Japanese & Korean Art

Christie's New York

2 PM, March 21, 2012

Sale 2552

Lot 961, an elaborate gold, silver and shakuko model of a court carriage, early 20th Century, signed Heian Kozan Saku (Takase Kozan).  It is 17 1/2 inches long.

By Carter B. Horsley

Lot 974, earthenware incense burner, Kenzan ware, signed Kenzan, Shoko (Veneration of Antiquity) and Toin (hermit potter), dated Shotoku Kinotobi Toshi (1715), 5 1/8 by 5 1/8 by 8 inches.

Lot 974 is a wonderful iron-oxide and slip-decorated earthenware incense burner decorate in sgraffito style in the manner of Chinese Cizhou ware with a Chinese lion seated in a square enclosure raised on a stepped based.  The base has three panels of chrysanthemums and a fourth panel of caligraphy in Chinse characters taken from a Tang dynasty poem.  The work was once in the collection of Mrs. Leland Stanford and subsequently the Art Gallery and Museum of Stanford University.  It is 5 1/8 by 5  1/4 by 8 inches.  The work is signed Kenzan, Shoko (Veneration of Antiquity) and Toin (Hermit potter), dated Shotoku Kinotobi Toshi (1715).  It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000.   It sold for $200,000.

Lot 906, a Kuronuri Hotoke Do Gusoki (black lacquer armor), Edo Period, (17th Century), left; Lot 908, a Shiwakawatsumi Nimai Do Gusoku (Leather-clad two piece cuirass armor), Edo Period (18th Century), center; Lot 907, a Nimai Do Gusoku (two-piece cuirass armor), Edo Priod (18th-19th Century), right

The auction has a nice collection of samurai armor.

Lot 906 is a Kuronuri Hotoke Do Gusoki (black lacquer armor) from the Edo Period, (17th Century).  It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.  It sold for $37,500.

Lot 908 is a Shiwakawatsumi Nimai Do Gusoku (leather-clad two piece cuirass armor) from the Edo Period (18th Century). It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000.  It failed to sell.

Lot 907 is a Nimai Do Gusoku (two-piece cuirass armor) from the Edo Priod (18th-19th Century). It has an estimate of $20,000 to $25,000.  It sold for $33,750.

Lot 944, bronze model of a warrior, Meiji Period (late 19th Century), signed Yoshimitsu, 42 inches high

Lot 944 is an impressive bronze model of an archer, Meiji Period (Late 19th Century), signed Yoshimitsu.  It is 42 inches high.  It has an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000.  It sold for $20,000.

Lot 960, gilt bronze archaistic vessel and cover, Meiji-Tasho Period (late 19th-early 20th Cenntury, signed Kibun Saku, 16 3/4 inches high

One of the ost impressive works in the auction is Lot 960, a gilt bronze archaistic vessel and cover from the Meiji-TashoPeriod (late19th-early 20th Cetury).  It is signed Kibun Saku and is 16 3/4 inches high. The object resembles Western Zhou Dynasty ritual wine vessels but the Chinese prototypes were smaller.  It has a modest estimate of $25,000 to $30,000.  It failed to sell.

Lot 974, Haniwa terracotta figure, Late Kofun Period (6th Century), modelled as a figure wearing a hat and necklace. 18 3/4 inches high

Lot 974 is a good heroic Haniwa terracotta figure of a man wearing a hat and necklace.  It is from the Late Kofun Period (6th Century) and is 18 3/4 inches high.  It was acquired in 1955 from the mayor of Gunma Prefecture.  It has an estimate of $8,000 to $10,,000.  It sold for $8,125.

Lot 983, gilt cypress wood figure of a hiten (apsara), Heian Period (12thCentury), 13 inches high

Lot 983 is an extremely graceful gilt cyrpress wood figure of a hiten (aspara) from the Heian Period (12th Century).  It is 13 inches high and depicts a deity flying on a cloud holding a jewel on the right palm and a lotus bud on the left. The lot has an modest estimate of $6,000 to $8,000.  It sold for $35,000.

