Three volume set of books on modern Japanese potters coving roughly 100 artist per volume with approximately 200 pages each and measuring about 10" x 8.5". Each volume is fully illustrated with a two page spread per potter which includes the name and address of each in English and the mark the potter uses on his pottery.

I have long wanted to offer a significant piece by this artist, and here is a spectacular Nezumi Shino pair of vases by Wakao Toshisada enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Red tinged white waves boil over the Nezumi-gray arc of the base, a white waxing moon floating above. They measure 9 x 3-1/2 x 12-1/2 and 8-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 10-1/2 inches (23 x 9 x 32 cm and 21.5 x 9 x 27 cm) respectively and are in perfect condition...

This classic mizusashi has everything one could want from Karatsu; a timeless form, a perfect nuka surface and exceptional E-Garatsu style iron underglaze painting by a master potter and arguably the greatest living Karatsu artist. This pot could easily be a 17th century piece though the unmistakable mark of a master 20th century potter is ever present...

Wood-fired Vase, Hana-ire, by John Benn; Harstine Island, WA. Natural Ash Glaze. Inspired by Tsuno-daru (Sake Cask with Horns.) H. 9.25"(23.5cm) x Dia. 4"(10cm.) natural Ash Glazing, shell wadding remains on body. John Benn studied with F. Carleton Ball and Ken Stevens at the U. of Puget Sound in Tacoma, and with Howard Shapiro and Sandra Simon in the MFA Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1976, he built his first wood kiln...

Paddled tataki style water jar with shoulder lugs and covered in one of my Oribe glazes with accents of iron to create movement on the surface.

Stoneware and glazes

7.6" x 7.65"

Vase for flowers by Sachiko Furuya; Shoreline, WA. Contemporary, H.5.625"(14.25cm) x Dia.3.375"(8.5cm). Sachiko Furuya hails from Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. There, she studied pottery with Yukio Matsuura, making primarily tea wares for practitioners of the Omotesenke School of Tea. She also attended the College of Arts at Nihon University (Tokyo,) Suidobara Fine Arts Academy (Tokyo,) and has a Studio Art degree from Clark College in Dubuque, Iowa...

Wood-fired Tokkuri, Sake Decanter, by John Benn; Harstine Island, WA. Natural Ash Glaze. H. 6.75"(17.25cm) x Dia. 4"(10cm.) natural Ash Glaze Drip at rim, shell wadding remains on body. John Benn studied with F. Carleton Ball and Ken Stevens at the U. of Puget Sound in Tacoma, and with Howard Shapiro and Sandra Simon in the MFA Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1976, he built his first wood kiln...

Tokkuri, Sake Decanter, Mashiko-yaki, by Tagami Munetoshi. Kaki (persimmon) glaze with ichimatsu (checkerboard) pattern of red & green overglaze enamel decorations of snow on bamboo grass (yuki mochi sasa) & stripes. H. 5.5"(14cm) x Dia. 3.375"(8.5cm). Volume = 13oz(380cc.) Tagami Munetoshi (b. 1972) is the son of Tagami Isamu and grandson of Sudo Takeo. He is the 5th generation of potters in Mashiko’s Hinatagama (Hinata Kiln) founded during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) by Sudo Yujiro...

Kakehanaire (Hanging Flower Vase,) by George Gledhill; Payett, ID. Wood fired, ash glaze, with copper ring attached in back for hanging on a wall or post. H>6.25"(16cm) x W.3.125"(8cm.) There have been several influences to George Gledhill’s ceramic work. Buddhism has been a guiding force in life for many years, and George even visits local prisons to teach the Dharma to inmates...

An Iga Kogo by Kishimoto Kennin and Tamba Kogo by Nishihata Tadashi, both superb examples of their craft and tradition, both by these prominent artists and both enclosed in the original signed wooden boxes.  The Kennin piece is a small square reminiscent of a pillar stone from some long lost temple, the edges covered in earth, the round top lost in a covering of moss.  Here he has breathed new life into the traditional form, both paying homage and yet leaving his indelible mark on it to carry ...

