Catalog (29)

This large scalloped-rim dish is painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a folk art “mingei” view of Mt. Fuji with pine trees and stylized sailboats on a lake. The painting is hastily brushed in the mingei manner, with a few cobalt drips here and there. It is raised on a low footring with the paste exposed, and six spur marks remain on the glazed base. It was used as a serving vessel for family or communed meals and retains some evidence of use. No repairs or cracks.

Diameter: 11 ¼ in., Height: 1 5/8 in.

These dishes have an underglaze blue design of treasure ships (wishes for good fortune). The reverse of each is painted with a stylized wave design encircling the foot and a double gourd mark with two characters is painted on the bases. Acquired in the 1960s from an American collection. There are minor nicks to the glaze on the rims, otherwise good condition – no cracks or repairs.

Diameter: 6 7/8 in., Height: 1 in.

This shallow bowl-shaped dish is set on a high foot with the characteristic Nabeshima comb pattern encircling it. The interior is painted with a design of chrysanthemums in cobalt blue of clear, rich tone. The underside is painted in the same cobalt blue with four groupings of four coin designs often seen on dishes of this size and shape. It is covered overall in a fine clear glaze with only the footring exposing the refined porcelain paste. Good condition with no restorations or repairs. There is minor wear and a few very tiny iron spots under the glaze. It was purchased in Japan in the early 1970s.

Height: 1 ¾ in.; Diameter: 6 ¼ in.

This tall, footed vase is hand-thrown by one of the master potters of Tamba, Ichino Hiroyuki. It has knife-cut faceted sides and is glazed in iron brown on the exterior with a white-glazed interior. A “hi” mark in hiragana is on the interior of the foot. It is accompanied by its original, artist-signed paulonia wood storage box. Good condition.

Height: 6 1/8 in., Diameter: 4 in.

This Satsuma ware tea caddy is made in the shape of a lacquer natsume tea caddy for use in the tea ceremony as a container for powdered green tea. This shape is given this name because it resembles a natsume plum. It is glazed overall with a finely crackled clear glaze showing the buff-colored clay body beneath. Overglaze enamels decorate the top and sides with open and closed fan designs. The interiors of both the lid and container are glazed as is also the base. The base is slightly recessed and a narrow portion of the foot is unglazed exposing the clay body—now darkened from use. The exposed inner rim likewise is naturally stained from years of use. Tea caddies of this form were usually made of wood and lacquer. Ceramic ones are not usually encountered. The design of this piece may have been inspired by the earlier, well-known potter, Nonomura Ninsei (c. 1574-1660), who worked in Kyoto and produced numerous articles in overglaze enameled earthenware for tea ceremony use. Good condition overall—some wear to the gilt enamel. No chips, cracks or repairs.

Height: 2 7/8 in.; Diameter: 3 in.

This unusual vessel consists of a tall footed bowl of conical form and a ring-shaped stand encircled by carved ocean waves. The bowl is carved with characteristic Hirado key and triangular fretwork and is heavily potted for the necessary stability of its function to hold the tall branches of a flower arrangement. The interior of the bowl is set with a cylindrical collar 2 ¾ in. in diameter in which a pronged flower holder can be placed to support stems and branches of the arrangement. Except for the collar which is glazed white,, the bowl is covered in a pale lavender-blue glaze that is made by adding a small amount of cobalt to the clear glaze—an unusual color for Hiradoware. The stand is similarly glazed—the waves having a whitish tone where the blue glaze was thinly applied. Very good condition, no cracks or chips. Old soil from use remains inside collar.

Hirado porcelains were produced in southern Japan on the island of Kyushu under the patronage of the Hirado Daimyo. The wares were of the highest quality and ranked with Nabeshima as porcelains suitable for use by the emperor or Shogun.

Diameter: 8 in.; Height: 4 5/8 in.

Patterned after a Chinese Kangxi “Hawthorn” design. This bottle is delicately and rather thinly potted with a long, narrow neck rising from a bulbous body. It is painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a “cracked ice” pattern scattered overall with plum buds and blossoms—a design known among English connoisseurs in the early 20th century as the Hawthorn pattern. This piece is identifiable as Hirado from the unglazed base which shows the very distinctive vitreous paste characteristic of the highly refined porcelain produced at this kiln. The base is very slightly inset and there is a small unglazed footring. The inside is clear glazed. Very good condition.

Height: 6 ¾ in.; Width: 3 ½ in.

This bowl is divided into eight petal-form lobes, with a rim painted with alternating leaves and geometric designs in underglaze cobalt blue of medium to dark tones. The well is painted with a so-called “The Friends of Winter” design of pine, prunes and bamboo, and the interior base is painted with a bird on rocks and leafy plants. The exterior sides have a scrolling peony Arabesque, and the base has a four-character Chinese Ming Dynasty Chenghua mark. Very good condition.

Diameter: 9 1/8 in., Height: 3 ¼ in.

