I am selling a high quality single Kaga Haidate which shows the typical features associated with Kaga: high quality iron, well done chainmail and beautiful different mon highlighted with sawari (small dots of metal).

I have framed the haidate in a massive cherrywood frame.

Dimensions: 51 x 40 cm (frame), 28 x 34 (haidate)

Asking price: EUR 280.00 plus shipping costs

Shipping costs:

Germany            EUR 7.69

EU                      EUR 17.49

Worldwide         EUR 49.99

Best

Chris

I am selling a collection of 35 antique Japanese books, a fascinating mix of history, art, and literature. Around sixty percent of them contain original ukiyo-e prints, while many of the others focus on historical accounts of battles and important events. A number of the books also include examples of calligraphy and traditional Japanese art. Among the collection are ten volumes from the series 西洋道中膝栗毛 (Shank’s Mare to the West), which depict scenes such as the pyramids, steamships, the World Expo, and various Western cities, all with a witty and humorous undertone. Within the set there are some higher-quality books in very good condition with no major damage, while others show the more typical signs of age such as bookworm damage or slight water staining. The overall condition can be seen in the images provided, but please send me a message if youd like more pictures. 

Price: 350 Euro

I would like to sell a pair of suneate that came together with (but not belonging to) an armor many years ago from a French auction. I have always kept these intending to use them as part of an akazone yoroi.

Now I have shifted my main focus away from armor I would like to sell them.

Asking price: EUR 200.00 plus shipping

Shipping costs:

Germany                EUR 6.19

EU                           EUR 14.49

Worldwide              EUR 29.49

Best

Chris

On offer today is beautiful woodblock print that harkens back to the glory days of the bushi.  

This particular piece is the cover to a collection of prints by the artist Kikuchi Yosai, a prominent late Edo/Meiji painter and printmaker and was published in 1894 by Aoki Suzando.

The Image is classic - an early period armor set belonging to Minamoto no Tametomo (1139-1170), complete with longbows, arrows and a tachi complete with the instantly recognizable bear fur saya.  The print itself is in phenomenal condition and presents with a fabulous patina.  The paper has mellowed beautifully, yet the images retain sharp color and are blemish free.  A heartfelt tribute to the warrior class, printed shortly after its downfall.

This was professionally framed by my local shop, who does immaculate work and gets all of my pieces.  The frame is very high quality, dark brown solid wood with a subtle texture to compliment the strength and age of the print.  I believe the material is walnut but not 100% sure.  Finished off with a French mat style accent line that I chose to accentuate the iconic Japanese red orange featured in the artwork.  The size of the frame is 15 by 18 inches. 

Asking $350 shipped within the USA, which is about what it cost to frame.  International buyers please contact me for a quote.  Payment via PayPal friends and family is strong preferred but will accept Venmo if necessary. 

Thanks for looking!  

On offer today is a stunning Oribe ware sake cup by the best (IMO) contemporary potter working in the style.  
 

While many modern artists have turned to gas firing because it yields consistent results, Tomonori Koyama has stayed true to the old ways of doing things by wood firing his works.  The loss rate is higher and the results unpredictable, but when things go well you get pieces like this. 

Oribe is a core style of my study, and I haven’t seen another example that has such incredible variation of color, all while maintaining a cohesive vision. The traditional green and cream tones of Oribe are beautifully accented by flashes of bronze, gray and even pink, along with natural ash deposits along the rim to give this cup a depth rarely seen. The incised lines along the rim are confidently done, and the geometric pattern brushwork is carefree without being sloppy.  The three circles possibly represent dango, a common motif, but could just as well be patterns typically found on kimono, an even more popular Oribe design. 
 

This piece is in perfect condition and measures 6cm wide by 5cm tall.  Complete with its original box, cloth and paperwork as shown. 
 

$160 shipped to the USA, international buyers please contact me for a quote. 
 

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics.  Thanks for looking!

On offer today are two stunning sake bottles that perfectly capture the mystique of intense, long-duration wood firing.  

The first is a piece by Furutani Kazuya.  The son of Furutani Michio, a legend whose untimely passing left a massive void in the world of wood firing, one which his son has since filled and then some. 

This bottle displays an almost unbelievable range of firing effects, a trademark of the family who literally wrote the book on modern anagama firing.  As his late father said, if the kiln doesn’t fire the way you want it to, tear it down and start over - a collection of bricks, as it were. 

Kazuya is based in Shigaraki and categorizes his wares as such, however this work is what comes to mind when we think of Iga. The dark, scorched body due to the immense heat and long firing duration, thick ash glaze deposits ranging from moss green, to emerald and even some blue tones mixed in. Several large “dragonfly eyes” have formed where the glaze pools after running down the body, a highly sought after characteristic. 

This bottle measures 13cm tall by 10cm wide and holds a generous portion due to the bulbous form. In perfect condition and comes with its original box, cloth and paperwork as shown.  