Once again Abe Anjin has proved his mastery of traditional form with this superb rendition of Momoyama styling enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Hanaire,signed on base as well inside the vase...

Large and bold hakeme style Oribe chawan by Matsuzaki Ken. This finely formed chawan has an excellent shape to show off the casual hakeme slip decoration that was then glazed over in an oribe glaze that is full of variation, tones and effects.

The is a great deal written about Matsuzaki Ken, including a book and several dvds (videos) about this stellar Shimaoka Tatsuzo student. Please feel free to look around the internet, but what is abundantly clear is the international fame of this stan...

The sides are scorched from flame on this large, flattened ball form tsubo by Koie Ryoji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The raw Shigaraki earth is scored with strikes from a paddle and deep gouges from the artist fingers. The Tsubo is roughly 8 inches (20.5 cm) tall, the same diameter. Born in Tokoname, 1938, Ryoji graduated the Tokoname industrial school and moved on to work at the City Ceramic Research Facility. In 1966 he established his own studio. Largely displayed and pri...

Fine Oni-Shino chawan by Mino traditional potter, Murata Juko (b.1922). The Oni-Shino surface is a wonderful blend of fissured Shino with areas of rich iron about the exterior and covering most of the interior. The robust and inviting form has a very purposeful stance and displays well and feels great in the hand. The foot is boldly cut making maximum use of the texture of the mogusa clay.

Murata Juko studied with three of the 20th century's most important potters; Kato Kobei V, Kato Toku...

Large hand carved terra cotta Tebori fish tray. This tray has the option of hanging on the wall if desired

Terra Cotta, slip and glaze

15" X 15" X 2"

Functional, decorative and food safe

Waisted form teabowl with temmoku and partridge feather style runny glaze. Picture #5 gives you the best perspective of what the glaze looks like in person.

Stoneware and glazes

5" X 4.25"

Functional, decorative and food safe

Large medieval style Iga chawan by Kishimoto Kennin.This well addressed chawan has a variety of Iga characteristics from running ash and bidoro to a rich hi-iro fire color that Kishimoto is known for. This classical Kishimoto Iga chawan is well articulated with movement that mimics the lip; the bowl feels wonderful in the hand.

Kishimoto has been making pots since the early 1950’s and is well know for a wide variety of wares that he has made including Shigaraki, Iga, Iga-Oribe, celadon a...

Tokoname Yohen Kyusu (Side-handle Tea Pot,) Murata Yoshiki. H. 3.5”(9cm) x Body Dia. 3.5”(9cm) x W.(including handle) 5.375”(13.5cm.) Volume = 320cc(10oz.) Below the spout it is stamped “yoshiki” (see enlargement #6.) Murata Yoshiki was born in 1950 and is a Tokoname potter who apprenticed under Ito Toji. His works are a good example of the long history of sencha tea wares produced in the town of Tokoname, in Aichi Prefecture. It is perfectly balanced and well suited for use in prepa...

Black, black, BLACK!  This is the word with Isezaki Koichiro and these two splendid works enclosed in the original signed wooden boxes titled Kuro Sake Tsugi and Kuro Sake Nomi (Black Sake Pourer and Black Sake Cup respectively).  The granular clay is a step away from standard Bizen, but the blasting of ash gives it away.  The rims seem to be worn away, as if the flames have caused them to degrade.  An undulating scar like a wave seems to intimate the waves of spirits that will pour forth. ...

A tall Sake bottle with handle deeply dragged and scratched by Yamada Kazu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ao-Oribe Sake Tsugi. It struts forward at a jaunty gate, as if whistling a tune on a summer day in the park, oblivious to all. It is dressed from top to bottom in oribe green, the scarred body filling in the recesses forming dark pools and fractures.
Size, W 9.8cm (4 inches) H 18.3 cm (7 inches)
Condition, Excellent
Kazu was born in Tokoname c...

Broad, Chinese influenced conical chawan with red and green enamel floral and circular decoration. This chawan is an early piece by enamel and Oribe artist Kuroiwa Takumi. He is widely exhibited and published for his pottery.

This chawan is in excellent condition and does not come with a box.

