A yobitsugi Jar made up of various excavated kiln shards of central Japan dating from the Heian period (794–1185). It is roughly 32 cm diameter, the same height. Looking at the volume of debris and encrustations, it is likely that the upper most part of this tsubo, which is one piece, was buried in a kiln collapse, earth and stone fusing to the molten ash. During the Heian period, hole kilns were dug into hillsides, with a chimney bored down into the back...

Tall and slender vase of heishi-shape made of fine, light brown stoneware, covered in a multi color purple flambé glaze. Over this in mostly white enamel a scene is painted of a large, partially deconstructed/built up skeleton, tied to sticks, and a host of small skeletons dancing and running around it between small clouds of gold dots.

The shoulder of the vase decorated in blue, white and greenish enamels and gold with leaf-like shapes, meandering lines and dots.

Unsigned...

A tsubo by Living National Treasure Tokuda Masahiko (Yasokichi III) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 11cm (4 inches) diameter 27cm (11 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Tokuda Yasokichi III (Masahiko, 1933-2009) was born the first son of Tokuda Yasokichi II who had been adopted as a teenager into the Tokuda family. Masahiko graduated from the Kanazawa school of arts, and took up apprenticeship under his grandfather and father Yasokichi I & II...

A fine, modern footed dish with red, green and yellow overglaze and with cobalt blue and manganese underglaze decoration. The hexagonal, everted rim with red border defining a cloud band around conforming hexagonal cavetto with chidori (sparrows) alternating with polychrome squares - borders of decoration all picked out with manganese (giving an iron effect but fading nicely into the blue decoration rather than spoiling it with fade to brown...

HIDA HIDA

Ceramic work formed with paper coated with mad and burnt by me myself, Fumie Nishimura. ‘Hida Hida’ is a perticular Japanese onomatopoeia and would be somehow translated to “So frilled” in English. H 4 x W 10.5 x D 12cm (1.57 x 4.13 x 4.72in). Very delicate and fragile piece so that some parts will be chipped, though I'll try my best to pack it very carefully...

A very fine and unusual square plate. Arita 1790 - 1820. This fits into a group of porcelains that more accurately could be called ’white and blue’ produced at the end of the 18th century and beyond. This plate features exotic figures and an elephant. See the Shibata Collection, item 3831, for an octagonal plate of similar design.

Approximately 18.6 square. Perfect condition...

Marked “Hichozan” and “made by Maru(circle mark) hei”. Hichozan was a large organization located in Kyushu, the southern island of Japan. The organization did not make any porcelain itself but had large workshops decorating blanks from other factories. Most of the blanks were made at Mikawachi where the Hirado kilns were located. They also ordered underglaze decorated wares that they could supply to their clients...

A finely potted six-sun dish painted with the subject of two fisherman in a boat in the style Of Hokusai. The design is probably derived from several sources, notably the prints “Fishing in Rough Water” at Takamizawa, one of the 100 views of Mount Fuji and “Long line Fishing” on the Miyato river. The reverse painted with a Karakusa arabesque with a single spur mark to the base. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century...

A finely potted six sun sized dish decorated with a traveller clutching his hat and leaning into a cold wind before a snow covered Mount Fuji. The design would appear to be derived from a print of travellers in the Mishima pass, one of the 36 views of Mount Fuji. The reverse painted with a Karakusa arabesque with a single spur mark to the base. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century. The dish measures 18.2cm in diameter and stands 3.4cm high at the rim...

A well potted Hirado six-sun dish painted with a landscape with figures in the distance fording a river. This would appear to be a representation of the arduous crossing on the river Oi part of the Tokaido, probably derived from a topographical view, such as the Tokaide meisho ichiran, or similar. The reverse painted with a Karakusa arabesque with a single spur mark to the base. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century...

A finely potted Hirado dish featuring three figures wearing capes and carrying heavy packages upon their backs descending down a high mountain trail. Inferred by the small gnarled Pine trees on the wayside. Although no particular scene is identifiable the figures are in Hokusai “style”. The reverse is painted with a Karakusa arabesque and has a single spur mark within the base of the footring. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century. The dish measures 18...

The Hirado figure of a monkey with moveable head and tonge. Portrayed as a Shinto priest with the addition of a fan used in performing the Manzai dance during New Year's festivities. Blue underglaze and iron oxide wash on the biscuit and over the glaze. Meiji period. Good condition. Height, 3 5/8 inches (9.21 cm)

A Hirado blue and white porcelain bowl. Dragon decoration on the interior center. Flowerhead in mokkogata reserves decoration along the interior below the rim with pale iron oxide wash. Intricate dragon and phoenix decoration around the exterior. The unglazed bottom and foot with the smooth biscuit characteristic of the kiln. Taisho period. Good condition. Diameter, 5 1/2 inches. Height, 2 1:8 inches.

A Hirado porcelain monkey from Japan 19th century. He holds in his hand a peach glazed in iron brown and cobalt blue. Rare model, we know a similar monkey that is housed in Lacma (Los Angeles county museum of art). Our monkey must be older because there are important differences in quality, such as the expression of the face, the folds of the dress, the delicacy of the ear and the curve of the limbs. Perfect condition. Height 15cm.

A fine and unusual Hizen-yaki, Kakiemon type, small foliate dish. Chocolate brown rim in iron oxide. Unusual blue and white decoration of a samurai with a young monk across the saddle on horseback - bow drawn to ward off pursuing Buddhist monk. This appears to depict one of many tales of old Japan - perhaps The Take of the Heike as relates to Minamoto Yoshitsune and the warrior monk Benkei. A reading of the kanji may shed light. The back with auspicious symbols, key foot rim, and two character ...

A covered box in red tinged shino glaze by Hori Ichiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nezumishino Tobako. The pin-holed thick white glaze appears to be licked by the shadows of the flames, and on one side the artists finger prints are clearly visible as four molten points. The way the reds move like vapor across the surface it is as if it is still on fire. It is 10 inches (28cm) long and in excellent condition.
Hori Ichiro (b. 1952) graduated the Tajimi School of Ind...

Dark iron accents the rim of this mouse colored Shino vase by Hori Ichiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shino Hanaire. It is 26 cm (10-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Hori Ichiro (b. 1952) graduated the Tajimi School of Industrial Design and apprenticed under Kato Kozo. He has been awarded the Governors prize at the Asahi Ceramics Exhibtion, and has been displayed at the Chunichi Kokusai Togei Ten as well as Nihon Dento Kogei Ten. He says, “I believe in...

Red oxidation swirls among the crinkled white covering the sandy clay of this tea bowl by Hori Ichiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 11 cm (4-1/2 inches ) diameter 9.5 cm (3-3/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Hori Ichiro (b. 1952) graduated the Tajimi School of Industrial Design and apprenticed under Kato Kozo. He has been awarded the Governors prize at the Asahi Ceramics Exhibtion, and has been displayed at the Chunichi Kokusai Togei Ten as well as Nihon Den...