Lot 922, inlaid-lacquer document box (bunko), Edo Period (18th Century), signed Gyonen Hachiju Yu-Yo Ritsuo Sei and with inlaid ceramic seal Kan (Ogawa Haritsu; 1633-1747), 13 1/4 by 10 3/8 by 4 inches

Lot 922 is an impressive inlaid-lacquer document box (bunko) from the Edo Period (18th Century), signed Gyonen Hachiju Yu-Yo Ritsuo Sei and with inlaid ceramic seal Kan (Ogawa Haritsu; 1633-1747).  It measures 13 1/4 by 10 3/8 by 4 inches.  The liondog depicted inside the red container shown on top of the box has a rope tethered from his upper lip to the parrot's foot.  The lot has an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000.  It failed to sell.

Lot 1047, Kaikei (Seascape), sculpture, 22 1/2 inches in diameter, left; Lot 1048, "Chu (Midair)," 23 inches high, center; and Lot 1046, "Cho (Clairity), 27 1/4 inches long, right; all pale bluish glazed porcelain, by Fukami Sueharu

The auction has several abstract porcelain sculptures by Fukami Sueharu (b. 1947).  Lot 1047 is "Kaikei (Seascape) and is 22 1/2 inches in diameter  It has an estimate of $25,000 to $30,000.  It failed to sell.  Lot 1048 is "Chu (Midair)," and is 23 inches high and has an estimate of $60,000 to $70,000.  It failed to sell.  Lot 1046 is "Cho (Clarity) and it is 27 1/4 inches long.  It has an estimate of $20,000 to $25,000.  It sold for $25,000.

Lot 1041, ""Saakuru Toshi (Korajiu), collage of masking tape with gouache, oil, and pencil on paper, by Inokuma Gen'ichiro, 17 7/8 by 14 1/8 inches, 1981

Lot 1041, "Saakuru Toshi (Korajiu)," a collage of masking tape with gouache, oil, and pencil on paper, by Inokuma Gen'ichiro (19002-1993).  It measures 17 7/8 by 14 1/8 inches and is dated 1981.  It has an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.  It failed to sell.  The artist traveled in Europe where he made a special trip to visit Matisse.  From 1955 to 1975, he lived in New York City and in 1991 the Magugame Gen'ichiro-Inokuma Museum of Cotemproary Ar topened in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefacture with an exhibition honoring the artist.  

Lot 1001, "Flowers and grasses of the four seasons," by Maruyama Oshin, pair of eight-panel screens on silk, 15 1/4 by 86 inches, each

Lot 1001 is a handsome pair of eight-panel screens depicting "Flowers and grasses of the Four Seasons" by Maruyama Oshin (1790-1838).  Each side of the pair measures 15 1/4 by 86 inches.  It has a modest estimate of $12,000 to $18,000.  It sold for $12,500.

Lot 1000, "Hawk  on rock," anonymous, 17th Century, two panel screen, gold leaf on paper, 57 1/2 by 67 1/4 inches

Lot 1000 is a very good two-panel screen of a hawk on a rock from the 17th Century.  It measures 57 1/2 by 67 1/4 inches.  It has a modest estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.  It sold for $18,750.

Lot 978, a relief-moulded earthenware vase, Meiji Period (Late19th Century), signed Makuzu (Miyagawa Koan, 1842-1916), 16 1/2 inches high

One of the more spectacular lots in the auction is Lot 978, a relief-moulded earthenware vase, Meiji Period (Late 19th Century), signed Makuzu (Miyagawa Kozan, 1843-1916).  The vase is 16 1/2 inches high and displays a pigeon perched on a cherry tree.  Kozan was born into a family of potters in Kyoto and he set up a pottery works in Yokohama and in 1896 was appointed an Artist to the Imperial Household.  The lot has an estimate of $25,000 to $30,000  It failed to sell.