The mark of the potter is carved on base.

Size
Height 9cm
Width 13cm


Excellent condition with no damage and no repair. Supplied with signed wooden box.

In 1921, following the completion of his primary education, Toshu Yamamoto embarked on a transformative journey into the world of pottery. With the fervor of an eager apprentice, he immersed himself in the intricate craftsmanship of Bizen-ware. A mere twelve years later, in 1933, he stood before his...

This burnished finish is one of the signature effects of Living National Treasure Yamamoto Toshu seen on this fluted gourd enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen-yaki Hyotan Hanaike. Here the blue-gray clay is covered in charred red mottles, like the natural patterns on a dried gourd, the smooth sangiri surface intentionally marred with occasional rough patches. A masterpiece and true evidence of the mastery of Toshu, one of the greatest artists to revive the tradition after t...

A traditionally crafted Bizen sake cup shaped in the tradition of Oribe. The rich mineral glaze gives this guinomi an almost a metallic look. The craftsman who made this piece, Takahiro Ishii, was born in Tokyo in 1977, and, after studying ceramics for a number of years, he moved to Bizen to become a ceramics teacher and later opened his own kiln. He takes a philosophic approach to his work as evidenced by the following quote, “As a ceramicist, I feel that the point is not just to produce pie...

A traditionally crafted Bizen sake cup with a rich mineral glaze giving this guinomi a metallic look. The craftsman who made this piece, Takahiro Ishii, was born in Tokyo in 1977, and, after studying ceramics for a number of years, he moved to Bizen to become a ceramics teacher and later opened his own kiln. He takes a philosophic approach to his work as evidenced by the following quote, “As a ceramicist, I feel that the point is not just to produce pieces. With every new work I project a bit ...

Top Quality Bizen Hidasuki Chawan of Living National Treasure Toshu Yamamoto (1906-1994)
The mark of the potter is carved on the bottom.

Size
Height 7.2cm
Width 13.1cm

Excellent condition with no damage and no repair. Supplied with signed wooden box.

After completing his elementary education, Toshu Yamamoto embarked on his pottery journey in 1921 as an apprentice specializing in Bizen-ware. By 1933, he had established his own independent kiln. ...

An iconic representation of this artists work, a large hidasuki Tsubo of red clay marked with burnt straw by Isezaki Mitsuru enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Tsubo. It is 9-1/2 inches (24 cm) diameter, 10-1/2 inches (26.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Isezaki Mitsuru (b. 1934) was born to a family of potters, his father Yozan and brother Jun both very important in Bizen pottery. In 1998 Mitsuru was named a Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property for Okayama...

Red Hidasuki lines of straw on austere Bizen clay by the master of that genre Isezaki Mitsuru enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Perfectly turned bowl representing this important artists style. 13 cm (5 inches) diameter, 7 cm (2-3/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Isezaki Mitsuru (1934-2010) was born to a family of potters, his father Yozan and younger brother Jun both very important in Bizen pottery. In 1998 Mitsuru was named a Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property...

A Japanese water dropper in the form of a karashishi. It has a fine patina with the surface smooth from handling and darkened in places from accumulated grime. Inscribed signature on the base, unread. Probably 19th century.

Approximately 7.5cm long., 6.5 cm high. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

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A very bold and distinctive plate by well-known Bizen potter Kaneshige Makoto (Maruyama Kiln). The plate was purchased from an independent exhibition of Kaneshige’s early works close to 40 years ago and, following a accidental break, was skillfully repaired with gold joinery, or what is known as “kintsugi” in Japanese. Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi or, beauty in the imperfect, cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history of the object and a...

A stunning Globular Bizen vase like burnished bronze covered by a dusting of ash by living National Treasure Yamamoto Toshu enclosed in an artist signed wooden box. The style is called Sangiri, and Toshu has pulled it off to perfection here, the keen characteristic suiting this artists work. It is likely an older (pre-war) work boxed later. The vase is 7 inches (17 cm) diameter, roughly the same height. There is a mark on the base, roughly 2 inches long. Toshu, (1906-1994) began working in ...

Fantastic Bizen Sangiri stoneware vase made by Jun Isezaki (b. 1936).

Sangiri is the Bizen technique when the vessel is partially buried in sand in the kiln. The exposed area turns blackish because the ashes that cover it retards oxidation.
Jun Isezaki was named a Living National Treasure in 2004.

Bizen ware was originally produced in Imbe village of Bizen province since Kamakura period of 14th century.

Size
Height 22cm
Diameter 12cm

Co...

A spectacular pottery sculpture of the Okoze (Scorpion Fish) by Kimura Gyokushu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Bizen Okoze. It is 27 x 18.5 x 9 cm (11 x 7-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kimra Gyokushu was born the eldest son of the 16th generation Kimura Munetoku in 1953. He graduated from Nagoya University of Arts in 1976, then went on to be awarded the Okayama Mayor's Award at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition that same year. In 1978 he...

A Bizen stoneware figural study of Daikokuten with attributes including full face, large earlobes, smile, hat, bag of rice and mallet. Impressed signature cartouche. Good condition. Height, about 7 1/2 inches (19.05 cm). Length about 8 inches (20.32 cm).

The distinctive and easily recognizable style of Bizen pieces, such as the one featured here, originated in Okayama (south-western Japan) and has a long history that is closely intertwined with that of tea culture. Bizen-ware is known for employing a natural-ash glazing technique that is unique to this type of pottery and which requires extremely long firing times (7-14 days) at very high temperatures. This means that constant attention is required to ensure good results. The tea bowl here was m...

Sophisticated Bizen Tokkuri (Sake flask) made by one of the best artists of Bizen-yaki, the 2nd. Rakuzan Fujiwara (1910-1996). The Tokkuri was made 50 years ago and is still in mint condition. The surface is covered with natural glaze created with ash.

It fits also perfect as a small vase for a tea room and the tea ceremony.

The 2nd Rakuzan Fujiwara was designated as a Human Intangible Cultural Treasure of Okoyama Prefecture in 1953.

The Tokkuri comes with its o...

A Spectacular Bizen Tsubo dripping with ash glaze by Yukuyoshi Manabu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Yohen Tsubo (Kiln altered). The rim is covered in built up black ash, which grows more liquid as it enters the burning embers on the side, and is blasted around in rivulets to the back where it has created two shadows of raw earth where another pot was in close proximity. It is 23 cm (9 inches) diameter, 21.5 cm (8-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Yuk...

BLACK AND RED LACQURED CONTAINER

Old wooden lidded container for storing food like vegetables, lacqured up in the refined two tones of black (for surface) and red (for inside), once used among the middle class or richer in the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan, D 35 x H 26cm (13.77 x 10.23in). Some lacqure-peelings due to aging as is. Books in the last photo are not attached.


selected by antiques.iwata




* P...

A gourd shaped black Bizen Tokkuri by Oiwa Tomoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Tokkuri. A pleasure to view, the off-kilter form is blasted with powdery dry ash on one side which turns to molten rivulets on the edges crawling around to bead up on the opposite dark shiny clay. The Tokkuri 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Acquired on our recent trip to Bizen in June.
Oiwa Tomoyuki was born in Hyogo prefecture in 1977, and graduated the Bi...