The Kura - Japanese Art Treasures
Robert Mangold has been working with Japanese antiques since 1995 with an emphasis on ceramics, Paintings, Armour and Buddhist furniture.
All Items : Artists : Folk Art : Pre 1950 item #1497413 (stock #NOH2)
The Kura
$750.00
A carved wood Noh-men Mask of a male figure named Chigusa Ayakashi. Carved wood covered with Gofun and mineral pigments, 20th century. It is 21 x 14.7 cm and in overall fine condition bearing the carvers seal in the back. Ayakashi is a vengeful male ghost, often a warlord, bearing a grudge.
Noh theater, often referred to as Nohgaku, is a traditional Japanese performing art with a rich history dating back centuries. It is a highly stylized form of theater that combines elements of dance, music, poetry, and drama. Central to Noh performances are the intricate masks worn by the performers, known as Noh men. The origins of Noh can be traced back to ancient Japanese performing arts, particularly Kagura (ritual dance and music) and Bugaku (court dance and music). These traditional forms incorporated dance and music in religious rituals and imperial court ceremonies. Sarugaku, a precursor to Noh, emerged during the Nara (710-794) and Heian periods (794-1185). Sarugaku performances included comedic elements, acrobatics, and dance. Over time, it began to incorporate more serious and refined themes. Noh as we know it today began to take shape during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Kan'ami Kiyotsugu and his son Zeami Motokiyo played significant roles in refining and formalizing Noh performances, codifying its structure, music, and movements.
Zeami emphasized the importance of yūgen (mysterious beauty) and monomane (imitation or mimicry) in Noh, which influenced the development of Noh's distinctive aesthetic and storytelling techniques. Noh combines classical Japanese poetry (waka) with music and dance. The plays often revolve around themes of the supernatural, historical events, or literary works. During the Momoyama period the Tempo of Noh, which had been adopted by the elite, slowed significantly, to differentiate itself aesthetically from other forms of ritual dance. This is the Noh that we have today. Noh masks represent different character types, such as gods, demons, spirits, elderly characters, and more. Each mask has distinct features and expressions that help convey the character's personality and emotions. They are meticulously crafted from wood and are meant to conceal the actor's emotions, allowing them to embody various characters and personas throughout the performance.
Noh theater is designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and continues to be an essential part of Japan's cultural heritage. It has had a significant influence on other art forms, including traditional Japanese arts like Kabuki and Bunraku, as well as contemporary theater and dance. It remains a cherished and deeply respected art form in Japan, captivating audiences with its elegance, symbolism, and timeless stories.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Porcelain : Pre 1920 item #1497256 (stock #K477)
The Kura
Price on Request
White blossoms cluster along the thin branches draped over the shoulder of this exquisite pink tinged vessel by Imperial artist Seifu Yohei III enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shiroyama no Sakura no Zu Kabin (Blossoms of Shiroyama Vase). This is the pinnacle of production for imperial artist Seifu Yohei III, a large Taihakuji porcelain vase with carved designs. Museum quality would be an understatement. Seifu III was known to have made few large works, so this is a very important piece, and Taihakuji was his most appreciated style. It is 19.5 cm (8 inches) diameter, 29.5 cm (12 inches) tall and in perfect condition and retains the original rosewood base and original stamped cloth wrapping.
Seifu Yohei III (1851-1914) was the adopted son of Yohei II. Sent at the age of twelve to study painting under then the top Nanga artist Tanomura Chokunyu, he returned in 1865 due to illness. The next year he entered as an apprentice the Seifu studio, then under the control of the second generation. As so often happens in these situations, in 1872 he married the daughter, becoming a “Yoji” or adopted son of Yohei and taking the family name, established himself as an individual artist. Within the year his genius was discovered, and works by him were sent to the Vienna World Exposition. Seifu II retires of illness in 1878, and III succeeds the family kiln. Once again he is honored as the new head of the kiln to produce the dinnerware for the former president of the US Ulysses Grant. His work was highly acclaimed, both domestically and abroad, drawing honors and prizes at the Naikoku Hakurankai (National Exhibition), Chicago and Paris World expositions and being named one of the first members of the Imperial Art Academy specializing in ceramics in 1893 (Tei Shitsu Gigei In). Works by this rare artist are held in Museums and collections throughout the world. He was succeeded by the fourth generation Seifu (1871-1951) in 1914.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496864 (stock #NS13)
The Kura
$3,850.00
Torn paper is layered to form the canvas for this unusual ink painting by master of the genre Nomura Seiroku titled Mori Kara (From the forest) published in the Museum catalog Nomura Seiroku by the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art (2000, Figure 21 page 115). According to the Museum it was painted in 1971. Here Seiroku has applied vertically torn strips of paper then applied dark vertical strokes of ink, intimiating not just through the color the image of the forest, but also via the texture of the paper canvas itself. It is 215 x 70.5 x 1.5 cm (84-1/2 x 27-3/4 inches) mounted on a wood framed panel in excellent condition.
