Two shades of black form ethnic patterns on this hishigata vessel by Kiyomizu Rokubei dating circa 1960 nearly identical to figure 12 (page 85) of the catalog Yagi Kazuo to Kiyomizu Rokubei exhibited at the Muse Tomo in Tokyo in 2017. It is 18 x 13 x 24.5 cm (roughly 7 x 5 x 10 inches) and is in excellent condition. This came from the Rokubei family estate. No box
Kiyomizu Kyubei (1922-2006) was born Tsukamoto Hiroshi in Nagoya...

Rare Kiyomizu Nodate Summer tea bowl with fantastic hand-painting, made during the Japanese Meiji Period (1868-1912).

This summer bowl is in great condition with no chips or cracks.

Size: 7,3 cm height x 8,1 cm in diameter.

The history of Kiyomizu ware began approximately 400 hundred years ago. Kyoto was the center of culture and the biggest economic market at the time, which led it to feature pottery from all over Japan...

Kiyomizu Rokubei Teacup Set of 11 cups for green tea.

The teaset refers to Chinese longevity teacups called Wan Shou Wu Jiang (万寿无疆 in simplified Chinese) where the character 壽 (kotobuki in Japanese or shou in Chinese) means Long Life and character 福 (fu) means Good Fortune or Blessing.

The Rokubei family is one of the most influential pottery clan from Kyoto leaded by 8th generation now with over 240 years of history.

Size
Diameter 6.6cm
Heig...

A set of nesting bowls in the highly sought Taireiji style by Kiyomizu Rokubei V decorated with wild chrysanthemum in white on soft pink. Each bears an unusual six sided stamp reading Yunen. Undeniably Taireiji was the most important development by this innovative artist, and pieces are exceedingly rare. The larger bowl is 21.5 cm (8-1/2 inches) diameter10 cm (4 inches) tall and both are in excellent condition. They come in a later box annotated by the 6th Rokubei...

A delicate white flower blossoms on the pink surface of this exquisite vessel by Kiyomizu Rokubei V which comes wrapped in the original stamped cloth sack and enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Taireiji Kabin. The vase is 22.5 cm (9 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Taireiji was the most important development by this innovative artist, and pieces are exceedingly rare...

A fine Arita Chawan, rice bowl and cover, decorated with a tripartite scheme. The design quite cleverly incorporates the three principal styles or schools of Japanese Art of the late Edo period, the Namban, the Rimpa and the Bunjinga School. The first panel shows a Dutchman, gaijin, holding a cane standing in front of a table upon which there is a crackle glazed vase with Peacock feathers and a brush-pot...

A fine namasu low serving bowl of octalobed and scalloped rimmed form with a cobalt blue ground, lapis lazuli blue, decorated with three European figures hunting with a hawk painted entirely in gilt, kinsai gilding. The bowl dates to the late Eighteenth century and the Tenmei era. The bowl measures 15cm in diameter and is 5.5cm high and is in very good condition, except for a very small flake related to a firing flaw on the edge of the foot-rim, otherwise no hairlines or chips...

A very unusual “klapmuts” form bowl decorated with three near identical panels composed of a scene of Chinese boys, karako, in the quise of it would appear of monks. The main figure wearing a Buddhist crown is flanked by acolytes with Chinese Fans, presumably preaching to the remaining boys, who don’t seem to be paying a great deal of attention...

A very unusual octagonal dish in new style enamels dating to around the year 1800, featuring three figures, the main of which is a figure wearing a buttoned jacket and perhaps a klapmut style hat with distinctive slops, which identifies him as a seaman, rather than the more usual merchant; see last image no 6 a late 18th century print of a Sailor in “slops”. The tight curls of his hair betray his foreign origin, although he retains an overall oriental appearance...

A hard to find Silver Mist Series Chawan by Kondo Takahiro, enigmatic sgraffito under twilight blue covered in droplets of silver dew enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 9 cm (3-3/4 inches) tall, 10.5 cm (4 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Kondo Takahiro (b. 1958) was born the grandson of Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo. However, he graduated Hosei University not with a degree in sculpture or crafts, but in Literature...

A refined set of 5 later Edo Sake cups in a hybrid E-gorai style from the Kosobe kiln of Igarashi Shinbei decorated with pale blue designs (gnarled plum trees?) under thick cream colored glaze on very thinly potted clay blended with shiseki for great effect. This is likely the work of the second or third generation Shinbei, both known for their Korai-Utsushi (Korean style) wares. Each cup is 2-1/2 inches (6.5 cm) diameter. They are in surprisingly good condition, with no cracks...

A pair of rare Koto-yaki sake flasks decorated with florals and dating from the 19th century. Written on the side is the kiln name Koto (East Lake). Each piece is roughly 6 inches (15 cm) tall and in fine condition but for a chip on the inside of the foot ring of one.
Koto ware is one of those rare and highly prized ceramics of low production, once the official kiln of the Ii clan in Hikone on the Eastern Shores of Lake Biwa, its production rand from the early to late 19th century...

Rare lacquer box with nashiji background. Gold lacquer decoration in relief of pavilions in a lake landscape. Kirikane gold and silver, pine needles in yellow metal inlaid in high relief blackened by oxidation and dirt. Early Edo period, late 17°or earlier. Inside there is a tray. 18 x 10 x 8cm. A broken and badly glued interior edge (visible on photo). Sold as is, never restored nor cleaned. No lack. Very good condition considering the venerable age.

A rare example of an original extra large 9' Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki burl (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Hard to find large size with 9 drawers to the upper section and 4 drawers to the bottom section. 3 sets of sliding doors of varying sizes each with a split level shelf. Side slats provide support and visual design to the chest. Stunning original finish, chest is in excellent condit...

A beautiful original large Buddhist temple sitting lantern called Koshi Tsuridoro. These lanterns are placed in front of the entrance to the temple itself. The verdigris copper and wood construction is decorated with 8 panels of scrolling arabesque designs of lotuses. The front pair panels are hinged and they are secured with a lock and sliding flat pin.The diminutive transom panels of swirling cloud cut-outs sets the square domed roof on 4 piers. The panels are perforated with swirl...

Rare Antique Japanese kuruma or wheeled tansu chest of drawers, constructed with solid quartered sawn Keyaki (zelkova) hardwood in original red lacquer finish, with decorative heavy iron plates and mounts. The upper section of the piece appears to hold two long drawers behind a locking bar, but is really four drawers. The lower section has two long drawers behind another locking bar, each bar with decorative plating. The safe box door opens to four small interior drawers with bold Keyaki grain, ...

Incredible Antique Japanese kannon biraki tansu (storage chest with hinged doors) made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with original deep brown lacquer finish. The interior consists of 10 drawers of various sizes made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Each drawer has a square lock (with key) and warabite shaped drawer pulls. Extensive hand forged iron hardware on the exterior includes 9 hinges on each door, cross bracing and two locks (with key). Original finish and condition.

Mid E...

A fine large fan shaped sweetmeat dish decorated with a central motif of a wide mouthed baluster form vase flanked by a pair of rectangular shallow sand filled bronze trays, suiban, containing arrangements of Cherry, Camelia, Chrysanthemums and Pinkes. The rim framed by a Chrysanthemum arabesque and the reverse of the dish painted with floral sprigs in iron red and a thunder fret border in underglaze blue to the outside of the foot-rim. The dish is strikingly similar in form and decoration to e...