The history of Japanese chawans should not be written without this 15th century Iga chawan. It was produced during the Muromachi Period, which was running from approximately 1337 to 1573...

Say the word 'Momoyama' to any Japanese pottery connoisseurs, and their eyes will inevitably light up. Most ceramic enthusiasts would give up any Saturday-night vice to own just one Momoyama Shino, Bizen or Karatsu guinomi (sake cup) or chawan (tea bowl). Here is another Momoyama item from our collection:

Cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, fine, unrefined Mino clay - slightly discoloured by age and use, which has also enhanced beautiful, fine crazing.

Shape...

Condition; Excellent, no chips cracks hairlines or repairs. There are some small scratches and minor paint losses.

An ...

Little distorted half cylinder shaped (kutsugata) 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. A 'window' on the side has been left unglazed for decoration in iron oxide engobe under a clear ash glaze in the form of plum blossoms (ume) and a geometric design. This is a typical Momoyama design.

The somewhat irregular foot is typical for the late production of the 16...

Half cylinder shaped (Hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, coarse unrefined Mino clay, with very little and small ishihaze (exploding stones).

The mouth has been trimmed in a fashion frequently seen in black oribe but rarely in yellow seto bowls. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical ash glaze inside and outside which has turned into yellow, due to a slight iron oxide content in the clay; the thick and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has a beautiful, fine crazing. The bowl show...

This vase is decorated in overglaze enamels over an imperial yellow enamel ground. The base has an apocryphal six-character Kangxi mark in underglaze blue. Two stylized handles glazed in coral enamel decorate the neck. The base and interior are glazed white. The footring is unglazed. It is in good condition. Acquired from the collection of Evangeline Johnson of the Robert Wood Johnson family.

Height: 14 ½ in., Width: 11 in.

Little distorted half cylinder shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay.

The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical green copper oxide glaze inside and outside. A 'window' on the side has been left unglazed for decoration in iron oxide engobe under a clear ash glaze in a geometric pattern of squares and triangles and little circles. This is a typical late Momoyama design. The somewhat irregular foot is typical for the late production of the 1...

Real old Kihara-Karatsu Chawan from the well known Kiwara kiln in Sasebo. This type of tea bowl is called hanjiki, a transitional folk half porcelain bowl between Karatsu and Shoki-Imari ware.

Very nice cobalt decoration with mysterious charakters, crackle glaze and an antique gold restoration called kintsugi (gintsugi).

The Kihara-Karatsu Chawan comes with a high quality shifuku.

Size: 2,9'' height, 4,6'' width.

This brush pot displays shallow carving with incising utilizing the natural “skin” of the bamboo to depict a scene of tortoise, cranes, and pine as a wish for longevity. The carver's name is incised beneath the pine tree. It is in good condition and has a nice patina. There is some wear to the interior from use. Acquired in London in the mid 1980s.

Height: 5 1/8 in., Diameter: 3 1/8 in.