Here is a rare work reflecting the shape and character of this famous artist but in Bizen clay, Shigaraki yes, Iga yes, Shino and Kohiki yes, Bizen vase first time for me. A divine vase by Tsujimura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Hanaire. The shape is organic, with warm, rich coloration. A exemplary piece for exploring and appreciating the various kiln effects of Bizen clay and ash firing...

A playful work by rising star Fukami Fuminori enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Narumi Manga Oribe Chuki.
Size, D 21.4 cm H 16.7 cm (including the handle)
Condition, Excellent
Fukami Fuminori is a potter and an illustrator, and a rising star. Born in Seto in 1980, he graduated the Seto Industrial Ceramic Facility in 2000, then apprenticed under Kishimoto Kennin for four years, moving out on his own in 2005...

A beautiful hand painted vase with a bamboo motif and a wagasa umbrella by Ikeda Shogo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tanegashima Kohiki Henko. A thinly applied white slip covers the body and patches of fawn colored spots dot the surface. Bursting with life from the bottom, a bamboo spreads its leaves revealing a bright jewel under the rain. Kohiki ware is based on Yi Dynasty Korean Punch'ng ware preferred by the warriors in the Momoyama and early Edo period...

A superbly crafted and balanced trumpeting form by legendary tea bowl creator Sugimoto Sadamitsu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ido Chawan. The bowl reflects the aesthetics of those imported Korean wares preferred by Sen-no-Rikyu in the Momoyama era. It has a bold, strong foot which rests perfectly on the table, both grounding the bowl and yet allowing it a sense of flight, as if the moment will soon be gone (and it will indeed!)...

A earth-textured smoky black vase by Sato Kazuhiko enclosed in a superb signed wooden boxwith mori-buta (domed-lid) titled Kokuto Tsubo. It is 34.5 cm (13-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. One of my personal favorites, Sato Kazuhiko was born in Kanagawa prefecture in 1947. He graduated the Tokyo University of Art Ceramic department advanced studies in 1972. Trained under Living National Treasures Tamura Koichi and Fujimoto Yoshimichi, his graduation work was awarded a prize...

Large Leafed Vines are silhouetted against age darkened silver on this striking covered basin by Banura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. A segment of vine serves as a handle on the lid and it appears to float above the table on three ribbon feet. It is 25 cm (10 inches) diameter, 15 cm (6 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Banura Shiro (1941-2001) was born the fourth son of influential Lacquer Artist Banura Shogo...

The mouth of this vessel by Kato Yasuhide is placed off center, dissonant to the linear decoration which causes a tension between the two. It comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Senmon Beni Hakusai Henko (Red and White Colored Odd Shaped Vessel with Line Decoration). It is 30 cm (12 inches) tall, 18.5 x 13.5 cm (7-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches) at the base and I excellent condition. Retaining the original Shifuu and Shiori...

the silhouette of birds flit through the branches of the forest which rises up in white trunks on the verdant green of this flower receptacle by Yamaguchi Yoshihiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kasai Ju-in Mon Hanaike. The pebble textured surface is very unusual for Kutani ware, and bridges the glitzy world of porcelain and the more matte world of ceramics...

The colors seen in this ceramic piece are not often encountered in the world of Japanese tea-ware pottery—a field dominated mainly by styles such as Raku, Hagi, and other traditions with relatively conservative and predictable color schemes. The aquamarine blue is rather striking, reminiscent of coral encountered in the pristine waters of tropical and remote destinations...

This rare little gem is made by Morihiro Hosokawa (b. 1938) who served as the prime minister of Japan from 1993 to 1994.

He is also the head of the Kumamoto-Hosokawa clan, one of the noble families of Japan...

A spectacular pottery sculpture of the Okoze (Scorpion Fish) by Kimura Gyokushu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Bizen Okoze. It is 27 x 18.5 x 9 cm (11 x 7-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kimra Gyokushu was born the eldest son of the 16th generation Kimura Munetoku in 1953. He graduated from Nagoya University of Arts in 1976, then went on to be awarded the Okayama Mayor's Award at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition that same year...

A dramatic Shino Mizusashi covered in flowing glaze by Sakai Kobu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 20 cm tall, 19cm diameter and in excellent condition...

Mountain tea bowls (yama-jawan) are commonly excavated from the hillsides of Japan and many date to the 12th century or earlier. They tend to be crude in construction but with a fascinating ruggedness that allows then to endure, often much better than contemporary ceramics, despite being buried in the earth for hundreds of years. Highly prized when found completely intact or with minor cracks, there is a sort of folklore and mystique that has built up around these objects. The pieces shown here ...

Two platinum spikes erupt from the black glazed surface of this Kurinuki vase hollowed out from a black of black clay by Masatomo Toi, the first Kurinuki vase he has created (we think he is on to something). It is 21 cm tall, 25 x 23 cm (10 x 9 inches including the spikes. It comes with a signed wooden placard, directly from the artist.
Masatomo Toi was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1992, and graduated the Design course at the Tajimi Ceramics Research Facility in 2019. Since he has been d...

A shell shaped swirling form by young female artist Takatsu Mio enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 6-1/2 inches (16.5cm)wide, roughly 7 inches (18cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Takatsu Mio (b. 1976) was raised in Gifu prefecture among the scattered kilns of Mino. She graduated the Osaka University of Arts Sculpture Department in 1999, moving on to advanced studies which she completed in 2001. Her first exhibited works were in 1999, and then again in Tokyo in 2001. ...

A beautiful example of the iconic Zogan inlayed clay work of Takeuchi Shingo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The deep bowl swells in the midriff, closing at the rim to concentrate the aroma, with thin sides to allow the warmth to escape to the hands, a perfect bowl for winter tea. It is slightly elongated, 13 x 12 x 8.5 cm (5 x 4-3/4 x 3-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Takeuchi Shingo(b.1955) hails from Seto city, one of the oldest ceramic production centers in J...

A deep black glazed bowl perfect for winter tea by Tsukigata Nahiko enclosed in a wooden box annotated by his student and titled Seto Guro Chawan. The subtleties difficult to discern, there are two distinct colors of black, with shiny, and one matte. It is 4-1/2 inches (11.5 cm) diameter, 3-3/4 inches (9 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Tsukigata Nahiko (1923-2006) was not only an accomplished ceramic artist, but also a painter, calligrapher, sculptor and musician. Born in Niigata pr...

A refined set of Tokkuri and Sake-cup by Banura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Shuki. Exquisite, the flask is more delicate than usual, with a long diaphanous spout and decidedly thin rim. This is made for a discerning drinker, entirely about quality not volume. The cup too is perfectly formed with a thin rim everted ever so slightly, a pleasure to drink from. This set is the perfect complement to a true kaiseki meal. The bottle is 12 cm (4-5/8 inches) tall, ...