Patient Detail, Perfect Design: Japanese Art across the Centuries

A WOOD OKIMONO (TABLE ORNAMENT) GROUP OF A PYRAMID OF RATSBy Yoshikazu, Edo period (1615-1868), mid-19th centuryComprising a litter of differently...

THREE LACQUERED-WOOD SQUARE PANELS AND A FRAMED NOH MASKMeiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryThe panels probably originally the slid...

A GOLD-LACQUERED ROOTWOOD VESSELMeiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryHollowed at the top, the body with natural openings, embellishe...

A TALL HARDWOOD DISPLAY CABINETMeiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryBoldly carved highlighting the texture of the wood with eight st...

A TALL MARQUETRY KAZARIDANA (DISPLAY CABINET)Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, late 19th/early 20th centuryConstructed in two separate ...

A SHIBAYAMA-INLAID AND LACQUERED WOOD KAZARIDANA (DISPLAY CABINET)Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryConstructed in two separate s...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A TANTO (DAGGER)Edo period (1615-1868), mid-19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) and tsuka (hilt) finished in textured black...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A TANTO (DAGGER)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in silver foil embossed and chiselled ...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A TANTO (DAGGER)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in matt and polished lacquer with a ma...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A KO-WAKIZASHI (SMALL COMPANION SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), early/mid-19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in gol...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A WAKIZASHI (COMPANION SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in ishimeji-style texture...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A WAKIZASHI (COMPANION SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) lacquered wood carved with six pas...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A WAKIZASHI (COMPANION SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in polished black lacquer...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A WAKIZASHI (COMPANION SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in matt grey and polished...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A WAKIZASHI (COMPANION SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) covered in partially patinated she...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A WAKIZASHI (COMPANION SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) and tsuka (hilt) polished rosewood...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A KATANA (LONG SWORD)Edo period (1615-1868), mid-19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in black and brown lacquer, t...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A TACHI (SLUNG SWORD) IN ITOMAKI (SILK-WRAPPED) STYLEEdo period (1615-1868), mid-19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finish...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A TACHI (SLUNG SWORD) IN ITOMAKI (SILK-WRAPPED) STYLEEdo period (1615-1868), mid-19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finish...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) WITH A TANTO (DAGGER)Edo period (1615-1868), mid-19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) lacquered and inlaid with horizontal bands...

A KOSHIRA-E (MOUNTING) FOR A TANTO (DAGGER)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) finished in polished brown-black lacquer sprink...

TWELVE TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th centuryAll iron, chiselled and pierced, the first three Nanban (European-influenced...

SEVEN TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryThe first two iron, almost circular; the first chiselled and inlaid in relief...

EIGHT TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th centuryThe first iron, overcleaned, multilobed and pierced with a radiating pattern;...

SEVEN TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th to 19th centuryThe first four all iron, the first almost circular with gold inlay, pier...

ELEVEN TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th centuryAll iron, the first chiselled, pierced, and with gold overlay as two cockere...

NINE TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th centuryThe first copper, mokko (four-lobed), with an applied gilt-metal rim, the plat...

THIRTEEN KOZUKA (KNIFE HANDLES)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryAll chiselled and inlaid with gold, silver, shakudo, or shibuichi, the ...

SEVEN MISCELLANEOUS KODOGU (SWORD FITTINGS)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryThe first five fuchigashira (sets of hilt collar and pommel...

FIVE TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th centuryThe first rounded octagonal, silver, stamped with numerous kiri-mon (paulownia...

THREE TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th to 19th centuryAll shakudo nanako, the first with gold, silver, and shibuichi, with hig...

SIX TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryAll iron except the third; the first circular, chiselled in relief with the Yat...

TWO TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe first shibuichi, gold, and silver, the multilobed rim formed by four stylised butte...

FOUR TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe first rounded rectangular with a hammered-up edge, iron, gold, silver, and shakudo...

FOUR TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th to 19th centuryThe first rounded rectangular, shakudo ishimeji and gold, chiselled in re...