Next up, a rare work by one of Japan's most groundbreaking potters.  Kiyoko Koyama paved the way for women, who were traditionally not deemed worthy to participate in wood firing due to its physical demands.  Her work is strong and dynamic, a reflection of her own personality that required the utmost resolve to achieve success.  There are pages upon pages of information about her, and I recommend anyone interested in this piece, or Japanese pottery in general to do some reading on this once in a lifetime individual.  

This bottle is classic Shigaraki throughout, beautiful clay flavor is draped in a stunning array of natural ash glaze from the intense firing process, accented by areas of scorching - black, gray and purple tones where the heat became nearly unbearable.  This piece features a wonderful kiln effect on the inner lip, a crack that formed during the firing process (the 4th image of the piece) was subsequently filled in by molten ash glaze - a natural kintsugi, if you will.  

A perfect size for its application, this bottle measures 14.5cm tall by 9.5cm wide and includes its original signed box and paperwork.

Asking $220 each including shipping to the USA, or $400 for both.  International buyers please contact me for a quote.  Payment via PayPal friends and family is strongly preferred, but will accept Venmo if necessary.

Thanks for looking!

Available today is a stunning sake bottle by a Bizen potter that beautifully combines the thousand year history of the style with modern aesthetic.

On offer today is a stunning example of the historic Hagi pottery tradition.  Known as Oni, or demon Hagi, this sub style uses dark, iron rich clay as a base against the silky white glaze. This produces a dramatic, high energy effect when fired, as the glaze crawls in places and contracts with the body underneath. This piece has taken it a step further, with the glaze having been scraped away down the middle of each side, adding tension and strength to the design.  
 

This artist works out of a noborigama (climbing kiln) outside of Osaka and produces some of the most dynamic modern Hagi wares I’ve seen.  This one stands 13cm tall and is 9.5cm wide.  In perfect condition and stamped on the side with the artist’s seal, a nice callback to the old wares that were done like this so they could be easily identified in large, communal kilns. 
 

While made as a sake bottle, this piece would also function beautifully as a flower vase. 
 

$100 shipped to the USA, payment to be made by PayPal friends and family.  International buyers please contact me for a quote.  
 

Thanks for looking!

December is all about gifts, and with the holiday season in full swing, it's a good moment to show your loved ones how much they mean to you. Plus, because my son had his birthday a while back, I'm offering a discount that will be available until the end of the year.

Please have a look, I am open to offers and messages are always welcome. 

I have a few (relatively) cheap and cheerful pieces that need new homes, listing them here first as always before eBay gets a crack at it.  All prices listed include shipping to the USA, international buyers please contact me for a quote. 
 

First up is an antique Ohi ware vase, but could also be used as a sake bottle - despite the lack of a pouring rim it functions quite well.  The form is a woven sack, possibly a take on the common theme of Japanese pottery depicting every day items (very Zen like), or possibly a sakebukuro, which were used in traditional sake filtering.  Given that Kanazawa, the home of Ohi ware is also a noted sake producing region, I lean towards this attribution. Despite having multiple stamps near the base, I have been unable to determine the maker. Nonetheless, it is a very accomplished piece and has some age to it, likely late Meiji/Showa. Excellent antique condition with no flaws, stands approx 14.5cm/6 inches tall. 
 

$80

Next up is a wonderfully organic Bizen ware bud vase by rising star Kimura Hajime. Fashioned in a gourd like shape, it was likely made symmetrical/veritical, with the intense heat of Bizen firings causing it to lean to one side, resulting in a beautiful piece of wabi and imperfectness that is so prized.  Bizen is know to keep flowers alive for a long time (something about the clay), and is a popular choice for vases due to this and the color palette playing nicely with virtually anything you could put in it.  As-made, like new condition with its original signed box, cloth and paperwork. 10cm/4 inches tall. 
 

$120

Last is a perfect addition for all of you lovers of Japanese cuisine, a delicately beautiful but strongly potted sushi/kaiseki plate. Subtle coloring and outstanding clay flavor make this a very versatile piece that like the bud vase above, will enhance any dish served on it. Author is unknown but condition is flawless. 18cm/7 inches long. 
 

$60

Willing to make deals for multiple pieces. Payment via PayPal friends and family is strongly preferred but will take Venmo if necessary for the buyer.  Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics.  Thanks for looking!

I have no idea about the school or age of this tea cup. Nor do I know its value. I would like to offer it here for €20 + shipping to support the NMB, as I am currently offering many tsuba from my collection for sale here. If anyone would like to pay more for the tea cup, they are very welcome to do so. :-))))

Have a silver buckle for sale here. All the details and descriptions are on eBay. I would like to offer this piece to a fellow member of this forum for a discounted price of $200 before the new year.

https://ebay.us/m/SC6FXI

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

C. C.

CONDITION:

This antique Menpo is in excellent condition.  The silk lacing is in excellent condition.  This is a fine piece.

