Lot 171. A silvered and gilt model of a rooster, signed Koreyoshi, Meiji Period (1868-1912)
the bird naturalistically modelled, standing proudly, his head high looking to the left side into the distance, with gilt feathers running down from its head to lower back, with silvered chest and wings, the extremely long tail feathers of dappled patinated silver reaching near the base of the tall T-formed perch, the base of the stand of deep quatrefoil form, decorated in a lacquered nashiji ground with a thin band of aogai to the rim, the perch terminals with metal scrolling foliate mounts, with small hooks for the attached twin orange tassels with double knots -- 22½in. (54.5cm.) high. Estimate : 15,000 - 20,000 British pounds

Lot n°70. A Kakiemon figure of a standing Bijin, Late 17th Century
the smiling white glazed figure stands with one elegant hand to her side, the other to her chest, her black hair tied up in a traditional style, wearing colourfully enamelled multi-layered robes, the long under-robe with large scattered iron-red roundels on a yellow enamelled ground, tied with a wide black band to the waist, the outer robe painted in black, blue, green, yellow and iron-red enamels with large vine leaves bearing small fruiting branches and large angular tied ribbon motifs -- 15½in. (39.4cm.) high. Estimate : 20,000 - 30,000 British pounds

Lot n°97. An ivory model of a karako, 18th Century, Kyoto School
the young boy, stands smiling in an open flowing waistcoat carrying a small goat, the latter with eyes inlaid in horn -- 2 3/8in. (6cm.). Estimate : 1,000 - 1,500 British pounds

Lot N°59. A three-case lacquer inro, signed Koami Tadamitsu, 19th Century
on a roiro ground with kimpun and kirigane, decorated in gold, silver and iroe takamakie and aogai with an owl perched on its stand to which it is chained, the stand with a carved red lacquer water cup to one side, small ivory ojime of an owl, eyes inlaid; the nestuke of the same subject and of wood, eyes of bone, interiors in kinji and red lacquer -- 3in. (7.6cm.) - Estimate 10,000 - 15,000 British pounds

Lot n°179. A two-fold lacquer screen, Meiji Period (1868-1912)
decorated in gold, silver and iroe hiramakie and takamakie, with kirigane and kimpun, the panels of cockerels and hen with their young chicks before flowering peony and chrysanthemum, above a rectangular plaque of chrysanthemum and scrolling tendrils on a nashiji ground, the borders delicately depicted in gilt as grained wood, the reverse panels decorated in hiramakie and togidashi depicting a solitary, partially defined pine tree -- 8 5/8in. (22cm.) high. - Estimate 3,500 - 4,000 British pounds

Lot n°198. UTAGAWA TOYOHARU (1735-1814), AN ALBUM CONTAINING TEN 'UKIE' (PERSPECTIVE) PICTURES
oban yoko-e, 'Wakoku no keiseki Yoritomo ko Fuji makigari no zu' (Lord Minamoto no Yoritomo hunting at Mt.Fuji), published by Eijudo Nishimuraya (Yohachi), a night festival at Ryogoku Bridge, Winter in Holland, market traders in a district of Edo, a group of ladies playing musical instruments in a pavilion, a Kubuki theatre interior, fireworks over Ryogoku Bridge, a Festival at Ise Shrine, the Shichi-fuku-jin and the Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno in Florence, all mounted on silk bordered paper, the end sections with gold sprinkled paper, all bound together in a silk covered album. Estimate : 4,000 - 5,000 British pounds

THE THOMAS GANZ COLLECTION
Ukie "Floating Pictures" was the name given to a new genre of ukoyo-e print that appeared in Japan circa 1739. These perspective pictures followed the rules of recession to a vanishing point, in which the architectural lines were drawn so as to converge sharply towards a lowered horizon. Previously interior and exterior scenes had been seen from above or merely hinted at by means of an object or two. Ukie enabled designers for the first time to illustrate more plausible crowded interior and exterior spaces. They were in vogue from the 1740's - 70's and give a fascinating insight into the bustling theatres, festivals, teahouses, brothels, shops and temples districts of Edo and its environs. They were also to exert a profound long term influence on the landscape prints of Hokusai and Hiroshige.

CHRISTIE'S. Japanese Ceramics & Works of Art, 8 November 2007, 85 Old Brompton Road, London - www.christies.com