Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art (166)

Fine Japanese cloisonne box and tray by Ando of Nagoya. The Ando company, established in Nagoya in 1880, is the only cloisonne remaining workshop in Japan originating from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) that is still active in the creation of cloisonne enamels. They retain the highly esteemed distinction of being appointed by the Imperial Household.

The two pieces presented are executed in musen or wireless enamel technique...

Japanese baby's first formal kimono (miyagi), hawk on a pine tree hand painted in sumi-e (black ink) on silk, 32 1/2" W x 41" L.

This type of kimono is used during a newborn's first visit to the shrine. The ritual takes place about one month after his birth. Traditionally, the kimono was sent by the mother's side of the family to their daughter's new family, bearing the family crest of the husband's side...

Old Japanese Kanzashi comb and hairpin set with lovely prunus and birds on a tortoiseshell. Late Edo to Meiji. One hairline shown in the last photo is very minor. We had more than one occasion that we had difficult times locating it. The comb is 3 1/4" x 1 5/16"; hairpin is 6 1/4" long and 11/16" wide at the ends.

Quality, Japanese lacquered wood kimono hanger. The hanger comes in the box with the old tissue paper inside. The writings on the box and the tissues (old with lots of storage stains - appeared new in the photos) indicate that it was "Made by Wajima", pre WWII. Wajima lacquer has been know for the best for it's superior quality. Very light (kiri wood inside?). Taisho to early Showa, 1920 to 1940. The condition is new (stayed in the box without being used). 25" long, 5/8" in diameter...

Japanese obi, nagoya style, painted with two noh masks on soft satin silk. The base color is a gentle pink/wisteria color with earth-tone. Taisho/Early Showa.

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 heavy Japanese Banko plate with bamboo, made by a Japanese Banko ceramist, Yamada Touka. There are holes on the back which makes it good for decoration.

Gorgeous antique kimono in the best condition. Lined with red gauze silk, it is completely reversible. The color of the black silk has changed over the years to a very dark brownish gray evenly. The colors of the design are very classic Japanese colors as Imari red (brownish red) and same earth tone in every other colors. There is one tiny hole (1/16" in size) right by a family crest, Mon. There is no color loss inside.

A beautiful silver work with turquoise stones. The total of eleven large turquoise stones (oval cabochon cut) are mounted on the delicate silver filigree. Beautiful work. No damage to the stones; no cracks or chips. There is a “silver” mark on the silver clasp of the necklace.

The design is auspicious with the good luck charms such as a Chinese characters “shou” (coin-like small design) and bat...

This is a beautiful Japanese wedding gown (Uchikake) in high quality; it is soft but hangs well. This wedding gown looks more like a Noh costume. The colors are deep purple and light green in a gold background. The gold is not as shiny as shown in the photos unless it is placed under a bright light. The gown was made in the famous Nishijin textile district of Kyoto, Japan and the gown in this quality is very difficult to find in today's market...

Hand painted (dyed) long silk roll, long enough to make one full kimono; 14 1/4" wide x 44' long. The designs do not repeat, some are to be matched for the width. The base color is a soft creamy color with a slight color change on the edge. 100 percent pure silk...

Beautiful hand painted (dyed) iris on soft 100 percent silk. Some designs are dyed to be matched for the wider width. This is probably from mid Showa, 40 to 60 years old, no color loss. The spots and the design that run sideway are part of the woven design. Full roll and good quality silk. I will get the measurement.

Old Japanese Kutani dishes placed in the carved wood tray. Each dish is hand painted and signed at the bottom, "Gyokuzan". The diameter of the tray is 14 inches. Some gilt wear at the rim of some dishes.

Large Japanese porcelain vase by Shumei Fujii, decorated with the design of white herons and pine in underglaze blue and pale green. The rest of the areas are covered with white gold (straight translation from the "title", platinum like), all hand decorated with the artist’s signature at the bottom. Beautiful "Tsubo" in museum quality.

Shumei Fujii (1936 to present) is a famous Arita ceramic artist with a remarkable record...

This is a striking Japanese uchikake, wedding gown. The design on this gown is the sacred pine tree, “Yogo no Matsu”, and golden clouds...

This standing Court lady is in extremely in good quality. She is probably from the Taisho Period (1912

Japanese Kyoto Nishijin silk obi roll. This is a soft, medium thick, high quality silk fabric with genuine high grade gold leaves woven in. Stamped Kyoto Nishijin and nishiki with a couple seals for passing quality checks. Some stains at the end (very left edge) - not likely to affect. The base silk is cream color. 28 1/2" x 163".

Old Hakoseko (Japanese tissue holder or purse) for times when women wear formal kimono. They are placed in the chest area with the chains of the kanzashi hair ornaments hanging from the obi belt. The beautiful embroidery work (very delicate) on this hakoseko did not show up in the photos. The red color is a much softer tone; this is truely an elegant piece. The dimensions of the wooden box: 5 1/4" x 5" x 1 1/2" Early Showa, 1930 to 1950

Antique Japanese man's silk juban, an undergarment worn under a kimono. We can find true works of art hidden in this type of old kimono. The term "Juban" comes from the Portuguese word "gibao" (sleeveless garment). The design of hyotan sake (rice wine) gourds is out-lined with hand tie-dye. Interesting patterns inside the gourds. This is an old gown but the condition is like new except that the tie-dye has stretched out over the years. Circa, early 1900s. The measurements are; 52 1/2...

