Tsutsu-shaped chawan have a unique and especially attractive shape. They are used mainly in the depths of winter to keep in the heat, and prevent the tea from cooling too quickly. Tea disciples of all stripes appreciate this type of bowl for its elegant lines and functional properties.

This tea bowl was fired in the kilns of one of Kyoto’s best known Raku-yaki potters, Sasaki Shoraku III (1944-). The Shoraku line began when the grandfather of the current potter established a kiln...

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of these works and light-colored windows are created using feldspar. These high-contrast areas then act as a canvas upon which abstract, minimalistic, and often naturalistic themes are painted.

As can be seen here, this piece is of the green variety and looks to be from the mid-to-early Edo period as can be determined ...

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of these works and light-colored windows are created using feldspar. These high-contrast areas then act as a canvas upon which abstract, minimalistic, and often naturalistic themes are painted.

This piece is quite unique for its brown color which may have been produced using a copper glaze under very specific conditions. Typical o...

This piece is described on the box as a Hikidashi Kuro Chawan. In Japanese hikidashi means “a pull-out drawer” and the term first came into use at Mino kilns in the 16th century to describe individual pieces that were pulled out of the wood kiln at the peak of firing to gauge if the batch was ready. The rapid cooling of such pieces often creates dramatic effects, with the most noted being rich varieties of deep black. Today this practice has fallen out of use and and only a handful of master...

George V sterling silver bun warmer. Made by Roberts & Belk Ltd in Sheffield in 1927. Egg-form. Cover has flat oval top with radiating facets and lobed bands; hinges have vasiform mounts. Bracket end handles. Perpendicular tab has ring inset with ball finial. Four tapering hoof supports. Pierced detachable tray set in solid detachable tray. Reeding and beading. For a fun Downton Abbey-style buffet breakfast. Fully marked. Excellent condition.

Overall dimensions: H 8 3/8 x W 13 1/8 x D 9 3/4 in...

Set of 6 Midcentury Modern sterling silver seafood scallop shell plates. Made by Gorham in Providence. Each: Straight and tiered flutes, scalloped rim, and 2 ball supports. The hard-to-find size for the new era of small dinner parties. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 42677. Four have date codes from 1940s and ’50s. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 1/4 x W 6 x D 6 in. Total weight: 31 troy ounces. #BY776

Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku-ware and especially in works produced by the Tamamizu kiln, such as the 300+ year old ceremonial tea bowl seen here. The first in this line of potters was Yahē (1662 - 1722), an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (1615 - 1768) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho). Though he is the first potter of this branch, he is sometimes referred to as Tamam...

Occasionally while browsing through the temple markets of Kyoto or perusing backstreets tea-ware shops, an attractive piece will catch my eye for no particular reason. When this happens, I typically buy it immediately without hesitation, trusting that I will be able to place it to a specific period or kiln given enough time and research. In some cases however, this proves to be a fruitless task and I am left only to appreciate the beauty and form of the object without having access to too many d...

English Edwardian Classical sterling silver tray, 1908. Rectangular with tapering sides and everted rim. Scroll and flower border applied to well and rim. Corner ball supports. Fully marked including London assay stamp and stamp for New Bond Street retailer Finnigans Ltd. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 1/8 x W 12 1/8 x D 9 1/8 in. Weight: 28.8 troy ounces. #BY945

Victorian sterling silver baby cup. Made by John Aldwinckle & Thomas Slater in London in 1887. Straight and gently upward tapering sides and c-scroll handle. Ornamental borders engraved at top and bottom including ribbon-tied garlands. Festive and celebratory with plenty of room for announcing a special event. Interior gilt washed. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 x W 3 3/8 x D 2 3/8 in. Weight: 3.4 troy ounces. #BW400

During the Meiji period in Japan, the humble iron kettle, known as a "tetsubin," emerged as an iconic symbol of traditional craftsmanship and functional artistry. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and often adorned with intricate designs—as can be seen here with a cherry blossom motif and a what appears to be a pine-cone for a gripper—they became an essential tool in the Japanese tea ceremony. These kettles were prized not only for their practicality in boiling water bu...

A mesmerizing piece of ceramic art, this exquisite tenmoku tea bowl embodies the rich traditions of Japanese craftsmanship that are inspired by over a millennia of Chinese artistry. With its distinctive deep red glaze, reminiscent of brilliant sunsets, red chili peppers, and festival colors; its presence creates an enchanting visual allure. The bowl's form is elegantly simple, with a gently flared rim that invites contemplation. Crafted with precision and care, this piece reflects th...

George V sterling silver tea tray. Made by Lionel Alfred Crichton in London in 1922. Oval well with reeded rim and leaf-capped c-scroll end handles. Classicism that works with traditional and Modern services. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 2 1/4 x L 29 x W 18 in. Well: L 21 1/2 x W 15 in. Heavy weight: 142 troy ounces. #BX660

French Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver tea urn, ca 1900. Ovoid with turned stained-wood handles with silver scroll and leaf mounts. Scaly fish spout with tail mount and gaping mouth spout and turned stained wood and silver scroll tap. Double-domed cover with berry finial. Three double-scroll supports with leaf mounts and feet mounted to stepped and stained-wood drum-form blocks. Heating element set in scroll-mounted ring. Twisted fluting and lobing. Vitruvian scroll and leaf borders. Engraved...

Japanese Meiji Art Nouveau silver tea tray, ca 1890. Retailed by Arthur & Bond in Yokohama. Lobed oval. Well stippled and engraved with shaded interlaced monogram. Upturned c-scroll end handles. Blossoming prunus branches, iris flowers, and bamboo applied to handles and tapering shoulder. Exotic ornament and Western form. Marked “Arthur & Bond / Sterling / Yokohama”. Very good condition. One handle back has dent (not visible from front).

Overall dimensions: H 2 7/8 x W 28 1/2 x D 18 1/2 in...

Traditional Japanese art tends to be timeless and inspiring in form, however, occasionally lacking in diversity and innovation. That is why artists who can incorporate centuries of experiential knowledge and technique into producing new and interesting forms are oh so valued. Though this Bizen jar fits into the category of mizusashi, a vessel central to tea ceremony that holds fresh water, it seems to transcend this narrow category and stands as an independent art object all its own....

Persian sterling silver pierced ladle. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1871. Pointed ovoid terminal with stylized leaf and scroll ornament mounted to round stem with reeded bands set in leaf mount; bowl round and gilt with ornamental piercing and pointed spout. A nice piece in a hard-to-find Aesthetic pattern. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Bachelders & Co.) stamps. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 x D 2 in. Weight: 1.2 troy ounces #BZ660

Turn-of-the-century American Craftsman sterling silver porringer. Bellied bowl on inset foot ring. Finely faceted hand hammering with "disco ball" shimmer. Plain open tree handle. Fully marked including retailer’s stamp for A. Stowell & Co., who were active in Boston from ca 1865 to 1904. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/4 x W 7 1/2 x D 5 1/4 in. Weight: 8 troy ounces. #BT004