The great artist Choraku III made a lot of fantastic chawans - for me this is SURELY HIS BEST: a mysterious Aka Raku Chawan with Buddhist symbols in white slip, which are drawn on the outside of the bowl, slightly deformed and perfectly balanced, definitely one of a kind!

With every turn of the bowl, a new face is shown, offering many opportunities for contemplative experiences...

Antique Aka Raku Chawan by greatest Kichizaemon Tan-nyu, ennobled with a REAL kintsugi gold repair.

Half cylinder shaped (Hanzutsu) tea bowl with a rounded brim, in the typical hand built style of the Raku family. The body is fully covered with a white engobe before the red glaze was applied.

The red glaze turned to to grey where it got in contact with charcoal in the kiln...

Rare Red Raku Summer Tea Bowl named "Yuki," crafted by Houshousai in 1861.

Dimensions:
Height: 6cm
Width: 16.5cm

Condition:
In excellent antique condition, with no signs of damage. Comes with the original wooden box from the period, bearing detailed notes about the artist.

Houshousai, a distinguished tea master from Kanazawa during the late Edo period, enjoyed close camaraderie with affluent merchants such as Choemon, Enemon, and Gohei...

Perfect Aka Raku Tsutsu Chawan made by the 10th generation Kichizaemon Tan-nyu and enclosed in an authentication wood box written and signed by the 12th generation master of Omotosenke, Seisei (1863-1937).

Tan-nyu (1795-1854) was firstly named as Sojiro. He was the second son of Ryōnyu, the second generation master. In 1811, at the retirement of his father-master Ryonyu, he succeeded as Kichiza’emon...

In Japan, woven baskets such as this are often referred to as “karamono” (Chinese style) to denote their stylistic origins tending towards symmetrical proportions and tight weaves. Though the maker and date of production for this piece are unknown, judging from appearance it was likely crafted in Late Edo or in Meiji—with the box being furnished at the time Houn-sai granted his endorsement...

Accents formed using iron pigment stand out across a backdrop of blue-green glaze. The base and a portion of the inside of this ceremonial tea bowl are unglazed displaying rich clay. Created by Shibayama Toshiya, this is an example of contemporary Japanese ceramics at its finest.

A native of Nagoya Shibayama (b. 1959) is exceptionally versatile, working in styles such as Seto, Shino, Karatsu, and Shigaraki among others...

This elegant work of Karatsu pottery has an unglazed foot, showing the rich ferrous clay, and displays a beautiful ashen glaze with hues of blue, grey, green, and a dark glossy ring encircling the top.

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...

An excellent offering from Higaki Ryota of Katsura Kiln, this piece displays a classic and iconic shape coupled with a beautiful Kase-guro glaze said to be used over 400 years ago by Chojiro. The color of this tea bowl changes quite dramatically, taking on the characteristics of its environment; light and cheerful in direct and bright lighting, more austere, deep, and reflective in standard tea room lighting...

If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a sake set he describes as “Ou-tekko” (pyrite) and “Ammonite” (same in English - a kind of sea fossil). Part of a series he has been developing, the ancient Ammonite fossil has been the inspiration behind his latest creations. Pyrite, meanwhile refers to the metallic patterning on the outer surface of the clay body...

A polished gypsum sculpture reminiscent of the matte works of Nigoshide ceramics from her home prefecture by Sugano Chi enclosed in a swooden box titled Akerakan and featured in the book Sugano Chii (published 1997). It is 16 x 14.5 x 16 cm (6-1/4 x 4-3/4 x 6 inches) and is in excellent condition...

This experimental work by young artist Hiramatsu Ryoma demonstrates his creative imagination and challenges the traditional boundaries of what defines a tea bowl. Described on the box as a “Kiretsu-mon” (ki = turtle, retsu = cracked, mon = design/ crest), according to Hiramatsu, his inspiration for this piece, and a number of others came from an ancient form of sea life known as an Ammonite—a large spiraled mollusk who’s shells are often found fossilized today...

Looking something akin to dragon skin with gilded beads glistening between the scales, this recent creation by young artist Hiramatsu Ryoma demonstrates his creative imagination and challenges the traditional boundaries of what defines a guinomi (Saké cup)...

Looking something akin to dragon skin with gilded beads glistening between the scales, this recent creation by young artist Hiramatsu Ryoma demonstrates his creative imagination and challenges the traditional boundaries of what defines a guinomi (Saké cup)...

The Mino region of Japan has been renowned for centuries for producing high-quality Shino, Oribe, Seto-guro, along with the style shown here, ki-Seto, or “yellow” Seto. The creator, Hori Ichiro, is one of the most acclaimed among Mino potters, tirelessly producing splendid works while continuing to use traditional methods passed down from other great potters before him...

A small celadon box by in the shape of an elephane by Akiyama Yo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Zo Kogo. Kogo are used to carry Shaped Incense...

Like the charred remains of an open book deep fingerprints still visible from the opening hands within, this is a fine example of the work of Avante Garde Akiyama Yo enclosed in the original wooden box dating from 2013. It is 6-1/2 x 5 inches (16/5 x 13 cm) and is in excellent condition.
Akiyama Yo was born in Yamaguchi, home of Hagi pottery) in 1953, but went to Kyoto to study at the Kyoto Municipal University of Arts in 1976. He has an impressive list of exhibitions both domestic and ...

The craftsman who fashioned this piece, the 9th Ohi Chozaimon (1901-1986), is the most widely recognized and most accomplished of the now 11 generations of Ohi potters. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture at the start of the 20th century, he took up the family craft and, at the age of 26, became the head potter. Raku tea bowls made by Ohi 9 are some of the finest you will encounter, comparing favorably to even tea bowls made by the main Raku lineage in Kyoto. The lightness of the clay, the s...

Kohiki is a traditional Japanese pottery style known for its simple and rustic aesthetic. It involves applying a white slip onto the vessel's surface, followed by a transparent glaze, creating a contrast between the white and exposed clay areas. Kohiki ware is commonly used in tea ceremonies but it can also be found in various other forms. Its humble and understated style, with organic textures and subdued colors, continues to be appreciated by collectors worldwide. Here we see a koh...