Catalog (105)

A wild design of three small bean shaped boxes enclosed in a dynamic long bean pod decorated with colored lacquer and mother of pear inlay by Nagai Yasuo. The outer box is 43 × 12 × 7.8 cm (17 inches long), the beans themselves are 9.5 × 6.5 × 5 cm (roughly 4 x 2-1/2 x 2 inches) and all is in excellent condition. These are made in the Kanshitsu or dry lacquer technique, whereby cloth is covered in layers of lacquer allowing for free form shapes limited only by the imagination. Nagai Yasuo was born in Aichi prefecture in 1945, and graduated the Takamatsu School of Crafts lacquer department in 1964, receiving top prize for his work. He began exhibiting with the Nihon Craft Ten (National Crafts Exhibition) in 1981, and three years running from 1981-1983 his work was featured in solo exhibitions at the Aichi Prefectural Museum. From 1983 he expanded to exhibit with the progressive Asahi Craft Exhibition. He earned gold at the 1989Takaoka Craft Competition. Nagai states: I consider "items for and inspiration from daily life" as the premise for my creations. From there, I explore the freedom of form achievable through kanshitsu.

A long wall mounted light of woven strips of Bamboo Fiber Paper on a Stainless frame by Kinoshita Yuri titled Tenkugumo II. It is 80 x 15 x 20 cm (x 6x 8 inches) and in perfect condition, directly from the artist made for this show during her sojourn on Awaji Island this Spring. It is lit by three 25 Watt (2 W) LED Lighting Strips featuring transparent flat cord.
Yuri Kinoshita ーBorn In Kyoto, Japan, Yuri graduated with honors from Osaka Fashion Institute, Department of Interior Design. After traveling throughout Africa, Europe, India, Asia and South America, she settled in the U.S. to expand her artistic skills and passion for lighting design. Now based in Seattle, Yuri works with organic materials to create small and large scale sculptures of ‘Interwoven Lights’. Her site specific installations continue to explore the interrelations of play between light and shadow within her medium.
※Shipping fee is separate. Please contact us if you are considering purchasing.

A sophisticated lamp of woven Linen Fiber Paper on iron frame by Kinoshita Yuri on a walnut base with brass hardware by Craig Yamamoto signed by both artists. The base is beautifully cut from a large chunk of dark walnut and contains a drawer. The shade is 16 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter, 67 cm (26 inches) tall and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Yuri Kinoshita was born In Kyoto and graduated with honors from Osaka Fashion Institute, Department of Interior Design. After traveling throughout Africa, Europe, India, Asia and South America, she settled in the U.S. to expand her artistic skills and passion for lighting design. Now based in Seattle, Yuri works with organic materials to create small and large scale sculptures of ‘Interwoven Lights’. Her site specific installations continue to explore the interrelations of play between light and shadow within her medium.
※Shipping fee is separate. Please contact us if you are considering purchasing.

A stellar modernist form with of cast bronze by Yamamuro Hyakusei in the form of a droplet splashing up as it hits the liquid surface. It is 25 cm (10 inches) diameter, 34.5cm (13-3/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition, enclosed in a custom kiri-wood collector’s box and is signed on the base Hyakusei.
Yamamuro Hyakusei (1900-1990) was a bronze casting artist born in Toyama prefecture. After graduating from Toyama Prefectural Takaoka Crafts School in 1919, he entered Hattori Watch Shop, working his way up to head of the arts and crafts department. In 1958, he won the Art Academy Award for his Bronze Flat Footed Vase. After retiring in 1961, he devoted himself to casting metal. He exhibited with and later also served as a Nitten Juror. He died on October 31, 1990. 89 years old. Work by him is held in the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and Chiba Prefectural Museum among others.

A paradigmatic basket by Tanabe Chikuunsai II enclosed in the orginal signed wooden box. This square form of open vertical slats is a favorite of this artist. It is 9 x 18 x 35 cm (3-1/2 x 7 x 14 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Tanabe Chikuunsai II (1910-2000) was born in Osaka the son of Tanabe Chikuunsai I and trained under his father. In 1930 he became a member of the Naniwa Ranyukai and exhibited was first accepted into the Teiten (Modern Nitten) National Art Exhibition in 1931, and exhibited there both prior to and following the second world war. He assumed the name of Chikuunsai II on the death of his father in 1937. In 1991 he transferred his studio name to his eldest son, who became Chikuunsai III and took the retirement name Ichikusai. Work by him is held in museums throughout the world including the Metropolitan Museum in New York, Museum of Fine Art in Boston, San Francisco Asian Art Museum and aforementioned Minneapolis among many others.