This porcelain bowl, molded in chrysanthemum form, is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze enamels in red, green and gold. The center of the interior is painted with a 16-petaled flower in underglaze blue, and the well is painted with various plant and landscape scenes. The exterior is surrounded with an underglaze blue floral pattern, and the base is painted with a Chinese “Chenghua” mark, as is often seen on 18th and early 19th Century Imari dishes. The bowl is slightly out of round, but without damages or restorations.

Diameter: 7 in., Height: 2 1/8 in.

An example of “Kenjo” Imari presentation ware, having high quality enamel decoration in reds, green, aubergine and gilding surrounding underglaze cobalt blue. There is a fine, lightly stained crackle to the interior and exterior base. This piece was made for domestic use in Japan and was not intended for export. Overall good condition. Purchased in Kyoto ca. 1974.

Diameter: 7 ¼ in., Height: 3 in.

This porcelain dish is in the shape of an abalone shell with underglaze blue and overglaze enamel decoration. It is raised on a low footring with an underglaze blue four character mark reading, “Made in the Great Ming.” There is minor glaze wear to the interior and minor firing flaws. There are no cracks or restorations.

Length: 6 3/8 in., Width: 5 3/8 in., Height: 1 ¼ in.

This tall, unusual stand is decorated with cobalt blue under the glaze and with overglaze enamels in iron-red, green, and gold. It has four large cutouts on the sides, revealing the interior that is glazed white. The cut edges of the open cartouches are dressed with gilt enamel as is also the top rim. The footrim is unglazed, exposing the white porcelain body. It is in very good condition with no repairs or damages, with only minor wear to the enamels.

Height: 6 5/8 in., Width: 7 ¼ in.

The shape of this lobed dish with three sides was likely inspired by ceramic forms said to be based on the shape of Mount Fuji. The shallow tri-lobed dish is set on a raised foot with its circumference painted in a continuous fretwork pattern in underglaze cobalt blue. In the center of the glazed base is a square seal-form fuku mark. The edge of the flaring rim is enameled brown. A basket of flowers in the standard Kakiemon palette is painted to one side of the interior making a pleasant asymmetric effect against the clear-glazed white porcelain background.

Height: 1 1/8 in.; Width: 6 ½ in.

Finely potted shallow bowl-form dish with an everted octagonal rim, painted on the exterior in underglaze cobalt blue with a scrolling vine and flower motif. The interior is delicately painted in overglaze enamels with a scene of a male and a female pheasant among flowers and the rim is decorated with eight flower scrolls in red, green and blue enamel colors and gilding. The bowl is raised on a low footring encircled by three underglaze blue lines. The base is glazed and has one underglaze blue circle within the footring. The foot is unglazed exposing the fine white paste—now partially obscured by some soiling. Overall condition is very good. The glaze is even and clear. There is a tiny glaze flake to the green enamel next to one of the rim flowers. There are no damages or repairs to the porcelain.

Height: 1 ½ in.; Diameter: 5 ¼ in.

Decorated with a scene of birds and trees in the Kakiemon palette and style in overglaze enamels on a clear glazed white porcelain background. The base is slightly recessed and the footring is unglazed, exposing the hard, white porcelain paste. The shoulder is carved with a groove design that radiates from the base of the neck and is decorated with a scattered flower design in overglaze red enamel. The base is painted with an underglaze blue fuku mark in cursive script. It was intended for use as a sake bottle. It is in good condition with no chips, cracks or restorations. There are a few scattered iron specks in the white porcelain.

Height: 7 ¾ in., Diameter: 4 in.

This dish is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a strong palette of red and green overglaze enamel with gold highlights. The base is inscribed with a spurious Chinese Wanli mark in underglaze cobalt blue. Good condition, with light wear, no restorations.

Diameter: 12 in., Height: 2 1/4 in.

This high-fired bottle was produced at the Mino Kilns in Gifu Prefecture in pale-gray stoneware. The bottle is covered overall in a transparent glaze with a greenish tint. The lower portion of the body is left unglazed as is also the flat foot. It is well-potted, having three indentations on the sides, creating a comfortable fit for the hand while pouring. The neck rises from the somewhat flattened shoulder, ending in a rounded lip which now has several small chips along with a small chip to the base. Otherwise, good condition. Collected in Japan in the early 1970s.

Height: 6 in., Diameter: 3 ¼ in.

Shallow bowl-shaped dish is raised on a tall foot and is decorated in underglaze blue with a branch of cherry blossoms encircling the interior. The painting is well-executed and the image is possibly based on a textile design. The underside is painted with three chrysanthemum sprays and the foot is decorated with the characteristic comb tooth pattern. Dish is glazed overall in a clear glaze leaving only the footring unglazed exposing the fine porcelain paste. There are a few small glaze dimples and minor scratches from use. Generally very good condition. No cracks, chips, repairs or restorations.

Height: 2 ¼ in.; Diameter: 8 1/8 in.