This heavily-potted Japanese stoneware sake bottle (“tokkuri”) with slip-trailed calligraphy was the product of a folk kiln, likely Tamba, and dates to the mid-20th century. The reddish-brown clay body is covered with a rich dark brown glaze, and the kanji characters for sake have been freely trailed with white slip glaze on the front and the back of the bottle. The original carrying robe encircles the thick neck...

This well-modeled Iga ware pottery incense storage container (“kogo”) was made in the shape of a Japanese farm house (“minka”). Dating to circa to 1930, it is marked with an engraved two-character signature that reads Taizan. The large overlapping thatched roof comprises the top of the box, with the lower portion of the house forming the bottom...

This style of Japanese sometsuke (blue and white porcelain) spouted pouring vessel for sake is known as a “katakuchi.” Early to mid-20th century. The white glazed body is boldly decorated with a freely-drawn design of a large flower blossom and stylized leaves in underglaze cobalt blue. The extended base is unglazed, as katakuchi were originally placed directly on the hot ashes inside a hibachi to keep the sake heated...

This striking Japanese Arita sometsuke (blue and white porcelain) tokkuri (sake bottle) in bulbous form with elongated neck was hand painted in underglaze cobalt blue and dates to the Meiji period, 19th century. The ovoid body is freely decorated with landscape scenes between a neck covered with tako-karakusa (octopus vine) scrolls and a band of rectangular “jurinmon” lappets surrounding the base...

This large impressive Meiji period (1868-1912) Japanese stoneware vase has a thick turquoise glaze on the neck and shoulders, and the front is hand painted with a boldly drawn peony blossom on a rich crackle-glazed buff-colored ground. The vase is heavily potted, and the thick footrim is unglazed. Although similar in style to some Shigaraki or Agano wares, we have been unable to determine the specific folk kiln of its origin...

This rare and important Japanese sometsuke ozara (blue and white porcelain charger) is hand painted in rich underglaze blue with circular roundels depicting the fifty-three stations of the famed Tokaido Road. Edo period, ca. 1800-1840...

This heavy Japanese porcelain bottle was made at the Arita kilns for export to the Dutch market as a container for soy sauce. Edo period, 18th/19th century. It has straight sides beneath a sloping shoulder which tapers to a slender neck with a double lip. The recessed base is glazed. The front is stenciled with the word “Japanschzoya” (Dutch for Japanese soy) and marked “CPD” in underglaze blue...

These two lovely Japanese Hirado sometsuke (blue and white porcelain) dishes are elegantly decorated in various shades of underglaze blue, each with a large white lotus blossom molded in low relief. Meiji period (1868-1912). The reverse bears a three-character underglaze blue mark which reads “Hirado Yaki” or Hirado ware...

This unusually large, heavily potted Japanese Oribe stoneware bowl in the form of a large lotus leaf is boldly decorated with a flowering tree peony branch on a on a richly-crackled cream-colored ground. Meiji period (1868-1912); unsigned. The deep bowl has been hand potted to resemble a fully-open lotus leaf, with incised leaf veins emanating from the center and the leaf edges curling naturalistically around the rim...

This wonderful Japanese iro Nabeshima porcelain sake drinking set was delicately hand painted in bright polychrome enamels on a pure white ground. The set contains two small sake flasks (“tokkuri”) and five sake cups (“sakazuki”). Each of the seven pieces bears the mark of Imaizumi Imaemon painted in underglaze blue on the foot. We believe this set to be from the studio of either Imaemon XII (1897-1975) or early Imaemon XIII (1926-2001), which would date it to mid to late 20th century...

This rare and invaluable Asian art reference volume is a complete, hard-bound set of the first 12 issues of ORIENTAL ART magazine: Vol. 1, No 1 to Vol...

This handsome small lidded stoneware jar, typical of Koishiwara ware (“koishiwara-yaki”) pottery, is an excellent example of Japanese ceramic folk art. Dating from the mid-to-late 20th century, this jar was made by “Kumao Ota,” a famous potter in Japan. The gray clay body of the pot was first covered with a coat of white clay slip and then decorated with “chatter-marking” before being coated with clear glaze and random splashes of green and brown glaze. The cover is decorated in the ...

The front of this fine Chinese white porcelain dish has been painstakingly decorated with rows of Chinese calligraphy characters in underglaze cobalt blue. Qing dynasty, late 19th century. There is a tiny blue leaf alongside the top calligraphy row. The reverse side bears a four character hallmark or trader’s mark painted in underglaze blue. The mark is surrounded by three blue bats, an auspicious creature in China and an emblem of happiness and longevity. A protective metal band is affixed to...

This impressive Japanese Arita sometsuke (blue and white porcelain) tokkuri (sake bottle) in bulbous form with elongated neck was hand painted in underglaze cobalt blue with tako-karakusa (octopus vine) scrolls between a plain everted rim and a band of rectangular “jurinmon” lappets. Late Edo/early Meiji period, mid-19th century. Heavily potted, the glazed base is recessed, and the high foot rim is unglazed and encircled by two blue lines. Displaying a boldness of design, the tako-karakusa p...

This richly crackled, glazed Japanese folk pottery stoneware oil dish (“abura-zara”) or lantern plate (“andon-zara”) is sparsely decorated with a design of five cream-colored scattered chrysanthemum (“kiku”) roundels freely hand painted in iron oxide and reserved on a mottled brown-black Oribe glazed ground. It dates to the Edo period, likely circa 1800. The reverse side is unglazed.

Most andon plates feature the design known as “tetsu-e” (“iron pictures”), the freestyl...