Matsumura Keibun Furniture

A rare striking 18th century Tibetan Thangka depicting the Green Tara seated on a lotus throne ready to step down to offer comfort and pro...

Bamboo in moonlight Gamo Rakan (1784-1866) Hanging scroll, ink on silk. Dimensions: Scroll: 201 cm x 58 cm Image: 137 cm x 45 cm In this early 19th century work by Gamo Rakan a light ink wash applied to the silk background silhouettes the moon and suggests the atmosphere of early evening. Even though it is a literati subject, Rakan’s bamboo is quite realistic with a strong decorative style. The painting finds its inspiration from Chinese Ming dynasty painters who often used a single-tone, jet black stroke to emphasize the calligraphic nature of bamboo. In a different era, decorative would have been seen as somewhat unrefined. But increasingly in the Edo period, it was the hallmark of high style. The Japanese people, in particular the rising merchant class, had gradually become apathetic toward the traditional Sesshu and Kano schools of painting. Chinese professional and amateur painters living in the port of Nagasaki during the 18th century had a profound effect on Japanese painting and the freshness of their style and its decorative appeal contributed greatly to its popularity. Gamo Rakan’s teacher, Tani Buncho...

Early summer rice planting and poultry drawing drawn by Keibun Matsumura As you can see, there are two folding screens. It is an interesting work that shows the bird's figure flyin...

Birds & Flowers of the seasons Pheasants & Plum in Snow Unframed painting. Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Kano Chikanobu 1819-1888 Signature...

Poppies & Butterflies Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Igarashi Chikusa (1774-1844) Signature: Chikusa Ran Zen Upper Seal: Ran Shuzen Lower Seal: Kyoho Dimensions: Scroll: H. 68” x W. 18” (172cm x 45cm) Image: H. 38.5’’ x W. 12.5’’ (98cm x 32cm) This composition shows elegant images of poppies and the butterflies that are inevitably drawn to them. It captures a momentary glimpse into a world both visually dazzling and startlingly realistic. The painting is infused with sensitivity and attention to seasonal change and weather conditions. The thin and fragile poppies are beautifully depicted with brilliant colors and the butterflies are similarly infused with life. The painting is on silk which requires extremely precise painting skills as no element once painted can be removed. Poppies were a favorite subject of Rinpa school artists through the ages. Originally they were somewhat abstracted but by the age of Sakai Hoitsu...

A set of 5 Japanese floral paintings from the 18th century. Each painted with mineral pigments directly applied to gold leaf. They were originally designed to be mounted on the leave...

A fine antique Taisho period Japanese woodblock print. Depicting a swooping heron above a riverbed with a thin sliver of a crescent moon in the background. By Seikо̄. Seikо̄ is tho...

Birds and flowers of the four seasons Early to mid-19th century Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Unidentified artist Signature: S...

Mother’s Breast (Chichi) 1844 Hanging scroll. Ink, pigments and gofun on silk. Inscription: Kouka era, dragon year, late winter, painted by Shozan Yashou Artist’ seals: ...

18th century Japanese scroll of poppies. Edo Period (early 18th century) Japanese painting of poppies with lilies in the background. Seal on the lower...

Antique and very rare Japanese painting made in the early 1900s by a fine Japanese manufacturer. The painting has a rectangular brass frame with rounded corners. Internally we see a...

A Japanese hanging silk scroll by late Edo period painter Haruki Nanmei (1795-1878). The gouache painting was in the tradition of Kano school and depicts an old scholar dressed in lo...