7/8 inches. Height from the foot about 1 and 7/8 inches.
 
All Items Asian Art: Japanese (59)
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