Grain rises majestically on the surface of this pale vase by pioneering female potter Suwa Sozan II enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Mugi-mon Hanaire. It is 15 cm (6 inches) diameter 34 cm (13-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Suwa Sozan (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875...

A set of five exquisite crackled blue glazed tea cups by Living national Tresure Nakajima Hiroshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seiji Yunomi. We can clearly see with these why the artist was granted the most important title in the country. Absolutely exquisite, why not have your tea from a cup by an LNT?
Each is 8.8 cm (3-1/2 inches) diameter, 6 cm tall and all are in excellent condition.
Nakajima Hiroshi was born in Hiroshima in 1941...

A voluminous O-ido-gata Chawan Tea Bowl covered in rich green finely crackled celadon glaze by Living National Treasure Nakajima Hiroshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Chawan. It is 15.5 cm diameter, 9.5 cm deep and in perfect condition.
Nakajima Hiroshi (1941-2018) was born in Hiroshima, and established himself as an independent potter Yano, Saga Prefecture in 1969, choosing to specialize in the challenging field of Celadon ware...

A wild vessel with torn and faceted sides covered in smoke and embers by important Tamba artist Nihsihata Tadashi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yohen Hanaire (Kiln-altered Vase). It is 31 cm (over 12 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Nishihata Tadashi was born in Sasayama in the mountains of Hyogo, and ancient castle town in 1948. He began potting in 1969, focusing on items for use...

An organic vessel torn and hollowed from a block of clay in the Kurinuki style covered in lavender tinged white by Kaneta Masanao enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hagi Haku-yu Yohen Kurinuki Hanaire. It is 24.5 cm (just under 10 inches) tall, 18 x 15 cm (7-1/4 x 6 inches) across the base and is in excellent condition...

Viscous white glaze crawls and cracks on this round sake bottle by Shino Legend Hayashi Shotaro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 13.5 cm tall and in excellent condition.
Hayashi Shotaro (b. 1947) is one of the biggest names in contemporary Mino ceramics. Although initially entering regular employment upon graduating high school, in 1967 he returned to Toki city to help his brother Kotaro. Very quickly within him was born the urge to create...

A small Shigaraki pottery urn of very rough clay dating from the 16th century covered in thin natural ash glaze. The squat form known as Uzukumaru is very popular for its simplicity in Japanese Tea Aesthetics. About the shoulder is a lattice fence design engraved into the earth, otherwise it is unadorned and very humble. It is 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter, roughly the same height enclosed in an ancient wooden storage box...

A large figure of the Daruma in celadon glaze by Teishitsu Gigei-in Suwa Sozan I set on to a rosewood stand and enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The beautifully carved face and feet are in raw, burnt clay, the rest is entirely robed in pale green. It is 18.5 x 16.5 x 36cm (7-1/4 x 6-1/2 x 14 inches) plus the stand and is in excellent condition, signed inside with his koban shaped oval seal...

A beautifully formed earthen flask from the Bizen region, the fire-buffed side still gleaming softly while opposite it has absorbed time into the porous clay. It comes enclosed in a box titled Ko Bizen Kaijo Ko-Tokkuri, inside the lid is annotated the dimensions and the dating Momoyama Jidai no Saku (Made in the Momoyama period) signed by the great Bizen connoisseur Katsura Matasaburo. It is 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter, 13.5 cm (5-1/4 inches) tall and in overall fine condition...

A set of three spouted nesting bowls decorated in the traditional Mugiwara pattern of alternating stripes of russet red, pale blue and orange emanating like rays from the center. The larger bowl is 9.5 cm (just under 4 inches) diameter, 5.5 cm (2 inches) tall. The smallest is roughly 7.5 diameter, 4.5 cm tall and all 3 are in excellent condition, enclosed in an old kiri-wood box.
This traditional pattern is called ``Mugiwarade'' because its vertical stripes resemble ears of wheat...

A set of 8 small dishes dating from the later 19th century known as Mame-zara (bean plates) covered in cream colored crackled glaze decorated in the traditional Mugiwarade pattern of alternating stripes of russet red, pale blue and orange emanating like rays from the center...

One of my favorite potters, here is an exquisite yellow tinged vase like the dilapidated bamboo vase in the tea room by Sakata Keizo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hagi Takegata Hanaire. The clay is thick and heavy, giving the ephemeral form strength and juxtaposed sense of permanence. It is 32.5 cm (13 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Sakata Keizo (1949-2004) was born into the traditional Hagi pottery family of Sakata Deika. After graduating from university, h...

An exquisite Mizusashi in white glaze over dark gray clay by Sakata Keizo titled Hagi Haku-yu Zundo Mizusashi. It features a black lacquered wooden lid, contrasting starkly with the white glaze, like a frozen dark lake in snow. The vessel is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter, 18.5 cm (7-1/2 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Sakata Keizo (1949-2004) was born the son of the 13th generation Deika in Hagi city, and was raised among the kilns of the region. He graduated the Nihon Daigaku in 197...

Thick burnt red glaze wraps the surface of this vessel belted with a second coating of sheer crawling white by Kato Toyohisa enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nezumi Shino Hanaire. It is 24 cm (9-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kato Toyohisa was born in 1962. His work is both original and fresh and his challenging pursuit of Mino ceramics is evident in both his contemporary pieces and his traditional ones. He first exhibited at the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition in...

Incredibly thick white glaze envelops the base of this torn and twisted form by Kato Toyohisa enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shino Hanaire. The body is covered in pinholed white burnt red, with the remarkably white glaze below like fresh snow. It is 21.5 cm (8-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kato Toyohisa was born in 1962. His work is both original and fresh and his challenging pursuit of Mino ceramics is evident in both his contemporary pieces and his trad...

A fabulous cubist form with charred surfaces and natural ash which can be used both flat on a surface or with all sides rising by Furutani Taketoshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen Yu Kaku Hanaire. The texture appears to have been chiseled away, leaving deep clefts in which the flowing ash and coals have hidden and cooled. It is 18 x 18.5 x 18 cm (7 x 7-1/4 x 7 inches) and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Furutani Taketoshi was born th...

Elegant curves arc across the slightly flattened form of this Bizen Vase by veteran potter Isezaki So enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Henko. It is 22 x 24 x 28 cm (9 x 10 x 11 inches) and is in excellent condition. This was acquired directly from the artist on our recent trip to Bizen this summer.
Isezaki So was born the third son of important potter Isezaki Mitsuru in 1968, and was raised alongside the family kiln. At 18 he apprenticed under Bizen master Yamashita...

An iconic faceted tea bowl by Atarashi Manabu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Shinogi Chawan. The faceted body is shot through with color filled fissures, with a thick coating of green ash glaze on the fire side, raw flame colored clay opposite. The bowl is 12.5 cm (5 inches) diameter, 10.5 cm (4-1/4 inches) tall and in new condition, directly from the artist this summer. It compliments perfectly the Mizusashi from the same firing.
Atarashi Manabu has been growing...