A stunning pair of sake cups depicting monkeys by the famous Kutani potter Matsumoto Saiichi 松本佐一 (b. 1930), using his signature technique, porcelain with underglaze gold leaf. Title: Sake Cups (sakazuki 坏) Medium: porcelain with underglaze gold leaf and overglaze enamel Size: Wider: 3.2 x 8.5 cm and Taller: 5.9 x 5.4 cm Signature in enamel on the bottom of both pieces: Saiichi (佐一) Date: Heisei Period, 2003 for 2004 Condition: no flaws: no cracks or r...

Ceramics decorated by Zen monks are seldom seen and this piece is no exception. Two red enamel characters are boldly brushed in red enamel conveying the strong bond between Zen and the tea ceremony. The bowl is inscribed and named Taste of Zen (Zenmi 禅味), and dates to the 1970s, when Seki Bokuō 関牧翁 (1903 – 1991) was well into his abbotship at Tenryū-ji, one of most important, and certainly most beautiful temples in Kyoto. The bowl itself is by the well-known hagi potter, Hara Kiyok...

A large ancient Greek pair statue. Appears to represent the nude Adonis, his right leg slightly bent on the knee, standing on a raised pedestal, gazing down on an enamoring Aphrodite, with hair pulled back into a bun, her right arm bent at the elbow, and her left hand, grasping her long, flowing drapery. With some wear to facial details and with extensive remains of encrustations. @ 3rd Century B.C. Intact as shown. 11 inches high. From a Massachusetts estate. In the story of Aphrodite and ...

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...

Early 1900s turquoise snuff bottle with a landscape scene having carved openwork and just loads of things going on. A very fine colored turquoise with a wonderful surface polish. It is presented on an equally fine earlier zitan, or similar, wood stand. Both are in excellent condition. Snuff bottle measures: Height 3.5" x Length 2.75" x Depth 1.75" On stand measures: Height 4.75 x Length 3.25” x Depth 1.75" VIDEO Available upon request.

The size of Vase : 14" High x 8 7/8" Dia, 4 5/16" Top Dia
35.5 cm x 22.5 cm, 11 cm top dia.
This very fine Japanese Porcelain Vase done with
Yomon (relief works, raised works) with pale yellow green glaze,
in design of Ho-O bird intricately done in Yomon(relief) works.
It is made same era of Seifu Yohei 4th. The vase
is very similar to Seifu. The vase is made from Taisho to Showa.
It came with Kiriwood Tomobako as well as wooden stand.
Inside cover has Ja...

This piece is made of copper glaze called "oribe". At first , it is covered with feldspar and painted with iron and next it is covered with copper glaze. It is firing into burning charcoal in the kiln, so there are complicated atmosphere, oxidation and reduction. The oxidation atmosphere makes the copper glaze red, the reduction atmosphere makes it green and the mixture atmosphere makes complicated color. Size 6.0 cm (D) 5.7cm (H) Accessary : wooden box signed by the potter.

From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this large contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of the features of the landscape where he grew up.

Born in the port city of Shimoda, Sakiyama studied art in Osaka and then later went on to open his own kiln that he named “Hidaka” (High Sun). Appearing to have a natural gift for form and proportion, his pieces soon attracted the attention of galleries and collectors...

Ca. 1700s

This vase has a graceful, slightly tapering long neck rising from a bulbous body – a classic Song Dynasty form, but this one was produced in the Qing Dynasty in the Song style. The dark “iron wire” crackle pattern covers the entire exterior, including the base, and extends in the the mouth. The interior is also glazed. The glaze is of a thick pale grayish-green celadon type, thinning slightly to a paler gray tone on the mouthrim and stopping just above the footring where th...

23104864 Wonderful “Morning glory” compote by Libbey-Nash. The purple bowl with opalescent stripes is supported on a colorless stem and foot. The foot is signed on the polished pontil mark with the circular Libbey signature. The compote was manufactured as one of the items of the 1930-1932 Libbey Nash art glass line and is 6 1/2 inches tall and 7 inches in diameter. The compote is identified as shape K-521 on page 26-E of the 1933 Libbey-Nash catalog as reprinted in Fauster’s “Libbey ...

Ming Dynasty, Ca. 1500s

This figure of a seated scholar is glazed turquoise with amber colored highlights. The back is mostly unglazed except for the original white slip coating, now darkened with age. The interior is hollow and unglazed, exposing the reddish clay body. The white slip coating continues for an inch or so into the interior cavity. The face is covered with a thin white slip (now darkened) but is otherwise unglazed. The turquoise glazed hat has a few old losses to the glaze wh...

This is a SAKE BOTTLE OF JAPANESE BIZEN WARE. It was made around 40 years ago. Very good condition (please see photos). Diameter: 2.9". Height: 5.5". Weight with box: 17.50 oz (500 grs). Bizen Pottery is one of the six famous ancient medieval pottery styles in Japan. It is also known as "Imbe Pottery" based on the name of the area. The brownish surface produced by the combination of clay and fire. During the firing process, the straw burns away, leaving a 'flash' of sodium vapor on the surfa...

Extremely Rare Poupee (doll) from the Louis Vuitton Toy Shop. Made from a type of plastic (possibly celluloid) with delicate hand painted features, dressed in a detailed regional costume of Bretagne (Brittany). The costume appears to be of a style found in the area around Pont Aven. The face of the doll is of a mature woman not a child. The dolls wig appears to be of human hair and is in a pulled back style. The headdress is of stiffened lace, as is the wide collar of the dress. The dress itself...

Beautifully Framed Zen Buddhist Painting of a Pair of Cranes Flying Past the Moon by the Famous Korean Jeju Island Monk, Ko Chang Nyul aka Jung Kwang Sunim aka the Mad Monk (1935-2002). The third photo here is from a prominent dealer's "sale" going on right now on Jung Kwang paintings, where you will see the prices are several times higher than mine. This other gallery has been in business for over forty years and has sold to many of the major museums. A google search of Jung Kwang Mad Monk will...

Living in Kyoto it is not uncommon to come across beautiful antique tea bowls, however, finding pieces that are in good condition, aesthetically compelling, and with all of the trappings that let you know they were cared for by a devoted cha-jin can be quite challenging. Here we see all three. The shape of this tea bowl is exquisite and something I have not seen before in an Oribe piece. The lacquer box, while not the original was undoubtedly custom made for this tea bowl and looks to be 100 - 2...

A Hawkes ice bucket circa 1920 -1940. The engraved colorless glass ice bucket has a sterling silver rim and handle. The handle is marked “Hawkes Sterling” and the glass base bears the acid etched Hawkes mark. The ice bucket is optic ribbed and is 8 inches tall, plus the handle. An identical example is pictured in illustration 428 on page 118 of “The Complete Cut and Engraved Glass of Corning” by Estelle Sinclaire Farrar and Jane Shadel Spillman. There are two small dents on the silv...

A wide 18k gold fancy link bracelet marked 750 along with another mark that has been rubbed. It measures 7-1/2" x 1-1/8"and weighs 37.81gr.