A beautiful black Raku bowl with golden lightning splitting across the surface like an eruption of light in the night sky. It is roughly 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. An exquisite repair.
Kintsugi embodies the spirit of wabi-sabi, a Japanese aesthetic worldview centered around imperfection, transience, and the beauty of the natural cycle of growth and decay...

Thick molten ash drivels over the shoulder of this fabulous 17th century Shigaraki Tsubo storage jar showing all the great attributes of Shigaraki ware. It has a large open ware (pronounced wa-ray) crack down the front, which does not go through to the inside, and the fire blasted front surface is shot with fine heat cracks. A large Kutsuki to the lower let shows where it adhered to something else in the kiln during the firing...

A glistening incense burner in the shape of a court cap by Eiraku Zengoro enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating from the 19th century. Gold designs gleam on the regal plum surface. It is 15cm×10.5cm,18cm (6 x 4 x 7-1/4 inches) and appears to be in perfect condition.
The Eiraku family is one of Japan’s most important and historically significant lines of pottery artists in Kyoto, tracing back to the 16th century...

A vase by Kiyomizu Rokubei V featuring auspicious calligraphic characters opposite a boy staring at the moon from atop his ox decorated by Domoto Insho enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 22 x 15 x 37 cm (9 x 6 x 14-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kiyomizu Rokubei V (Shimizu Kuritaro, 1875-1959) initially studied painting and decorating technique under Kono Bairei, one of the foremost painters in Japan in the Meiji era...

No two faces are the same on this incredible Toyoraku ceramic stacking box covered in gold and silver Maki-e lacquer dating from the 19th century. Inside is typical Oribe style green over crackled cream colored glaze with floral designs in iron. Outside lightning strikes in silver separate the multitude of intense lattice designs in fine gold lines on black lacquer. Stacked they are 15 x 13 x 17 cm, each vessel 15 x 13 x 4.5cm tall, and in excellent condition...

A looping handle sweeps above this fabulous bowl decorated with burgeoning gourds by Takahashi Dohachi VI enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 21 x 18 x 15 cm (8 x 7 x 6 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Takahashi Dohachi VI (1881-1941) was born the second son of the 4th generation Dohachi in Kyoto...

A Ko-Seto-yu Chaire Tea Container by Teishitsu Gigei-in Suwa Sozan I wrapped in a chord bound silk pouch enclosed in the original signed wooden box tied with deer leather, the box bearing the seal of the Imperial Art Academy. It is 5 cm (2 inches) tall and is in perfect condition.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875...

Dragons charge the sides of this large water urn covered in crackled pale glaze emblazoned with a panel which specifies: Water for the 11 Faced Kannon (Quanyin). Inside is lined with iron glaze. Outside key frets surround the rim leading to a nearly flat shoulder upon which blossom five petaled plum flowers. Below this the dragons vie in the tempest, with the base drawing precipitously covered in Shipppo designs (7 treasures). It is 38 cm (15 inches) tall, 34 cm (13-1/2 inches) diameter...

A small vase sculpted in the shape of a cluster of roses covered in cockscomb red by Kiyomizu Rokubei V enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The vase shows the influence of Art-Nouveau, and Rokubei was one of the leading proponents of blending Western and Eastern ideals in clay art. The vase is 6.5cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter, 18.5cm (7-1/2 inches) tall and in perfect condition. It comes wrapped in the original artist stamped cloth complete with the original black wood stand...

Rare Kenjo Karatsu Chawan decorated with inlaid cranes and clouds design made in the mid Edo period (1603-1868).

Kenjo Karatsu refers to the Karatsu ware that was officially presented to the Tokugawa Shogun family by the lord of Karatsu Castle in Hizen.

The mouth is wide and gently narrows from the edge to the bottom. The body is covered with a glossy white glaze, and the base is unglazed...

A quintessential Iga vase dating from the Edo period, the rough clay covered in thick ash glaze. It is viciously charred, testament to the tempest in the kiln, with molten ash flowing freely over the surface. This is a perfect complement to a Japanese chashitsu tea room or traditional flower display. It is 24.5 cm (9-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. In a Japanese tea ceremony room, historically vases were made to match the ambiance of the humble setting. Although I did not write i...

A striking baluster from vase decorated with sinister crows hunched in the silhouette of a leafless winter tree signed on the base Satsuma Kinunzan and dated on side the fifth month of 1911. This fits in perfect with our Kwaidan theme this month, the brooding figures austere against the bleak winter sky, something ominous, a lingering threat. It comes enclosed in a wooden box with a long inscription inside the lid which appears to state it was received from the master of the Satsuma Kinunzan stu...