$1850

https://stcroixblades.com/product/antique-Japanese-samurai-menpo-armor-mempo-mask-old-sword-collection/

--Matthew Brice

St. Croix Blades

On offer today is a lovely piece of folk art with a rustic yet accomplished execution.  The subject is the Ussuri brown bear with wetted fur, ready to snatch a fish out of the river.  This is a large piece and would have likely been made for an alcove/tea room type display given the size - measures 16" long by 9" tall.  I'm not entirely sure of the material but it's likely boxwood and in excellent condition.  Probably mid-century-ish in age and very likely from Hokkaido, where these types of wooden bears are popular gifts.  This one being a particularly well done example that doesn't fit in with the usual tourist grade offerings. 

Asking $150 via Paypal FF shipped to the USA, would like to keep it stateside as the cost to ship this internationally would be massive.  

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics, thanks for looking! 

On offer today is a classic tokkuri (sake

flask) by one of the best potters working in the Shigaraki style today. Kazuya is the son of Furutani Michio, a legend whose untimely passing left a massive void in the world of wood firing, one which his son has since filled and then some. 
 

This piece displays an almost unbelievable range of firing effects, a trademark of the family who literally wrote the book on modern anagama firing.  As his late father said, if the kiln doesn’t fire the way you want it to, tear it down and start over - a collection of bricks, as it were. 
 

Kazuya is based in Shigaraki and categorizes his wares as such, however this work is what comes to mind when we think of Iga. The dark, scorched body due to the immense heat and long firing duration, thick ash glaze deposits ranging from moss green, to emerald and even some blue tones mixed in. Several large “dragonfly eyes” have formed where the glaze pools after running down the body, a highly sought after characteristic. 
 

This bottle measures 13cm tall and holds a generous portion due to the bulbous form. In perfect condition and comes with its original box, cloth and paperwork as shown. 
 

$250 shipped to the USA, international buyers please contact me for a quote.  Payment via PayPal FF only please. 
 

I’ve included pics in two sets of lighting as pottery, and specifically natural ash glaze styles can vary considerably depending on the source. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics. 
 

Thanks for looking!

selling 

1X silver grade army ball knot mint in box

1x police ball knot mint in box

2x police knot box excellent conditon

$200 USD the the lot

For sale katana kake asking price is 350€ plus actual shipping cost

Best regards

Maurice

This bowl has a stunning array of color from the usual browns and greens to flashes of pink, purple and mint. Lightweight in the hand and well balanced, it would make a perfect every day bowl and look equally fantastic on display.  

Measures 12 x 9.5 cm, comes with it's original box, which is particularly high quality, cloth and paperwork.

Priced to move at $200 shipped to the USA, will ship internationally at the buyer's expense.  Payment via PayPal FF.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics, thanks for looking!

For reference, the blades resting on these two pillows are a: 29.5" Sukesada katana and a 29" Yamato ken.

I am asking $20 a pillow, or 3 for $50.

For larger orders(10+), I am open to a bulk rate.

Shipping is via USPS flat-rate boxes which are as follows directly from the USPS site:

• Small Flat Rate Box: $10.20 (fits up to 5 I believe)
• Medium Flat Rate Box: $17.10  
• Large Flat Rate Box: $22.80 

A photo of the cinching method I use:

If you have any questions regarding my makura or anything mentioned in this post, feel free to respond here and/or DM or email me.

~Chris

https://swordsofjapan.com/product-category/supplies/flashcards/

For anyone who might be interested in learning how to read Japanese sword inscriptions, I created several educational sets in the form of flashcards, with the intention of teaching both how to read kanji, and also to provide study material related to the Japanese sword: schools, time periods, smith's mei, terminology, etc. 

Set 1: Commonly seen kanji for swordsmith mei, with an average of 4 examples using that kanji

Set 2: Provinces, with information on each and including some representative swordsmiths and schools

Set 3: Time periods from late Heian to present, with material on each era

Each set is US25 + shipping & PP. If you would like to order, please message me directly with your name, shipping address, email and which set you would like. Examples of each type are attached here.

Fired for a week in the artist's "Tsuchinoko" kiln, a small anagama built adjacent to a large noborigama in 1973.  Named by mentor and tea master Komori Shoan in honor of a nearby mountain that is home to vipers.

Measures 12 x 10 cm and in perfect condition with its original signed box, cloth and paperwork. 

Bargain priced at $210 shipped to the USA, PayPal is preferred but will accept Venmo.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics.  Thanks for looking!

Late 16th / early 17th century.

19 x 12.5cm, in excellent condition for its age and comes with a box as pictured. The lacquered wooden lid lovingly made to perfectly contour to the jar's undulating lip. 

Attached an image of a very similar Momoyama Bizen Kensui that has been published. 

$1500 shipped to the US, international buyers please contact me for a quote.  Payment to be made by PayPal F&F only please. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics. Thanks for looking!