A classic early Tanabe Chikuunsai basket enclosed in the original signed wooden box signed with his early name. That this is signed Shochikusai indicates it was created before he took the family name in 1937. This square form of open vertical slats is a favorite of this artist. The basket is 10 x 17 x 33.5 cm (4 x 6-1/2 x 13 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Tanabe Chikuunsai II (1910-2000) was born in Osaka the son of Tanabe Chikuunsai I and trained under his father. In 1930 he became a member of the Naniwa Ranyukai and exhibited was first accepted into the Teiten (Modern Nitten) National Art Exhibition in 1931, and exhibited there both prior to and following the second world war. He assumed the name of Chikuunsai II on the death of his father in 1937. In 1991 he transferred his studio name to his eldest son, who became Chikuunsai III and took the retirement name Ichikusai. Work by him is held in museums throughout the world including the Metropolitan Museum in New York, Museum of Fine Art in Boston, San Francisco Asian Art Museum and aforementioned Minneapolis among many others.

Pink, purple and red glazes mingle on the surface of this Mizusashi water jar by Matsuyama Gae enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kujaku-yu Mizusashi and signed inside the lid by the Urasenke Konnichi-an Grand Tea Master, Sen Genshitsu. It is 20.5 cm (8 inches) diameter, 12 cm (5 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Gae I Returned from China in 1945, where he had been posted for eight years and had studied in depth ancient Chinese ceramics. In 1947 he opened his own kiln and immediately won acclaim, as well as the Mayors award for Kobe in 1948. Working together with his wife they developed this glaze through trial and error in 1951. Several pieces were collected by the Imperial Household agency in 1953 and 1954, and a vase was sent as a gift to then President Eisenhower in 1960. During this time they received many awards and presented at a great many exhibitions. Gae died in 1963 of cancer, and after one year of mourning, Tsutako continued the name and work. She continued to exhibit and was again accepted into the Imperial collection in 1964, and was also featured at the World Exposition in 1970 held in Osaka. When she passes away her daughter continued the family tradition, becoming the third and last Matsuyama Gae. Sen Genshitsu was born in Kyoto on April 19, 1923, as the first son of the 14th-generation Urasenke iemoto, Mugensai. His given name was Masaoki. He served as Urasenke Iemoto for thirty-eight years, up to the end of 2002, when he transferred the title and the hereditary name Soshitsu that goes with it to his eldest son, Zabosai. At that time, he changed his own name from Soshitsu to Genshitsu, and he became referred to by the title Daisosho, signifying his status as the once grand master. After serving as a pilot in the Airforce division of the Japanese navy during WWII, and then completing his temporarily interrupted university education at Doshisha University, Kyoto, graduating from the Faculty of Economics, he took Buddhist vows under Goto Zuigan, chief abbot of Daitokuji temple, and received the Buddhist names Hounsai Genshu Soko. In 1950, he was confirmed as heir apparent of Mugensai, and thus became referred to by the title Wakasosho. He made his first trip abroad that year, to Hawaii and the USA, and since then he has made more than three hundred trips abroad and been to more than sixty countries. He lived in Hawaii in 1952, during which time he lectured at and also took courses at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, beginning his long and dedicated association with that university. Upon Mugensai’s death in 1964, he succeeded as the 15th-generation Urasenke iemoto, Hounsai. He is widely known as a global-minded promoter both of the culture embraced by the Way of Tea and of World Peace. Among his many awards and recognitions, in 1997, he was awarded the Order of Culture by the Emperor of Japan.

A fabulous scroll featuring a poem in rich, dark ink raining down upon a fog bank rising to meet the erratic verse by Nomura Seiroku. The poem reads Mokomokomokomoko kage mo mihezu aki no tsuta. Ink and light color on paper in a cool toned cloth border with turned wood rollers. It is 43 x 147.5 cm (16-1/2 x 58 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.

