A pair of fine and very unusual Art Deco Japanese studio porcelain Iroe Nabeshima style sculptural vases. Of waisted, triangular section, seeming to suggest an origami depiction (if not being too imaginative - though these vases are imaginative if anything) of crossed rhinoceros horns as seen in Chinese art symbolism of the 'Hundred Treasures'. Each vase with three angular parts forming the triangular section with uneven rims, the three distinct parts curved (forming the waist) and tapered through to the three feet. Nabeshima palette enamels and underglaze blue decoration of Chidori-Mon and bamboo lattice and of Botan-Karakusa. The Chidori and bamboo were used in Mon for clans including prominent Uesugi and Date families. Each vase signed on a triangular, flat bottom inside the splayed feet. It appears there may be two artist names repeated on each so perhaps a collaboration. An old import shop label, "BI'DON importers", still adheres inside the rim of one of the pair. Good condition. Height varies slightly - 12 9/16 inches (31.9 cm) for one and 12 1/8 inches (30.8 cm) for the other. Variation in the weight (and contrary to size) of these substantial vases also is telling of the non-commercial origins of these meticulous studio works - the slightly shorter vase weighing more at 1.685 kg and the slightly taller vase 1.445 kg

Woodblock print from the Maiko series. Pencil signed "Kiyoshi Saito" with red seal in the plate. Annotated "(2)" in the margin. Considering this was backed with pages from "The Tokyo Chunichi" from 1963, the back of the print shows very little toning save for the once adhesed corners. Paper size, 16 1/2 in (41.9cm) x 11 1/4 in (28.57cm). Image area, 15 1/2 in (39.4cm) x 10 1/4 in (26cm)

Signed Zohiko lacquer tea caddy. Decoration of Mt Fuji and pine tree in lake landscape on black ground. Pleasant textures, reminiscent of Zeshin, are imparted to the surface of Fuji-san and the pine tree. Zohiko mark inside the foot. Overall good condition with a couple inconspicuous small chips to the lacquer along the rim of the cover. Height, 3 inches (7.62 cm). Diameter 3 5/8 inches (9.21 cm)

A set of seven Zohiko covered soup bowls. Colorful leaf decoration sparsely applied on black ground with almost iridescent effect with gold and silver maki-e and red details. Zohiko marks in silver lacquer inside the bowls' foot rims. 20th century. Bowl diameter s about 4 11/16 inches (11.9 cm). Excellent condition. Combine with other pieces from this set to save on shipping.

A good cloisonne vase depicting Mt. Fuji in clouds using 'musen' (wireless) technique with pleasing affect. The foreground with pagoda in autumnal landscape against mountain and river landscape - the mountains again using wireless technique to suggest fading into the distance, and the river also using 'musen' to suggest the flowing of water. The back of the vase continues the light blue mottled sky. Silver plated rims. Not signed, so we stop short at saying it is Ando school. Excellent condition. 4 7/8 inches (12.385 cm) tall. (Our 10th and last image photographs the vase upside down to avoid glare on the wireless area depicting Mt. Fuji - rotated upright for presentation.)

Japanese pottery tsubo vase. An earthy, drab gray-green glaze on porcelaneous body with thin iron wash and with bold, rich red iron oxide glaze painted floral decoration on opposing sides of the tsubo form with thickly potted shoulder rising to a broad, everted rim. Two character impressed artist's mark inside the foot appears to read Kazan ('Ka' being the 10 stroke character also read as "hana".) A pleasant, substantial feel when held. Excellent condition. Height, 9 3/4 inches (24.76 cm)

Two Japanese pottery yunomi. One cylindrical with a warm terra cotta colored glaze with white dripping on a coarse, light buff body burnt to an earthy orange where the bottom meets the glaze - the ring foot notched beside an impressed, three character artist's mark. Height 3 3/16 inches (8.1 cm), Diameter 2 3/8 inches (6.03 cm). The other with slightly curved sides and a rich, mottled iron glaze with a white to caramel dripping from the rim as if overflowing from the mottled white glazed interior - raised on a ring foot without glaze on the foot rim and centering two gold lacquered characters flanking a small impressed artist's seal in circular cartouche. Height 3 7/16 inches (8.73 cm), Diameter 2 1/2 inches (6.3 cm). We recently blogged about a cloisonne pendant possibly being the longest held item in our collection. These two cups are, actually, the longest held items in our possession and purchased from the same source - antiques dealer Evan Wolf - in the mid 1980s.

A fine 20th century studio lacquer charger. Persimmon orange-red lacquer with decoration of peony blossoms incised to an under layer of black lacquer in the Kamakura manner (and possibly from one of the ateliers in that town which can still be seen and visited when trekking up the main street to the temples.) Gilt lacquered rim. Black lacquer also singularly exposed inside the foot rim. Good condition with light wear. Diameter 15 1/2 inches (39.37 cm)

A well carved and lacquered Noh mask depicting Hannya. Painted details - particularly depicting loose strands of hair but also the gilded eyes with black wash - adding to the dramatic portrayal. Two character signature in gold lacquer inside the mask and again inside the cover of the box in black ink and with read artist's seal. Also inscribed in cursive English explaining the purpose and use of the mask and the name of the presenting company (apparently a Japanese industrial company so this must have been a good will gift perhaps to a visiting associate.) Very good condition. Probably late 20th century. Height of mask not including horns, 8 3/8 inches (21.27 cm). Width ear to ear, 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm).

An interesting modern, abstract koro. The compressed sphere with elliptical, off centered opening. A warm, brown temmoku glaze with darker brown glaze dripping from the top and stopping in controlled fashion above a well - continuing to form the unglazed foot in ogee fashion. An artist seal (three or four stylized Kanji characters within an oval) is impressed into the concave base near the foot rim. Very good condition. Some burnt on kiln residue on the foot goes to 'wabi'. A couple small chips off the foot (revealing a flint colored body beneath the brown hagi-like surface) go to 'sabi'. About 4 3/4 inches (12.1 cm) diameter. About 2 3/8 inches (6.03cm) high.

A good bronze model of an elephant with nicely textured skin. Probably not earlier that Taisho era. Good condition with only minor wear to the dark patina (tiny spattered white paint on one side should clean off easily enough.) Length from tip of trunk to extended back foot 10 1/4 inches [26.04 cm]. Height to extended trunk 7 1/4 inches [18.42 cm] (to top of head 5 1/8 inches [13.02 cm]). Weight 2.63 lb [1.19 kg]

This later, stoutly potted porcelain hexagonal Ao-Kutani censer may be Meiji or as late as Taisho era. But the six biscuit panels with relief depictions of sages are noteworthy each with an associated animal from Chinese lore. Green yellow and red enameled decoration of blossoms and clouds. The cover with Shishi also in blue and aubergine (cover only fits one way.) Rims with chocolate brown glaze. All raised on six shaped feet. The bottom also unglazed biscuit. A bit more weight than one might expect. Some firing stress faults seen inside and bottom but no damage. Good condition. Height with cover on, 5 1/2 in.