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 cultural treasure - our oldest and most important mizusashi: wonderful Chosen Karatsu Tataki Mizusashi from the Momoyama Period (1573 - 1603). It was perfectly thrown first into a cylinder shape and then squeezed and paddled into a distorted pear. Iron oxide glaze has been poured inside and out.
On the rim a blueish rice straw ash glaze has been applied in the typical Chosen Karatsu fashion. The mizusashi is supplied with a tailor made lacquer lid of a somewhat later date...
Very beautiful Kuro Oribe Chawan of early Edo period:
Only very little distorted half cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical, glossy black iron oxide glaze inside and outside, leaving an unglazed 'window' on one side. The 'window' is decorated with chidori (plovers) flying over an irrigation wheelin iron oxide glaze which has then been covered with a clear ash and feldspar glaze...
An iron mokogata form iron tsuba with surface and patina indicating significant age. Some folds apparent in the iron, tekkotsu ("iron bones" describing irregularities in surface resulting from gradual wearing away of softer iron, leaving more refined, harder iron), rim slightly raised around the hammered plate. The raised decoration of the hare and vine in quintessentially Japanese taste - thick gold overlaid details. This would work nicely on a Yamashiro or other slender, old blade...
Here is a real beauty. Perfect in form, shape and design: Ao-Oribe (Green Oribe) Chawan from the early stage of Edo period. Little distorted half cylinder shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl with slightly flaring mouth made of light, unrefined Mino clay.
The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potters knife and covered with the typical green copper oxide glaze inside and outside...
Stemming from the philosophy of wabi-sabi—often described as the beauty found in the imperfection and transience of the world—cracks and repairs in a work of pottery are often seen as highlighting the history and importance of a ceramic object. Practitioners of tea in particular are fond of reminding us that works repaired with lacquer and gold such as the one featured here become more resilient and beautiful for having been damaged...
A fine Japanese porcelain plate, the centre painted with a pair of Ho-o birds perched on rocks amongst flowers. There are several versions of this design featuring different borders. This border is unusual, it features three Ming-style elephant headed dragons and a profusion of blooms. The back has a particularly delicate depiction of trailing blooms and an inner border of clouds. The mark is associated with the Old Kakiemon kiln, 1680’s.
Approximately 20.7cm diameter...
Slightly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part around the foot ring.
In the style of Ao-Kuro bowls this bowl was covered with a green copper oxide glaze. Two windows on two sides were left unglazed...
What a great Chawan! Cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl thrown on a kick wheel. The little iron oxide bearing clay has been fully (except the footring and its surrounding) covered with a wood ash glaze which reacted with the iron oxide in the clay.
The thick and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has a fine beautiful crazing...
Japanese Blue and White Ewer with a loop handle. Decorated in the Chinese Transitional style with figures on a terrace. Arita C1670/80. Height 8 1/4" (20.8cm). Condition; some glaze crazing mainly to foot.
An early Japanese blue & white plate produced in Arita at the end of the seventeenth century. The centre features a roundel carefully painted with a vase of flowers on a verandah. The unusual vase perhaps based upon a Dutch example...
Antique painting of Hotei/Budai/The Laughing Buddha, standing with a walking stick, and four seated people. They are all observing the sky as what appears to be another Buddha or deity floats on a heavenly cloud, who wears a beautiful robe with gold detailing. Set behind glass and framed, 17th/18th century.
Size: (entire frame) 19" height, 16.25" width (painting only) 9.5" height, 7.75" width
Japanese Buddhist Temple Carving of a Stylized Cloud Formation. This very
early 16th to 17th Century carving is the oldest one we have seen, possibly from the
Momoyama Period. Carved of poloma wood. A rare early work of art. 40 inches (101.5 cm) long x 12 inches (30.5 cm) high. Fine Condition. From a prominent and widely exhibited collection.
A small bronze, hakudo (white bronze), early handled mirror 17.2cm long. The mirror portion measuring 7.7cm in diameter...
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
Rarely seen Shigaraki kettle with a fantastic shape, slightly deformed without any damage or repair. It dates from the early stages of the Edo Period.
Shigaraki is one of the oldest pottery towns in Japan with a history dating back more than 1,200 years. Historians say that local kilns were producing roof tiles when the emperor Shomu briefly relocated his palace to the area from Kyoto in 742 AD. These days, many Japanese know Shigaraki for its Tanuki or Japanese raccoon dog ceramic...
A Japanese Export heart-shaped dish with an European harbour scene by Frederik Van Frytom. Arita 1680 ~ 1700. Frederik Van Frytom was a notable painter in 17th century Holland who was commissioned to produce Delft pottery samples for copying at Arita. This dish is a copy of one of a special set of five Delft dishes that were taken to Japan in 1684 and used in the tea ceremony. The moulded shape of the dish is reminiscent of silver tableware. Within the foot-rim is found an eccentrically written ...
A Japanese Arita Export porcelain spoon tray after a design by Frederik Van Frytom. Within the foot-rim is found an eccentrically written apocryphal Chinese reign mark, a feature seemingly of most wares the with Van Frytom designs. The shape is taken from an European silver dish and the porcelain clearly intended to be exported to the West.
A spoon tray of this design was included in a Christie’s auction in 2009.
Approximately 13.2 cm long.
Please study th...