Beautiful black Japanese wedding (Uchikake) in new condition, basting stiches still intact along the sleeves and other areas. The design is from the Heian Era (794-1192AD), imperial cart in pine trees. The gown is particularly well made and look better than our old photos. The colors are beautiful (no color loss), vivid yet elegant.

WEARABLE ART: This skirt is made out of an old Japanese man's obi belt, chrimen crepe silk with hand tie-dye "shibori". Freshly made out an obi from early 1900 to 1940. Medium size with elastic waist.

Ceremonial jinbaori jacket made for Japanese Boy's Day. Jinbaori is a campaign jacket worn over armor by Samurai. They were first made to protect generals from the cold and rain and soon became more elaborate and fashionable by using rare materials such as wool, velvet and brocades.

This is a wool jacket made by Maruhei of Kyoto for boy's festival, Sekku. Founded in Kyoto in 1779, Maruhei (master craft man, Heizo Oki) has been one of the most influential doll makers in Japan. Today�...

Wonderful chagama, cast-iron hot water pot for Japanese tea ceremony decorated with a heron on each side, late Show period, 1970-1980. Signed Seiko (Sato).

Kama: 8 3/4" high x 8 1/2" diameter (22cm x 21cm)
Box: 9 11/16" x 9 7/8" x 9 1/4" (25.3cm x 25cm x 23.5cm)
opening: 4 1/8" (10.5cm) diameter

Miyazaki Shikki (lacquer wares) box, 10" x 12 5/8" x 4", new condition, circa late 1900s. The red is actually darker than shown in the pictures.

The high humidity and temperature in Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu (southern island, Japan) is perfect for drying lacquer wares. During the Pacific War, there was a group of people who migrated from Okinawa to Miyazaki. Among them were the artisans and workers from the Ryukyu Lacquer Ware. It was at a time that over 200,000 casualties were re...

Cute Japanese hina ningyo, ladies-in-waiting, Jyokan doll. The dolls are 3 3/4 inches in height.

Cute Japanese kimekomi hina dolls, three servants ningyo (dolls). 3 3/4 inches in height. There is one faint hairline crack going across the top of one doll (shown in the photo #6).

The three sitting dolls are 3 1/4 inches and the two standing dolls are 4 inches in height.

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. The gold picks up and shines...

9.5 feet long hand-painted Japanese carp banner (Koi-nobori) for Boy's Day. Here on this banner, a mighty little boy named Kintaro, is hitching a ride on a carp. Kintaro may be a creation from a theater play (jyoruri and kabuki) of the Edo period – although he is said to be a childhood figure of the 10th century samurai, Sakata no Kinsuke - he is extremely strong and still a popular hero figure for Japanese boys. Kintaro (Kinta) figures are often seen carrying an ax, wrestling with bea...

Old Hakoseko (Japanese tissue holder) for times when women wear formal kimono. They are placed in the chest area with the chains of the kanzashi hair ornaments hanging from the obi belt. The colors of the embroidery are soft and shinier (silk threads) than shown in the photos. The background is in a soft creamy color (shioze silk). The color of interior is reddish orange. Kanzashi is gold plated, thick and heavy (approx. 1", 2.5cm in diameter) with an interesting butterfly design chiseled i...

This type of tissue holder is called Hakoseko. They are still being used for very special ceremonial occasions. The older one in this quality is now a collecter's item. Hakoseko will be placed between a kimono and an obi sash with the chains dangling from the chest area. Circa, early to mid 1900s. Dimensions: 4 1/2" x 2 3/4"

Lovely Japanese Musician Dolls, high quality dolls made in Kyoto. The faces of the dolls are different from each other and they have more delicate feature than shown on the photos. Their clothings are made from beautiful brocades specially woven for dolls. The color of red is deeper than shown here. The size of the two dolls are 6 1/4 inches tall and the other three are approx. 5 inches tall. Circa 1930 to 1950.

Beautiful hand painted Fukagawa Vase from Arita, Japan. It has a landscape of rural scenary of Japan on a matte finish. Fukagawa company is well known for translucent white porcelain. The under glazed blue signature at the bottom reads "made by Fukagawa" and there is an artist's signature on the lower half of the vase. Mint condition, circa mid 1900, 9 1/4" in diameter and 6 3/4" tall.

This is a vibrant and beautiful Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) design by Yumi Katsura, a top bridal ware designer from Japan. Her name and ‘Japon’ are woven on a large black square located on the lower part of the center edge. After graduating from college, Yumi Katsura studied in France and in 1964, she opened the first bridal ware rental shop in Japan. She designs ready-wear and haute couture bridal gowns both in western and kimono style and currently has her shop in Paris along ...

The beautiful green color did not show up well in the pictures. I think it is much prettier. Both sides of the sleeves are soiled at the bottom area (see Enlargement6). The picture is lightened to show the area of stains. Actual stains do not show up as much in the large picture blending in with designs in the darker green (see Enlargement 1).
Dimensions are:

This is a Rikyu doll, one of the Hakata clay doll made in the Fukuoka, Japan. Rikyu (Sen Rikyu) is a 16th century influential tea master who perfected the Cha-no-yu, way of tea. He served two historically powerful figures, Nobunaga (Oda) and Hideyoshi (Toyotomi), and eventually being forced to commit Seppuku by Hideyoshi. Sen Rikyu is a given name by the Emperor. 10 inches tall.