Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century, Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for...
Amazing boro sodenashi (sleeveless) noragi, whose ground cloth as well as mending patches are mostly vegetable indigo dye cotton cloth. Some of sashiko yarns are indigo dye hemp.
Late 19th century. It is from Niigata prefecture. W:62cm, L:80cm
A lovely Shino tea bowl fashioned from coarse Mino clay and covered in a crackled feldspar glazing. The front of the bowl is decorated with paintings of abstract foliage—possibly the lilting leaves of a willow tree—and the base of the bowl is unglazed, displaying rough clay. The paintings, which are applied using a ferrous glaze, along with the han-zutsu shape (half cylinder) are very typical of this type of Shino-ware...
Japanese 4 panel byobu folding screen painting of a tall tree branch with ripe persimmons against a gold leaf ground. With artist's signature and red chop.
Dimensions: 72" L x 36" H
Little distorted half cylinder shaped (tsutsugata) tea bowl made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay.
The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical, glossy black iron oxide glaze inside and outside.
The window is decorated with three concentric squares and twigs in iron oxide glaze has then covered with a clear ash and feldspar glaze. This is a typical Momoyama design...
The poem etched on the side of this exceptional piece reads: In the future — happiness — and long life — two sprouting leaves —to grow a thousand years...
An antique Japanese Bamboo Ikebana basket in a Sea Urchin shell form with fine weave and two woven ring handles. Often incorporated into the art of flower arranging, it also doubles as a sculptural table centerpiece.
Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 11 1/2" High by 14" Diameter
An antique Japanese Buddhist temple ranma (transom) carved from Hinoki (Cypress) wood featuring symbols of Dharmachakra. Dharmachakra sometimes symbolizes Gautama Buddha himself. There are three wheels of life each framed with 8 spokes, representing the noble eightfold path with lotus blossoms in the center . Accentuated by kumo karakusa (arabesque clouds). Minor losses.
Age: Late Edo Period circa 1850s
Dimensions: 15 1/4" High x 60 3/4" Wide x 2 1/4" Deep
Edo period Japanese lacquered leather covered munitions box for gun powder. The leather hinged top has a gilt edge, on center is a copper metal clasp closure, and an iron chain handle. Double stamped in red lacquer with the Omodaka mon, which belongs to the Mizuno family clan. The box is in good condition.
19th Century Edo Period (1603-1868)
Dimensions: 8.75" x 2.75" x 4.5" H
Signifying strength and resilience, bamboo—together with pine and plum (sho chiku bai)—is an auspicious symbols running through the heart of Japanese art and culture. The young bamboo depicted here—sprouting from a patch of rocks—were composed by one of the most renowned and loved waka poets of the 19th century, Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875).
Rengetsu was born into a Samurai family but was soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki family...
Japanese lacquer kogo incense container in Korin-style with rabbits gazing at the moon. One rabbit made of quail egg mosaic and the other of silvered lacquer sitting in the reeds. Square shaped container with mitered corners. Top with silvered moon. Tomobako with typed old labeling.
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Size: 2 1/4"H x 1 5/8"W x 1 5/8"D
Antique Japanese hardwood ranma (transom), ornately carved with a descending plum tree (ume) branch, bearing flowers in bloom.
Size: 73.5" L x 1" D x 20.75" H
Japanese small bronze censer for a Buddhist shrine, made in a squat round form with inlaid gold metal shapes in a random pattern. Cast mark on the bottom. Nice patina.
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 2" high x 2 7/8" wide diameter
An antique gilt bronze Buddhist tower finial with three pierced flame flanges richly engraved with scrolling vines mounted on a hardwood pedestal It is 53 cm tall and in overall excellent condition.
Beautiful and unusual Jomon Era vessel from the Shiizuka Kaizuka archaelogical site in present day Ibaraki prefecture. The Jomon Period (14,000 B.C.~ 300 B.C.) is considered to be the most intriguing period in Japanese Art history. The odd geometric and abstract shapes in vessels or figurine forms are often found various archaeological sites throughout Japan. Age: Jomon Era Size: height 9.75" diameter 7.25"
Only very little distorted half cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay.
The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical black iron oxide glaze inside and outside...
Large and unusual Japanese antique fish plate. Made to look as if one fish overlaps the other with raised details such as fins and eyes. The large white fish is further decorated with blossoming branches, butterflies and a small bird with gold details. The bottom fish is orange with blue fins and intricate scales painted in gold. Scrolling vines and peony flowers decorate the rim of the underside of the plate...
This lovely Shino tea bowl from the Edo period is fashioned from coarse Mino clay and is covered in feldspar glazing. As with many pieces of this period and style, it has classic abstract painting across the sides created using ferrous pigment—contrasting nicely with the ivory background...