A ripened Persimmon, symbol of the season changing from autumn to winter, sits like a fat Daruma in red robes surrounded by a poem by Nomura Seiroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The poem reads: Furusato Ha Itsumo Mandara, Fuyu no Kaki (In my hometown the eternal Mandala, winter Persimmons). Ink and light color on paper with green fabric border featuring wood rollers. It is 37.5 x 124.5 cm (15 x 48-3/4 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.

The weeping branches of a gold willow cascade over this mirror black Tea Caddy lined with powdered silver by Suzutani Tetsugoro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Natsume-Me-yanagi (Tea Caddy, Willow in Spring Folliage). It is 7 cm (just less than 3 inches) diameter, 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall and in excellent condition, wrapped in the original artist signed and stamped silk cloth.

A school of fish crowd the black surface of this spectacular box by Goda Minoru enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nagare no Naka ni (Amid the Current). The rim is finished with powdered silver, and the interior is black flecked with silver flake Nashiji. It is 27.5 x 21.2 x 5 cm (11 x 8-1/2 x 2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Goda Minoru (1933-1983) was born in Toyama, and trained under his father as well as Yamazaki Ritsuzan. He consistently exhibited with the Nitten National Exhibition (First time in 1969). He also won prizes at the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition and the Japan New Crafts Exhibition. This piece dates from the last years of his short life when he was at his peak.

A pumpkin lobed vase with silver inlay by Naimen Shiho I (Katsuji) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 19.5 cm (8 inches) diameter, 27 cm (11 inches) tall and in excellent condition. This is a great pair with the vase in the same form in simple Murashidao mottled olive tones by his son.
Naimen Shiho I (Katsuji, (1904-1987) studied metalwork under Ichioka Shiun from the age of 15 establishing his own workshop in 1925. His work was first publicly exhibited at the 1930 National Shokoten. Two years later he would be awarded at the Belgium World Exposition. He remained active throughout the troubled years of the mid-century for which he would receive the order of cultural merit from Takaoka City in 1967. Work by him is held in the Takaoka City Museum. He remained an active promoter of traditional bronze ware until his death in 1987. His son, the second generation Shiho would study under his father from 1957. He too is much lauded beginning with top prize at the 1974 Takaoka Traditional Craft Exhibition (-showa 62).

Birds populate the branches of a plum tree burgeoning with blossoms on the blue void of this baluster form porcelain vase by important 20th century artist Kawamoto Rekitei enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) diameter, 24 cm (9-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kawamoto Rekitei was born in Aichi prefecture, home of Seto-yaki and a long standing important production center for Japanese Sometsuke porcelains. In 1914, at the very young age of 20, he received the top prize at then National Ceramics Exhibition (Tojiki Hin Hyou Kai and later (1922) received the gold prize at the Peace Exposition. His works were featured at the Paris, San Francisco and Chicago World Expositions. He was contracted by the Japanese government in 1948 to create a vase for presentation to President Truman, and his work graces the collection of the Imperial Household. In 1972 he was named an Important Cultural Property of Aichi Prefecture (Ken Shitei Mukei Bunkazai). He was survived by his son, Kawamoto Goro, and grandson, Kawamoto Taro

A Poem card box of straight grained paulownia wood signed Tetsuro decorated with a rabbit in worked lead applied among long lacquered grasses dating from the mid 20th century enclosed in the original signed wooden box accompanied by a label from the Yamagata Museum dated Showa 34 (1959). It is 26.5 × 29.5 × 4.5 cm (10-1/2 x 12 x 2 inches) and is in excellent condition. The storage box is of cross-cut Jindai-sugi cedar, a highly prized grain. The box contains a shikishi poem card by the artist.

A devil dressed in priest robes hunches down, prayer beads clutched in one gnarled claw, an incense burner held up to his sleepy visage, a humorous image carved from a single block of wood by Hirata Masaya (1900-1980) enclosed in the original signed wooden box dated Showa 35 (1960) and titled Sui-ko (Drunk on Incense). It is 25 x 20 x 26.5 cm and is in excellent condition.

