Tanabe Chikuunsai II '1910-2000' Bamboo Hanging Basket, Japan Mid-20th Century

Red overlay glass snuff bottle depicting a fish, 19th century A rare translucent glass snuffbox with small bubbles in the shape of a fish, ruby red overlay decor with a fish among th...

China, A rare red overlay and snoflakes snuff bottle, 18th century. A red overlay glass snuff bottle carved on a white bubbled snowflakes ground with pine, prunus and bamboo. Togethe...

This porcelain vase, created by Inoue Haruo, embodies the elegance and finesse of Kyoto ceramics. Its spherical shape softened by harmonious curves, is topped with a slightly flared ...

Akira Arakawa, born in 1950 in Hamamatsu and a graduate of Kokushikan University’s Department of Architecture, has carved a unique path in Japanese ceramics. Although trained in architecture, he is a self-taught ceramic artist, renowned for his exceptional mastery of crystallized glazes. This intricate technique demands precise temperature control, reaching extreme levels of 1250°C to 1300°C to melt the glaze components thoroughly. As the temperature slowly decreases, crystals emerge, forming delicate flower or snowflake patterns on the glazed surface. By adding zinc or rutile, Arakawa can manipulate the size and shape of these crystals. This meticulous process results in captivating works like this deeply carved vase, where blue crystals stand out against earthy backgrounds, creating striking contrasts between crystallized and vitrified areas. Arakawa’s technical excellence has earned him numerous accolades, particularly in Japan’s ceramic competitions and exhibitions. Arakawa’s work has been featured in prestigious events, including multiple selections for the Nissin Noodle Bowl...

An elegantly woven bamboo basket with handle as an ikenana container by Suzuki Gengensai (1891-1950) circa 1923-50. Suzuki Gengensai was from Kansai region and active in Osaka. He studied bamboo art under Yamashita Kochikusai (1876-1947) and became an independent artist in 1913. He received his artist name Gengensai in 1914 and in 1923 he changed the characters to Gen, a slight written variation of the character. This basket was signed in this later variation, which helps to date the piece to post 1923. The basket is woven entirely in a free style irregular plating on the body and with a twisted bundled handle. The surface is lacquered in a deep reddish color. The seemingly less rigid technique renders the piece a more rustic and natural aesthetic that is more suitable for certain occasions. It is singed on the base with artist's signature in the variation post 1923. A very similar basket of the irregular weaving but without the handle is illustrated in plate 72 in "Baskets Masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art...

A vintage Japanese ikebana made from lacquered bamboo basketry circa first half of the 20th century. This piece of bamboo art displays an very light and delicate classic tapered squa...

A rare hanging ikebana basket by Japanese bamboo artist Suzuki Gengensai (1891-1950) circa 1923-50. This elegant hanakago was made entirly from white bamboo. It consists of a square footed platform with bent bamboo rods on four corners converging onto the top into an open birdcage-like form, which is to be hung from a hooked bamboo rod. The platform features a square plating base and finely woven edges and feet and a single strand of rope fence. A separate ikebana container...

A rare woven bamboo basket by Tanabe Chikuhosai (1868-1945), the eldest brother of one of the most celebrated Japanese bamboo artist Tanabe Chikuunsai I (1876-1931), who developed a long lineage of the celebrated bamboo artists. This beautifully woven hanakago ikebana basket has a classic Chinese vase form. It features a robust body with the double handles extended into a beautiful oval arch. Vigorously constructed with tight pine needle plaiting, the body was partitioned by tri-branched extensions from the handle. The middle branch extended further down along the body into a distinctive triangular shape. The same design was used for reinforcement front and back. The functional element blended seamlessly with the decorative motifs. the basket is a rare example of the work by the artist. It was signed on the base Chikuhosai Made this (竹保齋造之) and it comes with the original signed Japanese wood box...