Due to size the cost of shipping will be accrued separately.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496863 (stock #NS11)
The Kura
$1,980.00
A masterpiece of simplicity and abstraction by Nomura Seiroku featuring various shades of black representing snowflakes slowly accumulating at the bottom of the long paper canvas enclosed in a period brushed metal frame with silver fabric mat. The frame is 96 x 31 x 6 cm (37-3/4 x 12 x 2 inches), the image itself is 71 x 14.5 cm (28 x 6 inches) and is in fine condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496862 (stock #NS3)
The Kura
$440.00
A framed Tanzaku Poem card dominated by a red camelia by Nomura Seiroku mounted in a period metal frame. Mineral pigment on paper mounted centered in a silver panel with cool color fabric. It is signed and titled on the back.
The imgage itself is 35.5×5 cm (14 x 2 inches), the frame size; 51.5 × 26.5 × 5,cm (20 x 10-1/2 x 2 inches) and is in overall excellent condition. : Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496861 (stock #NS23)
The Kura
$800.00
There is something very intimate about this image of a small fish in a simple wash of ink by Nomura Seiroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kajika. Ink on psprt mounted in beige cloth, the scroll is 118 × 25.5 (10 x 46-1/2 inches) and is in overall excellent condition.
The Japanese fluvial sculpin is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish. It is endemic to Japan, where it inhabits mountain streams in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496860 (stock #NS10)
The Kura
$1,430.00
A frantic image of Higanbana flowers scratched onto a blue background by Nomura Seiroku Mineral pigment on paper mounted in a gilded frame signed the titled on the back. It is 60.5 x 45.5 cm (24 x 18 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496859 (stock #NS21)
The Kura
$1,100.00
A Dragon rises up in a brisk stoke past the character Noboru (ascending) on the dark mulberry paper of this scroll mounted work by Nomura Seiroku. The scroll is 48 x 210 cm (19 x 82-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition. It has been cleaned and completely remounted in antique green cloth emblazoned with white crests, and features antique Japanese Sarasa dyed cotton.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496858 (stock #NS9)
The Kura
$1,760.00
Sale Pending
A frantic image of sunlight breaking through the trees, rushing toward a crescent moon hanging low in the sky by Nomura Seiroku mounted in the original wooden frame signed and titled on the reverse. The frame is 74.x 59 x 4.5 cm (29 x 23-1/4 x 1-1/2 inches). The image size is 46.5 x 62 cm (18-1/4 x 24-1/2 inches).
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496857 (stock #NS20)
The Kura
$1,650.00
A colorful Work by Nomura Seiroku mounted rarely for this style as a scroll enclosed in the original signed wooden box with a protective Futomaki roller titled Akiyama no Iro (Autumn Mountain Colors). Heavy pigments are applied in a frantic blast on the paper canvas mounted in fabric. The scroll is 77 x 142 cm (30 x 55 inches) and is in overall excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496855 (stock #NS8)
The Kura
$1,480.00
A frantic image in stark color of a cat mounted in a metal frame with dark mat by Nomura Seiroku dating circa 1970. Mineral pigment on paper, the image is 29 x 41 cm (11-1/2 x 16 inches), the frame is 48.5 x 60.5 x 4 cm (19 x 24 x 1-1/2 inches) and is in overall excellent condition. A similar image of a white cat was awarded top prize at the First French/Japanese Art exposition held in 1975.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496854 (stock #NS19)
The Kura
$800.00
Delicate white @etals open quietly on the fan shaped paper canvas of this scroll by Nomura Seiroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shiroi Hana (White Flower). Ink and light color on paper mounted on green fabric extended with gold, the scroll is 52.5 x 120 cm (21 × 47 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496853 (stock #NS7)
The Kura
$480.00
A light color image on paper of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, symbol of Xi’an in China. It is being sold as an unmounted painting. The image size is 55 × 41.5 cm (21-1/2 x 16-1/4 inches) and is in overall excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496852 (stock #NS18)
