An unusual Arita wall-vase, kakehana, circa 1750. The seed-shaped hollow body is moulded with trailing vines supporting a dragonfly. The painter has used two different greens, aubergine, yellow and black. The unglazed back is pierced for suspension. It is probable that this kakehana was made for the home market.

In 52 years of business I have found only two of these unusual vases, this one I kept for my collection.

Approximately 16.7cm long...

From a large collection of Edo period Nabeshima and Hirado-ware, this intricately crafted vase features two serpentine dragons intertwined across the face of the round porcelain vessel. In addition to the carved dragons, the body displays a painted third dragon, much fiercer than the two in relief...

A rare Arita export dish decorated in Kakiemon style with a pair of Hoo birds, (Fenghuang or Pheonixes) amongst rocks and flowers, Peonies and Chrysanthemums. The rim decorated with a Bird and vine pattern arabesque. Identical dishes exist painted in this pattern but enamelled in the classic Kakiemon palette. The “Bird bird and vine” pattern appears on “Kakiemon” export teapots of the same period. The curious blobs arranged in groups of three, represent Stars, Hoshi...

This plate was made in Arita porcelain area at middle Edo period. Arabesque with flowers at the center, 3 chinese phenixes, 6 dragons are pictured around with fine brush strokes and octopus arabesque with blue glaze. The seal mark"大明成化年製" is commonly seen at the middle Edo age. Size: 34.2cm (D) 5.0cm (H)

Very rare large hexagonal plate. Turtles and cranes as the symbol of longevity in Japan are depicted with color and gold, it's very gorgeous. Size: 42.2cm(D) 4.0cm(H)

This deep plate was fired with no glaze at the first, and the second fired pictured traditional pattern with blue glaze and the third colored picture depicted peachs and flowers, and the last painted with gold. Very sophisticated piece. Size: 28.8cm(D) 5.0cm(H)

This large plate was fired with no glaze at the first, and the second fired pictured traditional pattern with blue glaze and the third colored picture depicted 2 Chinese men of literary taste and children playing at the garden, and the last painted with gold. The seal mark ”大明成化年製”was used at the middle Edo period, Very gorgeous piece. One more piece with the same pattern we have. Size: 41.0cm(D) 4.8cm(H)

One of the most prominent potters of the Meiji period and one of only five to ever be appointed as Imperial Court Artist, the name Tozan is synonymous with fine porcelains including: Kyo-style tea and sake-wares, pieces for the western export market, distinctively home-grown Japanese motifs, and expertly crafted Chinese-style pieces such as the one seen here...

A Chinese style celadon incense burner by one of the 5 Imperial Court Artists of Meiji. Sozan spent his life perfecting techniques for celadon production first used in the Souther Song Dynasty as evidenced here with his powdery blue “kinuta” glaze. The bottom of the vessel is unglazed showing the fine porcelain clay and the adjacent glazed foot bears his Imperial Court Artist seal...

This large plate was fired with no glaze at the first, and the second fired pictured traditional pattern with blue glaze and the third colored picture depicted 2 Chinese men of literary taste and children playing at the garden, and the last painted with gold. The seal mark ”大明成化年製”was used at the middle Edo period, Very gorgeous piece. One more piece with the same pattern we have. Size: 41.0cm(D) 4.8cm(H)

Decorated with a carp diving in waterweed executed in typically thick and strongly hued enamels. The back similarly decorated with oysters and weed, the centre with a large Kutani mark.

The Yoshidaya kiln was a short-lived venture, situated in Yamashiro, intended to revive earlier Kutani-style wares. The founding investor was Toyota Denuemon IV (aka Sekio, lived 1751-1827), a businessman who used the professional name Yoshidaya...

The dish is shaped in the form of a folded paper letter. Unusually it is decorated with a stenciled design of what appears to be a formal pattern of lightning behind an arrangement of stylised flowers. The back is simply decorated with pine needles.

Two dishes of very similar shape are illustrated in the Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, items 2604 and 2635, dated to 1690 ~ 1730.

Approximately 13.8cm wide. In fine condition...

The decoration of flowers on this khendi has been reduced to the absolute minimum possibly denoting its destination as South East Asia where early exports from Arita were made.

Approximately 20cm high. Weight: 1.30 kg...

Oliver Impey illustrates a coffee pot of the same form and design in ‘Japanese Export Porcelain, the catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.’

