Suiseki , viewing stones, are very clear evidence of the Japanese fondness for nature. While out in nature, especially interesting stones are discovered and collected. Some suggest a mountain or mountain range (a popular choice), while others are based on natural sources such as plateaus and caves. Mineral deposits can resemble streams or flowers. Such stones are rescued from nature for “stone” or “scholarly viewing”(suiseki) and displayed on individually crafted hardwood stands or sand. The Regelski collection contains examples (below) including one of a mountain of caves discovered in a US stream by Thomas Regelski, mounted on sand (representing the ocean) in a bonsai dish.

Baskets are popular in Japan. They tend to be made from strips of bamboo woven by hand into various designs usually for Ikebana displays as well as basket facsimiles of boats, pull-carts and the like. In short, most antique interest is not for mundane use but for Ikebana, to hold cut flowers, and to admire as if sculptures.

Wall plaques are popular. They have a matt lacquer background, on which is a relief of shells, bone, stones, mother of pearl, and other objects (a technique called Shibayama) creating a picture of birds in trees and other natural surroundings. Shibayama ware is a style invented by Shibayama Senzo in the 1770s, characterized by the inlay of various materials such as shellfish, gold, silver, ivory, coral, tortoise shell, and ceramics.These plaques come in various shapes and uniformly have a lacquered brown wooden frame, even round ones. They are another example of bringing natural references indoors.

Perhaps the ultimate example of how the usefulness of Japanese art could extend, this toilet, unlike the commoner’s hole in a wood plank, is a ceramic construction extensively decorated with blue designs derived from nature. Nonetheless, it stood over a similar  hole in the floor, the waste to be tended to by servants. This is an example of Meiji upper class luxury.