Asian art auctions
A colorful Japanese woodblock print depicting an intimate encounter between a courtesan and a young man. The woman, with a richly adorned hairstyle, embraces her partner, drawing his face to her breast. Their half-closed eyes, the closeness of the figures, and their gentle gestures lend the scene an atmosphere of sensuality and mutual tenderness. The composition is filled with their intertwine...
The expansive landscape depicts the famous Seta Bridge spanning the river that flows out of Lake Biwa. Its long, wooden structure cuts across the lower part of the composition, drawing the eye toward the calm surface of the water and Mount Mikami rising on the horizon, sometimes called “the Fuji of Ōmi Province.” Small figures of travelers are visible on the bridge, and slender boats glid...
The landscape depicts sailing boats returning to the Yabase marina on Lake Biwa. The nearest boat, shown almost head-on, dominates the composition, and its enormous, bright sail rises above the calm surface of the water. The other boats gradually recede toward the wooded shore and the mountains, lending the scene a distinct sense of depth. The rhythmic arrangement of the masts and the sails bi...
This winter landscape depicts the snow-covered Hira mountain range, as seen from Lake Biwa. The monumental, almost entirely white silhouette of the highest peak towers over a small settlement and boats gliding across the calm, blue water. Hiroshige reduced the color palette to subtle pinks, blues, and grays, emphasizing the stillness of the falling evening. The snow is rendered primarily by le...
A colorful woodcut depicting the young Oshun just after her bath. The woman holds a decorated towel to her face, and her head is gently turned to one side. Her carefully styled hair is adorned with two pins and a light-colored ribbon, from beneath which a few strands of hair escape. The bold, geometric pattern of the kimono contrasts with the model’s soft facial features and fair skin. The w...
Station 15 from the series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” (Hōeidō edition) “Kanbara (Village in the Snow)” is the sixteenth print in the famous series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). It is one of the most famous and highly regarded woodblock prints in the artist’s entire body of work, considered a masterpiece of Japanese land...
The woodcut depicts a view of the Sumida River from the Onmayagashi embankment. In the foreground, a large boat carries a crowded group of passengers across the river, while its crew maneuvers it using long poles and oars. To the left stretches the wooden structure of the Ryōgoku Bridge, beneath which smaller vessels are passing. Far on the horizon, between the bridge’s arch and the line of...
A single ōban-format sheet measures approximately 36 × 24 cm; the entire triptych measures approximately 36 × 72 cm. Technique: nishiki-e, a multiblock color woodcut on paper; a triptych composed of three vertical ōban-format panels. Composer: Utagawa Yoshitora, working under the name and pseudonym Nagashima Mōsai. Publisher: Yamazakiya Seishichi, Sanseidō publishing house in Edo/Tokyo; ...
A subtle landscape depicting the autumn scenery of the San’yō region in the western part of Honshu Island. A rocky slope with a small house and trees covered in reddening leaves opens up to a view of a calm expanse of water and the gently outlined ridges of distant mountains. The composition is built on expansive areas of empty space, loose contours, and a delicate palette of pinks, blues, ...
Technique: multicolored nishiki-e woodblock print, printed with ink on Japanese paper; a triptych consisting of three vertical panels. The color composition was created using separate woodblock prints. Dimensions: 24.5 cm x 36 m within each sheet. The triptych depicts six Kabuki actors performing in the play *Sukeroku yukari no Edozakura* (助六由縁江戸桜), which belongs to the Kabuki J�...
A large decorative Japanese-style folding fan (sensu) featuring a paper frame with a vibrant aqua-green background. The central scene, hand-painted, depicts a bird of prey—identifiable as a hawk—perched on a gnarled pine branch. The artistic composition includes blooming flowers and stylized rocky outcrops, with the entire surface embellished with sunago (pulverized gold leaf). The ribs an...
A dark green jade sculpture depicting a naturalistic scene with birds among foliage and flowers. The work features intricate hand-carved details, including large openwork sections and raised relief details. The stone exhibits natural inclusions typical of the material. The piece is mounted on a wooden base carved with scroll motifs in the traditional Chinese style. Height: 25 cm.