Made for the European market during the last quarter of the 17th century and probably copied from a Dutch metal version. These coffee pots have a purpose-made opening in the lower body but taps seem to have been fitted upon arrival in Europe...

The bowl and cover with moulded panels of shi-shi and botan, peony flowers. All against an underglaze blue karakusa ground. The cover is surmounted by a seated shi-shi.

Unusually, the coloured decoration appears to have been applied in Europe, not as ‘clobbering’ but in reserves left blank for just such painting...

The size of Plate: 5 5/8" Dia x 1 1/16" High.
This is beautiful Japanese Ko Imari Porcelain plate with Dragon and Ho-O bird design intricately painted in deep cobalt blue. There is also the clouds and Ho-ju design. There is marking on the back of plate...

An Unusual Imari Teapot of compressed form with loop handle and upright spout, raised on three short legs. Decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gilt with a peony scroll. Japan 1700/20. Height; 3" (7.5 cm). Condition; shallow chips to end of spout, firing glaze flaw to side (image 3), cover with a 1.5 cm hairline

A fine seji, celadon, and sometsuke style dish. In the early eighteenth century it would appear that this style of decoration was the preserve of the Nabeshima kiln. However in the Kyoho era during the Shogunates economy drive this style of porcelain was largely replaced with sometsuke patterns. Presumably, the prohibition on the production of this style of porcelain by the commercial kilns of Arita was relaxed or lifted during this period. The central pattern in underglaze blue is of a Peony...

Here we see a Chinese style celadon floral bowl by one of the 5 Imperial Court Artists of Meiji. The potter, Sozan, spent his life perfecting techniques for celadon production first used in the Southern Song Dynasty as evidenced here with his powdery blue “kinuta” glaze. The low-relief floral design really brings an elegance to this work and the celadon glaze seems to have an inner radiance all its own.

Sozan (the first) was born in an area of what is known today as ...

Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original wooden box titled Kagyu-tsuki Take Kake-hana-ire (Bamboo Hanging Vase with Snail) bearing the Teishitsu Gigei-in Seal of the Imperial Art Academy signed inside “Sozan, with Amateur Skill” followed by the artists seal in red. It is 49 cm long and in excellent condition. The only other I have ever seen in this style is published in the rare 1971 book Suwa Sozan Sakuhin Shu page 59.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikaw...

Were one to describe THE piece which epitomizes the vase aesthetic of Suwa Sozan I, it would be this epochal Red Fish design flaring celadon bottle. This is a superlative example, exquisite detail and come enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 29.5 cm (11-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Suwa Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875. Over the next 25 years he would...

An exquisite porcelain vase decorated with a delicate depiction in over-glaze enamel of plum and bamboo by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Gosai Bichiku-e Kabin (Vase with Plum and Bamboo in Five-Color Glaze). A rare work reflecting his roots in Kutani ware. It is 29.5 cm (11-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Suwa Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in...

Important dish, very decorative, in porcelain enamelled in polychrome, underglaze blue and gold, Imari, decorated with chrysanthemums and peonies in reserves of different shapes. Period: Meiji (1868-1912). Diameter: 63cm.

An Arita Blue and White Tea Bowl and Saucer. Decorated with a Sage and attendant visiting a Lady, two geese seemingly arguing below them. Arita, Japan C17/18thC. Diameter saucer; 11.6 cm. Condition; tea bowl perfect, some glaze crazing to the saucer

A very finely painted Nabeshima Okawachi porcelain bowl on a high footrim of Mokuhaigata form decorated in under-glaze blue with a pattern of five Hydrangea's in Bloom painted in “Korin Style”. The reverse decorated with three Peony motifs, botan karakusa, and the foot-ring with finely painted kushide comb pattern to the outside of the footring. The dish dates to the late Edo period circa 1800-1840. See Metropolitan Museum of Art New York for a dish in the same pattern, Accession number 93.3...

Antique Japanese porcelain figure of Manjushri. The bodhisattva is seated on a moss covered rock with one hand on a sword and scroll and the other on the fu-dog in his lap. Manju is usually seen riding on a large fu-dog, this image is a sweet departure from that tradition. The fu-dog look up admiringly. Mulit color glaze and gold details.

Age: Late Meiji Period

Dimensions: 18" high x 9" wide x 7" deep.

A very unusual octagonal dish in new style enamels dating to around the year 1800, featuring three figures, the main of which is a figure wearing a buttoned jacket and perhaps a klapmut style hat with distinctive slops, which identifies him as a seaman, rather than the more usual merchant; see last image no 6 a late 18th century print of a Sailor in “slops”. The tight curls of his hair betray his foreign origin, although he retains an overall oriental appearance. He is a tojin, a foreigne...

