A pair of men-tori gourd shaped sake flasks by Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. One flask is decorated in blue with bamboo and the characters Sei-Fu (pure wind). The second is dated in blue and pink with pomegranates with the inscription “For the use of Yuzo, October 27, 1976”. Both are signed on the base. It is likely these came from the artists own personal collection. Each stands roughly 5 inches (13 cm) tall...

A set of five Meiji period dishes hand painted by Suzuki Hyakunen in commemoration of the Gosho-Nai Dai-Hakurankai (Exposition in the Imperial Palace, Kyoto) stamped on the underside with the event name and each individually signed by the artist. The literati scenes include a scholar contemplating a waterfall, Mountain retreat lost in rugged hills, sails on the lake, traveler in the hills and horses on the lakeshore under weeping willows...

A large Mimitsuki Vase covered in deeply fissured celadon glaze by Suzuki Sansei (b. 1936) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The translucent glaze is like that of an agate, shattered with heat, the crackling wide in the thick pale bluish green fog. The vase is 11 inches (28 cm) tall, 5-1/2 inches (13.5 cm) diameter and in perfect condition.
Mitsunari began with a six year apprenticeship under Kawamura Seizan and has received innumerable awards over his 40 year career...

Charred ash deposits are baked into the side of this large Tsubo by Shigaraki Representative Otani Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Rivulets strike out from the heat blasted face, the coloring pleasing on all sides. The Tsubo is 10-1/2 inches (26 cm) diameter, 9 inches (23 cm) tall and in perfect condition.
Shiro (born 1936), of Shigaraki, was a student of Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi and Kiyomizu Kyubei...

A flamboyant vase by Kawai Toru enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled: Gosu Mentori Ashitsuki Tsubo. Outside the vase is covered in Gosu blue, inside contrasted with iron red. The shape is all Toru, an artist who took the work of Kanjiro and moved beyond, as represented in this large tri-legged tsubo. The vase is 14 inches (35 cm) tall, roughly 12 inches (30 cm) diameter and in perfect condition.
Toru was born in 1941, the son of Kawai Takeichi...

Superb Kenzan ware decorated with designs of overlapping fans depicting an early winter scene with a house gate by pine trees covered with a rice straw mat as well as Japanese old poems on the interior and with stylized Japanese pampas grass design on the four sides. Edo period. In the interior decoration dated "gen-bun ni-sai" means 1737...

A large Shinshoku Ware-tsubo eroded through natural processes during firing with a shattered rim attached to the body at the shoulder. This piece is a virtual textbook on Yohen firing effects. Tamadare, Shinshoku, koge and other effects are supplanted by a large white kutsuki on the front, all under the shadow of the shattered rim fused to the shoulder. It is roughly 10 inches (25 cm) tall, the same diameter enclosed in a fine kiri-wood box...

Each uniquely carved row of frets on this large textured koro is a variegated shade of raw clay by Matsuzaki Ken enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The piece measures7 inches (17 cm) square, 9 inches (22 cm) tall and is in fine condition.
Matsuzaki Ken was born in Tokyo in 1950, and grew up in that dynamic post war era where tradition and modernity were at constant loggerheads...

A very cool Ginsai covered dish by Banura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Bright silver swirls to the center alternated by wrinkled lead colored glaze. It is 8 inches (20.5 cm) diameter and in excellent condition.
Shiro was born the fourth son of Living National Treasure for Lacquerware. His sensitivity to textures may stem from that exacting influence...

Burnt yellow glaze streaks down the body to form encrustations of glazz on the base of this organic looking vessel by Hori Ichiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition...

A large and rare work by Sueoka Nobuhiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is decorated with huge magnolia flowers (in Japanese mokuren,the tree lotus) growing up one side, and hanging down the other like the traditional opposing dragons. The piece is 16 inches (40 cm) tall and in excellent condition
Nobuhiko was born in Fukuoka on Japans Main Sothern Island in 1948, and apprenticed under future Living National Treasure Fujimoto Yoshimichi in 1973. He stayed working with Yo...

Flying goma ash dusts the ribbon scalloped sides of this large Bizen vase by Matsumoto Katsuya enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The piece is 12 inches (31 cm) tall, 11 inches (28 cm) wide and in excellent condition. Born in neighboring Hyogo prefecture in 1942, at the age of 29 Katsuya apprenticed under Fujiwara Yu. He opened his own kiln in 1976. In 1982 he debuted at the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition) and has consistently been exhibited there sinc...

A draping curtain of dark torn Bizen clay folds over the enigmatic form of this vase by Kaneshige Kosuke enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Texture varies from chattered extrusion to long, combed lines. Soft shades of color glow on the sides of the dark clay. The vase is 9 inches (23 cm) tall, 13 inches (33 cm) wide and in excellent condition, dating circa 1990.
Kaneshige Kosuke was born in 1943, third son of Bizen pillar Kaneshige Toyo. He studied from an early age with his ...

The edges burn dark brown on this large Bizen vase by Kawabata Fumio enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Green ash clings to the upper surface, peeling away from the superheated corners, the bottom rich dark raw clay. The vase is (‘29 x 21 x 36 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Fumio was born in Yokohama city in 1948, far from the traditional kilns of Bizen hundreds of kilometers to the west in Okayama. After studying graphic design he was captivated by the natural landscap...

A large and exceedingly rare work by Kiyomizu Rokubei V (Rokuwa, 1875-1959) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. In relief are scrolling vines and flowers in white and pale blue on a soft porous pink glaze. For a nearly identical work see the collection of the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Modern Art, or the book Kiyomizu Rokuwa (1977) figure 60 (dated 1923). The vessel is 42 cm tall, 28 cm diameter and in fine condition. The box is stained quite dark with age.
The Rokebei family i...

A large sculptural vase by Eiraku Zengoro XVI (Sokuzen, 1917-1998) enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating from the 1950s, an era when Japan was redefining its own views on art. This is an excellent example of work from that time. Born into traditional tea ware, Zengoro XVI was with the rest of his compatriots, experimenting with new ideas and new forms, unafraid of a dawning new era. This piece is 35.5 cm (14.5 inches) tall, 17 cm (7 inches) square and in fine condition. Born in...

A family of Stonefish (Okoze), the deadliest fish in the world, swim across the pure white surface of this large Tsubo by Uchida Tadashi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 12 inches (30 cm) diameter, 13 inches (34 cm) tall and in excellent condition. The box is titled Tetsu-e Okoze-Mon Tsubo (Tsubo decorated with Okoze fish in Iron) and includes a thank you card from the artist to the collector. A label tied to the box chord states it was purchased from an exhibition at Takashi...

Namako glaze runs down, creating rivers flowing around the horns on the sides of this massive pot by Suzuki Kenji (1935-2010). Looking within one sees the volcanic explosions where the glaze pooled, bubbled and burst in the center. The vessel is 18 inches (45.5 cm) tall, roughly 13 inches (33 cm) square and weighs 20.5 kg (45 pounds). It is in fine condition. By size and structure it would be acceptable for display either inside or out.
This is from the Matsui family collection of Fush...