The Muromachi period in Japan, known for its artistic and cultural flourishing, produced exceptional pottery and ceramics, including this exquisite e-Shino incense burner. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this piece exemplifies the refined aesthetics of the time. Its elegant form, featuring gentle curves and a graceful silhouette, reflects the harmony between nature and art...

Japanese inkstand (suzuribako) in lacquer (urushi). Decor on a spangled background (nashiji) of a lakeside mountainous landscape treated in relief (takamaki-e) flat silver powdered details (hiramaki-e) and mosaic (kirikane ) gold and silver. The rocks are particularly well treated. The interior is decorated with a rich nashiji background forming scrolls of mist and flowers in relief. The suzuribako is complete with its original simple and gilded copper stone and dropper...

A rare Seto Heishi (also read Heiji) bottle dating from the Kamakura period (1192-1333) wrapped in a custom made silk pouch with age darkened Kiri-wood box. Streaks of an unusual blue shidare glaze are visible on one side, Unlike the vast majority of Heishi bottles, this piece is no unearthed or excavated but has been passed down from generation to generation (as evidenced by the lack of inclusions or calcification)...

A yobitsugi Jar made up of various excavated kiln shards of central Japan dating from the Heian period (794–1185). It is roughly 32 cm diameter, the same height. Looking at the volume of debris and encrustations, it is likely that the upper most part of this tsubo, which is one piece, was buried in a kiln collapse, earth and stone fusing to the molten ash. During the Heian period, hole kilns were dug into hillsides, with a chimney bored down into the back...

During Japan's Momoyama period, spanning from the late 16th to the early 17th century, Bizen pottery flourished, producing exquisite pieces such as this “shimokabura” or radish-bulb-shaped sake flask (tokkuri). Crafted from locally sourced Bizen clay, this tokkuri embodies simplicity and understated elegance. Its unassuming form showcases the natural beauty of the clay, enhanced by a delicate ash glaze and distinctive markings achieved through specialized firing techniques...

From a 2006 excavation site in Tokyo known to be occupied by the Owari Tokugawa clan—the most senior contingent of the Tokugawa clan that united Japan under one rule—this lovely Mishima tea bowl has been given a new lease on life with a gorgeous and detailed kintsugi repair with maki-e gold painting...

Hard porcelain dish decorated in underglaze cobalt blue. The scene represents a pavilion in a garden raised on the edge of a lake, several characters animate it. Probably scholars. The designs are artistically stylized in a very Japanese spirit. In the sky the clouds are drawn in a style typical of this period. The edge is glazed in brown. On the reverse appears the mark "Fuku". The quality is excellent, the blue is bright, the designs precise and the firing perfect...

Hard porcelain dish from the Arita kilns. Decor painted in cobalt blue underglaze high-fire. A couple of fallow deer are represented in an autumnal landscape. It would seem that the female is reluctant to fall mating because she is lying down while the male at her side rears up desperately to attract attention. In the background clouds (erotic symbol of the "game of clouds and rain") and a maple tree for autumn. On the right a weeping willow tree symbol of lovers...

Kogo in Japanese lacquer urushi, decorated on maki-e with a dog playing with a fan. The interior is Nashiji. Diameter : Inches. Japan Edo (1603-1868), End of 17th, early 18th century.

A stylized grass motif painted in ferrous pigment across each side and on the inside of this mukozuke serving dish marks it as being more likely produced in Karatsu as opposed to having come out of a Mino kiln. Though very similar styles and techniques were utilized during the late 16th or early 17th C. when this would have been produced; the color, distribution of glaze, and patterning suggest Karatsu...

The size of Shigaraki Vase: 13 3/4" High x 9 5/8" Dia 350 mm x 245 mm
This is very old and rare Japanese Shigaraki Vase from Early Edo (Edo Zenki) 17th Century. Please see the history of Shigaraki and what is Shigaraki at separate paragraph. The condition of Vase, please note there are two Kizu (damage spot) at the top rim area as photo showing.The lower body of line indentation is Hera (spatula) marking.and Kama kizu (kiln flaw). Otherwise great shape for the age from 17th century...

Box in black lacquered wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, golden details. The decor is composed of birds among plants and shrubs. The birds are very active, the one in the center tends to what appears to be a stylized egg in a nest? Probably a meaning. The designs are simple but harmonious and very elegant. The inlay work is empirical but the materials used are solide and they have stood the test of time well indeed the lacquer has not peeled off and the mother-of-pearl is still well maintained. ...

Wide gold bands mend the broken walls of this unearthed pottery bowl dating from the Kamakura period covered in earthy green glaze from the Seto region from around modern day Nagoya. It is 16.3 (almost 6-1/2 inches) diameter and ready to use. It comes enclosed in a modern collectors wooden box titled Horinote Hirachawan (Excavated Wide Tea Bowl).
Kintsugi embodies the spirit of wabi-sabi, a Japanese aesthetic worldview centered around imperfection, transience, and the beauty of the natu...

Momoyama period (1568-1600) Ko Karatsu Sake Cup with beautiful greenish glaze.
Shallow body with reddish unglazed base typical for Momoyama period.
Painted with iron pigment at the mouth on one side. It was more likely unearthed and repaired long time ago.

Size
Height 3.5cm
Width 13cm
Weight 175g

Condtion
Repaired with kintsugi

Karatsu ware, also known as "Karatsu-yaki" in Japanese, is a traditional style of pottery that originated...

Hard porcelain box from the Arita kilns decorated in the Imari style with stylized flowers and scrolls in underglaze cobalt blue and iron red. Gilded details. It is rare to find a box from this period in good condition. Japanese work from the Edo period, end of the 17th century. Diameter 15cm. Good condition.

Arita molded hard porcelain dish. This is one of the first productions for export which were made in small quantities around 1650. It was at this time that the ceramicists of Arita began to cover the edges of some of the porcelain with brown enamel, it is not a trivial gesture because the addition of this brown which is an overglaze enamel alone requires additional firing, which represented an additional cost and above all an additional risk of breakage. The spontaneity of these decorations, typ...

17th century Karatsu ware Tea Bowl (Chawan) made in Kihara kiln in Kyushu region

Kihara kiln of Kyushu region was operating during the transition times between the decline of Karatsu tea ceremonial ware and the raise of Shoki-Imari ware (approx. 1624-1671).
While most of the Kihara Karatsu tea bowls are excavated pieces, and it is rare to find a bowl in such good condition.

Size
Height 7.2cm
Width 12cm
Weight 289g

Condition
Very good c...

We have a particular interest in beautiful old Raku tea bowls and spend quite a bit of time searching for exceptional examples to include in our gallery. Here we see a beautiful work that appears to be at least 200 years old and likely much older. On the side can be seen the typical “hasami no ato” (tongs mark) and along the base on both the inside and the outside are impressed lines, formed during the firing process, that I have seen only a few times before and only on very old ...