The Kura
sold
A ripened Persimmon, symbol of the season changing from autumn to winter, sits like a fat Daruma in red robes surrounded by a poem by Nomura Seiroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The poem reads: Furusato Ha Itsumo Mandara, Fuyu no Kaki (In my hometown the eternal Mandala, winter Persimmons). Ink and light color on paper with green fabric border featuring wood rollers. It is 37.5 x 124.5 cm (15 x 48-3/4 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496851 (stock #NS6)
The Kura
$1,320.00
Riotous apples erupt in vivid color on this panel mounted image by Nomura Seiroku dating circa 1960 mounted in the original wooden frame signed and titled on the back of the frame. The frame is 44 × 55 × 3.5 cm (17 x 21-1/2 x 1-1/2 inches), the Image size is 27.5 × 39 cm (11 x 15-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496850 (stock #NS16)
The Kura
sold
A fabulous scroll featuring a poem in rich, dark ink raining down upon a fog bank rising to meet the erratic verse by Nomura Seiroku. The poem reads Mokomokomokomoko kage mo mihezu aki no tsuta. Ink and light color on paper in a cool toned cloth border with turned wood rollers. It is 43 x 147.5 cm (16-1/2 x 58 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496849 (stock #NS5)
The Kura
$1,650.00
A frantic image of the moon lighting up the night sky in mineral pigment dating circa 1960 mounted on a panel by Nomura Seiroku in the original period wood frame with rose-gold border. Frame Size:51.5 × 39 × 4.5 cm (20 x 15 x 2 inches). The actual painted image size: 41 x 28 cm (16 x 11 inches) and is in excellent condition. There are small chips on the edge of the frame.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496848 (stock #NS17)
The Kura
$830.00
Fiddle head ferns sprout in vivid color on the fan shaped paper canvas of this scroll by Nomura Seiroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Zenmai Ink and light color on paper mounted on cool fabric featuring wooden rollers. The scroll is 41.7 x 115.5 (16 × 45-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496847 (stock #NS1)
The Kura
$390.00
This strip of hand-made washi paper is dominated fully by the image of a salted and skewered sweet fish (Yamame) prepared for grilling in the traditional way, along the irori fireplace. Ink on paper mounted in a burnt cedar frame. The image is 37 x 6 cm (14-1/2 x 2-1//2 inches). The frame is 55 x 14 x 2.4 cm (22 x 5-1/2 x 1 inches) and it is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496846 (stock #NS15)
The Kura
$480.00
A bucolic scene in warm summer colors by Nomura Seiroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hirutani Senka (summer in Hirutani).  Light color and ink on paper mounted in burnt amber paper with ceramic rollers.  It is 43 x 147.5 cm (17 x 58 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496845 (stock #NS4)
The Kura
$480.00
Mineral pigment on paper mounted in wooden frame, and border matting A frightful image of a stout female figure on red by Nomura Seiroku, performed with mineral pigment on paper mounted in a gold gilded wood frame with black mat. The frame size is 78 × 52 × 2.5 cm (30-3/4 x 20-1/2 x 1 inches), the painted image is: 33 x 59 cm (13 x 23-1/2inches) and is in excellent condition, there are scratches and losses to the gilding on the frame.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000.
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496844 (stock #NS12)
The Kura
$2,750.00
Dark Floral Sprays bleed into the soft paper of this large sui-e work by Nomura Seiroku depicting Negibozu, or Allium flowers. The method of application is called Bokashi, where the artist may pre-wet the paper to allow the ink to flow freely into a specific shape, or apply water to already-applied ink causing it to flow out and gradate. Here Nomura has expertly manipulated the technique to create bold flower heads on thick stalks. The wooden frame is 57.5 × 111.5 × 6 cm (22-1/2 x 43-3/4 x 2-1/2 inches). The image itself is 42 × 76.5 cm (16-1/2 x 30 inches). There is slight foxing typical of age. Allium is a genus of flowering plants with hundreds of species, including the cultivated onion, garlic, scallion, shallot, leek, and chives.
