A breathtaking work by Hashimoto Tomonari, deep space covered in random clouds and explosions of color like some precious treasure, the origin of life, from another world. It is roughly 24 cm (9-1/2 inches) diameter, 34 cm (14 inches) tall and weighs 4.2 kilograms and comes enclosed in a signed wooden box from the artist this year.
Hashimoto Tomonari was born the son of a sculptor and has felt comfortable with the processes of creation since childhood...

An Amazing Shigaraki flattened form with offset neck covered in pools of liquid green crystal and dark encrustations of ash by Furutani Hirofumi, head of the Churoku-en. This piece truly shows the best of what Shigaraki has to offer, in the exposed raw terracotta clay, the molten ash glaze, the Hi-iro color of flame, and the build up of dark ash deposits. Every viewing angle is unique...

Antique Japanese ceramic Oribe-ware fan-shaped dish. Glazed with a crackle white slip, deep olive-green and brown glaze and decorated with a pair of birds. Slab construction with fabric texture. Cut outs to suggest the ribs of the fan. Stands on three small loop feet. Signed and with tomobako.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 9" long x 11 1/4" wide x 2" high

A crusty black clay vase by Sakata Jinnai enclosed in the original signed wood box. Sculpted out into a crescent, it roughly forms a 24 cm (9-1/2 inch) diameter circle. Excellent condition.
Sakata Jinnai was born in Tokyo in 1943, and began as an apprentice under the legendary Kamoda Shoji in 1964, establishing his first kiln in 1966...

A quintessential example of this artists most sought-after style, a ‘Scattered Blossoms’ vessel by Kondo Yutaka enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Funka Bin (Scattered Flowers Bottle). The pattern of petals is impressed deeply into the surface, and filled with white slip, contrasting starkly against the textured black background. It is 23 cm (9 inches) tall, 17 cm (7 inches) diameter and in excellent condition...

Gold glimmers on the rim against pale concrete tones on this rare mid-Edo period tea bowl from the Utsutsugawa kiln in Nagasaki prefecture, late 17th to early 18th century. Waves of brush strokes decorate the outside, while the white slip cascades from the rim in withering streaks within. A kutsuki on the side testifies to some event which happened during the firing, where another piece of pottery collapsed against the side, fusing and causing the bowl to deform...

Antique Japanese Ishidoro - stone temple garden lantern hand carved out of granite in 6 sections. The lotus base is carved so that it is still connected to the hexagonal stone. The lantern section is similar in style to a hanging lantern with its curling warabite corner roof and pointed finial over a hollow hexagonal light box. This style of Ishidoro originates from the Kasuga Shinto shrine which give it the nickname Kasuga-doro...

Rivulets of ash dribble down the red earth sides of this vase by Nishiura Takeshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Echizen Henko. Positioning in the kiln, with one shoulder angled toward the flame, ensure the lip and one rounded corner are charred in that distinct ocher inidicative of the region. Elsewhere the ash is molten green. A great example of this lesser known ancient kiln site. The vessel is 18 x 13 x 17.5 cm (7-1/2 x 5 x 7-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition...

Antique Japanese Seto Ware stoneware ishizara (food plate). Covered with a cream colored slip and painted with a pair of crayfish in gosu blue glaze. Produced in or around the city of Seto in Aichi Prefecture. Seto is considered one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan.

Age: Tokugawa Shogunate, Edo Period (late 18th/early 19th century).

Dimensions: 8 3/4" wide x 1 3/4" high

Horses dash past in a fervent black mass both carved into and built up onto the paddled surface of this large vessel ballooning open from a narrow base by Nakazato Tarouemon XIII enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Inside the box is written Tataki Tsubo (Paddled Vessel), Kurabe Uma (Horse Race), exhibited Autumn 1958 at the Tokyo Mitsukoshi Sports Theme Art Exhibition; Ochawangama, Nakazato Tadao (given name of Nakazato Tarouemon XIII) followed by the artists seal...

Five serene white concave disks set on unique bases by Kato Yoshiyasu enclosed in the original signed and compartmentalized wooden box titled Asobi Kodai Hai, Gokyaku Soroi (Playful Foot Five Sake Cup Set). Each cup is roughly 8 cm (3-1/4 inches) diameter, and all are in excellent condition, from the artist this year. This set was assembled by the artist specifically for our gallery, and is the only boxed set like it in the world...

A heavily encrusted glossy sake flask by Tanimoto Kei compliments a Guinomi displaying a rustic matte finish by his son Tanimoto Takeshi enclosed in the original signed wooden boxes titled Iga Tokkuri and Iga Guinomi respectively. Bīdoro glaze (a type of natural wood ash glaze formed by firing, named from vidro, the Portuguese word for glass) coalesces into a yellow crystal rivulet on one side of the Tokkuri, opposite is a shadow of gray ash...

Two sake cups notched and torn from pure white porcelain by Kato Takahiro enclosed respectively in their original signed wooden boxes decorated with overlapping cubes titled Sake Cup...

Although I love Bizen pottery for myself, I rarely offer it on the website as the colors are so subtle and designs often so very Japanese. This Chawan by (certainly for her era) the rare female potter Konishi Toko II is a striking exception. It stands out in a room of Bizen as if ringing a bell. This bowl is slightly smaller than normal, with a feminine grace to be found in the gentle curves, 10.5 cm diameter, 8.5 cm (3-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition enclosed in the original sign...

A large and rare mid Edo period Tamba Funa-dokkuri Ship Bottle made with flaring mouth and wide flat bottom for use on Ships. Down the side is inscribed the date Kyoho Gannen (First year of Kyoho, 1716). The Akadobe clay is covered in rich green glaze cascading in rivulets all about, with a few scattered windows of raw clay exposed. The base is slightly concave, impressed with a fern leaf. The Funa (ship) tokkuri shape was originally made for the use on ships, the side bottom keeping it fro...

A very rare colored figurine of a egret standing, foot raised, by Miyanaga Tozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Known best for his celadon and sometsuke porcelains and tea ware, this figurine is a scarce example of his talent with figuration. Beautifully rendered in life-like detail, it is 21 cm (8 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Miyanaga Tozan I (1868-1941) is one of the most important names in Kyoto ceramics. He was born in Ishikawa prefecture, and graduated fr...

A breathtaking Koro in the shape of a roaring lion by Miyanaga Tozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box. This is one of the best pieces I have ever seen by this important artist. It is 25 cm (10 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Miyanaga Tozan I (1868-1941) is one of the most important names in Kyoto ceramics. He was born in Ishikawa prefecture, and graduated from the (now) Tokyo University of Art. While a government employee, he represented Japan at Arts Expositions, a...