5.7" X 2.75"

Large heavily textured Taiko (drum) style vase with rich temmoku and tetsu-yu glazes and tamadare type glaze runs.

Stoneware and glazes

12.75" x 11.5" x 3.75"

Tear drop form tokkuri in the Jovian Storms pattern neriage and a rich and three dimensional Ao glaze which runs from steel blue-grey to green with blue highlights

Porcelain and glazes

7.75" X 5"

Functional, decorative and food safe

These expressive forms utilize the clays natural textures to bring out the depths of the oribe green, and electric shimmers of blue flash on the surface in random patterns like heat lightning.  This sake set was created by the very popular and hard to find Higashida Shigemasa and come enclosed in their original signed wooden boxes titled Oribe Tokkuri and Guinomi respectively. 
Size, The Tokkuri: is W 9.5  cm ( 3-3/4 inches)  H 14.6  cm (5-3/4 inches)  Size, Guinomi: is W 5.2  ...

Futa-oki, Lid rests, by George Gledhill; Payette, ID. Wood-fired, ash glaze. Sizes range from: GG.FO.1 H.1"(2.5cm) x Dia.2.5"(6.25cm) GG.FO.2 H.1.125"(2.75cm) x Dia.2"(5cm) GG.FO.3 H.1.5"(3.75cm) x Dia.2"(5cm.) There have been several influences to George Gledhill’s ceramic work. Buddhism has been a guiding force in life for many years, and George even visits local prisons to teach the Dharma to inmates. Through pottery and Buddhism, he was exposed to Tea practitioners who complimented ...

This large Zenga chawan is glazed in a rich Oribe with a panel of ash clear glaze on which Kasumi Bunsho brushed “Don’t Know” and his full signature, Myoshin Abbot Jishunken with various seals. The Mino tradition chawan was made by Hayashi Ryouji of the Souzan kiln to act as the platform for Bunsho’s idiosyncratic and spontaneous calligraphy. This chawan is large and well potted with a wonderful clay body and well addressed surface, mikomi tea pool and kodai foot.

Kasumi Bunsho (19...

This robust and modernist Haku-yu ( white ash) glazed mizusashi is by Kakurezaki Ryuichi protégé; Ishii Takahiro. This mizusashi is a creative statement to say the least and measures 10.5” X 9.75” X 6” and comes complete with the original signed box. Note the idiosyncratic and creative calligraphy! This piece is in excellent condition, excepting the lid which was repaired with gold lacquer!

Ishii studied uder the tutelage of the reknown Bizen master, Kakurezaki Ryuichi. He has ha...

A most extraordinary glaze like green velvet covers this tall bottle form vase by modern Japanese pottery master Imai Masayuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating circa 1970. The long tapering from is expertly rolled at the mouth, the soft absorbent textured glaze lying perfectly smooth over all. The hada, or feeling of the surface is unlike any I have ever seen, and a drop of water is instantly absorbed by the porous surface. The vase is 16 inches (45 cm) tall and in excellent ...

A spectacular Oni Karatsu Vase by Inoue Toya of the Kyozan Kiln enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 10 inches (25 cm) tall 6 inches (16 cm) diameter and in excellent condition.
Inoue Toya (1942-2013), graduated the prestigious Nihon Daigaku in 1966, having spent his student years excavating ancient Karatsu shards and researching their techniques. He apprenticed under the multifaceted potter Nushi Ensai. In 1969 he opened his own kiln. He served as head of the Karatsu Cera...

Classical kohiki, powdered slip chawan by Ogawa Tetsuo (b.1937). Rich full form that makes for an exceptional chawan with a fine lip and excellent kodai with some crinkled clay peaking through the slip as if emerging from melting clay, the potters forever frozen in the base of the bowl where the pot was dipped in slip. Simple and complex at the same time.

Though subtle, there is a power to kohiki ware that is most time lost in simple illustrations. Ogawa Tetsuo is considered to be one of t...

