A red Sado Mumyoi-yaki Tokkuri (Shuchu) by Living National Treasure Ito Sekisui V enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 5 inches (13 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Ito Sekisui V (Yoichi) is the 14th generation of the family to follow in the pottery tradition. His father, Ito Sekisui IV, died when Yoichi was only 19. Upon completion of studies at Kyoto University in 1966, he returned to his hometown of Sado to succeed the lineage...

A spectacular work by Maeda Masahiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iro-e Kin-gin-sai Mentori Hachi (Faceted Bowl with Gold, Silver and Colored Decoration). It is roughly 6-1/2 inches (16.5 cm) diameter, 5-1/4 inches (14 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Maeda Masahiro (b. 1948) graduated the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts in 1975where he received instruction from Living National Treasure Fujimoto Yoshimichi and Tamura Koichi as well as Asano Akira...

A very unusual large Tsubo covered in iridescent metallic glaze over beige windows with millet white florals enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Testsu Sabi-yu Zogan Kusabana-mon Tsubo (Metallic Rust Glaze Tsubo Inlayed with Floral Motif).  This is certainly one of the more unique works I have seen by this important Mashiko artist.  The iron seems to shimmer in the light, not holding just the reds of rust, but blue and green and black, depending upon the light and angle.    Mar...

A singular design by Tsujimura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled humbly Iga Chawan.  The lack of pretense in the title does not match the superlative nature of the bowl.  Shiseki protrude around a great eye of black fire, a dramatic whip of pale glaze swiping from the sagging rim.  The bowl is slightly elongated, the shape creating both a tension in the form and an engaging vocabulary to the palms of the holder, making it an easy bowl to drink from.  This is a superlati...

Large, robust Shigaraki chaire by internationally recognized potter, Kanzaki Shiho. Fired for 10 days in an anagama kiln, this Shigaraki chaire has a wonderful coating of ash with some rich hi-iro fire color on the back and foot. The chaire is signed on the foot and comes complete with its shifuku, silk bag, lid and signed box. The chaire measures 8cm x 7.6cm and is in its original condition.

Marbled clay ruptures in fissured vertical strands to become this amorphic naturel form by Living National Treasure Matsui Kosei enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Neriage shoretsu Mon Hanaire.  This style is created by layering clay about a cylinder while turning the clay, then combing it before firing which allows the less compacted outer surface to split along the comb marks.  This is a technique developed by Kosei, and one of the reasons for which he would acquire such fame....

There is no doubt about the superlative nature of the deep celadon glazes used by Living National Treasure Nakajima Hiroshi, and this vessel is no let down.  A darkly crackled rich green covers this sake flask which comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled modestly Seiji Tokkuri.  Up from the base drive two fingers of rich red clay, the blanks left by the artists fingers when he dipped the bottle in glaze.  This adds a strong sense of connection between the artist and user. 

An iconic representation of this artists work, a large hidasuki Tsubo of red clay marked with burnt straw by Isezaki Mitsuru enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Tsubo. It is 9-1/2 inches (24 cm) diameter, 10-1/2 inches (26.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Isezaki Mitsuru (b. 1934) was born to a family of potters, his father Yozan and brother Jun both very important in Bizen pottery...

Rivulets like stalagmitic sprouts weap from the crystallized walls of this squat Tsubo by Tsukigata Nahiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Oni-Shino Tsubo Hanaire.  Pealed back lunettes reveal the rough clay surface beneath, adding a sense of drama to the piece; putting it firmly in the natural world where asymmetry and imperfection reign.  A seminal work by this important artist whose influence will be felt for coming generations...

The surface of this spiraling vessel has been shredded and scarred then covered in viscous copper glaze resulting in this stunning form by Kato Yasukage XIV (Shoji) enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Oribe Hana-ire.  It has a very organic feel, both from the texture and the imperfectly torn sides coated with various thicknesses of green glass, like water running over a stone surface.  This is a great opportunity to acquire a very special piece by this artist. The fact he...

This remarkable tea bowl is from the kilns of Yoshida Shuen (1940-1987)—an apprentice of Miwa Kyusetsu (1910-2012) who was awarded the status of Living National Treasure in 1983. It features a warm milky beige glaze with light umber accents and shows a bit of exposed clay on the kodai (foot) where the artists seal is located.

Hagi-yaki has a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery...

A fine Bizen tokkuri embellished with nobori kiri by Abe Anjin enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Kakyo Tokkuri...

A tall shizen-yu vase by Sugimoto Sadamitsu enclosed in the original wooden box signed underneath and titled Iga-Hanaire , named within the lid Roso by Sadamitsu (the old priest by Sadamitsu).  We see the slightly hunched over form is indeed reminiscent of an old priest, wrapped in robes of green and black and leaning on his staff.  This piece appears to have been buried quite deeply in ash, which clung charred and blasted base and has been ground off to create a new texture, like the water bu...

Like the charred remains of an open book deep fingerprints still visible from the opening hands within, this is a fine example of the work of Avante Garde Akiyama Yo enclosed in the original wooden box dating from 2013. It is 6-1/2 x 5 inches (16/5 x 13 cm) and is in excellent condition.
Akiyama Yo was born in Yamaguchi, home of Hagi pottery) in 1953, but went to Kyoto to study at the Kyoto Municipal University of Arts in 1976...

A soft pallet of blurred pastels blend between gold risers on this elegant form by Yoshita Yukio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Saishoku Kinsai Hanike and dating circa 2002. It is 11 inches (28 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Yoshita Yukio is the fourth generation head of the Kinsan Kiln in Kutani, specializing in Kinsai and Yuri-Kinsai wares. Unlike standard Kutani wares, he uses a pallet of soft, earthy or pastels with accents in gold to create a new appeal...

Here is the next chawan from our collection of items of Human National Treasures: a wonderful Seto chawan by legendary artist Munemaro Ishiguro (1893-1968), enclosed in its originally signed and sealed wooden box.

In 1918, Ishiguro Munemaro set his goal of becoming a ceramist after seeing a spotted tenmoku tea bowl at Tokyo Art Club...

One of my personal favorite shapes for a chawan, the wa-nari (sometimes pronounced rin-nari) appears firmly grounded and balanced at all times. With round curving surfaces so natural in the hand—they conjure images of ripe fruit waiting to be devoured.

This piece was produced by Koizumi kiln in Aichi Prefecture, most likely by the head potter Kato Shineda—though it only bears the seal of the kiln and not the potter...

A very unusual jar covered in crinkled metallic green glaze with a wooden lid covered with cloth wrapped in a net of orange chord made to hold tea leaves by Sugimoto Sadamitsu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The appearance is deceptively large...