A colorful Japanese woodblock print depicting a scene of an intimate encounter. A young woman lies with her eyes half-closed, her head resting on a patterned bed. Her kimono has been parted, revealing her breasts, while her raised arm and the visible fragments of her attire at the top of the image suggest the presence of a partner, whose figure remains largely outside the frame. The scene is f...
Japanese School, Meiji-period painting of a pair of children with a tambourine, 25 cm, in excellent condition
A glazed porcelain figurine depicting a female figure, likely a geisha or a musician, seated in a traditional pose. The figure wears a kimono decorated with polychrome glazes in the Imari style color palette, characterized by a deep cobalt blue background with floral and geometric motifs in coral red, green, and white, enhanced by gold highlights. The figure holds two drumsticks in her hands a...
Japanese figurative sculpture in polychrome glazed porcelain with gold highlights. The work depicts a smiling male figure, iconographically identifiable as Hotei or a theater actor, characterized by a dark beard and a bare chest and abdomen with painted body hair. The figure wears a teal robe decorated with floral motifs and golden swirls, which extends over his head to form the base for a lar...
The monumental silhouette of Mount Fuji almost completely fills the composition. Its bright, snow-capped peak remains serene and illuminated, while the lower slopes are plunged into the deep darkness of a violent storm. Swirls of clouds surround the massif, and a zigzagging bolt of lightning cuts across the dark slope in the lower right corner. Hokusai contrasts the brightness and stillness of...
Three Japanese porcelain sculptures modeled in the round and decorated with overglaze polychrome enamels, featuring gold details and moriage reliefs. The group includes three traditional female figures: two are depicted seated on the backs of shishi guardian lions, and one stands next to a crouching lion. The figures wear ceremonial robes embellished with floral motifs and stylized clouds in s...
The woodcut depicts a fisherman standing on a rocky ledge above the turbulent Fuji River. The man, leaning forward, is tightening long ropes or nets, while a boy sitting next to him watches over a basket of fish. In the distance, Mount Fuji rises above a vast expanse of water. The arrangement of the taut ropes, the fisherman’s silhouette, and the edge of the rock echoes the triangular outlin...
The woodcut depicts a woman and a man in an intimate embrace. The half-naked woman has her arms around her partner’s neck and is bringing her lips close to his face. The man is looking at her while touching her exposed body. The tight framing makes the figures almost completely fill the composition. The manner in which the figures are depicted combines eroticism with the elegance characteris...
A colorful Japanese woodblock print depicting an intimate encounter between a couple of lovers. A young woman rests with her head tilted back and her eyes half-closed, partially embraced by another figure whose silhouette is almost completely obscured by a loose-fitting black robe. The open kimono reveals the woman’s breast, lending the scene an unambiguously sensual character. The compositi...
An exceptional pair of stone sculptures depicting Guardian Lions, commonly known as Fu Dogs, millennia-old symbols of protection, power, and imperial dignity. These pieces are distinguished by an archaic and austere aesthetic, which prioritizes volumetric simplicity over later decorative styles, suggesting an early date of origin and a provenance from high-ranking architectural or funerary con...
Katsushika Hokusai, Reflection of Mount Fuji in Lake Misaka in Kai Province, fūkei-ga—landscape
160 EUR
The woodcut depicts Mount Fuji as seen from the calm waters of Lake Kawaguchi near the Misaka Pass. At the foot of the mountain, nestled among wooded hills, lies a small settlement, while a solitary boat in the foreground emphasizes the tranquility and vastness of the landscape. The most remarkable element of the composition is the reflection of Mount Fuji. The mountain visible above the horiz...
Chinese lapis lazuli sculpture depicting a female figure with a lotus flower; Height: 16 cm.
160 EUR
A sculpture carved in the round from cobalt-blue hardstone, identifiable as lapis lazuli with natural whitish calcite inclusions distributed along the base and lower portion of the composition. The work depicts a female figure standing/seated on a rock formation, dressed in loose, flowing robes and with her hair gathered in a high, elaborate hairstyle. With both hands, she holds a long stem en...