A dark charred Chosen Karatsu kamahen Mimitsuku Mizusashi by Nishioka Koju (b. 1918) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. All is deeply coated in thick burnt ash. Red shows through rivulets of dark olive burnt to the side of the body. The raw clay is visible through the thick ash drips on one side. It has a custom black lacquered wooden lid and is in fine condition but for the handle on the lid, which was broken and repaired. It is 6 inches (15.5 cm) tall, 7 inches (17.5 cm) diamete...

Small Shigaraki kake-ire hanging vase made by Uda Rakuzan. The small uzukumaru like form, intentionally deformed with the face covered in ash and charcoal effects and an incised decoration around the should of the pot. the rear has hi-iro effects and a metal hanger.

This vase is in fine condition but does not have a box. The vase measures 4.5" x 4.8".

Who says the work of a woman potter is feminine? This is a powerful Iga work by Watanabe Aiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. There is nothing sedate about this work, charred and dripping with glassy green glaze, freckled with flying ash; the heavy lug handles jutting from the side slightly off kilter. The vessel is 7 inches (17 cm) tall, roughly the same diameter and in excellent condition.
Aiko established her first Anagama kiln in Shigaraki in 1994, and moved to Iga in 2...

A thick glazed tokkuri and chokko cup by Koyama Kiyoko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The Tokkuri has a playful stance, slightly cocky and leaning, as if it wants to pour. Both are covered in thick, dripping ash glaze, a product of her legendary long firings, sometimes lasting ten days. It is 5 inches (13 cm) tall and in fine condition.
Kiyoko was the subject of the film Hi-Bi (2005) and is the pioneering female wood firing artist in Japan. Born in Sasebo, Nagasaki in 1938,...

Thick white vitrifies over bottomless black, creating a stark sense of drama on the torn form of this outstaniding work by world renowned potter Miwa Kazuhiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kakan (Floral Crown). It is quite tall, and with a single flower would be an excellent complement to the alcove of a modern Tea Room. The raw red clay is visible benath where the glaze has crawled away to allow a peek inside.
Size, H 36.5 cm (14.1/4inches)
Condition, Exc...

Graceful and serene squared form bottle/vase by master Hagi potter, Tahara Tobei (1925-1991). This pot was first thrown round and paddled skillfully into a squared form, iron slipped and then glazed in a Hagi ash glaze to create this other worldly keshiki landscape. The surface ranges from a rich chocolate brown to areas of a muted lavender and grey with pink and creams tones spotted about. Tobei XII was famous during his lifetime and his works exhibited in museums and private exhibitions in Ja...

Tall jug or vase form with medieval green glaze over rozome style design of spirali e tagli

Stoneware, slips and glazes

14" X 5.25"

A large Hidasuki Bizen Table by Shibaoka Nobuyoshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Two large circles beyond the burnt-straw remains gives the effect of the moon reflecting off water viewed through a rush of bamboo. The table is 17-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 4 inches (44 x 24.5 x 10 cm) and is in excellent condition. Nobuyoshi was born in 1950, the son of Ikkai. He graduated the Bizen Industrial High School and went on to apprentice at the Bizen Ceramics Research Institute followed by traini...

Kogo, Lidded Incense Container, in shape of apple. Saggar-fired with grass wrapped around kogo to create "hidasuki" effect. H.1.5"(4cm) x Dia2.25"(5.75cm) There have been several influences to George Gledhill’s ceramic work. Buddhism has been a guiding force in life for many years, and George even visits local prisons to teach the Dharma to inmates. Through pottery and Buddhism, he was exposed to Tea practitioners who complimented his work and encouraged him to produce Tea wares. Their introd...

An Exhibited pottery box by Watanabe kunio enclosed in the original wooden box titled Iro-e Kin/Gin-Sai KiKaMon ToBako. This piece was featured on the exhibition invitation at the Marue Gallery (included). It measures 9 inches (23 cm) across, 2 inches (5 cm) tall and is in excellent condition.
The first time I saw this artists work I was blown away by the precision, skill and beauty inherent. Kunio was born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1967, graduating the top Art school in Japan, The Toky...

