A Korean water dropper in shape of a carp. Cobalt blue glazed porcelain. Joseon dynasty, 19th century. Good condition, with kiln grit adhering to the foot. Length, 2 3/4 inches
A mother of pearl inlaid hardwood table screen. Flowers, birds and butterflies garden motif. Southern Chinese or Vietnamese, late 19th century. Good, serviceable condition with only minor mother of pearl loss. Wood tenons on either side of the panel hold it fast within grooves routed the length of the two posts on the base. One tenon missing on one side (an easy project) but not compromising stability. Height assembled, 26 1/2 inches.
Large Southeast Asian, Shan period, bronze figure of Buddha Sakyamuni. Seated in vajrasana on lotus base with right hand in bhumisparsha mudra (earth touching gesture). Burma, 18th century. Good condition. Height, 21 1/2 inches. Base width, 14 inches
Japanese, Edo period, carved and painted wood Noh mask. Depicting Otafuku (popularly known as Okame), boldly and adeptly carved with full, deep, expressive features. Painted white all over, blackened teeth as was the custom, red lips, and black hair in distinct, fine brush strokes for affect. The hollowed out verso displaying the tool marks of the unknown artisan. Surfaces moderately distressed and with much patina from use and handling. Length, 8 1/4 inches.
A rare Korean folk art, turtle form, carved wood candle stand base. Hints of once vibrant polychrome stain or paint decoration accentuate parts of the turtle’s shell, front feet, face, eyes and apparently teeth. So perhaps it depicts a mythical turtle. Subsiding water is suggested by a decorative detail bridging the top and bottom of the beak tip of the turtle’s mouth. An aperture of square section on the turtle’s back supported the candle holder. Joseon dynasty: 19th century or earlier. Good, well used condition with rich patina. Length, 12 1/4 inches. Width, point to point , 11 1/2 inches. Height, from floor to beak, 4 3/4 inches
An Edo period kake-suzuribako (scroll calligraphy box). Iron hardware all in place. Lock face and key but lock works mostly gutted. Original tray with liner retained. Wood surface naturally distressed from use but with expected, even patina with all the accompanying charm. A smoothly finished zelkova (keyaki) may be used for the primary wood, and sugi (cedar) for the aromatic secondary wood. Length, 14 1/4 inches. Depth, 9 1/2 inches. Height, 9 3/4 inches.
A well made Japanese cloisonné vase. The alternating dragon and phoenix chevron panels symbolize harmony and balance. Areas of flower, vine and pendant decoration. Lots of engaging, balanced color. Sparkling goldstone embellishment technique demonstrated in dark green background on the shoulder. Some interesting areas of mottled color enamel details. Meiji era (1868 - 1912). Very good condition. Height, about 7 1/4 inches (18.4 cm)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.