Tiny repairs of gold glint along the rim of this misshapen wan-gata bowl from the Utsutsukawa tradition of Nagasaki. The bowl comes with a silk pouch enclosed in an old wooden box. There is a kutsuki on one side, where it adhered to something else in the kiln. The bowl is 12 x 10.5 x 6.5 cm (4-3/4 x 4-1/8 x 2-1/2 inches) and is in overall fine condition, dating from the 19th century.
Utsutsukawa-yaki originated in Nagasaki in the late 17th century. It is said it began when Tanaka Gyobus...

Bats, symbol of good fortune, flit over the sunset surface of this Ki-seto vase by Kato Sakusuke enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kiseto Kabin. An inscription inside begins Fukuju ? Zu (Lucky ? Image) and appears to be dated 1919 in the 60 year cyclical Zodiac calendar (possibly 1859). This is followed by the signature of a painter who also signed and dated the vase, indicating Sakusuke made the vase, while another artist provided the decoration. It is 31 cm (12 inches) tall a...

A beautifully sculpted incense burner in the shape of a nesting crane dating from the 19th to opening of the 20th century, Late Edo to Meiji period). It comes enclosed in an age darkened kiri-wood collectors box. It is 12.5 x 24 x 16 cm (5 x 9-1/2 x 6 inches). Although not altogether clear there appears to be a possible old repair to the back of the head.

A striking Peacock feather colored flambe glazed vase by Leading Kyoto Potter Uno Ninmatsu enclosed in a signed wooden box dated the 10th month of Showa 5 (October 1930). It is 28 cm tall and in excellent condition.
Uno Ninmatsu (1864-1937) was born in Kyoto son of potter Wada Sohei and studied under his father as well as from a young age Seifu Yohei II then future Imperial Art Academy artist Seifu Yohei III until setting up his own studio at the age of 21. Outgoing by comparison to the ...

Featuring rich earthy tones and intricate hand-drawn stencil designs of passion flowers resting on a string of vines, this bowl would be perfect for displaying an ikebana flower arrangement. A kintsugi (gold) repair attest to the age and care that went into maintaining this piece through generations. The label on the lid of the box reads “e-Seto Karatsumon O-wan” indicating a large Seto bowl with arabesque hand drawings (絵瀬戸 唐草文 大鉢). The piece also features a technique known ...

A large lozenge shaped bowl of thick clay covered in fawn spotted glaze by Kiyomizu Rokubei V decorated with a poem by Hashimoto Kansetsu enclosed in the original wooden box signed by both artists titled Gohon Fuseikei Hachi (Bowl of irregular shape in Gohon glaze. It is quite large, 34×26.5㎝ x 15cm (13-1/2 x 10-1/2 x 6 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Hashimoto Kansetsu (1883–1945) was born in Kobe, son of painter Hashimoto Kaikan from whom he gained a love of Chinese culture...

A beautiful set of ten small shallow dishes, each uniquely decorated with a poem and image from the Edo period Sasashima Kiln of central Nagoya. The box, titled Sasashima Yaki Teshio Jumai (10 Sasashima Salt Dishes) is dated inside to the Tenpo era, (1830-1844). Each dish is 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) diameter and all are in excellent condition. Salt dishes were small plates used to hold salt, pickles or other condiments in a traditional Japanese meal. Finding a complete set like this in good conditi...

A fine pottery koro in typical milky white glaze supported by three figures in russet red by Okuda Mokuhaku dating from the mid 19th century. It is 13 cm (5 inches) diameter, 11.2 cm (4-1/4 inches) tall. There is a chip in the rim, otherwise is in excellent condition. It is stamped on the base AKahadayama followed by a circular seal reading Mokuhaku. t comes in a simple wooden box.
Akahada Pottery, starting around 1585, was created by several kilns in the area of Yamato-Koriyama, Nara...

A Fushina (Fujina) yaki image of the three monkeys made to support the Kettle lid in the Japanese Tea Ceremony dating from the Edo period. A warning to all, the little creatures hear nothing, see nothing and speak nothing. What happens in the tea room, stays in the tea room! The figure is 4.5 cm (roughly 2 inches) diameter the same height and in excellent condition. Impressed into the base is the Rakuzan seal. It comes in an antique woven thread pouch.
Rakuzan pottery falls under the umb...

A lovely work reflecting the simplicity of Art Deco predominant from the 1920s and 30s by master of the genre Ito Suito enclosed in the original signed wooden box The vase is 29 cm (11-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Ito Suito (Yoshiharu, 1894-1980) was born in Kyoto and apprenticed under Ito Tozan in 1911. In 1918 he married his daughter, and took the family name and at the same time assumed the name Suito. In 1929 he was first exhibited at the Teiten National Exhibition...

An Edo period Oribe sake bottle of simple but full proportions and with classically Japanese Zen decoration - austerely yet sensitively placed grass and blooms decoration in iron oxide on the softly crackled opaque off-white glaze ever so slightly scorched in the kiln on two sides where the body is almost slightly exposed and oxidized to a buff tone at those points. The cut foot also glazed save for a crescent reserve around the center where the warm gray body is exposed. The rim and neck glazed...

