The elephant is made of hard enameled porcelain, the artist modeled it with care, it is very likely that it was created using several molds. It carries on its back a vase which serves as a receptacle for incense. The statuette is hollow, vents to evacuate gases during cooking were discreetly made under the ears. Examining the underside we can see the shrinkage slots in the porcelain, which could have broken during firing...

Set of 1930's Japanese Seto Porcelain Oyster 8 Plates Signed

They are 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall by 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) wide. Total weight is 4 lb.

They have glaze cracks, glaze crazing, firing dark spots, loss of gold and paint, skip glazes, and surface wears and scratches. Six of the plates have firing cracks. One plate has chips and hairline cracks at the back (as seen in the photos).

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A porcelain bowl made by Mokusen of Kyoto decorated in blue with waterbirds taking flight from a reed-dotted shore followed by a four character verse by Oyabu Shunko enclosed in the original wooden box signed by both artists dating from the early 20th century. It is 18 cm (7 inches) diameter, 9 cm 3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Mokusen was a prolific porcelain artist in Kyoto well known for his tea ware...

An exquisite slightly fluted porcelain bowl with a dragon parading though tendrils of cloud in raised relief by Mokusen enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 18.3 cm (7 inches) diameter, 9cm tall (3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Mokusen was a prolific porcelain artist in Kyoto well known for his tea ware.

An exceptionally small Japanese tea or wine bowl and saucer, Edo period c 1710. Blood and milk iron red and gilt decoration of butterflies, flowers and swirls. Height of cup 1 ¼ " / 3.2 cm Diameter 2 ¼ "/ 5.5 cm, of saucer 3 ½ "/ 8.8 cm. Condition: repair to the saucer, the cup with a nick to the inner side of the foot rim (c.f. pics).

A Hirado blue and white porcelain bowl. Dragon decoration on the interior center. Flowerhead in mokkogata reserves decoration along the interior below the rim with pale iron oxide wash. Intricate dragon and phoenix decoration around the exterior. The unglazed bottom and foot with the smooth biscuit characteristic of the kiln. Taisho period. Good condition. Diameter, 5 1/2 inches. Height, 2 1:8 inches.

A Hirado blue and white porcelain censer with pierced lattice work cover and sides. Lion masks in relief on opposing sides. Decoration of aromatic flowers and wisps of burning incense. Three feet elevate the censer above surfaces. Early Showa period. Good condition. Lion mask to Lion mask nearly 4 inches in length. Height, covered, just over 3 inches.

A good Hizen-yaki, Arita kilns octagonal blue and white porcelain bowl. Shonsui ‘three friends if winter, decoration in roundels among shape patterns. A single Minogame decorates the interior center. A Fuku mark appear center of the bottom, inside the unglazed ring foot. 19th century. Good condition. 5 inches at widest points. Little more than 3 inches at highest points.

A Hizen-yaki, Arita kilns dish in the Kakiemon style. Probably after design examples from the latter kiln. The cavetto with delicate shironuki decoration of sakura blossoms on waves of water. The center undecorated save a single chrysanthemum blossom. Brown rim induced by iron oxide. The exterior with karakusa around the unglazed ring foot centering a spurious mark suggesting the Chinese Ming dynasty. Early 19th century. Good condition. Diameter about 7 3/4 and a little more in places.

A fine and unusual Hizen-yaki, Kakiemon type, small foliate dish. Chocolate brown rim in iron oxide. Unusual blue and white decoration of a samurai with a young monk across the saddle on horseback - bow drawn to ward off pursuing Buddhist monk. This appears to depict one of many tales of old Japan - perhaps The Take of the Heike as relates to Minamoto Yoshitsune and the warrior monk Benkei. A reading of the kanji may shed light...

An interesting Hizen-yaki, Arita kilns foliate rimmed bowl. Center decoration of a Chinese scholar in tropical landscape. The cavetto and exterior decorated in the Kraak manner. A spurious four character Xuande mark on the bottom, inside the unglazed high foot rim. 19th century. Good condition. Diameter, about 6 5/8 inches. Height, about 2 2/8 inches.

A fine pair of Hizen-yaki, Arita kilns blue and white porcelain dishes in the Kakiemon style. The molded, spiral foliate cavettos sporting similarly shaped undulating shonsui panels with ‘three friends of winter’ decoration and other, typically shonsui shape patterns. The Peony motif centers surrounded by a band of auspicious symbols in shironuki. Chocolate colored, iron-oxidized rims...

A classic vessel reflecting the grace of Song-Yuan period aesthetics by master of the genre Suwa Sozan II (Torako) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 13 cm (5 inches) diameter, 25 cm (10 inches) tall and in excellent condition. A prime example of this early female Japanese potters work.
Suwa Sozan (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875...

A pair of finely made and decorated Imari tokkuri (sake bottles). Bird and flowers in vase decoration rich in red enamel and gilt details over blue underglaze decoration. A pair of such high quality tokkuri is rare. Circa 1800. Both are lamped. One is otherwise in very good condition while the other has a rim chip (pictured). Height of the bottles are about 7 and 3/8 inches (about 18.73 cm)

Hard porcelain vase created by tominaga genroku (1860-1920). Decorated with peonies painted underglaze in a classic cobalt blue, yellow, green and pink enameled details. Elegant shape, well-designed flowers, harmonious colors. Classic model typical of this period. The Ureshino kilns located in kyushu produced this type of porcelain from the end of the 19th century.Peonies are a symbol of immortality. A crack in the neck. Cobalt blue mark painted below: Made by Tominaga Genroku Height 31cm.

Hard porcelain bowl, produced in the Fukagawa kilns in Arita. Very artistic decor, typically Japanese, separated into two clearly distinct parts. On the one hand, two cranes in flight pass in front of misty Mount Fuji. The mountain and the sky are painted in underglaze cobalt blue and it is the absence of color which draws the clouds. The birds are in white, black and red enamels, they are meticulously drawn...

This vase is a masterpiece of Japanese Kutani artistry whose detailed enameling makes it a piece worth owning. The traditional elements of birds have highly articulated details, several with spread wings in flight, while others are flocked on the ground in front of brilliantly blooming pink flowers punctuated with delicate blue flowers. Behind all of this wonderous foreground naturalism are hills and lakes...

This monumental Japanese porcelain charger is painted in blue and white depicting buildings on stilts overlooking mountains, waters, and trees among a beautiful waterfall, situated at the banks of a calm body of water with a boat in the distance.

The scenery is surrounded with scrolls in a band upon which lay leaves and flowers. The uniquely rendered waves add special interest.

The back of the charger has what may be seen as scrolling vine and leaf decoration...