Simple arcs of bent-grass in iron decorate this large bowl by living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tetsu-e Chawan. It is 14.8 cm (6 inches) diameter, 8 cm (3 inches) tall and in excellent condition. It comes with a clipping from a newspaper announcing the naming of Uichi as Living National Treasure in 1985.
Shimizu Uichi (1926-2004) was born in Kyoto the son of a ceramic dealer...

Five Sake Cups by the ;legendary Okabe Mineo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seto-Te Hai. The cups hav a very intimate feel, tiny, just enough room for a shot, each in a different style of Mino ware: Shino, E- Shino, Ki-Seto, Nezumi Shino, and Ao-Oribe. Each cup is 4.5 cm (1-3/4 inches) diameter and all are in excellent condition. It even includes the artists biography from the time, still early in his career, likely 1950s...

Raised designs in slip decorate the yellow glaze of this deep bowl by Kawai Kanjiro enclosed in a kiriwood box titled O-yu Tsutsugaki-mon Wan annotated by Kawai Toshitaka, current head of the Kawai Kanjiro Museum. This piece dates from later in the artists illustrious career, 1950s-1960s. It is 4 inches (10 cm) diameter, 3-1/4 inches (5 cm) tall and in excellent condition...

Set of three large graduated Japanese Arita porcelain serving bowls, each decorated in underglaze blue with a landscape scene featuring a temple set against craggy mountains and trees. A flowing band of scrolling foliage encircles the exterior. Late Meiji Period to early 20th century. Base marked. In diameter, each measures: 10," 8 7/8" and 7 1/2." In height, they are 3 3/4," 3 3/8" and 2 3/4." Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or hairlines. From a Tucson, Arizona estate.

A minor divergence into one of the other plastic arts, here a silver flecked image of a carp made as a hanging vase by the iconic Kuroki Kuniaki accompanied by a signed wooden placard. It is 28 x 19 x 14 cm (11 x 7-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kuroki Kuniaki was born in Miyazaki prefecture in 1945. He began his career employed straight out of school by the Yamaya Glass Company in 1963...

An evocative image of a bear hunkered down and looking a bit befuddled, perhaps awaking from winter slumber, in un-glazed white porcelain from the Tatsuno kilns of Banko in Mie Prefecture. It is sealed on the base with two stamps, one reading Banko, the other Tatsuno. The image is 23 x 20 x 16.5 cm (9 x 8 x 6-1/2 inches) and in excellent condition, enclosed in a period collectors kiri-wood box. Imagery of animals such as this were very popular in the Taisho (1911-1925) to early Showa era...

A lot of drama on the undulating surface of this ash glazed Guinomi accented with deep shell impressions by Murakoshi Takuma enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Sake-nomi. This for a heavy drinker, quite large, perfect for Shochu (perhaps with a splash of water). The undulating dramatic form displaying square lug ears and with a gravity defying glass drip protruding from the rim is propped up on three shaky feet, I feel giddy just looking at it...

A fabulous ash glazed Guinomi accented with iron and cobalt by Murakoshi Takuma enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 8.5 cm (3-1/4 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. Created as part of a restaurant consignment of 50 Guinomi, (for which he created about 70 in total), I was able to get in just after the firing and choose what I felt were a few of the best before anyone had a chance to view. I think this is a unique opportunity to acquire one of his finest pieces...

Kiyomizu Rokubei Teacup Set of 11 cups for green tea.

The teaset refers to Chinese longevity teacups called Wan Shou Wu Jiang (万寿无疆 in simplified Chinese) where the character 壽 (kotobuki in Japanese or shou in Chinese) means Long Life and character 福 (fu) means Good Fortune or Blessing.

The Rokubei family is one of the most influential pottery clan from Kyoto leaded by 8th generation now with over 240 years of history.

Size
Diameter 6.6cm
Heig...

A set of colorful Tokkuri in the shape of squared gourds by Living National Treasure Kato Hajime enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Aka-e Hohyo Tokkuri (red glazed Tokkuri in squared gourd form). About the white bottom are fortuitous characters in green with a belt of blue, yellow and green in the center. They are 15.5 cm (6 inches) tall. There is slight rubbing of the red glaze typical of handling...

Peony are delicately rendered in white and gold with underglaze blue leaves veined with gold on pinkish white porcelain by Kiyomizu Rokubei IV enclosed in the original signed and compartmentalized wooden box dating from the Meiji period. The technique is fabulous, combining the Taihakujji style white with the Seika blue and flashes of gold, these were not simply dishes, they were works of fine art to be displayed at the table...

Dramatic waves are combed into the clay surface of this large Toban Platter by Living National Treasure Suzuki Osamu (Kura) covered in glass-like copper green; unusually signed and dated on bottom 1957 and enclosed in an artist signed wooden box...

A loosely brushed image of a Kingfisher perched on dilapidated lotus stalk decorates the crackled gohon pale glaze of this gourd shaped Mizusashi fresh water jar by Takahashi (Ninnami) Dohachi. It features a black lacquered wooden lid. There are cracks in teh lacquer of the looping handle. The signature is consistent with works by Ninnami Dohachi (Dohachi II) from the mid 19th century...

A fabulous bold design of crashing waves wraps about this balluster form by Miyanaga Tozan enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 26 cm (10 inches) diameter, 28 cm (11 inches) tall and in excellent condition. An unusual design and superb execution by this important artist. 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. While a government employee, he represe...

A small bowl in Kaki-yu by important artist Kawai Kanjiro enclosed in a wooden box upon which his friend and equally important artist Munakata Shiko has painted an image of the bowl outside titled Go-Kowan (Honorable small bowl) and inside annotated: Kanjiro Sensei Saku (Made by Kanjiro), signed Munakata Shiko. It is 10 cm (4 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966) was a true artist by nature, and together with Hamada Shoji, set a pattern of study for moder...

Antique Japanese studio ware porcelain vase, carved all over with a raised design of a dragon in swirling clouds over churning waves. The clouds are covered with a glaze that gradates from a deep blue at the top to a light blue where they meet the waves. Both the dragon and the waves are kept white with a very pale light pink glaze on the dragon's flames. A band of repeating lingzhi pattern in blue underglaze encircles the rim and foot of the vase. A four character signature on the bottom h...

A vibrant double vase covered in signature naïve designs by Yamashita Moe enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Morinoyoru (Night in the forest). It is 12 x 24.5 x 27 cm (5 x 10 x 11 inches) and is in excellent condition. Her work is filled with joie de vie, and one cannot escape a smile when viewing it. Even the box is painted with a bright green silhouette of the vase, titled and signed in pink!
Yamashita Moe graduated the Kyoto Zokei University of Art in 2004. Her work h...

Meiji Period (1868-1912) Japanese Raku Chawan with Amazing Glaze for Tea Ceremony Raku pottery is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremony since as early as the 16th century. Size Width 11.3cm Height 8.3cm Weight 340g + Box 260g Condition Overall good considering the age. Supplied with fabric bag shifuku and wooden box