This rare and interesting ceramic work was done by one of the most renowned and loved waka poets of the 19th century, Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875). In fact, if you look closely at the attached images, you will see her finger imprints clearly preserved in the molded clay.

Born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki family, from the age of seven to sixteen Rengetsu was a lady in waiting at Kameoka castle where she was trained in the arts and courtly graces...

Dating from early-to-mid Edo the shape of this unique Karatsu piece is referred to as a “takadai-zara” in Japanese, or high-footed serving platter. Modeled on similar Korean pieces from the early Joseon Dynasty, the platter was made using coarse, unrefined clay with high iron oxide content. The clay which forms the bowl shows impurities, intentional pitting, and small stones peeking through the clay making for an interesting ceramic landscape...

A large, and heavy, Stick Stand, ( for holding walking sticks and umbrellas), profusely decorated, in Satsuma style, with a panapoly of historical scenes enclosed within elaborately enamelled textile (?) patterns and surmounted by a large coiled dragon amongst stylized clouds. This item was made in Japan for export to Europe or America during the late 19th or early 20th Century. Condition: there are chips to the rim, some cracks around the base and losses to the head and claws of the dragon...

A 13th.century ko seto Kamakura vase in elegantly-shaped meiping form, with a gradual outward curve on the shoulder, with short-knopped neck, incised beneath the greenish-yellow / olive glaze.

The box was added by our gallery 20 years ago. It was made by a tomobako artist, and there is written 'ko seto kamakura vase' if my memory does not fool me. The vase is decorated with kanji letters.

Marked on the bottom ( maybe a kiln mark ).

It is in good condition...

A fine kikugata mukuzuke moulded dish in the form of an asymmetric Chrysanthemum bloom with central motif of a single Chrysanthemum leaf richly enamelled in green and blue enamels with gilding. The rim decorated with a dark brown iron temmoku style glaze. The dish measures 18.5cm in length, 14cm wide and stands 4cm high. The dish is in excellent condition with no cracks, chips or restoration. Shipping at Cost.

An elegant Kyo-yaki wine ewer of traditional form decorated in gilt outlined enamels with weeping cherry Shidarezakura and brocade bands to the cover and rim. The ewer measures approximately 5 inches or 13cm in height and is approximately 16cm in width from the tip of the spout to the furthest point of the handle. Dating late Edo circa 1850. The ewer is in overall good condition some minute frits to the spout. Shipping at Cost

A set of five ceramic tea cups with box used to serve sencha produced by Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875). The cups are in the form of lotus leaves and the exterior of the cups contain an inscription by Rengetsu, which generally translates: The willows, not in its disarrayed form, the branches not touching, yet branching out into the world. Age: Late 19th century. Size: diameter 2.3" height 1.5"

An Edo period Oribe sake bottle of simple but full proportions and with classically Japanese Zen decoration - austerely yet sensitively placed grass and blooms decoration in iron oxide on the softly crackled opaque off-white glaze ever so slightly scorched in the kiln on two sides where the body is almost slightly exposed and oxidized to a buff tone at those points. The cut foot also glazed save for a crescent reserve around the center where the warm gray body is exposed...

A decorative Temmoku glazed bowl with a raised decoration of a Dragon and Lingzhi. Most probably Japanese and probably from the seventeenth or eighteenth century. There is an incised signature to the piece which could give final clarity to the educated among us. Diameter : 13,2 cm. H : 6,8 cm. Condition : Perfect

A perfectly potted body, a very beautiful Ge crackled glaze with an old original copper rim band to the rim. Most likely Japanese and probably from the seventeenth or eighteenth century. A simple graceful beauty. H : 7,9 cm. Condition : Perfect

This a Japanese pottery bowl, probably from 17th century or earlier, used for drinking tea (matcha bowl ) in very good condition, free shipping for now 08 X'mas

This a Japanese or chinese stoneware bowl, probably from 17th century or earlier for tea drinking, just like the Matcha Bowl

White Rabbit Ceramic Sculpture by Takegawa Chikusai (1809-1882), created in his final year, 1882. Takegawa Chikusai was responsible for putting Banko Yaki, and the Banko-gama kiln (established 1829) and its home of Yokkaichi City in Mie-ken back on its feet and on the map. Banko Yaki had previously been made in the early Edo Period in Kyoto...

Sake flask from Tamba kilns in Hyogo Prefecture, early-mid Meiji Era. Characteristic reddish-brown glaze with black ladle drips around the neck. H. 24cm, Dia. 13cm.

Seto ware kneading bowl, or "konebachi" used in most Japanese households of the period. Characteristic warm yellow seto glaze with seiji (green) ladle drips to add accent to the rim. Height 15cm x Dia. 26.5cm. Minor glaze cracking inside the bowl.

Toushin (wick) zara (plate) held a small amount of oil with a coiled wick, and was usually set in some sort of lamp arrangement. These were used until the advent of glass and other lamps. This example of fine folk pottery is from central Japan, likely Mino ware, produced during the Edo (1600-1868) Era. The top side has a warm yellow glaze, and the underside is unglazed. H. 1.5cm (0.6") Dia.10cm (4".)

A rich black glaze covers this Kasama-yaki jar from the late 19th C. It is in the shape of a "natsume," a tea powder caddy used in the tea ceremony. H.21.5cm (8.5") Body Dia.16cm (6.25".) Kasama wares currently do not enjoy the fame of pots from nearby Mashiko. But Kasama, in neighboring Ibaraki Prefecture about 30 minutes away by car, preceeded Mashiko in being a ceramic production center by nearly a century, and had a hand in training the early Mashiko potters...

An antique flask much like a tokkuri used for transporting sake, the "abura" (oil) "dokkuri" (flask) was used to transport oil products. H.27cm (10.5"), Body Dia.16cm (6.25".) This one is from the old Echigo (present-day Niigata Prefecture) which had stores of oil used for heating and lighting that were shipped up the Japan Sea coast north to Hokkaido. This example is wonderfully pitted with oil over a white glaze, produced at one of the no longer existent folk kilns of the Echigo region...