Horses dash past in a fervent black mass both carved into and built up onto the paddled surface of this large vessel ballooning open from a narrow base by Nakazato Tarouemon XIII enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Inside the box is written Tataki Tsubo (Paddled Vessel), Kurabe Uma (Horse Race), exhibited Autumn 1958 at the Tokyo Mitsukoshi Sports Theme Art Exhibition; Ochawangama, Nakazato Tadao (given name of Nakazato Tarouemon XIII) followed by the artists seal...

One of three vessels by avant garde potter Kumakura Junkichi enclosed respectively in their original signed wooden boxes. First an industrial shaped box in green measuring 7 x 5-1/2 x 6-1/2 inches. Second a bowl in namako glaze, 9 inches (23 cm) diameter. Last a Tsubo in green measuring 6-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches (16 x 11 x 21 cm). All are in excellent condition...

Enigmatic green and red florals capped by ascending butterflies alternate with bird images in the cathedral-like windows on the side of this large vessel by Kyoto artist Yamazaki Koyo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The vase is 13-1/2 inches (34 cm) tall and in fine condition, dating circa 1950. Koyo (1890-1979) studied under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI, and was displayed consistently in many National and Local Exhibitions...

A recumbent form of grungy urban themes by Kato Kiyoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box dating from the 1960s. It is 42 x 7 x 13.5 cm (16-1/2 x 3 x 5 inches) and is in excellent condition. The box has oxidized with age.
Kato Kiyoyuki was born in 1931, the heir to a long-established tile-making business in Seto...

Representing the culmination of over 1,000 years of Shigaraki potting tradition, this bold guinomi with rough exterior and natural ash glazing was produced by well-known and admired potter Takahashi Rakusai

Born Mitsunosuke, the eldest son of Takahashi Rakusai III, the fourth Rakusai potter succeeded the family name in 1976 with his father’s passing...

A splendid stoneware dish by Sakuma Totaro (1900-1976) with the original signed and inscribed storage box, tomobako. Showa period, mid 20th century.

A substantial dish with deep brown iron glaze leaves on a jade green copper glaze. The back of the dish is undecorated and covered in a transparent ash glaze...

Small Japanese Kyotoyaki (Kyoto ware) ceramic teapot with cover. The body is painted with enamels on 2 sides with various grasses and flowers. No chips, cracks or repairs. Excellent quality decoration in Japanese taste, lower part and cover fired beautiful pink color, superb finely crackled glaze. Stamped with a potter’s mark by the foot and signed and stamped on the original wooden box by the potter WAZEN KITAMURA, blue wrapping cloth...

TEABURI BRAZIER

Refined Japanese ceramic 'teaburi' (small hand-warmer brazier) of minimally roundish cylinder form coated with calm glossy pale glazing, early 20th century, approx. H 20 x D 17cm (7.87 x 6.69in)...

A red earthen cylinder inlayed about the rim with dragonflies by JCS award winner Imai Masayuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The dragonflies (also called Katsumushi, or insect of victory) are inlayed into the red clay with white and buff clay, covered with resist, and a thin iron slip applied over the remainder of the vase. The slip color is so closely matched to the underlying brick-red clay one cannot see the difference...

A rare set of small early earthy dishes by Kiyomizu Rokubei VII enclosed in the original wooden box signed Hiroshi titled Ki-yu Memezara roku-iri (6 Yellow Glazed Small Dishes). Dating from the 1950s, the shapes are flawless, and show the mastery of design for which this artist would become known. They are 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter and all are in excellent condition.
Kiyomizu Kyubei (1922-2006) was born Tsukamoto Hiroshi in Nagoya...

A beautifully shaped green vessel by Miyashita Zenju enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It stands 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall, 8-1/2 inches (22 cm) diameter and is in fine condition.
Zenju (1901-1968) studied pottery in Japan, Korea and China, and is held in the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art as well as the Kyoto National Museum...

Five Sake Cups by the ;legendary Okabe Mineo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seto-Te Hai. The cups hav a very intimate feel, tiny, just enough room for a shot, each in a different style of Mino ware: Shino, E- Shino, Ki-Seto, Nezumi Shino, and Ao-Oribe. Each cup is 4.5 cm (1-3/4 inches) diameter and all are in excellent condition. It even includes the artists biography from the time, still early in his career, likely 1950s.
Okabe Mineo (1919-1990) was born the first s...