Vase Mashiko-yaki, by Tagami Munetoshi. Faceted sides, Kaki (persimmon) glaze with checkerboard pattern of red & green overglaze enamel decorations of sugar cane reed & stripes. H. 7"(18cm) x Dia. 3.125"(8cm). Tagami Munetoshi (b. 1972) is the son of Tagami Isamu and grandson of Sudo Takeo. He is the 5th generation of potters in Mashiko’s Hinatagama (Hinata Kiln) founded during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) by Sudo Yujiro. At the age of 16, he started his apprenticeship under his grandfather an...

Elegant Hagi chawan with white to faint lavender ash glaze over slip and daido clay body. Classic turned foot, kodai with cut notch and impressed seal.

Though marked, I have been unable to read the seal and identify the potter. What I can say is this chawan is definitely post-war, circa 1960 -1970 and very much resembles the works of Sakakura Shinbei XII and Saka Koraizaemon XII from that time period.

This bowl measures 5" X 3.25" and is in great condition. No Box.

Very nice set of small kaiseki or sushi plates from the Bishu-gama kiln made by Bizen potter Yamamoto Soshu (Munehide).

Each small plate is in perfect condition, measures 3.75" x .75" and is cleared marked on the reverse and has a bota-mochi style decoration on the face of each piece. No box.

This is a beautiful miniature oil on board by listed western Montana artist Dave Powell who was born in 1954. It measures 5" x 7" and is titled "Bumper & Thumper, A Team".

This large, textured and incised Iga wood fired vessel is by multi-talented artist, Ohira Kazumasa (b.1943). This vase measures 15" tall and 7" at its widest and is in original condition with heavy texturing along the sides and incised decoration and ginirodori style overglaze on either side of the piece. The piece comes with its original signed wood box and was made for an exhibition in the late 1990's.

Ohira Kazumasa is a man of many talents. Garden designer, sculptor, mural designer a...

Large haikaburi style mizusashi with areas of running green and blue-green ash running down the pot. This piece was made by veteran tea potter; Suzuki Hideo.

It may be of interest that this mizusashi bares a numbered tag attached to the base of the pot and indicates that this piece was in an exhibition.

This mizusashi is in excellent condition and has its original signed box. It should be noted, the lid is a very tight fit and can only be put on and taken off in one way. That being s...

This beautiful oil on canvas by Don Doxie is titled "Bible, Boot and Bowler," and was painted in 1971. Doxie's still life paintings are so realistic that its incredible. You can see the wrinkled leather in the boot and the damage to the spine on the bible and its just like a photograph. This one measures 12" x 16".

Classical Iga vase by noted master Japanese potter; Kishimoto Kennin (b.1934). This vase, based on Momoyama and early Edo Iga archetypes, has varying hues of natural green ash about the top portion of the vase which also cascades down the side and forms wonderful bidoro rings around the mouth and shoulder. Though a thoroughly Iga pot, the clay body is actually wonderful Shigaraki clay with a healthy amount of feldspar inclusions.

Kishimoto has been making pots since the early 1950’s a...

Wonderful, classical Shino chawan in the Momoyama traditional style by the grand gentleman of Mino ceramics ; Tamaoki Yasuo. Tamaoki was heralded as one of the five great hopes of Mino by Kuroda Ryoji and he has not failed to live up to that mantle. Exhibited worldwide, illustrated in a large variety of books and catalogues and having pots in a number of museums, Tamaoki, having first studied with Kato Kobei V, has mastered a wide array of pottery and is currently a Prefectural Intangible Cultur...

Thick ash covers the ovoid form of this exquisite Chaire by Tsujimura Kai enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Nostalgic with its glaze effects and form immersed in tradition, yet full of the world today, contemporary, breathing, alive. To one side a crescent moon shaped kutsuki forms a rakish grin, inviting the viewer to join in the merriment. It is a masterpiece by this young artist.
Size, W 7.1cm(3-1/4 inches) H 11.1cm (4-1/2 inches)
Condition, Excellent , encased i...

A very desirable work with a swish of resist creating a white floral streak on the rich red and black of this contemporary Mashiko form by Living National Treasure Hamada Shoji enclosed in a box annotated by his son Shinsaku and titled Kaki-yu Nuki-e Kabin, Shoji-saku.  The form is iconic Mashiko, with a strong sense of the utilitarian, a keynote of the Mingei movement which Shoji represented.  A spectacular example of this artists work.
Size, D 14.2 cm ( 5.6 inches)  H 21.8  cm ( 8...