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of these works and light-colored windows are created using feldspar. These high-contrast areas then act as a canvas upon which abstract, minimalistic, and often naturalistic themes are painted in rather exaggerated fashion. This particular composition seems unique among Oribe pieces I have encountered over the years in terms of its ...

Antique Japanese ceramic figure of the famous monk, Bodhidharma. Well known for his intense demeanor, Bodhidharma (Daruma) stands with fly wisk in hand, his signature red monk's robes draped around him. Daruma figures represent perseverance and are believed to bring good fortune. This figure is decorated with polychromatic glazes and painted details.

Dimensions: 17 1/2" high x 7" wide x 5 1/2" deep

Very Rare Antique Pottery Bowl with Kenzan Signature made by Kiyomizu Shichibei (1818–1891). Shichibei Kiyomizu was born in Kyoto in 1818 as the eldest son Takejiro of the second generation Rokubei Kiyomizu (1790-1860). Instead of taking over the family title, he founded his own kiln by 1839 with the name Kiyomizu Shichibei. It is not clear what was the reason behind that but it is known that Takejiro was a heavy drinker and was not allowed to use the same family name. His works are ofte...

Momoyama period (1568-1600) Ko Karatsu Sake Cup with beautiful greenish glaze.
Shallow body with reddish unglazed base typical for Momoyama period.
Painted with iron pigment at the mouth on one side. It was more likely unearthed and repaired long time ago.

Size
Height 3.5cm
Width 13cm
Weight 175g

Condtion
Repaired with kintsugi

Karatsu ware, also known as "Karatsu-yaki" in Japanese, is a traditional style of pottery that originated...

This is a are Banko teapot in pristine condition. This sea creature pattern is one of the most collectible ever created by the Banko factory.It has some history written on the underside that the buyer can remove or leave.

11th generation Raku Kichizaemon Keinyu (1817-1902) White Raku Sake Bottle Tokkuri.

The mark of the potter is stamped at the bottom. Keinyu used this mark after his retirement.
The red clay was used which was glazed and fired. It is a rare work that depicts the standing cranes of parents and child. He often used crane decoration in his later years such as Fukurokuju tea bowl exhibited in Kyoto in autumn 2020. (Autumn Special Exhibition. Teabowls by Successive Generations of the ...

Very Rare Goryeo Dynasty (12th/13th century) Korean Celadon Inlaid Crane Stoneware Oil Bottle

Provenance: Japanese private collection

Size
Diameter 7.5cm
Height 4.5cm
Weight 110g

Condition
There is excess of scree around the bottom occurred when firing.
Please see the pictures for reference.

A perfectly potted body, a very beautiful Ge crackled glaze with an old original copper rim band to the rim. Most likely Japanese and probably from the seventeenth or eighteenth century. A simple graceful beauty. H : 7,9 cm. Condition : Perfect

Karatsu pottery is one of most desired pottery type in Japan based in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture since 15th century.
It is made from high in iron clay often decorated with an iron-based underglaze, giving an earthy and natural feeling to the fired items.

Width 6.6cm
Height 3.4cm
Weight 73g

No cracks. No chips.
Supplied with wooden box with the label "Ko Karatsu"

A decorative Temmoku glazed bowl with a raised decoration of a Dragon and Lingzhi. Most probably Japanese and probably from the seventeenth or eighteenth century. There is an incised signature to the piece which could give final clarity to the educated among us. Diameter : 13,2 cm. H : 6,8 cm. Condition : Perfect

An elegant tall vase in signature soft blue by Shinjo Tozan III of Yamagata enclosed in the original singed wooden box dating from the early half of the 20th century titled Yohen Kabin. It is 15cm (6 inches) diametr, 41cm (16 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Higashiyama (alternatively read Tozan) is the common name for the hilly area in the eastern part of Shinjo City, Yamagata prefecture, and the geology of the village is covered with a thick layer of clay. Yahei Wakui, (1801-187...

A large, and heavy, Stick Stand, ( for holding walking sticks and umbrellas), profusely decorated, in Satsuma style, with a panapoly of historical scenes enclosed within elaborately enamelled textile (?) patterns and surmounted by a large coiled dragon amongst stylized clouds. This item was made in Japan for export to Europe or America during the late 19th or early 20th Century. Condition: there are chips to the rim, some cracks around the base and losses to the head and claws of the dragon...

This lovely little sake cup was made in Karatsu in Edo period (1603-1868)
From Japanese private collection

Karatsu pottery is one of most desired pottery type in Japan based in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture since 15th century.
It is made from high in iron clay often decorated with an iron-based underglaze, giving an earthy and natural feeling to the fired items.

Width 7.2cm
Height 3.7cm
Weight 68g

Excellent antique condition.
No cracks. No chi...