Mashiko ware lidded jar by local potter Oushima Shou. H. 14.5" x Body Dia. 10.5". Purchased in 1965. Mottled light green Irabo-type glaze with some color changes on body. There are some chip repairs on the inside of the lid done in lacquer and synthetic gold (see detail photo.) The post-war years in Mashiko saw a growth in decorative pottery such as this. Previosuly a traditional pottery town making strictly utilitarian wares since 1853, it was put on the map worldwide when potter Shoji Hamada ...

Clog-shaped chawan, tea bowl to be used in the tea ceremony. Over a whitish fine clay a silky black glaze and crackled white slip over which a decoration of interlocked diamonds and rings in iron brown.

Seal impressed in bottom/underside: Juzan. Refers to the Oribe potter Mizuno Juzan.

Mino ware, Oribe style, Japan. Showa era, 1950s

H 3 x W 4.25 in.

Perfect condition

There are at least two generations of Mizuno potters going by the name Juzan. The seal most likely ...

Mashiko ware Vase by local potter Outsuka Sadao. Impressed Inlay Patterning. H. 12.75" x Body Dia. 6.5". Stamped at foot "Sada". Purchased in 1965. Good condition, holds water - tested. Condition notes: you can see in enlargement #2 that the vase has a lean/list to one side. Also, there is a "kamakizu" (kiln scar) of a small rock burst on the body. These are imperfections that may make the piece more attractive to some, and less attractive to others. There are several branches of the Outsuka f...

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century, Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for. With crackled glazing and a beautiful gold repair along the top rim, this tokkuri is quite attractive and a pleasure to use.

Housed in its own fine kiri wood box, this piece is 4.3 inches in diameter at...

Japanese 20th - 21st century floral design plate. The floral design starts at the bottom front of the plate and continues over the lip and up the inside of the plate, separated by black slip. Signed by artist on bottom. The plate comes with TOMOBAKO, original artist signed wooden storage box. The plate measures 10 3/4" in diameter and 3 3/16" tall.

An austere white form, devoid entirely of decoration, by important Avante Gard Sodeisha artist Yamada Hikaru enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 13 cm diameter, 15 tall (5-1/2 x 6 inches) and in excellent condition. For more see a white sake set of vessels like this piece in the collection of the V&A.
Hikaru (1924-2001), was born into the family of layman potter and priest Yamada Tetsu, and raised in Gifu after the family home was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake. ...

A tall stem-footed Hagi flower vessel enclosed in the original wooden box by Yamato Yasuo. It was created in that postwar age when once again expression was finding a voice in Japan, and the early avant-garde potters such as Yamato Yasuo and Kumakura Junkichi were reaching beyond tradition as a means of verbalizing their interpretation of Japan in a new age. Here enigmatic shapes rise from the slightly striated Hagi clay, the entire covered in pale blue tinged glaze with outlines of iron and s...

A true work of art by the most sought after of all Japanese potters, Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966), enclosed in the original signed and stamped wooden box dating from the 1940s. It is covered in an unusual green glaze with swirling deco design on the shoulder, spinning flowers in the center like an iron dragon. The depth of the soft swirls around the neck is phenomenal. That contrasted with the crisp clarity of the iron design on the unusual green field make this vase very desirable. It is exper...

A large Plate by Living National Treasure Hamada Shoji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Mori-sara. Splashes of black supplant the rich red Mashiko glaze. It is 12 inches (31.5 cm) diameter and in fine condition.
Hamada Shoji was born in Tokyo, and enrolled in the Tokyo Technical University at the age of 19. In 1918 he met the important British potter Bernard Leach, and the history of ceramic arts was forever changed. One of the most influential and sought after of all...

A beautiful early 20th C. Japanese black ink stone in excellent condition, marked. L:6" W:4-3/4"

A charred Tsubo blasted with ash by Takahashi Rakusai enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It reflects the style of early Shigaraki, with an engraved crosshatch belt circling the flaring mouth. The piece is 8 inches (21 cm) tall, roughly the same diameter and in excellent condition but for one tiny nick in the base.
Born in Shigaraki in 1900, Rakusai was considered one of the true masters of Shigaraki and Iga-yaki, along with Naokata and later Michio. He worked toward the revival...

An very pretty, oblong Iga vase for tokonoma presentation with compressed body and a long, trumpet-shaped neck. Two small ears on the side. Partly covered (upper part) with a running, olive-green glaze. Signed. Artist unidentified (see photo). Vintage. H 23.5 cm. Condition: Perfect.

Fairly large sake bottle of dark brown stoneware, with an angular hip, rounded shoulder and slightly everting neck. Its shoulder and neck covered in a yellow and greenish natural ash glaze.
Bizen ware. Impressed seal mark in bottom.

