A meoto, his and hers, yunomi pair cups in silver and gold covered with smooth and shiny yellow and lavender by rising star Ichikawa Toru enclosed in the original signed wood box.
Size, D 8.1 and 8.2 cm H 11.1 and 11.8 cm
Condition, Excellent
Ichikawa Toru was born in Tokyo in 1973. He was apprenticed to the Bizen master Kakurezaki Ryuichi for five years before establishing his own kiln in 2015 in Okayama...

An assortment of sake cups by some of Japans most sought artists representing pottery traditions from throughout the country. Goto Hideki, Wakao Kei (SOLD), Ichino Masahiko (SOLD and Niisato Akio (SOLD), all forerunners in their genre and these bowls representing their most popular styles. We have carefully screened and selected each work as a masterpiece unto itself, and feel very confident you will agree...

Ash encrusts this vase by the youthful star Tsujimura Yui enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Mimitsuki Hanaire. Slight degradation of the rim creates a very organic feel. The form, shows scars where kutsuki (other items) have fused to it in the heat of the conflagration...

A stoic old codger by Furutani Michio stooped at the shoulders and yet standing proud, like some old soldier on Remembrance Day. This is a superb example of this important artists work, showing both his reverence for traditional form and the lengths he went ot reviving the traditions of wood fired kiln effects...

An excellent companion to the Guinomi also by this popular artist, here is an unprecedented works in this family sized Shino Yunomi (Tea Cups) by Hayashi Shotaro enclosed in their original signed wooden boxes titled Ao Murasaki (Blue and Purple) Shino Yunomi and Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria) Shino Yunomi. Marbleized pinks, molten iron blending with rust, moss green , white, blue and everything in between can be seen in the amazing onslaught of color...

This depiction of the eternal “ensō” on a backdrop of pearly white feldspar over red clay signifies enlightenment, the eternal, the nothingness, and the freedom of the mind to envision and to create...

A large and powerful composition displaying beads of feldspar strung across a canvas of red ferrous clay. A perfect addition for tea practitioners in need of a good Shino piece or for collectors looking for a classic and exceptional example of this type of pottery.

As the name suggests to anyone familiar with Japanese pottery, Kato Toyohisa (b. 1962) hails from a long line of Mino potters...

A faceted gourd shape of twisting lobes in soft green celadon by Sodeisha legend Suzuki Osamu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is roughly 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Suzuki Osamu (1926-2001) was, along with Kumakura Junkichi, Hikaru Yamada and Yagi Kazuo, one of the founding members of Sodeisha. He studied pottery at the Daini Kogyo Gakko in Kyoto. In 1948 he helped to establish Sodeisha...

A complete set of 12 Tokkuri sake flasks by Imaizumi Imaemon XII enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Each is uniquely decorated with a delicately rendered image of one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. With a diverse enough crowd, each person could drink from their own sign. Each piece is in perfect condition. They are all identical in height and shape. roughly 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Two Yunomi tea cups by Wada Morihiro enclosed in their original signed wooden boxes and enclosed in a lacquered Niju-bako double wood storage case...

Two Rikyu guinomi covered in thick shino glaze with marbleized pinks, molten iron blending with rust, moss green , lavender, white, blue and everything in between can be seen in the amazing onslaught of color. The Aka shino guinomi,looks like lava boiling up under a glacier of pure white snow, volcanic gases escaping the molten earth through the hundreds of su-ana pinholes marking the surface. They are comes enclosed in their original signed wooden boxes titled ......

This bold chawan is a lesson in texture, covered over in a thick feldspar Shino style glaze meant to imitate shark-skin, the bowl is well thrown and slightly manipulated with spatula faceting around the lower portion of the piece and an attractive, undulating lip. The highly textural glaze is in constant motion with areas of small and large nodules colliding to animate the form that has iron added under the glaze to also create a moody, atmospheric presence to the pot...

A black Porcelain vessel from the Divergence series which the artist says “can be used to serve sake or tea” titled Kuro Jiki Tsugiguchi (Black porcelain pourer). It is 9 x 15 x 6 cm (3-1/2 x 6 x 2-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, from the artist late last year. Matsumura Jun was born in Chiba Prefecture on the outskirts of Tokyo in 1986...

An exquisite and desirable work with a swish of resist creating a white bamboo-leaf pattern on the rich red Kaki glaze and black of this plate by Living National Treasure Hamada Shoji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kaki-yu Nuki-e Zara...

Five serene white concave disks set on unique bases by Kato Yoshiyasu enclosed in the original signed and compartmentalized wooden box titled Asobi Kodai Hai, Gokyaku Soroi (Playful Foot Five Sake Cup Set). Each cup is roughly 8 cm (3-1/4 inches) diameter, and all are in excellent condition, from the artist this year. This set was assembled by the artist specifically for our gallery, and is the only boxed set like it in the world.
Kato Yoshiyasu was born in Aichi prefecture in 1985, and...

