This is definitely the best work by modern avangarde artist Hiramatsu Ryoma and it demonstrates his creative imagination and challenges the traditional boundaries of what defines a tea bowl.

He surely needs no introduction. Ryoma is one of those once in 500 years' type of artists. He is a potter who goes beyond that usual appellation...

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century, Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for. With crackled glazing and beautiful gold repairs of several types and from several generations, this antique tea bowl is quite attractive, a pleasure to use, and absolutely one of a kind...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) from the Niigata region of Japan. The front section is made of burled keyaki (Zelkova) and the sides are sugi (Crytomeria). The tansu has a pair of burled wood sliding doors over two burled drawers with heavy iron locks. Exceptional burled Keyaki wood.

Date: Early Meiji - 1870's

Dimensions: 34" tall X 32" wide X 20" deep

An antique Japanese two section tansu with lovely fan lock made of Kiri and Sugi. Mokko hardware with raised tea leaf corners. The chest's top portion has two large drawers with an adjacent small drawer and locked door with two interior drawers. The bottom section has two large drawers. Good condition overall.

Date: mid Meiji (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36" tall X 40 " wide X 17" deep

Height: 4.2 cm (1.7 in)
Width: 4 cm (1.6 in)
Depth: 3.6 cm (1.4 in)

Rare Japanese netsuke of Okame laughing and hiding an Oni under a basket; natural material; a quality piece by the artist, Gyokusai; signed on the base

An antique four case Japanese Inro with lacquer and gold flecked images of pine trees with a bone netsuke of a monkey holding a persimmon and an agate ojime.

Date: early Meiji Period: Circa 1880's

Dimensions: 4" long X 2.5" wide

In Japan every season and every phase of the year is marked by the presence of a flower, the most noted of course being the cherry blossoms signifying the long-awaited arrival of spring. Lesser known to the outside world is the importance of the iris flower marking the end of spring and the beginning of the summer months. Growing along river banks and in other wetland, the iris is thought to have purifying properties to ward off evil and is also associated with the expression of heroic deeds...

Not so often in the world of Japanese tea-ware do you come across something so exquisitely novel that it resists categorization in terms traditional styles...

An antique Japanese Sakata Bo Tansu also known as a locking bar chest made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original finish using a wiped lacquer technique. The bottom drawer lock plate features a Chrysanthemum blossom motif surrounded by outstretched Chrysanthemum leaves.

There are two small drawers hidden behind the hinged door. Working key unlocks the locking bar...

Japanese antique bamboo basket, with beautiful handle attached at the lower sides and bound with special decorative stylized knots. Hexagonal body of woven herringbone pattern. Feet at bottom are made of special decorative knots that are attached to ribbed shaped splines. Signed at bottom. The characters are: 寿雲斎作 "Made by Juunsai (寿雲斎)". Overall excellent condition.

Mid Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)
Size: Height 16 1/2" Width 11" Depth 10 1/2"

Pair of Japanese iron tsuba (sword guard), mounted on a stand, dating from the 17th/19th century with Hidden Christian motifs. The first tsuba composed of three iron interlocking circles, the image of the Cross can be seen. The second iron tsuba has a very delicate wire design in the interior representing the Crown of Thorns, also has a cross in the overall pattern.

Provenance Private Collector
Dates 17th-19th century
Size w/stand H 9 1/4" x W 2 1/2" x D 2"

An antique Japanese 2 section Nihon Matsu Tansu made of Urushi lacquered Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original finish and hand made iron fittings. Features double plum blossom Atari (handle stoppers) above and below the handles with Sho Chiku Bai (Pine tree, Bamboo, and Plum Blossom), lock plates featuring Chrysanthemum knobs. Two small drawers hide behind the hinged door.

The Nihon Matsu tansu is traditionally a large kimono storage chest that has spacious storage...

Rare Japanese Kutani porcelain figure of mother and child, individual work of art charmingly depicted with mother is kneeling and holding her child with focused attention after bath with bright reddish and raised floral design on towel wrapped at her feet and with hair held up with gold comb. Signed at bottom "Kutani" in kanji and with circular impressed mark. Good condition.

from a Los Angeles Estate
circa early 20th century
Size: 12" High 6 1/2" Wide 6" Deep

An antique Japanese 1 section Todana Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Four sliding doors open to a spacious storage area behind. Four drawers along the bottom allow for additional organized storage below. Original hand made iron fittings complete this beautiful chest.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 66 7/8" Wide x 33 1/2" High x 23 3/4" Deep

Sunrise colors grow gradually lighter toward the top of this odd shaped vessel culminating in brilliant pink by Miyashita Zenji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Saidei Kaki. It is 31 cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Miyashita Zenji (1939-2012) was born into the family of potter Miyashita Zenju, and graduated the Kyoto Municipal University of Art under Kiyomizu Kyubei and Kusube Yaichi...

Antique Japanese Bizen-yaki Beckoning Cat known as a Maneki Neko, with left paw raised for inviting happiness and welcoming friends and family. Incised signature on back dating to the Second Year of Genbun, 1737, also shop name of Yamaichi. Good condition.

Age: Edo Period, circa early 18th century
Size: 10.5"H 4.75"W 5"D

Antique Japanese boxwood okimono of swimming carp fish with sinuously shaped body and realistically carved scales and details. Lovely soft patina of golden brown color. Good condition.

Age: Meiji Period circa 1900s
Size: 14"L 4"H 4"W

An antique Japanese Gyosho Bako also known as a merchant peddler's chest with the outer case and hinged door made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and the inner drawers and drawer floor boards made of Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron fittings. Side handles swivel up allowing a wood or bamboo pole to slide through so that two attendants can easily transport the chest...