Due to size the cost of shipping will be accrued separately.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496843 (stock #NS14)
The Kura
$1,200.00
The heart of Japan dominates this scroll by Nomura Seiroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled “Hotake” (Bountiful Mountain). Impassioned flashes of black like lighting strikes form the dramatic image. Ink on paper in a blue silk border patterned with clouds extended with dark gray and featuring stag horn rollers. It is 52 x 166 cm (20-1/2 x 65 inches) and in excellent condition.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painteers such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching.In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became more free and spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000
All Items : Artists : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1496842 (stock #NS2)
The Kura
$640.00
Red and black dominate this work by Nomura Seiroku mounted in the original period wooden frame. Although this looks similar to oil painting, it is in fact mineral pigment on paper mounted on a panel in the traditional Nihonga style. The painting itself is 33.5×45.5 cm (13-1/4 x 18 inches), with the frame it is 49.5×61.5×4.5,cm (19-1/2 x 24 x 2 inches) and is in overall excellent condtion, with some insignificant chips on the edges of the frame.
Nomura Seiroku was born in 1916 as the fourth son of a farming family in Yamanashi Prefecture. During his childhood, he was entrusted to relatives and spent his time drawing late into the night while working at a cotton mill. At the age of 17, he persuaded his parents and relatives to let him move to Tokyo, where he took on various jobs while attending the night school at Kawabata Art Academy where he formed lifelong friendships with other painters such as Iwasaki Hajin, Komatsu Hitoshi, and Taniguchi Sango. He sought mastery of the Tsuketate technique. which involves using a rough brush held vertically to create a strong brushstroke that carves the framework of the painting without sketching. In 1943, Seiroku was drafted into the Yokosuka Navy. Around the same time, he married Tokiko Nomura, a daughter from an old family in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whom he had met during his art school days. As a result, he adopted the Nomura surname. In the early years of their marriage, Seiroku had little income, so in 1951, at the age of 35, he made a decisive move to focus on his artistic direction. He left his family and relocated to a cabin by Shibireko Lake in Yamanaka, Yamanashi Prefecture. There, he spent four ascetic years perfecting his "Tsuketate" technique. During this period, Nomura began creating cover illustrations for the haiku magazine "Kira" and held his first solo exhibition in Yamanashi Prefecture. He also showcased his works at various exhibitions, including the Shinseisaku Art Society Exhibition and the Japan Independent Exhibition. In 1955, after returning to his family in Komatsu City, he moved his studio to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to facilitate exhibitions and negotiations with art dealers in Tokyo. In the 1960s, Nomura produced outstanding works using flat and thick painting techniques. From the 1970s onwards, his brushwork became freer and more spontaneous, and he began incorporating his own haiku into his paintings, evolving towards a more literati painting style. Work by him is held in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art where a major retrospective was held in 2000
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1930 item #1496812 (stock #K484)
The Kura
$500.00
Sale Pending
A devil plays the shamisen, a cup and bottle of sake at his knee, on this wide low bowl by Kiyomizu Rokubei V decorated by Nakajima Kaho with a poem scrawled about the outside enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kaho-gajin hitsu Kashi-zara. It is 21.5 cm (8-1/2 inches) diameter 6 cm (2-1/4 inches) tall and in perfect condition. The box retains the original wrapping cloth stamped by Rokubei.
Kiyomizu Rokubei V (Shimizu Kuritaro, 1875-1959) initially studied painting and decorating technique under Kono Bairei, one of the foremost painters in Japan in the Meiji era. After graduating the Kyoto Municipal Special School of Painting, he took a position under his father at the family kiln however. That same year he exhibited his first work at the National Industrial Exposition. He was a co-founder of Yutoen with his father and Asai Chu, and worked ceaselessly to promote the pottery of Kyoto. He helped to establish the Kyoto Ceramics Research Facility (Kyoto Tojiki Shikensho) at the turn of the century which would be the proving ground for many young artist of the era. Doctor Maezaki Shinya has noted that Teishitsu-Gigei-in (Imperial Art Academy Member) Seifu Yohei III also fired his acclaimed works in the Rokubei kiln in the Taisho era. Due to his father’s poor health Rokubei V took the reins unofficially in 1902, commanding the helm until assuming the name Rokubei V in 1913. It was in 1928 that Rokubei changed the reading of the family name from Shimizu to Kiyomizu and applied it retroactively to previous generations. He exhibited constantly, and garnered a great many awards. He worked to get crafts added to the National Art Exhibition (Bunten/Teiten) and served as a judge in 1927, the first year crafts were allowed. In 1937 he was designated a member of the Imperial Art Council (Teishitsu Bijutsu Inkai). Despite changes in the world around him Rokubei persevered, working in all manner of materials and styles. He retired in 1945, perhaps as exhausted as Japan was with the end of the war, or perhaps seeing that capitulation would signal a new era in need of new leaders and a new aesthetic. He passed the name Rokubei to his son and took the retirement name Rokuwa. Uncontainable he continued to create pottery under that name until his death in 1959. His influence is so pervasive he was voted one of the most important potters of the modern era by Honoho magazine, the preeminent quarterly devoted to Japanese pottery. A multitude of works by him are held in the National Museums of Modern Art, both in Tokyo and Kyoto, the Kyoto Kyocera Museum, The Kyoto Hakubutsukan Museum and the Philadelphia Art Museum among others.
