Several years ago we were invited by our very talented kintsugi craftsman to what is known as a “kura-ake” or storehouse opening. Many reading this may be familiar with the traditional storehouses in Japan (kura) with their thick plaster walls used to store valuable items—sometimes for hundreds of years—safe from humid air, insects, and the like. On occession, after the passing of a parent or relative, these storehouses are opened up and the art pieces and valuables inside ar...

One of a kind art deco Ca. 1935 wood stand for incense burner or object. Thick wood and old Negoro lacquer indicates even an older time period. Condition good with some age wear. see pictures. 12" high by 12" wide with a depth of 7". Very rare. Ask for shipping quote.

A pair of lovely gold lacquered zen temple lotus offering stands Ca. 1930. Very good condition with minor wear. see picture. Height; 11" x Diameter of 5". Ask for shipping quote.

Lavender tinged crawling pale glaze covers the soft porous clay of this classically inspired Mizusashi by Living National Treasure Miwa Kyusetsu XI enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shiro-hagi Mizusashi. It is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter, 18 cm (7-1/4 inches) tall. It comes complete with the original ceramic lid as well as a Kae-buta (alternate lacquered lid) in a separate compartment within the box The box is contained inside a second, black lacquered wooden box, and all is in e...

A superb example of Karatsu ware by Nakazato Tarouemon enclosed in the original wooden box titled Tataki Chossen Karatsu Mimitsuki Mizusashi signed Jusandai Tarouemon. The pale clay is covered in white with color fingering its way through in permeated drips from the rim. The vessel is 19 cm (7-1/2 inches) diameter, 16 cm (6 inches) tall and in excellent condition. It comes complete with the original ceramic lid as well as a Kae-buta (alternate lacquered lid) in a separate compartment within t...

Very Rare LARGE Thai 13th - 15th Century Underglazed Bowl (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This superb large and extremely rare stoneware bowl was made during the 13th - 15th Century. It is "heavily-potted", coated in a white slip and decorated in underglaze iron, the design very similar to a smaller Vietnamese underglazed bowl we have from this period. It is coated in quite a thick clear pale green glaze that is finely-crackled. The thick foot is slightly splayed. Note the remains of the fir...

Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Bowl - Birds (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This blue and white porcelain bowl was made in the 16th century. It is decorated in underglaze blue of good colour, the design featuring birds perched upon blossoming branches. To the base is a seal mark (not translated).

Diameter 12 cm. It is in good condition. There is minor surface wear, some "fritting" of the glaze at the rim edge and a kiln scar at the top of the outer wall. It has a good ring ...

Larger Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Bowl (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This fine and attractive porcelain bowl was made during the 15th / early 16th century. It is decorated in underglaze blue of particularly good colour. In its centre enclosed within double blue rings is a peony, the emblem of spring and a symbol of riches, honour, love, affection and feminine beauty. A peony scroll decorates the outer wall. 

A larger size than most Ming bowls of this period with a dia...

Fine Thai 13th - 15th Century Celadon Stoneware Jar (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This attractively-shaped jar, or bottle, was made during the 13th - 15th centuries at the Sawankhalok kilns. It is coated in a finely-crackled translucent celadon glaze that falls short of the base revealing the stoneware body that has fired to a reddish-brown. There are bands of incised lines around the shoulder for decoration and two small loop handles. The glaze, where thin, has flaked a little from the r...

Thai Sawankhalok 13th/15th Century Stoneware Bottle (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This finely-shaped stoneware bottle, with its pear-shaped body and wide flaring mouth, was made during the 13th - 15th Century at one of the Sawankhalok kilns. It is quite "heavily-potted" and coated in a very unusual glaze of a dark greenish-blue colour with a most attractive crackled effect. There are incised bands around the neck. The glaze has run and sagged toward the unglazed lower body.

Height 13...

Chinese Song Dynasty Hare's Fur Bowl in Kiln Saggar (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This "hare's fur" bowl and kiln saggar were made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) and have been excavated from a kiln site in Fujian province. Presumably the temperature in the kiln during firing became too high, as the bowl is slightly misshapen and has become fused to the wall of the saggar by its glaze.

Diameter of saggar 14.5 cm, diameter of bowl 10 cm. The bowl with some "calcified" deposits ...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Early "Blue & White" Vase (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This rare bottle vase was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) by one of the kilns at Yuxi county in Yunnan province, one of the first places in the world where blue & white ware was produced. Similar wares were first unearthed in 1973 in Lufeng County, Yunnan Province although, surprisingly, such wares are still relatively unknown to western collectors. Indeed, a well-known London auctioneer recentl...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Early "Blue & White" Underglazed Jar (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This rare jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) by one of the kilns at Yuxi county in Yunnan province, one of the first places in the world where blue & white ware was produced. Similar wares were first unearthed in 1973 in Lufeng County, Yunnan Province although, surprisingly, such wares are still relatively unknown to western collectors. It is of an unusual, yet attractive form, q...

Fine Chinese Song Dynasty Incised Qingbai Porcelain Bowl - Boys Pattern (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This fine example of Qingbai porcelain was made during the Song Dynasty (AD960 - 1279). It is a conical-shaped bowl standing on a relatively high foot. The design on both the inner and outer walls has been individually carved, as opposed to moulded. The inner design features three young boys surrounded by various scrolling patterns and a spiral pattern in the centre. The outer wall has a s...

Very Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Early Blue & White Covered Jar (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This very rare and attractive small covered jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) by one of the kilns at Yuxi county in Yunnan province, one of the first places in the world where blue & white ware was produced. Similar wares were first unearthed in 1973 in Lufeng County, Yunnan Province although, surprisingly, such wares are still relatively unknown to western collectors. The underg...

Rare Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Qingbai / Dehua Porcelain Box (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This impressive porcelain box was made during the Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1368) or possibly a little earlier, toward the end of the preceding Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). It is made from a very translucent porcelain with fluted sides and an attractive moulded floral pattern on the cover featuring lotus blossoms. It is coated in a delicate translucent Qingbai glaze with just a hint of blue that is crac...

A Very Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Porcelain Lidded Jar - Jizhou Ware (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This very rare small jar was made in the 14th Century during the Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1368). Although it is clearly from the Jizhou kilns of Northern China it is painted on a porcelain body under a qingbai type of glaze. Usually Jizhou wares are on a stoneware body. The only reference we can find of this type is in "Qingbai Wares. Chinese Porcelains of the Song & Yuan Dynasties published by th...

Chinese Song Dynasty Qingbai Glazed Porcelain Dish (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This beautifully lobed dish was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) and has the simple stylishness typical of Song Qingbai porcelains. There are some glaze crackles which occurred during the firing, one of which, in the centre, penetrates through to the foot (please note that this not damage). The glaze is of a delicate pale green and has a silky "frosted" feel to it.

Diameter 15 cm (6 inches). Th...