A heavily encrusted glossy sake flask by Tanimoto Kei compliments a Guinomi displaying a rustic matte finish by his son Tanimoto Takeshi enclosed in the original signed wooden boxes titled Iga Tokkuri and Iga Guinomi respectively. Bīdoro glaze (a type of natural wood ash glaze formed by firing, named from vidro, the Portuguese word for glass) coalesces into a yellow crystal rivulet on one side of the Tokkuri, opposite is a shadow of gray ash. The Cup on the other hand, bears heavy scorch mar...

Created by Living National Treasure Isezaki Jun, Bizen pieces like the one seen here originated in Okayama (south-western Japan) and have a long history that is closely intertwined with that of tea culture. Known for employing a natural-ash glazing techniques that require extremely long firing times (7-14 days) at very high temperatures, constant attention is required to ensure good results. Here Isezaki can be seen pushing the bounds of tradition Bizen orthodoxies in interesting and creative wa...

A splendid antique cut glass cup selected and decorated by contemporary female lacquer artist Arai Etsuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Glass Maki-e Hai, Yoake (Glass Sake Cup named Breaking Dawn). She said that when she first saw the glass in a street market, she instantly envisioned how the engraved patterns could be accentuated by colors and powdered precious metals. Here an interesting comparison of techniques is possible. The bowl is decorated outside, first with laye...

Earth tones and patterns of waves in black on this large vessel by Ogawa Machiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Dai Hachi( black Large Basin ) and date to 2016. Perfect for flower arrangement with a flower frog. An incredible work from one of Japans most sought after figures.
Size, D 35.2 cm H 19.6 cm
Condition, Excellent
Ogawa Machiko was born in Sapporo on the Northern Island of Hokkaido in 1946. She studied under future Living National T...

The best sake related piece I have ever seen by Koinuma Michio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled very simply Tokkuri. The draping curves and weep of color is superb, and sets this above all others. Michio has long been inspired by archaic forms, and this is reminiscent of the roughly 5000-year-old Jomon Venus (a National Treasure) unearthed in Chino, Nagano prefecture. His coloration seems derived from ancient Sue-ki ware, and he goes to great lengths to erode the pots, allott...

Gold glaze spills out of the parched earth clay of this large sake cup by Ogawa Machiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply “Hai”and date to 2020. The clay itself is smooth and thick, however the bowls seem to have been formed while the clay was half dry, creating a parched sensation which is especially poignant when thinking of imbibing in the libations of rice. The shape is very comfortable, with a rounded body inviting the hand to hold and touch, but not to set it d...

The inside of the cup is lined with smooth dark glaze which gleams gold along the rim, while the glistening white outside has been carved away, every divot and ridge a tactile pleasure. It comes enclosed in a wooden box titled Kanka (Quiet, as in: the silent elegance of a flower in bloom). This is a phrase coined by the Edo period Confucian scholar Dazai Shundai in his treatise on The Purple Grass Garden (Shishienko). It is 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, from the artis...

Strikingly bold patterns revealed through curtains of copper green play across the surface of this dramatic work by Fukami Fuminori enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Narumi Manga Oribe Wari-kodai Chawan and date to 2021. It rests on a wari-kodai split foot, the dragon and tiger are two spiritual creatures in the Buddhism representing the spirit heaven and matter earth. The bowl was published on the Itoshino Tojiki(My beloved Pottery) magazine this month. A truly a superlative w...

Fissured white is dribbled with blue and showing flashes of red in the cracks on this large, low Ofukei and Lacquer Guinomi, by Kodai Ujiie enclosed in the original signed wooden box. This is a handful, great tactile qualities and entrancing to look at. It is 8-8.5 cm diameter, 7 cm tall and in excellent condition, directly from his recent firing.
Kodai Ujiie was born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in 1990, and graduated advanced studies at the Tohoku University of Art and Design in 2015....

Two sake cups notched and torn from pure white porcelain by Kato Takahiro enclosed respectively in their original signed wooden boxes decorated with overlapping cubes titled Sake Cup. Each is roughly 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall, 5.5 cm (2-1/4 inches) square and both are in excellent condition, directly from the artist this year.
These are by the rising star Kato Hirotaka who was born in Tajimi, Gifu prefecture, home of Shino and Oribe in 1985. His work has been exhibited at the Takaoka C...

Kuwata Takuro makes the most characteristic pottery we have ever seen, and when you look at this spectacular piece it is easy to understand why.