Japan, Showa era, ca. 1970s

H 8.1 in.; diam. 5.4 in.

Excellent condition

Magnificent Ko Iga flower vase made by Zoroku Mashimizu (1861-1936)

Zoroku Masashimizu was born in Kyoto with the childhood name Jutaro.
After his father passed away, he devoted himself to pottery under the guidance of his mother, Chika. In 1882 he succeeded to the name Masashimizu Zoroku. In 1884 he received a medal at the Kyoto Exposition. He also won the first gold prize at the Nanto Expo. In 1917 he moved his kiln to Nishinoyama, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City.
During t...

Japanese Blue and White Stoneware Sake Bottle, or Tokkuri, 10" high, 5 1/2" wide-widest middle section, with Blue Kanji letters on white rough glazed surface. White glaze chipped off, will make nice decorative kitchen items.

Here is an amazing vase by the most sought after of all Japanese potters, Kawai Kanjiro dating from the 1940s, enclosed in a fine kiri box endorsed by the Kawai Kanjiro Museum. The box is signed Kanjiro Saku, Gosu Hana-ire Hentsubo, Kawai Koha (Made by Kawai Kanjiro, a Gosu blue flower vase of altered urn shape, endorsed by Kawai Koha. Koha is Kanjiros daughter, and the current head of the Kawai Kanjiro Museum. The stately composure of its dramatic silhouette is surpassed only by the striking ...

An interesting tubular shaped Mashiko ware vase by Hasegawa Tsugio. The vase is done in the ash glaze method where the ash that circulates inside the kiln covers the fired piece creating interesting patterns and colors, late 20th century. Size: Height: 8" Length: 5" Width: 2.25"

Japanese 20th century NEZUMI SHINO ware KASHI BACHI shallow bowl or dish. Signed by artist, KOSABURO, in back. The container has the simple design of a few bamboo leaves. The container measures 6 5/8" long by 6 1/2" wide by 2 1/8" tall.

Dark glaze covers this beautifully crafted Koro from Kawai Kanjiro dating circa 1936 enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 11.5 x 9 x 8.5 cm (4-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches) excluding the lid and is in excellent condition. The lid is of exotic hardwood with an agate finial, and is a later addition (Kanjiro did not make lids for his koro). For similar examples see the Katsukawa collection published in the biblical tome by the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art.
Kawai Kanjiro wa...

A mid 20th century Tokoname vase with dragon decoration. This example is a red ware production from the historic tile kilns. A dragon is depicted in low relief among stippled clouds. Extensive gilding remains on the dragon's scales and other places. Bamboo form handles. Key borders outside the foot and mouth rims and floral border under the mouth rim. Good condition. Anonymous. Height about 8 1/2 inches (21.59 cm)

Wall vase of irregular cylindrical shape. Middle brown stoneware with irregular natural ash glaze dripping decoration. Metal eye at the back for hanging. Marked with 3 dots at bottom, which is the mark of the Karatsu potter Nakazato Toraemon XII Muan. Japan, around 1960s/1970s.

H ca 7 in., W at foot 4 ¼ in.

Mint condition. The piece does not come with a box.

Nakazato Muan (1895-1985) inherited the artist name Taroemon XII, in 1927, following his father who was Taroemon XI. ...

Japanese Brown Stoneware heavy Sake Bottle, Tokkuri, with Black Splash design on one side and wooden stopper, 14 1/2" high, 2 5/8" diameter-top rim, 9" wide-widest area, few flake chips on top rim.

The size of Vase : 9 1/4" High x 8 1/2" Dia.
23.5 cm x 21.5 cm, 11 cm top dia.
This very nice Japanese Shigaraki Vase.
There is signature of artist on the bottom looks
like キ Ki in katakana.
Artist name is not known.
It is dating from Showa period 1930-1950's.
The weight of Vase alone is little over 6 pounds.
Condition excellent.

History of Shiaraki Ware
Shigaraki ware (信楽焼) is a type of stoneware pottery
made in Shigaraki are...

Two shades of black form ethnic patterns on this hishigata vessel by Kiyomizu Rokubei dating circa 1960 nearly identical to figure 12 (page 85) of the catalog Yagi Kazuo to Kiyomizu Rokubei exhibited at the Muse Tomo in Tokyo in 2017. It is 18 x 13 x 24.5 cm (roughly 7 x 5 x 10 inches) and is in excellent condition. This came from the Rokubei family estate. No box
Kiyomizu Kyubei (1922-2006) was born Tsukamoto Hiroshi in Nagoya. He graduated from Nagoya Industrial High School (now the N...