Nakajima Kaho (1866 - 1939) studied painting under Mori Kansai (1814-1892) and calligraphy under famed artist Tomioka Tessai (1836-1924), later marrying his eldest daughter and this family relationship is believed to have been the basis of Kahô's lifelong friendship with the famous painter, who was 30 years his senior. In his early years Kahô was a competent painter in the Maruyama-Shijô tradition, but at the end of the 1910s he started studying 18th century painters from the Kansai district, e.g. Nagasawa Rosetsu, Itô Jakuchû and especially Yosa Buson, whose style served as his model from then on. Apart from making paintings, Kahô also made prints, lacquer paintings and pottery.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1800 item #1496715 (stock #K150)
The Kura
$450.00
A classic Tamba Tea leaf storage jar (Chatsubo) with interesting mukimimi or “turned ears”, the tie lugs swirling like a Domoe on the shoulder next to the neck, each leaning to the right, as if listening to the next. In my experience this is quite unusual. The jar is covered in rivulets of flowing green leading down to an undulating belt line between the glaze and the raw clay. A white shadow in the clay indicates where once a label, likely identifying the type of tea contained, had once been applied. The jar is 28 cm (11 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1700 item #1496710 (stock #K108)
The Kura
sold
A Takatsuki stand of wood covered in black lacquer decorated with scrolling vines among which are randomly placed crests in the design of the Daruma Wheel on the stem, and the heraldic Mitsuba-aoi hollyhock crest within the tray. Slightly warped and worn with the centuries, finding a piece from this era in such good, original condition, is exceedingly rare. Early Muromachi, 14-15th century, it is 30 x 30 x 28.5 cm (12 x 12 x 11-1/2 inches).
The Mitsuba Aoi crest is associated in modern times with the Tokugawa clan, however many clans used the crest in the past, as it was the crest of the Kamo-jinja Shrine. Many local clans in Mikawa, such as the Matsudaira clan, the Sakai clan and the Honda clan, used the aoi-mon as their family crests. Gradually through the Edo period the use of the Mitsuba Aoi was severely restricted to only those associated with the Edo Bakufu (Shogunate).
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Metalwork : Pre 1700 item #1496582 (stock #K144)
The Kura
sold, thank you
A very thin cast bronze image of a hunched female crow in dark olive patina with an incised signature on the underbelly Takayo dated Bunan 2 (1445). The image is made in several parts, the upper and lower halves of the body joined along the neck and under the wings, the feet separately cast and attached where they join the body. There is some form of plug, or possibly spur mark, on the breast above the signature. It is 23 x 16 x 10 cm (9 x 6 x 4 inches) and weighs 616 grams (1.3 pounds), in overall excellent condition.
All Items : Popular Collectibles : Cultural : Japanese : Pre 1900 item #1496366 (stock #K158)
The Kura
$1,600.00
This ancient and dilapidated mask is ghoulishly frightening. Carved from a single piece of wood, the visage seems to scream with both rage and fear, or is it pain, the brow furrowed and mouth open in a shout. Emaciated lips curl back to reveal three teeth like tombstones framing the orifice. A hole appears in the hollow of the left eye, and the top of the mask is broken open like an egg, as if something might leap out. This goes way beyond the traditional mask, into the realm of Iki-ningyo or living dolls. It is 24 x 15 x 12 cm (roughly 9 x 6 x 5 inches).