The painting depicts travelers leaving the village of Isawa in the early morning. Among the thatched-roof houses, travelers, porters, and horses are gathering, preparing for the journey. In the background, a bridge spans the river, and Mount Fuji rises above a vast expanse of morning mist. Mount Fuji is depicted as a massive, dark silhouette against a backdrop of a faintly pink sky. Horizontal...
The composition depicts a view of Mount Fuji from Tago Bay, near Ejiri Station on the Tōkaidō route. In the foreground, two large boats sail across choppy waters. Their tall, bright sails form strong diagonal lines, drawing the eye toward the vast coastal landscape and the sacred mountain towering above it. Hokusai combined a scene of the daily work of ferrymen and sailors with a monumental ...
An important cast and chiseled bronze artifact, designed as a monumental incense burner for display. The work depicts a standing ceremonial elephant—a symbol of strength and wisdom—with its trunk pointing upward. Elephant’s Body: Entirely decorated with relief-carved caparisons depicting imperial dragons amid stylized clouds. The harness is embellished with beaded motifs, hanging tassels...
A small glazed terracotta incense burner (koro) with a lid, produced in Satsuma, Japan, dating from the Meiji period (1868–1912). The object has a tapered square shape, resting on four small shaped feet and featuring two vertical handles. The decoration is hand-painted with polychrome glazes and rich gilding, including details created using the moriage relief technique. Two main cartouches d...
The woodblock print depicts travelers passing through the area around Hodogaya Station, one of the first stops on the Tōkaidō route leading from Edo to Kyoto. Pedestrians, porters, and horses laden with packages make their way along the road, depicting the daily traffic on Japan’s most important transportation route during the Edo period. The rhythm of the bent silhouettes of people and an...
This intimate scene depicts two women sitting side by side on a patterned bedspread. One of them embraces her companion and draws her face close to her own. The other lifts her sleeve and parts her partner’s robe. The closeness of their faces and the tender gesture of the hand create an atmosphere of intimacy, while the exposed breast unambiguously indicates the erotic nature of the depictio...
A colorful woodcut depicting a young courtesan preparing for bed. Wearing only light red kimono pants, she leans over a tall paper lamp and trims its wick. The light casts a distinct shadow of her hand onto the lampshade, creating a moody effect of nighttime lighting. Her outer kimono and obi sash have been draped over the screen on the right. On the floor lie hairpins removed from her hairsty...
A white monochrome porcelain figurine depicting the deity Guanyin (Kwan Yin), shown standing on a rocky base decorated with stylized cloud motifs and a dragon-like mythological creature at the base. The figure wears flowing, finely crafted garments with raised pearl-like appliqués forming necklaces and draped ornaments. In her right hand, she holds a woven basket containing a lotus bud or a p...
A collection of decorative objects including sculptures, vases, and miniatures made of various materials, such as bronze, porcelain, carved stone, glass, and wood, depicting deities A lot of decorative objects including sculptures, vases, and miniatures made of various materials, including bronze, porcelain, carved stone, glass, and wood. The collection features a patinated metal figure depict...
A colorful Japanese woodblock print depicting a couple in an intimate embrace. In the foreground is a woman with an artfully pinned-up hairstyle, adorned with long hairpins and a comb. Her calm face, turned toward the viewer, contrasts with the dynamic arrangement of their intertwined bodies and piled-up fabrics. The composition is framed by a distinct, circular border set against a golden-bro...
Toyohara Chikayoshi, Japanese woodblock print, musha-e—“Winter Duel—Act Eleven of *Chūshingura*”
69 EUR
The caption above the illustration identifies the scene as the eleventh act—the battle of the loyal samurai in the inner garden. This is the final part of the story of the forty-seven rōnin. Artist: Toyohara Chikayoshi, active in the 1870s–1880s Title: Winter Duel Full title: Act Eleven of *Chūshingura*—The Battle of the Loyal Samurai in the Inner Garden Date: circa 1875, Meiji period ...
Japanese School, Meiji-period painting of a pair of children with a tambourine, 25 cm, in excellent condition
A colorful woodcut depicting a young couple in a winter landscape. The man shields his companion with a large umbrella, while the woman bows her head to adjust the fastening of her coat. Both are wearing high wooden geta sandals, which protect their clothing from the snow on the ground. In the background, a stream and snow-covered reeds are visible. The work dates from the early period of Isod...