Ash is blasted around from the charred front of this amazing Tsubo by Harada Togetsu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. What an amazing looking piece, highlighting all the best in Bizen qualities. The first time I spotted this piece I could not halt my expressing something about the godlike nature of Feces (oddly?!) It is 10 inches (25 cm) tall, roughly the same diameter and in excellent condition.
Harada Togetsu (b. 1917) began potting in earnest late in life, in the early 60s...

A long necked bottle form vase by Tokuda Yasokichi III enclosed in the original signed wooden box,covered in his signature gosai colors of yellow, purple blue white and green.Very Powerful,one of the most beautiful Yasokichi piece i've ever seen.
Size, H 26.3cm (10-1/2 inches).
Condition, Excellent
Designated Living National Treasure in 1997 for his supremacy in the use of Kutani glazes, Yasokichi, born Masahiko, has gone a step further than many National Treasures by ...

Large Aka-Shino mizusashi with it's original ceramic lid. This Momoyama influenced mizusashi is by Kato Yoshiaki (Jumei) who has won a number of awards and is recognized for his tea wares.

7.75" X 6.75"

Mizusashi is in excellent condition and comes with it's original wood signed box included

Hanging Vase, Kakehanaire, by George Gledhill; Payette, ID. Saggar fired with grass. This pot experienced heavy charring on the bottom during firing (see enlargements.) H. 3.625"(9cm) x Dia. 3"(7.5cm.), with copper ring attached in back for hanging on a wall or post. There have been several influences to George Gledhill’s ceramic work. Buddhism has been a guiding force in life for many years, and George even visits local prisons to teach the Dharma to inmates. Through pottery and Buddhism...

Wonderful Oribe set of iron decorated plates by veteran potter, Yamaguchi Jusetsu. Vivid green Oribe glaze and whispy iron decoration make this set very usable across a wide variety of uses including tea ceremony. Yamaguchi's works are widely exhibited and published in Japan and abroad.

These plates are all in great condition and measure approximately 5.75" x .5" each and come with their original signed box.

Wonderful lobed chaire by Bizen veteran potter; Takahara Shoji (1941-2000). This elegant Bizen chaire has casual lobed indents around its solid form with a spontaneous incised line creating a boundary between body and shoulder. The chaire face (omote) is covered in a rich green ash showing signs of a horizontal tamadare run while the rear (ura) has sweeping effects of hi-iro capitalizing on the traditional Bizen tsuchi-aji. The chaire has a magnificent ivory lid and its handmade shifuku bag maki...

This subtle, yet impressive mizusashi is by modern Karatsu legend; Nakazato Takeshi (b. 1937). This rounded, bowl shaped mizusashi is coated in a velvety layer of green ash with several areas of flashed iron red hi-iro and a patch of glassy bidoro where the piece faced the assaulting fire from Takeshi’s Ryutagama wood kiln. This pot was created slightly out of round and has a wonderful custom made roiro black lacquer lid to finish of the piece. The bottom of the pot is smoothly finished and pr...

Wood-fired 5-sided lidded container by George Gledhill; Payette, ID. Ash Glaze. H.2.5"(6.25cm) x W.3.375"(8.5cm.) There have been several influences to George Gledhill’s ceramic work. Buddhism has been a guiding force in life for many years, and George even visits local prisons to teach the Dharma to inmates. Through pottery and Buddhism, he was exposed to Tea practitioners who complimented his work and encouraged him to produce Tea wares. Their introduction to the world of Tea Ceremony has...

This bowl is reminiscent of a colorfully striped Nishijin-ori Kimono, blue and green and yellow on a base color of hemp. The rim rises and falls in a rhythmic dance aong the broad shoulder. Created by modern master Ajiki Hiro, it comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shio-Yu Wan, Basara. Basara is a term in Japanese aesthetics associated with the challenge of traditional ideals during the Muromachi period. It is also the name of a style of contemporary and colorful dance wh...