FOUR TSUBA (HAND GUARDS)Edo period (1615-1868), 17th to 19th centuryThe first rounded rectangular, shibuichi with chiselled calligraphy and flat i...

AFTER UNNO SHOMIN (1844-1915)A Silver Kozuka (Knife Handle) Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryThe polished silver ground chiselle...

FIVE KOZUKA (KNIFE HANDLES)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryAll shibuichi, the first with silver, gold, copper, and shakudo, depicting...

FIVE KOZUKA (KNIFE HANDLES)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryThe first shibuichi, with flat inlay of gold, copper, silver, and shakudo, ...

EIGHT FUCHIGASHIRA (HILT COLLARS AND POMMELS)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryThe first iron, shakudo, and gold, depicting dragons and ...

FIVE FUCHIGASHIRA (HILT COLLARS AND POMMELS) IN MINO GOTO STYLEEdo period (1615-1868), early 18th to 19th centuryEach shakudo nanako and gold, dee...

EIGHT FUCHIGASHIRA (HILT COLLARS AND POMMELS)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th centuryThe first shakudo nanako with gold, silver, shibuichi, an...

FIVE SETS OF MENUKI (HILT GRIPS)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th and 19th centuryThe first copper, as a rooster and hen, signed Masayoshi; the second ...

FOUR SETS OF MENUKI (HILT GRIPS)Edo period (1615-1868), 18th and 19th centuryThe first gold, as wisteria leaves and blossoms; the second shakudo, ...

SIX PORCELAIN BOWLS WITH MOULDED CHRYSANTHEUMUM-PETAL RIMSKakiemon ware, Edo period (1615-1868), early 18th centuryEach decorated in typical Kakie...

A KO-BIZEN STONEWARE TOKKURI (BOTTLE)Momoyama period (1573-1615), late 16th/early 17th centuryThe jar with a wide mouth surmounting a waisted neck...

A PORCELAIN BLUE AND WHITE SHAKUZARA (LARGE DISH)Nabeshima ware, Edo period (1615-1868), 18th centuryOf circular form and raised on a tall, slight...

A LARGE PORCELAIN PUNCH BOWL AND TWO COVERED BALUSTER VASESImari ware, Edo period (1615-1868), early/mid-19th centuryEach painted in underglaze bl...

A LARGE PORCELAIN CHARGERImari ware, Edo period (1615-1868), 18th centuryPainted in underglaze blue, iron-red, and gilt enamels, the well with a c...

A PAIR OF IMARI LARGE PLATESMeiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), or Showa (1926-1989) era, 20th centuryPainted in underglaze-blue, enamels and g...

A YOSHIDAYA STONEWARE DISHKutani ware, Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryPainted in underglaze blue and green, black, and yellow ...

A PORCELAIN BLUE-AND-WHITE LARGE DISHEdo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryOf circular form with a scalloped rim, painted in underglaze blue and par...

A HEPTAGONAL STONEWARE BLUE-AND-WHITE TOKKURI (SAKE BOTTLE)Edo period (1615-1868), early/mid-19th centuryPainted with underglaze blue in Hirado st...

A RED RAKU CONICAL BOWLEdo period (1615-1868) or Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th centuryThe earthenware bowl raised on three feet, the rim turned in, ...

SHOGANA Bulbous Single-Flower Large Vase Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, 20th centuryDecorated in enamels on an off-white glazed grou...

A PORCELAIN BALUSTER VASEKutani ware, Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, early 20th centuryDecorated in enamels and gilt, depicting shis...

HAMADA SHOJI (1894-1978)A Stoneware Tea Bowl Showa era (1926-1989), mid-20th centurySlightly tapered and set on a high foot, partially dipped brow...

MAKUZU KOZAN (1842-1916)A Pair of Earthenware Baluster Vases with Appliqué Decoration Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th centuryDecorated in enamels...

MAKUZU KOZAN (1842-1916)A Porcelain Sleeve Vase Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryPainted in underglaze blue and iron red, depict...

KAWASE SHINOBU (BORN 1950)A Set of Six Floriform Celadon Sake Cups Heisei era (1989-2019), late 20th centuryThe small dishes with tall walls, the ...