Simple yet classic styling—this tea bowl is perfect for anyone looking for the quintessential Ido-shaped chawan crafted by one of Japan’s premier Hagi potters.

Born in the famed pottery town of Karatsu in 1942, Zenzo Hatano spent a number of years learning the various styles particular to his region before taking up an apprenticeship under well-known Hagi potter Yoshiga Taibi...

Simple yet classic styling—this tea bowl is perfect for anyone looking for the quintessential Ido-shaped chawan crafted by one of Japan’s master Hagi potters.

Born in the famed pottery town of Karatsu in 1942, Zenzo Hatano spent a number of years learning the various styles particular to his region before taking up an apprenticeship under well-known Hagi potter Yoshiga Taibi...

Rough stones can be seen protruding from the unrefined ferrous clay—darkening near the base and graduating to a lighter shade as it approaches the feldspar laden lip. The inside—also covered in a smooth and viscous feldspar glaze—creates a magnificent contrast with the rough exterior...

Raku-ware carries with it a very naturalistic aura; with its implements made of raw clay, its use of fire water and air to shape and harden these implements, and with its myriad processes that produce smooth glossy surfaces—like those often found in nature. In fact, if you look more deeply into Raku, you find that many of the shapes and motifs are also inspired by nature...

Judging by the tomobako, the shifuku, and the patina of the bowl, this piece was likely fired in early Showa (1926 - 1936) when Sosen was thought to be most active.

Perfectly formed and resting firmly on a well-grounded kodai (foot/ pedestal), this chawan is vivid, light in the hand, and has a calming presence. The artist, Asao Sosen (1897 - 1978), was known for making chagama furo (Japanese ornamental brazier used in tea ceremony) as well as “Unge” stoneware of various forms...

Japanese inlay ceramics (zōgan) are created by making incisions on the surface of a clay body which are then filled with various colored clays, creating a pattern. After the pattern is finalized, an overglaze is applied and the piece is sent to the kiln to be fired. As can be seen here, the results are quite striking and produce unique patterns that cannot be replicated through painting alone...

According to the potter who crafted this fine piece, “The clay from our area in the north is alive. We listen to it in order to divine the most suitable objects to create.” Here we see the clay wished to become a well-formed ceremonial tea bowl with an impressionistic rendition of a Japanese Iris. Simple, well formed, and with a soft rusticity; a cup of tea becomes a meditation on the charms of quiet country living.

Originally from Iwate (b...

A beautiful Annan tea bowl with silver repair (gintsugi) and fine sense of "aji" bestowed by age. Ornately decorated with flowering chrysanthemum, the skillfully applied silver repair to the bowl implies that it was treasured by its previous owner.

Annan-Yaki, is a tradition of pottery brought to Japan from the Annan province of ancient Imperial China (now part of Vietnam) from the late Muromachi period (1392 - 1573)...

Surely an extraordinary confluence of circumstances must have come into alignment in order to bring this remarkable composition into existence. Done in the Korai style—referring to the heavy influence from Korean forms and glazing—this exquisite Edo period Karatsu-ware tea bowl features a white stripe running horizontally along the outer surface of the bowl known as Hakeme...

The creator of this lovely Hagi chawan, Hirose Tanga (b. 1939) is the master-potter of Tenpozan kiln in the city of Hagi. When I acquired my first tea bowl by this artist it reminded me of bowls produced by Yoshida Shuen (apprenticed under NLT Miwa Kyusetsu). As it turns out, Yoshida worked alongside Hirose in establishing Tenpozan and in training young potters in the art of “Oni” Hagi which utilizes a rough textured clay and a milky translucent glaze...

This striking chawan is a fine example of Oni Shino (carbon trap and natural ash glazing) that Tsukigata is so well-known for. Coining the term in the mid-50’s after countless failed experiments—which ultimately culminated in the discovery of this unique style of pottery—“Oni” translates roughly to demon or ogre...

This small vessel, similar in a shape to a tokkuri, is a fine example of Oni Shino (carbon trap and natural ash glazing) that Tsukigata is so well-known for. Coining the term in the mid-50’s after countless failed experiments—which ultimately culminated in the discovery of this unique style of pottery—“Oni” translates roughly to demon or ogre...

Over 100 years old, this exquisite lacquered box set was crafted in the fourth year of Taisho (1915). On the underside of the lid are painted butterflies and the sides and top of the box set feature Chrysanthemum flowers in gold, sumi, and mother-of-pearl. Long considered an auspicious symbol of longevity and rejuvenation in Japan, when first introduced to the island nation during the Nara period (710 – 793 AC), the Japanese Royal Family was fascinated with the Chrysanthemum...

A beautifully crafted and remarkable example of an early Edo period (1603-1868) Raku Chawan. This bowl is strongly reminiscent of the Chōjirō tea bowls, the first head of the Raku family.

This exceptionally well-crafted tea bowl has a very meditative presence and reveals its highlights of a typically Momoyama Period classic black glaze...

A simple yet refined bamboo sago or a scoop used to gather tea leaves from the tea jar. The top contains a carving of scholar rocks set among small bamboo and a small tree with slight foliage. The inscription on the top right, (Japanese: Gakusoka, Chinese: Xuesu jia) refers to a person who upholds or revives knowledge or education. The work contains a signature with the name Bunso or Wencong. Age: Meiji-Taisho Period Size: length: 1.9" width 6" height 1"

A fine shoe-shaped - katsugata tea bowl of black Oribe (oribe-kuro chawan), the coarse Mino clay is covered with a thick black glaze, on one side a cartouches featuring irregular strips patterns in iron-brown glaze on creamy ground. Japan, Edo, Meiji period, 19th cent. L 13.5 cm, H 6.5 cm. Condition: Excellent with signs of use and wear.

Considered auspicious symbols of wealth, status, and good fortune; foo dogs—commonly referred to as shishi or koma-inu in Japan—are often seen in pairs guarding shrines, straddling the doorways of shops, and protecting public buildings. This fierce guardian appears to be made from bronze, has very detailed and skillful etching, and a wonderful patina that would place it sometime before the turn of the last century.

Guardian lions are commonly seen in pairs. The male is almost al...

Old Chago, Japanese tea leaf measuring scoop made out of bamboo. Taisho period. 6 1/4" x 2"