A Spectacular Bizen Tsubo dripping with ash glaze by Yukuyoshi Manabu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Yohen Tsubo (Kiln altered). The rim is covered in built up black ash, which grows more liquid as it enters the burning embers on the side, and is blasted around in rivulets to the back where it has created two shadows of raw earth where another pot was in close proximity. It is 23 cm (9 inches) diameter, 21.5 cm (8-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

A deep bowl of textured clay covered in black glaze with an abstract of dribbled silver in the center by Shigemori Yoko enclosed in a signed wooden box titled Hai (Sake cup). It is 8.2 cm (3-1/4 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, enclosed in a wooden box annotated by her nephew.
Shigemori Yoko (1953-2021) was born in Kagoshima...

A gourd shaped black Bizen Tokkuri by Oiwa Tomoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Tokkuri. A pleasure to view, the off-kilter form is blasted with powdery dry ash on one side which turns to molten rivulets on the edges crawling around to bead up on the opposite dark shiny clay. The Tokkuri 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Acquired on our recent trip to Bizen in June...

A small powerful work in clear glass covered in spiraling silver foil with a lid of opaque black by Ogawa Kaoru enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ruri Koro. The piece is supported on three feet which seem to drip like black honey from the bottom while the same black crowns the six-sided form, rising in flutes to the finial. It is 13 cm (just over 5 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

I mirror like black vessel pinched together at the rim creating a comfortable sake serving container by Masatomo Toi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The vessel is 13 cm (5 inches) long and in excellent condition, directly from the artist. It is photographed here with one of his golden thorned sake cups.
Masatomo Toi was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1992, and graduated the Design course at the Tajimi Ceramics Research Facility in 2019...

16th century blue and white glazed Ko sometsuke porcelain dish, made in China for export to Japan for use in the Japanese Tea Ceremony, decorated with blue underglaze bird and flowers. "Ko-sometsuke (‘old blue and white’) porcelain was produced specifically for the Japanese market during the final decades of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)...

BLUE AND WHITE WITH GOLD

Japanese blue and white porcelain bowl repaired with kintsugi of an elegant gold single line, late 19th - early 20th century, approx...

Lapiz blue drapes in flowing rivulets over this cube by important Sodeisha member Kumakura Junkichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Aoi Kazari Tsubo. It is 12.5cm (5 inches) on all sides, and in excellent condition.
Kumakura Junkichi (1920-1985) began working in ceramics in the 1940s, his works submitted to innumerable National and International Exhibitions including the Japan Art Festival, New York and the international Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Florence Italy...

A Blue Mist series box by Kondo Takahiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box with two shifuku and toreki. A precursor to his monolith forms, this is an excellent example of this important contemporary artist. It is 18 x 12 x 14.5 cm (7 x 5 x 6 inches) and in perfect condition.
Kondo Takahiro (b. 1958) was born the grandson of Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo. However, he graduated Hosei University not with a degree in sculpture or crafts, but in Literature...

A fabulous bowl, scarred on both sides and decorated in the manner of the Oribe work held in the collection of the V&A by Shigemori Yoko enclosed in a signed wooden box titled Ao-tenten Natsu Chawan (Summer Tea Bowl with Blue Spots). It has been dipped in two different colors of overlapping glaze, with random strikes of black punctuated by dribbles and splatters of blue and red...

A fine little octagonal blue and white porcelain kakiemon style deep dish. Chocolate brown glazed rim, white body and clear glaze over cobalt blue decoration of a primitive, raised teahouse with loose thatch roof and slung entrance screen all under a large willow tree and, conspicuously, a spiderweb (perhaps to emphasize closeness to nature) in the foreground. The interior wall and rim decorated with repeating pattern and karakusa (scrolling vine and leaf)...

Reaching for his hat, the boatman leans out arms extended toward the prow, protected from the elements under a woven reed roof. This beautiful incense burner comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 24 x 8 x 10 cm (9-1/2 x 3-1/4 x 4 inches) and is in excellent condition...

White and blue porcelain incense burner. The boat is led by a young boy. The decoration of birds, flowers and waves is painted in cobalt blue hight-fired under glassure. No mark, Japanese Kyushu kilns work probably from Mikawachi (Hirado kilns, late 19th century.Meiji. Length.375mm. Good condition, some slight fired defects. An identical model but without the boatman (missing or broken?) is housed at the Los Angeles Museum (L.A.C.M.A).

An excellent pictorial reference book especially for novice collectors looking to train their eyes regarding how genuine pieces are supposed to look. Highly recommended with wonderful color photos throughout the entire volume. Four main sections addressing Satsuma, Imari, Hirado and Kutani. With so much fake imari and inferior satsuma on the internet these days, this is a must-have guide for novices collecting in these areas.

We have two of these books: This one has been sitting on our she...

A monkey reaches toward the moon, arms outstretched from the gnarled trunk of an ancient blossoming plum on the side of this large pottery bowl by Kiyomizu Rokubei IV and decorated by a young Takeuchi Seiho. It is 23 cm (9 inches) diameter, 9.5 cm (4 inches) tall and is in excellent condition, and comes enclosed in a fine custom made kiri-wood box.
Kiyomizu Rokubei IV (1848-1920) was first born son of Rokubei III, and took over the family business in 1883 upon the death of his father. N...

A murder of crows stand gaunt and sinister in the leafless winter's tree, their dark iron bodies mere shadows against the crackled pale glaze of this bowl signed Hobun Hitsu and stamped beneath with the six sided seal of Kiyomizu Rokubei V enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 8 inches (20.5 cm) diameter and in fine condition. The box is darkened with age, and was unfortunately taped shut for an unknown number of years, the tape tearing the wood from the center of the lid when it w...

Cranes soar before the red orb of the sun over festive young pines on these five ceramic bowls covered outside in red and black lacquer from the Nagoya studio of Toyoraku (also Horaku) dating from the mid to later 19th century, late Edo to Meiji eras. This set is exceptional! It is enclosed in a fine compartmentalized collectors kiri-wood box titled Owari Toyoraku Yaki Nuri Asahi-Tsuru-Matsu Suimono Chawan Go Kyaku (Five Owari Toyoraku Pottery Lacquered Soup Bowls Decorated with Pines, Cranes ...

An iconic Bizen sake set by legendary artist and Living National Treasure Kaneshige Toyo enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating from the pre-war era titled Inbe yaki Tokuri. The bottle is delicately rendered and features the play of colors and textures for which he would be known, with a dark gray rim, while the cup is thinly made in a warm orange tinge. Both bear his fundo stamp on the bottom. The bottle is 11 cm (roughy 4-1/2 inches) tall and both are in perfect condition, with an...