A boxed set of five elevated serving trays in red lacquer decorated with floral motifs in black by Urushi-legend Banura Shogo enclosed in the original tiered and signed wooden box titled Natsu no mi Kashiki (Serving Dishes with Summer Theme). Each is roughly 21.5 cm (8-1/2 inches) diameter, 4.5 cm (2 inches) tall and all are in excellent condition, retaining their original white silk lined blue cloth pouches.
Banura Shogo (1901-1982) was born in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture, and studied lacquer in the Wajima tradtion. In 1925 he moved to Kyoto. It was a time of great interest in ancient things, forgotten styles, and revival of lost techniques. Together with Okumura Kyuka he established a research group dedicated to the study and revival of lacquer techniques. He exhibited with the Bunten (Teiten/Nitten) National Art Exhibition and was first awarded there in 1930 for a cabinet, and in 1936 for a screen at the same venue. The following year would see his work garner a prize at the Great Paris Exhibition. Post war he would establish the group Sojinsha which would evolve into Shugenkai in the 1950s. In 1963 e would be granted the Zosho prize from the Japan Art Academy. Ever promoting the field of lacquer, he served as chairman of the Kyoto Shitsugeika Kyokai (Kyoto Association of Lacquer Artists) and was named an Artist of Merit by Kyoto city for his contribution to the arts and crafts in 1972, nad by Kyoto prefecture in 1974. In 1981 this cumlminated wit hteh Order of the Rising Sun , one of the highest national honors for an artist in Japan. He died the following year. Works by him are held in the collections of: The Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, The Tokyo Museum of Modern Art, The Kyoto Shinkin Bank Musuem, Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine as well as numerous private collections.

A carved wood Noh-men Mask of an aged male figure called Okina. Carved wood covered with Gofun and mineral pigments with horse-hair and chord, 20th century. It is 18.5 x 15.2 cm and in overall fine condition bearing the carvers seal in the back.
Noh theater, often referred to as Nohgaku, is a traditional Japanese performing art with a rich history dating back centuries. It is a highly stylized form of theater that combines elements of dance, music, poetry, and drama. Central to Noh performances are the intricate masks worn by the performers, known as Noh men. The origins of Noh can be traced back to ancient Japanese performing arts, particularly Kagura (ritual dance and music) and Bugaku (court dance and music). These traditional forms incorporated dance and music in religious rituals and imperial court ceremonies. Sarugaku, a precursor to Noh, emerged during the Nara (710-794) and Heian periods (794-1185). Sarugaku performances included comedic elements, acrobatics, and dance. Over time, it began to incorporate more serious and refined themes. Noh as we know it today began to take shape during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Kan'ami Kiyotsugu and his son Zeami Motokiyo played significant roles in refining and formalizing Noh performances, codifying its structure, music, and movements.
Zeami emphasized the importance of yūgen (mysterious beauty) and monomane (imitation or mimicry) in Noh, which influenced the development of Noh's distinctive aesthetic and storytelling techniques. Noh combines classical Japanese poetry (waka) with music and dance. The plays often revolve around themes of the supernatural, historical events, or literary works. During the Momoyama period the Tempo of Noh, which had been adopted by the elite, slowed significantly, to differentiate itself aesthetically from other forms of ritual dance. This is the Noh that we have today. Noh masks represent different character types, such as gods, demons, spirits, elderly characters, and more. Each mask has distinct features and expressions that help convey the character's personality and emotions. They are meticulously crafted from wood and are meant to conceal the actor's emotions, allowing them to embody various characters and personas throughout the performance.
Noh theater is designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and continues to be an essential part of Japan's cultural heritage. It has had a significant influence on other art forms, including traditional Japanese arts like Kabuki and Bunraku, as well as contemporary theater and dance. It remains a cherished and deeply respected art form in Japan, captivating audiences with its elegance, symbolism, and timeless stories.

A Noh mask representing a middle-aged woman torn by separation from a loved one, either man or child. Carved wood covered with Gofun and mineral pigments, 20th century. It is 20.8 x 13.5 cm and in overall fine condition bearing the carvers seal in the back. Gentle and mature, fukai's face is filled with a melancholy that comes from experience and feeling. The features are deep-cut, with crevices along the lower cheeks and deep-set eyes with heavy eyelids and drooping corners. The well-modulated lips neither smile nor frown. The fleshy face has a protruding forehead and chin, creating a slightly concave silhouette. Fukai masks come in a spectrum of ages, the oldest being labeled yuki no fukai (snow), the next tsuki no fukai　(moon), and the yougest hana no fukai (flower).