A fabulous porcelain sake set by Minami Ayako from her legendary Yukifusuma (Blanket of Snow) series featuring a brilliant flower peering out from a drift of white, each enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Here both a sake cup and Kataguchi pouring vessel, the cup is 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) diameter. The Kataguchi is 15 x 11 x 9.5 cm (6 inches long) and both are in new condition.
Minami Ayako was born the daughter of Kutani artist Minami Shigmasa in Ishikawa prefecture, 1984...

A white pidgeon perches on a discarded or fallen roof tile decorated with calligraphy by Miyanaga Tozan enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 9 inches (23 cm) tall and in excellent condition. I believe this is likely by the second generation.
Miyanaga Tozan I (1868-1941) is one of the most important names in Kyoto ceramics. He was born in Ishikawa prefecture, and graduated from the (now) Tokyo University of Art...

A set of sake decanters in the shape of Split Bamboo Tea Whisks by the third generation Kiyomizu Rokubei enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The artists stamp is clearly impressed into the nunome cloth-textured base. They are 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition dating from the mid 19th century.
Kiyomizu Rokubei III (1820-1883) was the second son of Rokubei II (1790-1860) and took over the family kiln at the age of 18 after his father retired in 1838...

A Japanese Hirado Mikawachi Ware water dropper in the form of a puppy. The white porcelain dog is decorated with brown and blue spots on its body and brown highlights on his eyes, ears, and tail. The underside of the puppy is incised to show the legs, feet, and belly hair, and it has not been glazed. The puppy measures about 2 3/4" long x 1 1/4" high, and dates to the mid 19th Century. (Reference MCMCA M.2005,79.10) The condition is excellent with minor wear to the bottom...

Antique Japanese painted ceramic figure of seated Daruma. Made from a mold and painted, this is an unusually expressive and detailed depiction of Bodhidharma, the monk founder of Zen Buddhism. He has his traditionally intense expression and, in this case, his robes are decorated with flowers. Daruma is a popular good luck symbol for prosperity and perseverance.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10" high x 7 1/2" wide x 7" deep.

A refined set of Tokkuri and Sake-cup by Banura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Shuki. Exquisite, the flask is more delicate than usual, with a long diaphanous spout and decidedly thin rim. This is made for a discerning drinker, entirely about quality not volume. The cup too is perfectly formed with a thin rim everted ever so slightly, a pleasure to drink from. This set is the perfect complement to a true kaiseki meal...

Antique Japanese Kutani ware porcelain figure of a Pekingese dog sitting with right front paw raised, long fur flowing around him. A brightly painted collar around his neck. Painted details on his face and paws.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 6 3/4" high x 7" long x 4 1/2" wide

Large Leafed Vines are silhouetted against age darkened silver on this striking covered basin by Banura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. A segment of vine serves as a handle on the lid and it appears to float above the table on three ribbon feet. It is 25 cm (10 inches) diameter, 15 cm (6 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Banura Shiro (1941-2001) was born the fourth son of influential Lacquer Artist Banura Shogo...

A small Imari porcelain teapot of rectangular form with an arch-shaped handle ending in a blossom. Beautifully decorated with a hare and a dragon in a cartouche between flowery motifs in iron red, green, yellow and gold, the top with auspicious longevity characters in underglaze blue. The flat base without glaze. Condition: fine, only the knob of the lid with a tiny loss. Dimension: c. 14.6 cm high, 12.5 cm long.

Reminiscent of the Rolling Stones album cover, a wild sculpture by important contemporary sculptor Hayami Shiro. The bean shaped object is 15 cm (6 inches) diameter, 32 cm (12-1/2 inches) long and in excellent condition. It is signed on the base and appears to be dated 1999. Typical of this artist, it comes in a cardboard box
Hayami Shiro (b. 1927) was born in Kagawa Prefecture in 1927, and graduated the Tokushima Industrial University in 1949...

The mouth of this vessel by Kato Yasuhide is placed off center, dissonant to the linear decoration which causes a tension between the two. It comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Senmon Beni Hakusai Henko (Red and White Colored Odd Shaped Vessel with Line Decoration). It is 30 cm (12 inches) tall, 18.5 x 13.5 cm (7-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches) at the base and I excellent condition. Retaining the original Shifuu and Shiori...

Very large Japanese Meiji period Imari porcelain charger decorated in underglaze blue and overglaze polychrome enamels and gilt highlights with a background of rich brocade geometric forms. A scroll unrolls from the right to reveal the Gods of Good Fortune. At the left, moriage flowers in piled enamel rise behind a fence. A foliate form cartouche at the bottom holds the three friends of the garden (pine, prunus, and bamboo)...

A beautiful example of the iconic Zogan inlayed clay work of Takeuchi Shingo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The deep bowl swells in the midriff, closing at the rim to concentrate the aroma, with thin sides to allow the warmth to escape to the hands, a perfect bowl for winter tea. It is slightly elongated, 13 x 12 x 8.5 cm (5 x 4-3/4 x 3-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Takeuchi Shingo(b.1955) hails from Seto city, one of the oldest ceramic production centers in J...

Antique small Hirado ware figure of a boar. Made of porcelain and glazed white with great detail and charming expression. Hirado ware was first developed in the village of Mikawachi located in the area of Kyushu which was, along with neighboring islands, controlled by the Hirado daimyo. Initially Hirado ware was made exclusively for the daimyo's use. Later, Hirado ware found it's way west through Japan's trade with the Dutch East Indian Company.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)
...

This rare little gem is made by Morihiro Hosokawa (b. 1938) who served as the prime minister of Japan from 1993 to 1994.

He is also the head of the Kumamoto-Hosokawa clan, one of the noble families of Japan.
The clan was descended from the Seiwa Genji, a branch of the Minamoto clan, and ultimately from Emperor Seiwa (850 – 881) himself.
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, also claimed descent from this lineage.

Morihiro Hosokawa s...

A lidded Japanese ewer for serving saki or wine. The white porcelain pot is decorated with cobalt blue and then foliage and friezes were applied using red, green, and gold enamels. The cover has a flattened knob, and is decorated so as to match the body of the vessel. The kettle's body measures about 5 1/2"h x 6"d (with handle 7 1/2"h)(with spout 7 3/4"w), and dates to the second half of the Edo Period. The condition of the ewer is very good with no damage or repairs. The gold enamel decorati...

A Banko ceramic vase fired at the famous Banko Kilns in central Japan, recently known for museum quality art deco vases. The kilns had their start in the Edo Period (17th, 18th and 19th centuries). This sensational modernistic piece is signed by Hiroshi Shimizu and in its original box. Shimizu, born in 1944, is from a long line of legendary Banko artists. His father was declared a human cultural asset by the Government. Hiroshi himself has won a number of awards and prizes including the Minister...

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...