Japanese ghost tales and horror stories have a rich and fascinating history that dates back centuries. These stories have evolved and been shaped by various cultural, religious, and historical influences over time. Let's focus on the pre-modern era to explore the origins and development of Japanese ghost tales and horror stories: apan's early ghost tales were influenced by indigenous Shinto beliefs, animism, and the veneration of ancestral spirits. In these tales, spirits were often associated with natural phenomena and specific places. During the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods, court literature flourished, and stories of supernatural beings, such as yōkai (supernatural creatures), oni (demons), and yūrei (ghosts), started to gain prominence in written works like "The Tale of Genji." Buddhist beliefs and notions of karma influenced the portrayal of spirits and the idea of vengeful ghosts who returned to the living world seeking retribution. "Uji Shūi Monogatari" (Tales of a Raindrop) and "Konjaku Monogatari" (Tales of Times Now Past) are collections of folktales, including ghost stories, from this period. They reflected the belief in the supernatural and the moral consequences of human actions. The medieval period saw the development of various ghost tales, often referred to as "kaidan" or "katakiuchi-mono" (stories of vengeance). During the Edo period traditional Japanese theater, particularly Noh and Kabuki, incorporated ghostly elements into many of their plays. Ghost characters seeking vengeance or resolution were common themes in these performances, making them popular among audiences. Also during this period was a flourishing of ghost-themed art and literature. Throughout these eras, storytelling played a crucial role in passing down ghost tales and horror stories in Japan. It's essential to recognize that Japanese ghost tales and horror stories are deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual beliefs, and their themes often explore concepts of life, death, morality, and the supernatural. They were often used as a means to entertain, educate, and explore societal norms and values. In the later 19th century, Lafcadio Hearn, an Irish-Greek author who emigrated to Japan taking a Japanese name, is credited with introducing Japanese ghost tales to the Western world. In 1904, he published "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things," a collection of traditional Japanese ghost stories he had translated and adapted in an effort to preserve them before the oral tradition was lost. Many of these pre-modern ghost tales continue to inspire modern Japanese horror literature, movies, and other media.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Chinese : Folk Art : Pre 1900 item #1495947 (stock #K164)
The Kura
$850.00
The gaze is stern on this Edo period image of the divine general Shori Ken (Chinese: Zhongli Quan or Han Zhongli), god of war and one of the eight immortals in the Daoist pantheon. This character is most discernable by his feather fan which was said to be able to resurrect the dead and here he holds out prominently in front of himself. Astride a typical stocky Japanese horse in full trappings, he would have looked down on visitors from a gate or the eaves of a palace or shrine. The tassels on the horses trappings and a few facial highlights are done in soft color, the rest in natural wood. The figure is 19 x 20 x 40 cm (roughly 8 x 8 x 16 inches) tall, carved of hardwood, and is in overall excellent condition but for one chipped finger on his right hand.
Taoism is ever present in the background in Japan, its rituals, superstitions, and symbols. As well it is certain that Taoism and its symbolisms are prominent in Japanese art, much more so than Confucianism. However it has been here so long and become so intertwined with the culture it is difficult to distinguish. According to Jeffrey L. Richey: Though there is no dispute that Daoism is present in Japanese culture, the degree and importance of its influence has been the subject of ongoing scholarly debate. One problem has been dislodging its specificity from the broader mass of Chinese culture that has entered Japan over 15 centuries. This very span of time admits a complicating plurality: Daoism in China was multilayered and changed over time, while its products, which first arrived in Japan as part and parcel of the ritsuryō state (7th century), went on to appear piecemeal chiefly through textual sources over the centuries.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Metalwork : Pre 1930 item #1495943 (stock #K154)
The Kura
$1,750.00
A very rare pair of Art-Deco era bronze candlesticks covered in polished nickel by Hata Zoroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Each is 12 x 7.5 x 35 cm (5 x 3 x 14 inches) and is in overall excellent condition, with some minor wear to the nickel. They come with teh original adapters for samller candles.