A colorful Japanese woodblock print depicting a woman at rest—most likely a courtesan—in a private interior. The figure lies with her eyes half-closed, propping her head up with her hand. Her partially loosened hairstyle and the combs and hairpins set aside beside her suggest she is preparing for sleep or resting after finishing her grooming routine. In the background, a small cup is visib...
A hand-carved and polished rose quartz vase, modeled after the ancient “zun” form of Chinese bronzes. The piece depicts two rams facing away from each other (back-to-back) with their heads turned outward, featuring detailed curved horns. At the center of the composition, a baluster vase with a lobed body and volute handles emerges from the bodies of the animals. The central section feature...
The woodcut depicts the rural landscape of Lower Meguro, which once lay on the southwestern outskirts of Edo. Amid the steep hills and thatched-roof buildings, the villagers go about their daily lives: a traveler climbs a path, others chat by the roadside, and farmers work among the fields and haystacks. Mount Fuji appears low on the horizon between the hills. Its small, regular cone contrasts...
A colorful woodcut depicting two young women returning from a public bathhouse in the evening. The older of the two shields her companion with a large paper umbrella, while both tread carefully in high wooden sandals along the wet, snow-covered street. The items the women are carrying and their casual attire indicate that the scene takes place immediately after their bath. The most important e...
This two-part composition depicts the residents of Edo admiring nighttime fireworks over the Sumida River. In the background, the crowded Ryōgoku Bridge stretches out, and on the water, numerous sightseeing boats and floating teahouses, illuminated by red lanterns, are visible. The annual displays held to mark the opening of the river season were among the city’s most important summer attra...
The portrait depicts a young woman holding a small, glass or mesh cage used for keeping insects. The subject tilts her head and looks intently inside it. However, the insect itself is not visible—inside there is only a twig or a leaf, serving as a shelter for it. Utamaro was interested in the world of insects and their behavior, as evidenced by his illustrated album *Ehon mushi erami*, publi...
This intimate scene depicts a woman resting in a man’s arms. Her head is tilted back, and her eyes remain closed. The man leans over her, supporting her body and drawing it toward him. The tight framing eliminates all elements of the surroundings, focusing attention exclusively on the faces, the intertwined figures, and the ornate robes. Despite the erotic nature of the composition, the depi...
A colorful Japanese woodblock print depicting an intimate scene between a courtesan and a young man. The woman, with her hair artfully pinned up, leans over her partner, cupping his face in her hand. The closeness of their faces, their intertwined arms, and their partially parted garments give the depiction a distinctly erotic character. The composition is built primarily through the rhythmic ...
Katsushika Hokusai, Enoshima in Sagami Province, fūkei-ga—a seascape depicting a pilgrimage scene
137 EUR
The composition depicts Enoshima Island as seen from the coast at low tide. Pilgrims are walking along the exposed sandy causeway leading to the island’s settlements. Forested hills rise above the rooftops of the houses and the temple pagoda, while on the right, beyond the waters of the bay, Mount Fuji is visible. The expansive foreground consists of shallows marked by tiny specks of foam an...
The composition depicts a view from Senju, a town located on the northern outskirts of Edo. In the foreground, an orderly procession of armed men walks along the road, carrying long objects wrapped in red cloth. Next to a thatched-roof teahouse, more travelers are stopping, and in the center of the vast panorama rises the snow-capped Mount Fuji. The rhythmic procession of figures creates a str...
A double-page spread from a Japanese illustrated book or album, depicting a sweeping panorama of Matsumoto in the former Shinano Province, now Nagano Prefecture. The city’s buildings are dominated by the distinctive, multi-story structure of Matsumoto Castle, partially obscured by decoratively rendered clouds. In the distance, the outlines of the mountains surrounding the valley are visible....
Utagawa Toyohiro, Mountain Landscape, woodblock print from the series *Twelve Views of Mount Fuji*
69 EUR
A Japanese woodblock print depicting a serene mountain landscape with a view of rolling hills, rural buildings, and fields stretching out in the foreground. The composition is rendered in a subtle, understated style, dominated by delicate gray-green tones and light, sketchy lines. The work is characterized by soft colors and a large amount of negative space, which gives it a contemplative, ser...