It has Tomo everything - artist's history, wrapping cloth, a silk pouch and a with his fingerprint signed wooden box.

Takuro surely needs no introduction. He was born in 1981 in Hiroshima and graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Kyoto Saga University in 2001. After that he started studying under Susumu Zaima in 2002. Curr...

Stunning, long sterling earrings with precise stamping and dangle drops by San Juan Pueblo silversmith Mike Bird Romero. Known for his technical mastery, his work combines tradition and innovation. These earrings have posts for pierced ears and measure 3" long and 5/8" at the widest point. They weigh 14 grams total and are in fine original condition. Signed as shown. He usually hallmarks with 2 birds but there was only room for one of his birds on these. Gorgeous statement earrings.

Molten ash wraps its fingers around the organic form of this spectacular Bizen Chawan by Oiwa Tomoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Wan and date to 2020.
Size, D 12.1x14.2 cm H 10.1 cm
Condition, Excellent
Oiwa Tomoyuki is a rising force in Bizen pottery. Born in Kobe city, Hyogo prefecture in 1977. After graduating the Bizen ceramic center in 2004 apprenticeship under Kakurezaki Ryuichi for seven years, and moved to establish his own kiln. Over the last...

A refined set of Tokkuri and Sake-cup by Banura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Shuki. Exquisite, the flask is more delicate than usual, with a long diaphanous spout and decidedly thin rim. This is made for a discerning drinker, entirely about quality not volume. The cup too is perfectly formed with a thin rim everted ever so slightly, a pleasure to drink from. This set is the perfect complement to a true kaiseki meal. The bottle is 12 cm (4-5/8 inches) tall, ...

Blue glaze fills in the embedded patterns in this Tokkuri by Living National Treasure Shimaoka Tatsuzo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Gosu Zogan Jomon Tokkuri. The vibrant blue is a bit of a departure for this artist whose work is often sedate, relying on the texture and patterns of the Jomon rope design over dependence on colorful glazes. It is 15 cm (6 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Shimaoka Tatsuzo (1919-2007) was born in Tokyo and enrolled in the Tokyo K...

Although I love Bizen pottery for myself, I rarely offer it on the website as the colors are so subtle and designs often so very Japanese. This Chawan by (certainly for her era) the rare female potter Konishi Toko II is a striking exception. It stands out in a room of Bizen as if ringing a bell. This bowl is slightly smaller than normal, with a feminine grace to be found in the gentle curves, 10.5 cm diameter, 8.5 cm (3-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition enclosed in the original sign...

The organic shapes of Kakurezaki Ryuichi have always been fascinating, less formed by the potters hands and more as if they dripped from the kiln roof, solidifying in the conflagration. This vase, covered in flying ash, is a perfect example of that, it even now appears to be withering in the heat. It comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yohen Kaki or kiln altered vase and retains the original shifuku and shiori. The vessel is 17 x 21 x 23 cm (7 x 8 x 9 inches) and is in exc...

An incredible pieces by legendary Abe Anjin in the artists most sought after style of saishoku colors enclosed in their original signed wooden boxes titled Bizen Saishiki Tokkuri and Bizen Saishik Sake-nomi,dating to 2020.
We see the gamut of this artists career here, red, black and green reminiscent, Ash glaze, gold, blue, and raw clay. The bottle and the cup forms is dimpled to make it easy to grasp, even if imbibed. Being a maker of tea ware, it is this subtle attention to shape and...

An exquisite plate by legendary Okabe Mineo enclosed in a wooden box titled Benishino Hirabachi, annotated inside: Work of Mineo Sensei signed and sealed by Kuroda Totoan. There is something very intimate about this artist and his work, the glaze is thin, reealing the body of the work and you can feel the potters hands in the clay. It is 32.5 cm (13 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Okabe Mineo (1919-1990) was born the first son of important artist Kato Tokuro, however the...

A beautiful and elegant work by important female artist Tokumaru Kyoko comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hakuji Ryuhimon Chawan (White Dragon-skin) and dating to Reiwa 3 nen (2021).
Her spiky lances and unfurling fronds forming are fantastical. The artist begins with slabs of clay and then constructs them to create work rooted in existential explorations. In this regard, Tokumaru notes that her spatial expressions allow her to travel deep inside herself. Describing t...

Tarnished beaded silver is draped in gold over which runs a deep forest green on this apple shaped chawan by innovative artist Ichikawa Toru enclosed in the original signed wooden box. A thick gold tinged bead dangles from one side, and bubbly dark glaze pools within. It is 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches9 diameter and in excellent condition. He really takes things to the extreme, challenging and yet incorporating something of the idea of Wabi into his outlandish works.
Ichikawa Toru was born i...