Old Japanese Kutani dishes placed in the carved wood tray. Each dish is hand painted and signed at the bottom, "Gyokuzan". The diameter of the tray is 14 inches. Some gilt wear at the rim of some dishes.

Kondō Yuzō is one of the more recognized names in the world of modern Japanese pottery of the 20th century. Though known mainly for his sometsuke creations (blue and white porcelains), he did not settle on this style until well into his potting career that lasted nearly seven decades. The pieces shown here then would be from an earlier period and are evidence of his competency with varied styles and glazes—not just the ones he is most well-known for...

An elegant celadon receptacle with custom made black lacquered lid by important female potter Suwa Sozan II titled Seiji Mizusashi and enclosed in a wooden box annotated by the third generation head of the family. The Taru shape (a traditional bound shallow wood bucket) is surmounted at the rim with lily pads upon which rests a tiny frog. In the center of the base is her circular stamp. It is 24 cm (9-1/2 inches) diameter, 12 cm (5 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

This extraordinary vase is a truly Japanese expression of a classical Chinese form. Fashioned after cylindrical Song Dynasty pieces that are thought to have been introduced in the 9th century from Syria, the handles are of Chinese origin and represent the mythical "Fenghuang" (Hōu in Japanese). This deity, typically depicted with the body of a bird with characteristics of a dragon, is believed to have originated in the sun and is thought to symbolize virtue, wisdom, and grace...

A dynamic early porcelain work in vivid color by Kiyomizu Rokubei VI enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Futatsuki Kajutu Mon Kashiki (Sweets dish decorated with fruit) bearing his real name, indicating it predates his taking the name Rokubei in 1945. The box bears the seal of the Hattori Tokeiten, purveyors of fine art in Pre-war Japan. The porcelain is 19.7 cm (8 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, signed on the bottom...

A waka poem in underglaze blue brushed by female artist/poet Tomioka Haruko decorates this porcelain Mizusashi by female potter Suwa Sozan II enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The porcelain container is 17.5 cm (7-1/2 inches) tall, 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. On the base it bears the circular mark of Suwa Sozan II and on the side the verse is singed Haruko 80. From this we can surmise it dates from 1926 when Haruko was 80 by Japanese count...

Five unique plates by Tomimoto Kenkichi, from various eras depicting bucolic scenery each uniquely signed on the back. Kenkichi changed his signature regularly, which makes it very easy to date his works. These date from the 1950s. Each is between 18.5 and 19.5 cm diameter (roughly 7-1/2 inches). One has a slight firing flaw near at the rim, otherwise they are all in excellent condition. A smaller 6th plate will be included, bonus...

Sake Cup made in 1970s by XIII Kakiemon Sakaida (1906-1982), decorated in bright polychrome enamels over a clear glaze and signed Kakiemon.

XIII Kakiemon Sakaida was born in Arita in 1906. In 1924 he graduated from Arita Industrial School and started to help his father Kakiemon XII.
XIII Kakiemon became the head of the family in 1963 after the death of his father...

Yuzo Kondo is one of the more recognized names in the world of modern Japanese pottery of the 20th century. Though known mainly for his sometsuke creations (blue and white porcelain), he did not settle on this style until well into his potting career that lasted nearly seven decades. The pieces shown here then would be from an earlier period and are evidence of his competency with varied styles and glazes—not just the ones he is most well-known for...

A spectacular silver and gold lid covers this small basin by Tomimoto Kenkichi enclosed in a wooden box titled Aka-e Tsutsugata Yunomi and annotated within: Made by Tomimoto Kenkichi Sensei in 1925 signed by Tsujimoto Isamu (for more on him see below). The cup is covered inside with creamy white, outside in red with decoration of gold plum blossoms. It is surmounted by a solid silver lid pierced with leafy vines and peaked with a gold chrysanthemum...

Yuzo Kondo is one of the more recognized names in the world of modern Japanese pottery of the 20th century. Though known mainly for his sometsuke creations (blue and white porcelain), he did not settle on this style until well into his potting career that lasted nearly seven decades. The piece shown here is from an earlier period and has been expertly repaired with gold joinery...

Kiyomizu Rokubei Teacup Set of 11 cups for green tea.

The teaset refers to Chinese longevity teacups called Wan Shou Wu Jiang (万寿无疆 in simplified Chinese) where the character 壽 (kotobuki in Japanese or shou in Chinese) means Long Life and character 福 (fu) means Good Fortune or Blessing.

The Rokubei family is one of the most influential pottery clan from Kyoto leaded by 8th generation now with over 240 years of history.

Size
Diameter 6.6cm
Heig...

A set of colorful Tokkuri in the shape of squared gourds by Living National Treasure Kato Hajime enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Aka-e Hohyo Tokkuri (red glazed Tokkuri in squared gourd form). About the white bottom are fortuitous characters in green with a belt of blue, yellow and green in the center. They are 15.5 cm (6 inches) tall. There is slight rubbing of the red glaze typical of handling. Enclosed with them is a photocopy from an art book (unknown publication) with ...

A classic design, the peach is said to represent long-life for mortals and immortality for the gods in Asian folklore. According to legend, the moon goddess—a powerful alchemist—can make an elixir from peaches that grow in the garden of the western paradise with miraculous revitalizing properties. This piece was made by one of the few great female Japanese potters of the 20th century—Suwa Sozan II, daughter of Meiji Imperial Court Artist Sozan I. Although the peach motif can be seen in man...

This Shino ware sake cup was made about 50 years ago in the well-known Suigetsu Gama kiln which was built by one of the greatest Japanese potters of all times, Toyozo Arakawa (1894-1985). He was designated as Living National Treasure by Japanese Government in 1955 and well-known for reviving Shino glazes of Momoyama and Early Edo periods. The signature of his kiln is stamped at the bottom of the cup. The original wooden box with the signature of his kiln name is also included. Size Dia....

A wonderful translucent blue celadon Tobi vase done in the classic style of Longquan Chinese pottery. This piece was made by one of the few great female Japanese potters of the previous century—Suwa Sozan II, daughter of Meiji Imperial Court Artist Sozan I.

Suwa Sozan I (1852—1922) was born in an area of what is known today as Ishikawa prefecture. After a short stint in the military he took up pottery design and painting under Touda Tokuji in 1873. From this point for...

A menagerie of 12 comic creatures grin back at us as we pour another cup of sake from this Tokkuri decorated by world renowned woodblock artist and painter Clifton Karhu enclosed in the original wooden box also decorated on all facets with the same humorous creatures as well as a self portrait on the lid captioned EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY. It is 17.5 cm (7 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) had his first introduction to Japanese living stationed in Sasebo d...

Elegant imagery in rusty orange decorates the yellow body of this small vase by important artist and Living National Treasure Tokuda Yasokichi I enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 4-1/2 inches (11 cm) tall and in excellent condition. A very difficult artist to find, this is a rare opportunity.
Tokuda Yasokichi I (1873 –1956）was born into a family of textile dyers in Ishikawa prefecture, but entered the ceramics world under the tutelage of his Brother Matsumoto Sahei, ...