An early Eighteenth century export dish decorated with a central motif of a Large Vase on a Veranda containing an arrangement of Cherry flowers and Peonies. The border is divided into a series of fan shaped reserves of increasing size. Each separated by further vertical bands of blue brocade inset with Kikumon, The design is something of a departure from the more usual regular formats based upon the Kraak fuyo-de pattern...

A heavy porcelain jardinere or plant holder very finely painted with flowering peony and other shrubs in shades of underglaze blue and standing on three Chinese Ming Dynasty style Lion head feet. This item was made in Japan during either the late 19th or early 20th Century. Condition: excellent - no damages and no restoration. 21cm (8.25 inches) high; 31cm (12.25 inches) diameter.

An interesting dish decorated with an Arita Kraak style export pattern, see Mededelingenblad Nederlandse Vereniging van vrienden van der Ceramiek nr 101/102 plate 29 for the almost identical pattern executed entirely in underglaze blue. However it would appear here made for domestic consumption in somenishikide style in a combination of underglaze blue and enamels. The shape is unusually deep with a flared rim...

The subject is taken directly from a famous Neo-Confucian text on filial piety known as the "Twenty four Exemplars" (Japanese nijûshikô ) by Guo Jujing. This is the first exemplar in the series entitled Xiào Găn Dòng Tiān His Filial Piety Moves Heaven and Earth ...

A lovely Japanese porcelain Imari bowl with 2 ho-ho birds in the center symbolizing yin yang. Two more elaborate birds are painted on the inside panels. Unusual to find a decagonal bowl, it is in excellent antique condition with expected wear to the gold trim on the rim. Measures 7" (17.8 cm) across by 3" (7.6 cm) high. Signed on bottom. Dates 1700

A finely moulded Arita dish the upper third painted with a simple landscape containing a flowering Japanese Apricot, ume, symbolic of Winter partially “obscured” by the rim of the dish and Bell flowers, kikyo, Gentian, symbolic of Autumn. The remaining lower portion decorated with a stencilled, katagami, brocade pattern of hexagonal diaper with florets. The edge of the dish has a thickly applied dark iron brown glaze...

A fine Kakiemon dish painted with a tako-karakusa, octopus scroll, arabesque ring to the border of the foliate moulded dish. The centre of the dish decorated with a symmetrically arranged ring with a repeating pattern of a stylised Pine grove, matsubara...

A fine moulded porcelain dish of “Ko Sometsuke” kaiseki type decorated in underglaze blue largely in kakiwake, reverse painted style, with a floral arabesque to the rim. The cavetto plainly painted in blue wash and the well of the dish painted with auspicious pendant Buddhist jewels, yoraku, with three reserves each containing a figure of a Namban in a spotted tunic and hose with a ruff to his neck, and a matching frills to his waist and the hem of his tunic...

This nikuchi, or seal paste box, was created by one of the very few Imperial Court Artists of late Meiji and bears an attractive and subtle design etched on the cover. Seal paste boxes are used to hold the red ink paste used for endorsing official documents and works of art by way of an in-kan (official seal)...

Know more for his works of powdery-blue celadon, on occasion Sozan also produced fine white porcelains as well. This delicately-crafted porcelain kashibachi (sweets bowl) is one such example. Displaying a wonderful low-relief vine and leaf pattern on a backdrop of nearly eggshell thin ivory-white porcelain—this is a rare and interesting composition by Sozan I.

Suwa Sozan I (1852—1922) was born in an area of what is known today as Ishikawa prefecture...

A dish decorated in a Chinese literati style with a composition featuring principally a scholar’s refuge, Ting (Chinese), Teshi (Japanese ) beneath a rather curious gnarled tree with fan like foliage, presumably a Pine, and an auspicious ruyi (lingzhi) cloud pattern. This cloud motif, unki-zu, is essentially Chinese, xiangyun, relying on the homophone yun, yun, cloud, which sounds like yun, good luck or fortune, combined with Tian, heaven, so signifying heaven sent good luck...

A circular dish with slightly everted rim decorated with a landscape freize to the cavetto. The pattern is split into equal halves, by a zigzagging screen wall on one side, and an S shaped motif with ruyi cloud shaped motifs. The first portion of the design shows a pair of scholar’s playing Go sitting beneath a Bodri Tree set in a landscape with a scholar’s refuge cum tea house and oddly oversized autumn flowers, kikyo, bell flowers, and suisen, Japanese narcissus...

A circular dish with slightly everted rim decorated with a landscape freize to the cavetto. The pattern is split into equal halves, by a zigzagging screen wall on one side, and an S shaped motif with ruyi cloud shaped motifs. The first portion of the design shows a pair of scholar’s playing Go sitting beneath a Bodri Tree set in a landscape with a scholar’s refuge cum tea house and oddly oversized autumn flowers, kikyo, bell flowers, and suisen, Japanese narcissus...

Antique Japanese Nabeshima ware bowl, with cobalt blue design of waves and an array of scholar objects in mint green, lilac, yellow, and red glaze. Edges are decorated with "comb" design along foot. Underside has interesting signature mark of a budding flower. 19th century. Size: 6" diameter, 1.5" height

A moulded hexagonal bowl, hakkaku hachi, decorated to the exterior with an iron red ground inset with alternating reserves containing ribbon bound scrolls, makimono, and artemisin leaves, mogusa-ha, two of the Eight Chinese precious objects, Babao, hachitakara, and a band of stylised eight petal flowers, presumably Tessen the clematis flower, with leaves and pine branches...

This finely crafted tripod incense burner is one of several often-employed motifs used by renowned Meiji/ Taisho ceramic artist Suwa Sozan I. With a design borrowed from ancient Chinese porcelain production, this piece displays horizontal bands on a field of luminous light-blue—contrasting nicely with the lid which is a dark varnished wood.

Suwa Sozan (1852—1922) was born in an area of what is known today as Ishikawa prefecture...

Antique Japanese Nabeshima ware bowl, with blue gourds hanging from a vine and two red flower buds with gilt pigment accents on the stem and around the bowl's rim. Blue butterflies decorate the outer edge and "comb" design along foot. Provenance sticker from Japanese antique dealer Shiota in San Francisco. 19th century. Size: 6" diameter, 1.5" height

Antique Japanese Nabeshima ware bowl with scalloped rim to resemble a lotus, with blue cobalt florals designs along the outside and "comb" style design along the foot. The interior of the bowl has a black squirrel hunting for grapes. Provenance sticker from Japanese antique dealer Shiota in San Francisco. 19th century. Size: 5.5" diameter, 2.25" height