Toushin (wick) zara (plate) held a small amount of oil with a coiled wick, and was usually set in some sort of lamp arrangement. These were used until the advent of glass and other lamps. This example of fine folk pottery is from central Japan, likely Mino ware, produced during the Edo (1600-1868) Era. The top side has a warm yellow glaze, and the underside is unglazed. H. 1.5cm (0.6") Dia.10cm (4".)

White Rabbit Ceramic Sculpture by Takegawa Chikusai (1809-1882), created in his final year, 1882. Takegawa Chikusai was responsible for putting Banko Yaki, and the Banko-gama kiln (established 1829) and its home of Yokkaichi City in Mie-ken back on its feet and on the map. Banko Yaki had previously been made in the early Edo Period in Kyoto...

Antique Japanese Karatsu ware chawan (tea bowl) with crackle glaze and kintsugi. Beautifully crafted with a small flattened area for the hand to grasp and a magical elegance to the touch. Evaluation done in the 1930's by TZ Shiota when the family was inheriting the collection from their great grandfather, Federic Torrey...

This is a breathtaking work of art, a cherubic figure forms the finial of this later Edo period ceramic incense burner. Atop the lid strides a youth in purple robes wearing a lotus leaf as a hat and blowing a flue, a staff lays at his feet. About the square box of the ash pot are exquisite-colored designs lined with gold like precious jewels dangling from the edge. Two beast heads protrude from the sides and the entire is elevated on a square foot...

A classic bun-shaped Koro incense burner by Miyagawa Chozo pierced with Incense-clock-patterns enclosed in the rare original signed wooden box. It is 8.8 cm diameter, 7.5cm tall and is in excellent condition. The box contains a hand written note in old Japanese describing the origins of Makuzu-ware.
Miyagawa Chozo (1797-1860), also known as Chobei was born a direct descendant of Chokansai and would be the father to Miyagawa (Makuzu) Kozan I (1842-1916)...

Rare antique Ko Iga Mizusashi made in the late Edo or Early Meiji period (19c)

Size
Height 16.5cm
Width 18.5cm
Weight 1450g


Condition
Very good considering the age.
There are minor chips on mouth.
It comes with the second wooden lid and old wooden box of the period.

An elegant Kyo-yaki wine ewer of traditional form decorated in gilt outlined enamels with weeping cherry Shidarezakura and brocade bands to the cover and rim. The ewer measures approximately 5 inches or 13cm in height and is approximately 16cm in width from the tip of the spout to the furthest point of the handle. Dating late Edo circa 1850. The ewer is in overall good condition some minute frits to the spout. Shipping at Cost

A long verse is incised into the side of this tea bowl by Otagaki Rengetsu. The poem reads:
Yorozuyo mo 10,000 ages
tae nu nagare to enduring the surge
shimetsu ran so well
sono kame no o no From Turtle Tail Mountain
yama no shitamizu. The water flows
The bowl is 12.2 cm (5 inches) diameter and in perfect condition. It comes wrapped in a silk cloth pouch, enclosed in an old box with original lid inside of which is a long verse...

A set of seven nesting cups in pale glaze, each piece bearing the seal of Aoki Mokubei. The largest cup is 7 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter, 6 cm (5-1/4 inches) tall and all are in excellent condition. They come wrapped in a silk pouch enclosed in ag darkened kiri-wood box bound by deer leather and later titled and annotated by Kiyomizu Rokubei, dated the third month of the year 2600 (1940)...

A Bairin Yaki Suiteki water dropper in the shape of an eggplant and bowl covered in that quintessential Bairin purple and green glaze flowing into the water bowl. It is 10.5 x 6 x 4.5 cm (4 x 2-1/4 x 2 inches and is in overall nice condition, with miniscule chips repaired on the rim. Suiteki are used to provide water for grinding ink on an ink stone.
Bairin Yaki was a resurrection of the ancient Omi style of ceramic called Zeze favored by Kobori Enshu and Honami Koetsu...

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...

An attractive globular Satsuma vase by Hosai, late 19th century. The vase is decorated with three family crests, including the Paulownia of the Toyotomi clan, the Hollyhock leaves of the Tokugawa shoguns and the cross of the Shimazu clan who ruled over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga.

Within the foot-rim can be found the gold mark ‘Satsuma Hosai’ and a Shimazu mon in white enamel...

A Tea Pot by Otagaki Rengetsu with a handle like bamboo root inscribed with a poem which reads: Ko no kimi wa
medetaki fushi wo
kasane tsutsu
sue no yo nagaki
tameshi nari keri.
This translates as:
Our young bamboo
piling up happy knots
year upon year—
its tips reaching high
a paragon to us.
It is roughly 10 cm (4 inches) diameter. And comes enclosed in a wooden box annotated by Koen of Jinkoin temple, where Rengetsu lived...

This rare and interesting ceramic work was done by one of the most renowned and loved waka poets of the 19th century, Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875). In fact, if you look closely at the attached images, you will see her finger imprints clearly preserved in the molded clay.

Born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki family, from the age of seven to sixteen Rengetsu was a lady in waiting at Kameoka castle where she was trained in the arts and courtly graces. Due...

The poem etched on the side of this exceptional piece reads: In the future — happiness — and long life — two sprouting leaves —to grow a thousand years. Indeed a positive message, perhaps to accompany a warm cup of sake on a quiet winters evening.

Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) was born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki family, from the age of seven to sixteen she was a lady in waiting at Kameoka castle where she was trained in the arts ...

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. The stoneware body is decorated with the design of fluttering clouds and flying cran...

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...

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"