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...

A yobitsugi Jar made up of various excavated kiln shards of central Japan dating from the Heian period (794–1185). It is roughly 32 cm diameter, the same height. Looking at the volume of debris and encrustations, it is likely that the upper most part of this tsubo, which is one piece, was buried in a kiln collapse, earth and stone fusing to the molten ash. During the Heian period, hole kilns were dug into hillsides, with a chimney bored down into the back. Sometimes during firing, or after r...

Antique Chinese pair of tall, square stands. Made of jumu (elm) wood with natural finish and strong grain. Each stand has a drawer that is hidden when closed. The bottom portion has an open lattice shelf with a cracked ice pattern.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions of each: 31" high x 15" long x 15" wide

Rare antique Japanese large kuruma tansu, wheeled storage chest. Made with keyaki (elm) wood on the front. The sides and back are reinforced with hinoki (Japanese cypress) slats. The upper portion of the chest has three full-width drawers held shut with a locking bar (bo). The lower portion has two medium sized drawers also held shut with another locking bar. On the lower right hand side is a safe box with a hinged door (with key) which opens to reveal 3 small interior drawers. The hardwa...

A rare Seto Heishi (also read Heiji) bottle dating from the Kamakura period (1192-1333) wrapped in a custom made silk pouch with age darkened Kiri-wood box. Streaks of an unusual blue shidare glaze are visible on one side, Unlike the vast majority of Heishi bottles, this piece is no unearthed or excavated but has been passed down from generation to generation (as evidenced by the lack of inclusions or calcification). It is 24 cm tall and in overall excellent condition, with only minor chips ab...

Box (kobako) in lacquer (urushi) powdered with gold (kinji) decoration in relief (takamaki-e) of the 3 friends (plum tree, pine and bamboo) on a mountain (perhaps Mount Horaï of the immortals?) The mountain is lacquered in red under the gold powder, revealing scarlet shades depending on the orientation of the light. The carefully executed interior represents a flight of flat-lacquered cranes (hiramaki-e), a subject in the ancient Heian style, on a background of spangled lacquer (nashij-i) formi...

An exquisite bronze image of an ancient sage, a gnarled staff supporting his crooked frame with a golden fan capped with silver feathers clutched in his right hand. The Detail is superb, from the evocative expression to the minute details on his robe and accoutrements. It is signed on the foot Seiun (Hara Souemon), a top quality bronze, expressive and detailed. The figure is 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
The Seiun family began bronze casting by the lost wax metho...

Japanese inkstand (suzuribako) in lacquer (urushi). Decor on a spangled background (nashiji) of a lakeside mountainous landscape treated in relief (takamaki-e) flat silver powdered details (hiramaki-e) and mosaic (kirikane ) gold and silver. The rocks are particularly well treated. The interior is decorated with a rich nashiji background forming scrolls of mist and flowers in relief. The suzuribako is complete with its original simple and gilded copper stone and dropper. The style of the decor i...

The Muromachi period in Japan, known for its artistic and cultural flourishing, produced exceptional pottery and ceramics, including this exquisite e-Shino incense burner. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this piece exemplifies the refined aesthetics of the time. Its elegant form, featuring gentle curves and a graceful silhouette, reflects the harmony between nature and art. Adorned with a lustrous glaze in shades of ivory, coffee, and pearl; this incense burner emanates ...

Sugimoto is very famous for achievement of reproduction of Raku founder Chojiro piece, and now he has developed the method and he has made new excellent works. Black raku chawan is regarded one of most important things in tea ceremony. YouTube movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td_-c4Kp2W4 Size: 11.5cm(D) 8.4cm(H) Accessary: double wooden box signed by artist

Rare box with 3 compartments in lacquered wood from the beginning of the Edo period, end of the 17th century, beginning of the 18th. Decor of chrysanthemums in a landscape. Some flowers are encrusted in solid gold. The decoration is in lacquer in light relief powdered with gold and silver on a nashiji background. Details in Kirikane. The silver is strongly oxidized and has turned greyish-black as on all very old lacquers of this period. In the bottom of the box on the base compartment we can dis...

A perfectly thrown and golden glazed contemporary Kutani Chawan made by one of the best Kutani-yaki artists, Hasegawa Suiko - please see! The beauty of the painted poetic motifs is simply breathtaking. Waves, a crescent moon and a toki, the Japanese crested ibis bird, so significant for Japan. The exceptional purity of the golden glaze is not found in any other work by Suiko as high class as in this tea bowl.

Hasegawa Suiko, born in 1958, lives in Ishigawa Prefecture. His work is ...

Coffee cup, Chinese export porcelain from the Qianong period, c 1770. European style decoration of a ribbon in overglaze blue and gilt, and scattered flowers in Famille rose enamels. Gilt borders and leaf handle. Height "2 ¼ / 6 cm. Condition: rim frits to the foot rim (cf. pics).

Chinese Export coffee cup with underglaze blue decoration of a diaper border and peony, chrysanthemum and aster(?). Qianlong period, c 1760. Height "2 ½ / 6.5 cm. Condition: a 1 cm hairline to the rim (cf. pics).

A Chinese Export coffee cup, slightly ribbed and foliated, a rather unusual shape. Enameled decoration of flower garlands in European Rococo style. Early Qianlong period (c 1740), a give-away as for the age is a little flower in iron red and gold to each side. Height "2 ¼ / 6.2 cm. Condition: little black spots and two hairlines (cf. pics).

A pair of blue and white Chinese Qing Dynasty plates. The smallest one has a 24 cm diameter, and is decorated inside with a geometric design at the center surrounded by a floral decor and a series of three concentric symbols going towards the rim, the potter's mark behind, and a very good condition. The larger one has a 28.2 cm diameter, with a large character in the middle surrounded by four concentric symbols going towards the rim and, at the back, four stylised "shou" characters around the bo...

A Ming cast-iron figure of Vairocana, the Dharmakaya Buddha, the most important of the Five Dhyani Buddhas, the one from whom the other emanate from; his name means "luminous" or "embodiment of lightâ€. He is sitting on a lotus throne, holding his hands in Abisheka Mudra (consecration gesture). On the back side there is a dedication: donated by the Li family. Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644. H. 27. Condition: Very good but with few casting mistakes on the back

A very rare and finely cast bronze image of the Daoist goddess “The Mysterious Lady of the Ninth Heaven” (chinese: Jiu Tian Xuan Nu). She is depicted standing on a stylised cloud and holds ritual implements in both hands, a sword in her right hand while the left hand holds a gourd. Remains of cold gilt. China, Ming, 16th century. H 22,5 cm. Condition: Very good, but sward blade broken off and of course with some loss to the cold gilt.