The Hirado figure of a monkey with moveable head and tonge. Portrayed as a Shinto priest with the addition of a fan used in performing the Manzai dance during New Year's festivities. Blue underglaze and iron oxide wash on the biscuit and over the glaze. Meiji period. Good condition. Height, 3 5/8 inches (9.21 cm)

This attractive e-Shino bowl (“e†meaning picture) bears a pine-needle motif on the front surrounded by fields of dazzling ochre and white.

Fired in the kilns of Kato Kageaki (1899-1972), this Shino bowl is from one of the oldest traditions in Japanese pottery. Kageyaki was the 12th generation of Mino potters known for their distinctive styles of Shino and Oribe pottery...

A beautiful Hagi-yaki chawan done by well-known artist Kaneda Keien (1949-). Keien is an 8th generation potter who has been producing works for over 40 years and is the winner of several awards for excellence. A distinctive feature of his works is that they utilize an iron-rich soil collected on the island of Mishima in the Sea of Japan...

Nicely carved wooden,elm wood, display stand. Size: L. 40.2cm W. 23.8cm. H. 12.7cm. Condition: No repairs.

A lovely mizusashi for tea-ceremony. This piece dates from the Edo period and is of the e-Seto variety, “e” meaning drawing. Featuring rich earthy tones and intricate hand-drawn stencil designs of what appear to be a ring of passion flowers resting on a vine, this splendid composition leaves a lasting impression. Several kintsugi (gold) repairs attest to its great age and care that went into maintaining this piece through generations...

Fantastic execution of the Shino pottery style in the form of a bold and attractive Henko vase. The feldspar glazing and visually captivating red scorch marks serve as a backdrop for several attractive and well placed kiln effects—overall an exceptional piece by this artist.

Ando Hidetake was born the third generation of a Mino pottery family in Gifu prefecture in 1938. He began as an apprenticeship under Kato Tokuro in 1960...

Japanese shin hanga woodblock print by Shoda Koho (1871-1946) titled "A Bridge in the Rainy Season." This image was originally printed by Hasegawa circa 1910-1920. This lifetime impression was published after the name change from Hasegawa to Nishinomaya Yosaku and dates circa 1936-early 1940s. The Nishinomaya publisher’s seal is in the lower right margin. The artist’s black ink signature and red seal are at the lower left corner of the image...

A large and ornate kiseru (tobacco pipe) dating from mid-to-late Edo. The metal fittings forming the ends of the pipe are engraved with detailed cherry blossoms and maple leaves being carried by the current of a stream. The bamboo tube connecting the fittings is in excellent condition and displays a soft warm luster. This piece is quite large as kiseru go—measuring 11.2 inches in length (28.5 cm)...

Wonderful Taisho Period C.1920 ceramic fan-shaped Satsuma okimono. Thousands of painted raised dots create a textured masterpiece and beautifully executed hand drawn paintings of cranes, geisha and samurai. Very unusual shape for Satsuma. Perfect condition. Ask for shipping quote.

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...

This lovely plum patterned chawan (umebachi) is done in a classic style known as e-Gorai (“e” meaning picture and “Gorai” meaning Korean). This classification is somewhat of a misnomer as the style is said to have first developed at China’s Cizhou kilns in early Ming—only later being widely copied and popularized in Korea. e-Goriai wares first made an appearance in Japan by way of Korea at the end of the 16th century and have been highly appreciated among tea enthusiasts to this day...

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 this piece I thought 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 (like the bowl shown here)...

A lovely Shino tea bowl fashioned from coarse Mino clay and covered in a crackled feldspar glazing. The front and sides of the bowl are decorated with paintings of abstract foliage resembling Iris leaves and the base of the bowl is unglazed, displaying rough clay...

An armorer's (katshushi) tsuba by Miochin Munekane (signed.) Of smaller size associated with wakizashi. Engraved katakiri-bori flowers and vine decoration (six petals on vine, possibly clematis.) Artist line active between 1818 and 1887. Ex Robert Haynes collection. Good condition. A larger, sukashi tsuba at least by the same line, also signed Miochin Munekane, is in the Brooklyn Museum. 2 9/16 inches (6.5 cm) X 2 3/8 inches (6.1 cm) and 1/8 inch (.4 cm) thick.

Japanese bronze suiban, or a dish to be filled with viewing stones called suiseki, as well as small plant arrangements. The rim has flower petal incision motifs while the sides are decorated by medallions and a pair of handles shaped like elephant heads. Artist's signature on bottom.

Size: 17" L x 9" W x 4.5" H

Japanese tall hardwood vanity room mirror, with curved scroll feet, lower carved panel with flora and Japanese characters.

Taisho period (1912-1925)

Size: 20.5" L x 12" W x 48.5" H

Exquisite glazing featuring a gradation that seems a product of both firing conditions and careful nurture by the artist. This piece displays a wonderful balance and nice sense of three-dimensionality.

In fine condition, this tea bowl measures 4.7 inches in diameter (11.8cm) and stands 3.3 inches tall (8.2cm). The bowl comes with its own wood box with poetic name "朝日" (Asahi) inscribed on the inside cover.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Returning Home, Evening
Date: Pre-1936 (1920s or 1930s)
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. No. 508 in 1936 Watanabe catalogue.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
"Made in Japan" on verso.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7 inches.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
Condition: Excellent. Uncirculated.

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