Station 7 from the series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” (Hōeidō edition) “Hiratsuka” is the seventh station in the famous series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). The woodblock print depicts a vast landscape of a plain at the foot of the mountains, where travelers traverse a road leading through one of the most picturesque secti...
The composition depicts the shallow waters of Noboto Bay at low tide. Local residents wade through the coastal shallows, gathering clams and other seafood into baskets. Above them rise two monumental torii gates, and in the distance, between their pillars, Mount Fuji can be seen covered in snow. Hokusai used the structure of the largest gate as a geometric frame for the landscape. Its horizont...
A colorful woodblock print depicting a young courtesan busy reading a fortune written on a small, folded piece of paper. The woman unfolds the paper prophecy with a hairpin. The scene refers to a game popular during the Edo period called tsuji-ura, which involved divining the future through fortune slips drawn at random or found by chance. The composition was designed as a decoration for an uc...
A colorful woodblock print depicting the courtesan Yosooi, associated with the famous Matsubaya house in the Yoshiwara entertainment district. The woman is depicted in a richly decorated kimono, with an elaborate hairstyle adorned with numerous hairpins and floral ornaments. She holds a small drum in her hands, and the instrument’s red cords create a striking, decorative pattern against the ...
Station 26 from the series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” (Hōeidō edition) “Kakegawa” is the twenty-seventh print in the famous series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). It is one of the most dynamic scenes in the entire series—the artist captured the moment when travelers are struggling against a violent gust of wind as they cr...
Station 24 from the series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” (Hōeidō edition) “Kanaya” is the twenty-fifth print in the famous series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). It serves as a natural continuation of the scene from Shimada Station, depicting travelers on the other side of the Ōi River (Ōigawa)—one of the greatest obstacle...
A colorful woodcut depicting a young woman caring for her nails after a bath. The subject is kneeling next to a standing lamp and carefully trimming her nail with small scissors. Her loosely draped bathrobe, bare neck, and casually pinned-up hair lend the scene a natural and intimate character. The composition stands out for the delicate, cool color palette of the outfit and the contrast betwe...
A colorful woodblock print depicting a young woman playing with a bidoro—a thin-walled glass toy that emits a delicate, distinctive crackling sound when air is blown into or sucked out of it. The woman wears an elaborate Takashimada hairstyle and a patterned kimono, whose intense red contrasts with the light, almost empty background. The composition is from Kitagawa Utamara’s famous series...
Station 4 from the series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” (Hōeidō edition) “Hodogaya” is the fourth station in the famous series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō” by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). The woodblock print depicts a peaceful station situated on the outskirts of the hills, where travelers cross a wooden bridge leading to the village. The composition is d...
The composition depicts visitors on the observation deck of the Sazaidō pavilion at the Temple of the Five Hundred Arhats in Edo. Women, children, pilgrims, and elderly men lean against the railing, gazing out at the sweeping panorama. In the center of the horizon, rising above the fields and buildings, is the small Mount Fuji. Hokusai depicted the landscape from an elevated vantage point. Th...
The composition depicts a cooper working inside a huge wooden vat. The craftsman is bent over the rim, completely absorbed in his work. In the distance, visible through the circular opening of the vat, rises the small silhouette of Mount Fuji. Hokusai based the composition on a striking contrast of scale and form. The monumental circle of the vat dominates the scene, framing the distant mounta...
A colorful woodcut depicting a young woman waking up in the morning after a night of partying. The woman rests her hand on her forehead, and her half-closed eyes, slightly parted lips, and weary expression suggest drowsiness or the effects of the alcohol she drank the previous evening. She wraps herself tightly in a patterned kimono, as if to protect herself from the early morning chill. The t...
blade length approx. 35 cm, total length with sheath approx. 49 cmCondition clearly visible in the photos
blade length approx. 18.3 cm, blade length including the handle approx. 32 cm, total length including the sheath approx. 46 cmCondition clearly visible in the photos
Overall dimensions: approx. 29.5 x 20 x 28 (h) cmOverall condition: at least good; condition as shown in the photos