Brisk inky swirls have been struck into the milky white sides of this large bowl titled San-nin-mawashi Chawan (Teabowl for 3) by Shigemori Yoko enclosed in a signed wooden box. As would be expected of this artist, the work is spontaneous and energetic with no sense of caution or hesitation. The base is thick and solid, the entirety exuding a sense of confidence and strength...

Naoki Kojima Karatsu Black Plum Flower Guinomi (sake cup)

Ceramics artist Kojima Naoki (b. 1962) works in Sogen Kiln located in the town of Karatsu creating his pieces entirely from earth and natural colours.

Naoki Kojima opened a Karatsu ceramics store at the age of 18.
Held first single exhibition at 21 and decided to pursue ceramics. Later he opened his own studio and a kiln.
His areas of specialty are Chosen Karatsu, Kairagi, and Iro Chawan...

Wild, art deco mizusashi ceramic tea utensil from the famed Hagi kiln area. 10" tall by 5 1/2" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote.

A striking floral image decorates this odd shaped guinomi made to not be put down by Mizumoto Kayoko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Obana Guinomi. An Obana is a male flower, or a flower with only stamens and no pistils; lacking female reproductive function. The cup is 6.5 x 12 x 7 cm (2-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition, dating from last year.
Mizumoto Kayoko was born in Ishikawa, home to the Kutani Ceramic Tradition, in 1971...

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...

Marbled porcelain clay in lavender and black in wavelike scales form this sake set by Kusaba Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nerito Kuro Namimon Shuki Soroi (Matching Sake set of Marbled Black Clay). This is absolutely perfect for summer sake, the shape is open allowing quick pours and the high fired clay keeps cool, passing on the chill through your fingers as you pour...

Tall and slender jug in the shape of a storage jar for pickles or in the shape of an actual octopus pot (trap).
Grayish brown stoneware built up from coils of clay; the inside covered with green glaze, the outside left unglazed. On the outside sits a dark brown, three-dimensional octopus, the way an octopus would sit on an octopus trap under water, on its way to inspect the inside of the jug.

Black ink inscription, almost washed away completely.

Unsigned...

An absolute classic natural ash glazed sake bottle by the reclusive potter Oasako Mikio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hai Yu Tokkuri (ash glazed flask). Much of the dark surface is raw clay, with coals charring the front and tremulous tears of liquified ash dripping down both inside and out. It is 12 cm tall and in excellent condition...

A Japanese Arita porcelain plate or dish of circular form raised on a low foot. Decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a Kingfisher perched amid grasses and lotus fronds, the base has a running Fuku mark. In excellent condition, it measures 6 inches diameter and 1" high.

Antique Japanese Bizen ware ceramic sculpture of a pair of puppies. Each beautifully sculpted with charming features. Bizen ware pottery is made of the reddish brown clay with high iron content that is found in the area around the village of Imbe in Bizen province. Fine signature on base.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/4" high x 6" wide x 4" deep

Antique Japanese Bizen ware ceramic figure of Daikoku, the god of wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin). Daikoku is seen here seated on top of three large bags of rice. With his right hand he holds his wish-granting mallet over his head. With his left hand he holds a bag of precious things. Bizen ware pottery is made of the reddish brown clay with high iron content that is found in the area around the village of Imbe in Bizen province...

Daruma is the name called in Japan, he is well-known"Bodhidharma" as the founder of "Zen" Buddhism. He was a real Indian Buddhism monk and spreaded meditation method to China in 6th century, he had established Zen Buddhism. And then Zen Buddhism was transported to Japan. He has been called "Daruma" loved by Japanese ordinary people, they has been making doles or toys etc...

Japanese Meiji period Genroku porcelain hibachi of cylindrical form finely decorated around the circumference in underglaze blue plovers flying over crashing foaming waves set against a white ground. The base holds the mark of “Tominaga Genroku sei” together with the Genroku Studio mark. Tominaga Genroku (1859-1920) opened the Genroku kiln in Saga Prefecture in 1888 with a goal of producing fine quality porcelain. Following his death, the kiln survived under his sons until at least 1934...

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...

Excellent painted work of Okuda Mokuhaku (1800–1871) who is known as the reviver of the Akahada ware traditions during the late Edo and the early Meiji periods.

Mokuhaku Okuda, a wealthy merchant, was also a notable tea master of the nearby city of Koriyama, worked in the Akahada kiln in the mid 1800`s. His work involved various utensils and tea ceremony installments.
From creating artistic pieces to decorating utilitarian vessels, he is considered the master of Akahada ware...

Rengetsu Otagaki (1791-1875) was Buddhist nun who is widely regarded to have been one of the greatest Japanese poets of the 19th century.
She was also a skilled potter and painter and expert calligrapher and adorned her ceramics with poems written in her unique calligraphic style.
The cup style and the age of the glaze is consistent with authentic Rengetsu work.

Size
Diameter: 5.8 cm
Height: 4.3 cm

Condition
The cup has a crack but it is not a probl...

An elegant carved porcelain set of guinomi and Tokkuri, perfect for chilled sake on a hot summer night, by Masafumi Doi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seiji Chomon-Hineri Shuki (Celadon Swirl-Carved Sake Set). Sheer perfection, the design drapes like earrings (or Christmas ornaments) from the top above a belt of raw clay below which swirl waves, all performed simply with one glaze utilizing shadow and depth. The cup is 5.5 cm diameter (2-1/4 inches), the same height. The Tok...

An elegant metallic colored set of 2 guinomi and 1 Tokkuri, perfect or sharing chilled sake on a hot summer night, by Masafumi Doi enclosed in the original signed and compartmentalized wooden box titled Tessaiji Shuki (Metal Glazed Porcelain Sake Vessels). The cups are 5.5 cm diameter (2-1/4 inches), the same height. The Tokkuri is 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches) tall and all are in excellent condition. We picked these up earlier this year when we visited him in Nara, but are just bringing them out now...