Attractive design, refined form, sensational glazing—this yuteki chawan by Morikazu Kimura would make a fine addition to any collection of Japanese contemporary ceramics.

Born in Kyoto in 1921, Morikazu Kimura took up the family tradition of potting from a very young age and spent much of his time researching and perfecting the Tenmoku style. In 1947 at the age of 26 he set up his own kiln in the exclusive potting district of Gojo-zaka and achieved much success...

Yunomi, Tea Cup; by Isamu Tagami of Hinata Kiln, Mashiko. Nami Jiro white glaze with brushwork of bamboo on snow pattern. H.3.25"(8.25cm) x Dia.3"(7.75c.) Volume=7oz(210cc.) Tagami Isamu was born in 1947 in Mooka, a village neighboring to Mashiko. He married into the Sudo family and apprenticed under Sudo Takeo. He was originally trained as a Japanese chef and had his own restaurant before embarking on a career in pottery, giving him a unique perspective on functional wares...

Yunomi, Tea Cup; by Isamu Tagami of Hinata Kiln, Mashiko. Kaki glaze with wax-resist pattern of bamboo leaves on snow. Nuka glaze interior. H.3.125"(8cm) x Dia.3"(7.5c.) Volume=7oz(210cc.) Tagami Isamu was born in 1947 in Mooka, a village neighboring to Mashiko. He married into the Sudo family and apprenticed under Sudo Takeo. He was originally trained as a Japanese chef and had his own restaurant before embarking on a career in pottery, giving him a unique perspective on functional wares...

An organic cup with sculpted sides covered in crackled pale glaze with random windows of raw and blackened clay by Ishii Takahiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 10.5 cm (just over 4 inches) tall and in excellent condition. His original forms and unique powerful glaze application strike a chord between nature, tradition and contemporary...

An eight sided Shino Yunomi Cup by Suzuki Osamu (Kura) enclosed in the original signed wooden box decorated with triangles in red. A striking work, it is 3 inches wide, the same height (7.5 cm) and is in excellent condition. Osamu was born in Gifu prefecture in 1934, and graduated the Tajimi Technical School ceramics division in 1953. That same year he was awarded at the 6th Dento Kogeiten Traditional Crafts Exhibition...

Pink and blue iris blossom among the green promise of Spring promised on this elegant vase by Miyagawa (Makuzu) Kozan enclosed in a wooden box annotated by the current head of the Makuzu Family in Kyoto, Makuzu Kosai. It is titled Yukasai Shobu no zu Kabin. It is 30.7 cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Yuichi Hasegawa (b. 1945)
Record of Wind Erosion (Red)
Japanese title: Fushoku-ki (Aka)
Date: 1989
Edition: 4/20
Signed in pencil by the artist.
Paper size: 24.25 x 12 inches. Image size: 20 x 8.75 inches.
Reference: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

A Japanese soft and valuable boxwood netsuke depicting a young naked woman kneeling with towel and bucket in the onsen bath 温泉, the Japanese “thermal baths”. Finely sculpted with an excellent patina and soft touch. Himotoshi (holes that allow thread to pass through) large and small on the back. The Japanese consider “communion in nakedness” important as it is capable of breaking down barriers and introducing new people in the relaxed and familiar atmosphere of the onsen. ...

A beautifully hand painted two panel byobu screen depicting a young samurai being prepared for battle. Signed and sealed by artist 仙挙 Senkyo. Painting is of a servant kneels before the samurai helping to assemble the many layers of protective clothing an armor...

Signifying strength and resilience, bamboo—together with pine and plum (sho chiku bai)—is an auspicious symbols running through the heart of Japanese art and culture. The young bamboo depicted here—sprouting from a patch of rocks—were composed by one of the most renowned and loved waka poets of the 19th century, Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875).

Rengetsu was born into a Samurai family but was soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki family...

This is finely carved, Late 19th century, Japanese Netsuke depicting a jovial looking Entertainer who is making music with a Hand Drum that he is holding in his hands, and Fan looking instrument that he is working with his feet. Excellent form and detail on this piece. It is signed Yoshiyuki in a rectangular reserve posted over the man's rear end...

An antique Japanese two panel screen painting (byobu) of the battle between the two historical figures Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Benkei.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (born Ushiwakamaru c.1159) was raised in a monastery near in Kyoto. His incredible skill as a warrior emerged when he was very young. In the scene depicted here, he famously defeats the great warrior-monk, Benkei (Saito Musashibo Benkei). The young Ushiwakamaru easily leaps over the larger warrior...

Japanese woodblock print by Yoshitoshi, Tsukioka (1839-1892) entitled "The Fever of Taira no Kiymori"...

Original Japanese woodblock print by Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) of a Japanese captive insulting the King of Ancient Korea. From the series Kyodo Risshiki (Instructive Biographies) and published by Matsuki Heikichi, it is dated 1885. In excellent condition, it measures 14.75 inches high, 10" across.

Yoshitoshi Tsukioka's Very Scarce (only about a dozen known copies) Book with Six Full Oban Size Prints, The Flowers of Japan and the Art of Floral Arrangement (First Edition). This is the best known existing copy of this book. Because the prints are in a book, they have been exposed to almost no light, so the colors are more vivid than anything you will ever see. Because there is no color loss, this is a unique opportunity to see what antique Japanese woodblock prints must have looked like when...

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
In the Moonlight Under the Trees a Beautiful Woman Comes (Getsumei Rinka Bijin Majiru)
No. 59 from the series "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon"
Date: 1888
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.5 x 10 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Publisher: Akiyama Buemon.
Carver: Yamamoto.
Condition: Some spots and creasing.
"The elegantly dressed Chinese woman represents the spirit of the plum ...

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Takakura Moon
No. 36 from the series "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon"
Date: 1886.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 10.25 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Publisher: Akiyama Buemon.
Carver: Enkatsu.
Condition: Slight creasing.
- Hasebe no Nobutsuru looks on as Prince Mochihito and his companion Munenobu flee from the Takakura mansion disguised in women's traveling costumes...

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Moon and Smoke (Fire)
No. 22 from the series "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon"
Date: 1886
Size: Oan. Approximately 14.75 x 10.25 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Publisher: Akiyama Buemon
Carver: Yamamoto
Condition: Slight toning and fading.
- Rival fire brigade standard-bearers stand on opposite rooftops. "The smoke and flames have been given texture by splattering lime ma...