One of the most unusual pieces I have ever seen from this innovative artist, an octopus shaped Koro by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box bearing the Teishitsu Gigei-in seal of the Imperial Art Academy. The bulbous top of the head is removable along a line as if the creature were wearing a hachimaki head band, revealing the incense chamber within. It is 26.5 cm (10-1/2 inches) tall, 19.5 cm (roughly 8 inches) diameter and in excellent condition...

An exquisite porcelain vase decorated with a delicate depiction in over-glaze enamel of plum and bamboo by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Gosai Bichiku-e Kabin (Vase with Plum and Bamboo in Five-Color Glaze). A rare work reflecting his roots in Kutani ware. It is 29.5 cm (11-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

A waka poem in underglaze blue brushed by female artist/poet Tomioka Haruko decorates this porcelain Mizusashi by female potter Suwa Sozan II enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The porcelain container is 17.5 cm (7-1/2 inches) tall, 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. On the base it bears the circular mark of Suwa Sozan II and on the side the verse is singed Haruko 80. From this we can surmise it dates from 1926 when Haruko was 80 by Japanese count...

An exceptional Oki-goro Incense Burner in the shape of a dark glazed Catfish by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Namazu Koro dated the 6th month of Taisho 10 (1921). This would have been placed over a dish in which a burning incense cone would have been placed. It is 48 cm (18-1/2 inches) long, 23 cm (9 inches) tall and appears in excellent condition...

A crow at rest upon a rock raises its head in a gruff cry by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Karasu Okimono. It is pierced in the back, allowing it to be an oki-koro incense burner. It is 34 cm (13-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. A nearly identical piece was published in the 1923 book Sozan Toko, attributed to his late period...

Were one to describe THE piece which epitomizes the vase aesthetic of Suwa Sozan I, it would be this epochal Red Fish design flaring celadon bottle. This is a superlative example, exquisite detail and come enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 29.5 cm (11-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Suwa Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875...

The size of Charger: 18 1/8"Dia x 2 1/4"High. Beautiful Japanese Ko Imari Porcelain Charger. The charger has the Mountain Fuji scenery design on above window area with cranes flying over the mountains. The behind the Mountain Fuji scenery with swirling design of fine detail works of geometric design in green and red. Pretty underglaze blue with gold are among the design. The back side of charger has 12 Maru-mon design. The condition of charger is excellent, no chip, no crack and no hairline...

The size of Charger Bowl: 11" Dia x 2 1/8" High. Very unusual Japanese Ko Imari Blue and White , Sometsuke Charger Porcelain Bowl. The charger bowl was made in fine shape with very nice Kikusui (Chrysanthemum and water) design, very well put composition design. This type of Charger are hard find anymore. It has fine boldly line works. It has karakusa design on the backside. It has Tai Min Nen Sei (great Ming year made) marking on the back...

Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original wooden box titled Kagyu-tsuki Take Kake-hana-ire (Bamboo Hanging Vase with Snail) bearing the Teishitsu Gigei-in Seal of the Imperial Art Academy signed inside “Sozan, with Amateur Skill” followed by the artists seal in red. It is 49 cm long and in excellent condition. The only other I have ever seen in this style is published in the rare 1971 book Suwa Sozan Sakuhin Shu page 59...

A natural ash glazed (Shizen-yu) vase by legendary artist Kumano Kurouemon enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Echizen Hanaire...

Silver glistens inside the near matt core of this fabulous chawan by JCS Gold Award winner Ito Keiji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 12 cm (5 inches) diameter, 9.5 cm (just less than 4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Ito Keiji was born in 1935, and has spent his life challenging the accepted concepts of traditional ceramics. He was awarded at the 1981 Faenza International Ceramics Exhibition. He was awarded the Gifu Prefectural Cultural Award in 2006, and a...

A masterpiece by Kato Shigetaka, this bowl is very powerful, and I am not one to wax too longingly on individual pieces. In short: he nailed it with this bowl which comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Chawan. It is 13 cm (5 inches) diameter, 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kato Shigetaka (1927-2013) was born the son of legendary revivalist Kato Tokuro, his older brother the legendary rebel Okabe Mineo. Shigetaka graduated the Seto Industrial ...

First we hear the clang of the hammer striking the bell, then the steadily approaching clop of his wooden shoes before the horrifying creature dressed in the robes of an itinerant priest appears; a ledger in one hand noting our sins. This is a very rare ceramic figurine by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nenbutsu Oni and bearing the seal of the imperial Art Academy. It is 30 cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition. He would have originally held a hammer, ...

The size of Charger: 10" Square x 1 7/8" High. Japanse Ko Imari Blue and White (Sometuke) Porcelain charger. The charger has very good detail Senbiki (line drawings works) of blue underglaze works in flower design. The charger has marking on the bottom. The condition of charger is Excellent, no chip, no crack and no hairlines. There are aged tiny spots around the edge of plate which are original Mushikui spot which are looks like Mushi Kui translated as Insect bites. but it is not insect bites, ...

Of squat shape with a centre hole, inspired by the cosmic black hole. Painstakingly built by small bits of clay added to core, the piece is than burnt in the autumn in the nearby fields under a stack of rice straw. He is carefully checking the process as the sculptures must not get over burned, they have to get the right, natural, earthy ash color that change for each piece of artwork. H 11 x 19,5 x 19,5 cm circa. From 2015. Perfect condition. The last picture show both pieces. Watanabe T...

Japanese Contemporary Ceramic, Progressive Ceramic Art Form. Watanabe Taichiro. Painstakingly built by small bits of clay added to core, the piece is than burnt in the autumn in the nearby fields under a stack of rice straw. He is carefully checking the process as the sculptures must not get over burned, they have to get the right, natural, earthy ash color that change for each piece of artwork. H 16,5 x 15 x 15 cm circa. From 2015. Perfect condition. He never sign his pieces, they are sign...

A breathtaking new look at Shigaraki Anagama ware by Furutani Taketoshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu Yohen Shinogi Tsubo (Natural Ash Glazed Blade Style Shigaraki Tsubo). The artist has coil formed the vessel, with thick walls, then incised a waving pattern leaving a saw-tooth surface dusted in ash with brilliant hi-iro and dark charring. It is 31 cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Directly from the artist this summer.
Furutani Take...

Dragonflies alight on autumn grasses and bush clover forming the perfect seasonal connotation under an engorged white moon on this pair of mouse-colored (Nezumi) vases by Shino legend Wakao Toshisada enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nezumi Shino So-heki. Together they are 29 cm (11-1/2 inches) long, 18 cm (7 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Wakao Toshisada was born in Tajimi, Gifu prefecture, home of Mino pottery, in 1933. He was first recognized at the New Craft...