Hata Zoroku I (b. 1823) was especially famous for his iron kettles used in tea ceremonies, which often featured intricate designs and ornamentation. His work gained recognition not only in Japan but also internationally. He was instrumental in preserving traditional Japanese metalwork techniques during a time of great social and political change. His works often displayed a balance between functionality and artistry, which helped solidify the demand for high-quality, handcrafted kettles. His success led to the establishment of the Hata Zoroku lineage, setting a high standard for future generations. Later generations continued to uphold the Hata Zoroku name, producing highly sought-after metal objects that reflected the blending of traditional craftsmanship with modern influences. Zoroku II (1854–1932) was active during the late Edo period into the Meiji era, a time of major social and economic transformation in Japan. He continued his father’s legacy in crafting fine kettles, but also expanded the family’s craft into more decorative objects. With the growing export market during the Meiji era, Zoroku II’s works reached international audiences. His pieces often exhibited a fusion of traditional Japanese and Western influences, reflecting the cultural shifts of the time. Zoroku II began incorporating newer techniques and styles, blending modernity with tradition. He experimented more with motifs such as landscapes, animals, and symbolic patterns, and his work was highly regarded in both domestic and international markets. His works were showcased in international expositions, contributing to Japan’s recognition as a center for exquisite craftsmanship. Zoroku III worked hard to ensure that traditional metalworking techniques were preserved during a time of industrialization. He was especially known for creating limited edition pieces that were highly valued among collectors of traditional Japanese art.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1900 item #1495941 (stock #K152)
The Kura
$3,600.00
A horse shaped koro from the kilns of Bizen dating from the later half of the Edo period enclosed in a period iron bound wooden storage box. The ears are removable, and the saddle lifts off to reveal a compartment for burning incense. It is 27 x 14 x 17 cm. One ear and one tassel along the saddle have been repaired.
Bizen ware, which enjoyed great popularity throughout Japan from the Middle Ages to the Momoyama period, lost its prominence to Seto, Mino, and Arita pottery during the Edo period. The Bizen kilns attempted to break through this situation by developing items such as saikumono (ornamental works) and saishiki Bizen (also called Iro-Bizen or colored Bizen ware). Under the guidance of official painters employed by the Okayama domain, they colored figures and animals, fired at low temperatures, using gofun (white pigment) and mineral pigments. These pieces were used as gifts to the shogunate and other domains.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1900 item #1495922 (stock #K159)
The Kura
$600.00
A set of five fluted dishes decorated with draped branches dating from the mid to later Edo period enclosed in a period age-darkened wooden box. Several have had repairs made with lacquer nad powdered silver, enhancing the beauty and sense of age. They all bear on the base the Mizoro stamp impressed into the raw earth. Each is 16 x 10 x 4.5 cm (6 x 4 x 2 inches) and all are in overall fine condition, with the silver repairs blending with the finely crackled glaze and dark iron decoration.
Many people think of Kiyomizu-yaki as the only type of pottery in Kyoto, but there are other types of pottery such as Awata-yaki, Otowa-yaki, Iwakura-yaki, Asahi-yaki, Raku-yaki, and Mizoro-yaki. Mizoro-yaki is a type of Kyo-yaki that was fired in Atago-gun, North of central Kyoto. There are many mysteries and rumors about the origins of the pottery. According to Tauchi Baiken's "Thoughts on Ceramics" written in the Ansei era, Ninsei Nonomura started Mizoro ware. Other documents, from the Enpo period, Taihei of Mizoro Village became an apprentice at Higashiyama Seikanji Yaki Ichimonjiya, and then returned to the village and opened a kiln. According to the "100 Year History of Kyo Yaki", it was established in 1554 AD by Yozo Unsonin. In any event, it is generally agreed to have begun by the mid 17th century, and lasted for about two hundred years.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Furniture : Pre 1900 item #1495909 (stock #K155)
The Kura
$750.00
A set of 5 matching candle sticks in the shape of nets drying on a pole enclosed in the original antique wooden box. Dating from the 19th century (Late Edo to Meiji periods), they are 28 cm (11 inches) tall, 12 cm (5 inches) diameter and in overall excellent condition.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1495792 (stock #K147(RA003))
The Kura
$3,000.00
Sale Pending
A wild Edo period figure of a devil bent over backwards in the bridge position, a Sharito Tower balanced on his abdomen, a bell dragging him down suspended from his back. What awful crimes did he commit to be punished so!?! The bronze bell is either from, or at the least pays homage to, Korean styles. Dating from the Edo period, the unusual image is 22 x 14 x 66 cm (9 x 5-1/2 x 26 inches). Some minor losses to the polychrome consistent with age. The crystal ball and brass fitting inside the tower are later additions.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Okimono : Pre 1910 item #1495683 (stock #K472)
The Kura
$2,200.00
A fabulous carved wood image of the fearsome Shishi Lion with glass eyes dating from the Meiji period signed Kazumoto-to (Carved by Kazumoto). It is 35.5 cm x 26 cm x 27 cm (14 x 10-1/2 x 11 inches). There are a few chips in the curly mane and tail and some cracks typical of age along the grain in the base.