A striking tea bowl showing precipitous dark mountains shadowed by drifts of white Hagi fog by Saka Koraizaemon XII enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hagi Chawan.  Rough textured clay and smooth white glazes combine for a tactile ménage.  The bowl conforms beautifully to the palm, and rests on a sturdy three part kodai.  It was the featured work on the invitation card of a Takashimaya Department Store exhibition and comes complete with a signed catalog from the show. 
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An exquisite platter on two legs by Aoyama Tetsuro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The rush of white and and soft blue across the surface is reminiscent of the “Ma”, or blank space of an ink waterfall painting. It measures 41 x 40.5 x 10 cm (16 x 16 x 4 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Aoyama Tetsuro was born in Gifu, home of the Mino potteries, in 1946. He apprenticed under Kato Jin in 1961, moving out on his own in 1973...

An entrancing mesh pattern covers this delicate form by legendary potter Hamada Shoji enclosed in a fine kiri-wood box annotated by his son Hamada Shinsaku titled Kaki-yu Nuki-e Kabin.  Slight drag-marks add a tactile sense to the body, and dark black tinges the edges of the white resist patterns...

The name “Tobe-ware” first appeared in historical documents in the mid-18th century, though the tradition itself dates back well over 1,000 years. Within this style can be found an abundance of fine porcelain and celadon works as well as works painted with dark ferrous glazes—such as the piece featured here.

The creator of this fine work Sakai Yoshito (b. 1931) has been the main figure in maintaining the Tobe-ware tradition in modern times...

A large bowl covered in rich Oribe green by Koie Ryoji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Oribe Chawan.  Asymetric lines scar the blanketed green body, the rim undulating like ripples on a pond around the misshapen form.  An excellent example of this important artists work. 
Size, D 14.2 x 15.1 cm ( 5.9 inches)  H 9.2  cm ( 3.6 inches) 
Condition, Excellent 
Born in Tokoname, 1938, Koie Ryoji graduated the Tokoname industrial school and moved on to work ...

A very unusual jar covered in crinkled metallic green glaze with a wooden lid covered with cloth wrapped in a net of orange chord made to hold tea leaves by Sugimoto Sadamitsu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The appearance is deceptively large. Spectacular kiln effects live up to this artists reputation. It is 8 inches (20 cm) diameter, 8-1/2 inches (21.5 cm) tall plus lid. And in excellent condition....

One of my personal favorite shapes for a chawan, the wa-nari (sometimes pronounced rin-nari) appears firmly grounded and balanced at all times. With round curving surfaces so natural in the hand—they conjure images of ripe fruit waiting to be devoured.

This piece was produced by Koizumi kiln in Aichi Prefecture, most likely by the head potter Kato Shineda—though it only bears the seal of the kiln and not the potter...

Here is the next chawan from our collection of items of Human National Treasures: a wonderful Seto chawan by legendary artist Munemaro Ishiguro (1893-1968), enclosed in its originally signed and sealed wooden box.

In 1918, Ishiguro Munemaro set his goal of becoming a ceramist after seeing a spotted tenmoku tea bowl at Tokyo Art Club...

A soft pallet of blurred pastels blend between gold risers on this elegant form by Yoshita Yukio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Saishoku Kinsai Hanike and dating circa 2002. It is 11 inches (28 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Yoshita Yukio is the fourth generation head of the Kinsan Kiln in Kutani, specializing in Kinsai and Yuri-Kinsai wares. Unlike standard Kutani wares, he uses a pallet of soft, earthy or pastels with accents in gold to create a new appeal...

Like the charred remains of an open book deep fingerprints still visible from the opening hands within, this is a fine example of the work of Avante Garde Akiyama Yo enclosed in the original wooden box dating from 2013. It is 6-1/2 x 5 inches (16/5 x 13 cm) and is in excellent condition.
Akiyama Yo was born in Yamaguchi, home of Hagi pottery) in 1953, but went to Kyoto to study at the Kyoto Municipal University of Arts in 1976...

A tall shizen-yu vase by Sugimoto Sadamitsu enclosed in the original wooden box signed underneath and titled Iga-Hanaire , named within the lid Roso by Sadamitsu (the old priest by Sadamitsu).  We see the slightly hunched over form is indeed reminiscent of an old priest, wrapped in robes of green and black and leaning on his staff.  This piece appears to have been buried quite deeply in ash, which clung charred and blasted base and has been ground off to create a new texture, like the water bu...

A fine Bizen tokkuri embellished with nobori kiri by Abe Anjin enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Kakyo Tokkuri...

This remarkable tea bowl is from the kilns of Yoshida Shuen (1940-1987)—an apprentice of Miwa Kyusetsu (1910-2012) who was awarded the status of Living National Treasure in 1983. It features a warm milky beige glaze with light umber accents and shows a bit of exposed clay on the kodai (foot) where the artists seal is located.

Hagi-yaki has a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery...

The surface of this spiraling vessel has been shredded and scarred then covered in viscous copper glaze resulting in this stunning form by Kato Yasukage XIV (Shoji) enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Oribe Hana-ire.  It has a very organic feel, both from the texture and the imperfectly torn sides coated with various thicknesses of green glass, like water running over a stone surface.  This is a great opportunity to acquire a very special piece by this artist. The fact he...

Rivulets like stalagmitic sprouts weap from the crystallized walls of this squat Tsubo by Tsukigata Nahiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Oni-Shino Tsubo Hanaire.  Pealed back lunettes reveal the rough clay surface beneath, adding a sense of drama to the piece; putting it firmly in the natural world where asymmetry and imperfection reign.  A seminal work by this important artist whose influence will be felt for coming generations...

An iconic representation of this artists work, a large hidasuki Tsubo of red clay marked with burnt straw by Isezaki Mitsuru enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Tsubo. It is 9-1/2 inches (24 cm) diameter, 10-1/2 inches (26.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Isezaki Mitsuru (b...

There is no doubt about the superlative nature of the deep celadon glazes used by Living National Treasure Nakajima Hiroshi, and this vessel is no let down.  A darkly crackled rich green covers this sake flask which comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled modestly Seiji Tokkuri.  Up from the base drive two fingers of rich red clay, the blanks left by the artists fingers when he dipped the bottle in glaze.  This adds a strong sense of connection between the artist and user. 

Marbled clay ruptures in fissured vertical strands to become this amorphic naturel form by Living National Treasure Matsui Kosei enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Neriage shoretsu Mon Hanaire.  This style is created by layering clay about a cylinder while turning the clay, then combing it before firing which allows the less compacted outer surface to split along the comb marks.  This is a technique developed by Kosei, and one of the reasons for which he would acquire such fame....