A large Kakiemon low bowl painted in underglaze blue with some light enamelling in yellow, green and iron red, somenishikide style made for the Japanese domestic market. The central reserve superbly painted in sansui landscape of mountainous cliffs overhanging a body of water with two small fishing boats. The cavetto of the bowl decorated with the shochikubai, the Three Friends of Winter. The reverse decorated with krakusa with chrysanthemum form blooms, symbols of longevity. The base of the dis...

This is a really nicely painted antique Japanese Arita porcelain covered bowl, sometimes called a chawan, dating to the Meiji era, circa 1870s-90s. It measures about 13.2 cm across the lid, and about 8.5 cm high including the lid. It is entirely hand painted, with garden scenes and a pair of plovers. The mark on the inside of the foot of the lid is a kakutomi mark, associated with one or more of the kilns of the Meiji era. This piece is in very good condition, with no cracks, chips or repairs, a...

Porcelain dish from japan, arita, kakiemon kilns. end of the 17th century. Decor in the center of phoenixes, rocks and peonies in overglaze enamels and underglaze cobalt blue (which is unusual for Kakiemon). On the edge, decoration of the three friends, bamboo, pine and prunus, by fantasy the artist added chrysanthemums. On the reverse the apocryphal mark of the Chinese emperor Tcheng-hoa. Traces of 4 pernettes of cooking. Diameter about 20cm. Worn enamels, a chip and a crack, visible in the pho...

An ornate porcelain image of a horse draped in full regalia by Miyanaga Tozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The detail about the head is fabulous, and the artist has done an excellent job capturing the musculature of the creature while allowing something ethereal. In Japan horses (and cows and foxes and deer and lots of other creatures) are often enshrined as messengers or embodiments of the gods in Shinto. This is 21 x 9 x 23.5 cm (9-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Gold dragons prance about the vermillion surface of this exquisite vessel by important Meiji potter Eiraku Zengoro XIV (Tokuzen) enclosed in the original signed wooden box which is in turn enclosed in an outer box also annotated by a later generation Eiraku. Remembered specifically for his mastery of Aka-e Kinsai ware, this is a museum worthy example of this important potters work. It is 43 cm (17 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Eiraku Tokuzen (Eiraku Zengoro XIV, 1853-1909) wa...

Ko Imari Oranda-jin Hexagonal Hakukaku Mukuzuke c.1800 A deep octagonal bowl, mukuzuke, or choku, decorated with eight panels containing figures of orand-jin Dutchmen in various poses and involved in a number of activities. Some carry canes or cudgels and are perhaps involved in some sort of martial activity, whilst others carry a dove, a chatusbo (tea-jar) and a ruyi sceptre, auspicious objects. The Japanese were particular fascinated with the mysterious foreigners attachment to animals as pet...

A fine Arita sometsuke fish shaped dish carefully modelled in the form of a Carp, koi-gata o-sara dating to the late 17C. See “The Trakatori Collection” Kyushu Museum 2020 for a set of similar dishes there dated 1670-1690’s. This example probably dates from the 1690’s, the Genroku era. Fish shaped dishes were a popular accompaniment of the tea ceremony, Chinese ko sometsuke examples made specifically for the Japanese market date from the early 17th century, Tianqi era. The Koi was...

A fine Arita sometsuke fish shaped dish carefully modelled in the form of a Carp, koi-gata o-sara dating to the late 17C. See “The Trakatori Collection” Kyushu Museum 2020 for a set of similar dishes there dated 1670-1690’s. This example probably dates from the 1690’s, the Genroku era. Fish shaped dishes were a popular accompaniment of the tea ceremony, Chinese ko sometsuke examples made specifically for the Japanese market date from the early 17th century, Tianqi era. The Koi was ...

Ko Imari Arita Koi-gata Fish Shaped Dish Nagazara Genroku 17C A fine Arita sometsuke fish shaped dish carefully modelled in the form of a Carp, koi-gata o-sara dating to the late 17C. See “The Trakatori Collection” Kyushu Museum 2020 for a set of similar dishes there dated 1670-1690’s. This example probably dates from the 1690’s, the Genroku era. Fish shaped dishes were a popular accompaniment of the tea ceremony, Chinese ko sometsuke examples made specifically for the Japanese market ...