A pair of Japanese dishes or plates, Edo, probably 18th century. Over-glaze decoration in iron red, aubergine, black, green and gilt of scholars in a landscape of rocks and banana trees. In the centre Kirin, the mythical animal, in under-glaze blue. The back with auspicious symbols. Diameter "8½/ 21,5 cm (both plates). Condition: both dishes with some wear to the decoration, one with a chip to underside of rim (cf. pictures).

Three Shishi lions or “Foo dogs”, the guardian animals that used to be placed outside temples and imperial buildings. Two of the three originally formed the knobs of urn lids, the third and smallest is a lid from a miniature incense vessel or urn. Two with aubergine and green/turquoise glaze, the third in crackle-glaze gilt. Height of biggest Foo dog "2¾/ 7 cm, of smallest "1/ 2,5 cm. Condition: the angry, middle-sized dog has got his right back leg restored.

Gold invites the cool drink covered in a yellow glaze on this fine tokkuri by Ono Hakuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 5 inches (13 cm) tall, 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) diameter and in excellent condition.
From Aichi prefecture, Hakuko was trained by her father initially in the ceramic arts. However she was most strongly influenced by the great experimentive artist Kato Hajime (1901-1968) and his work with gold...

A beautiful antique Imari covered dish painted with purple, green and yellow spotted Chinese lions surrounded with peonies. The bottom section of the dish contains scrolling vine and geometric patterns. Age: 19th century. Size: Diameter: 9.75" Height: 5.8".

Exquisite fluted Imari vase containing intricate patterns of flowers and dragons.Flowers are painted in red and highlights of gold. The dragons are raised and painted in indigo blue. Age: Meiji Period circa 1880, Size: Diameter: 7.75" Height: 14.25"

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...

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 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...

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...

An interesting Japanese ceramic study of a woman giving birth. Black glazes with hints of green for the hair, clear glaze with blue color glaze for the washcloth. 19th century. Size: Length: 7.75" Width: 5.5" Height: 7.75".

A splendid Japanese Hirado reticulated censer. The censer has a reticulated lid and body with shishi lions on the side and chrysanthemum foliate decoration on the neck with a square base. Body and base has blue and white flower and crackled pattern. 19th century. Size: Length: 3.8" Width: 3.8" Height: 6.9".

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...

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...

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...

Two small Japanese porcelain dishes used for small side servings or morsels - both decorated with blue underglaze and polychrome overglaze enamels. One with asymmetric floral decoration and gilt foliate rim and spurious Chenghua mark inside the foot. The other octagonal with dragon decoration in the cavetto surrounded by flowering karakusa enclosed within alternating red and blue panels and the verso with geometric patterns...

Antique Japanese small Bizen ware water dropper in the form of a fu-dog with ball, beautiful details, minor losses, a charming piece. Size: 3 5/8" long x 2 3/4" high

A small, decorative Satsuma dish. Figures in Spring landscape. One of the five lakes vicinity Mt. Fuji. Flowers, wisteria, torii gate and structures. Anonymous. Good condition. Diameter 6 1/8 inches (15.55 cm)

If you wanted a fine Bizen sake flask this is the one, by Living National Treasure Fujiwara Kei enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It seems to encompass all the great characteristics of Bizen all wrapped in one small package. The vessel is 13 cm (5 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Born in Bizen City, Okayama in 1899, Kei did not enter the ceramic world until he was already 40 years old. In his youth he studied art and literature in Tokyo...