Sugimoto Sadamitsu (b. 1935) is one of the most important Shigaraki potters alive today and continues to create master works into his old age. Originally a resident of Tokyo, at the age of 33 he moved to Shigaraki and started creating high-quality tea-ware implements, most notably, fine tea bowls in the style of early Raku masters. A devotee of Zen and a lover of tea, Sugimoto is able to create tea bowls that are not just attractive, pleasant to hold in the hand, and a joy to drink f...

Shoda Koho
Country Scene (sepia version) from the Hasegawa Night Scenes series. Also known as "Canal by Moonlight"
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.25 x 7.5 inches.
Date: 1938-60.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Unusual "Nishinomiya Art" stamp on verso.
Sealed by artist.
Medium: This Japanese woodblock print is on a thick card like some very early Hasegawa Night scene editions.
Condition: Back of card is toned. One small point of foxing in sky.

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....

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...

Sugimoto Sadamitsu (b. 1935) is one of the most important Shigaraki potters alive today and continues to create master works into his old age. Originally a resident of Tokyo, at the age of 33 he moved to Shigaraki and started creating high-quality tea-ware implements, most notably, fine tea bowls in the style of early Raku masters. A devotee of Zen and a lover of tea, Sugimoto is able to create tea bowls that are not just attractive, pleasant to hold in the hand, and a joy to drink from; but tha...

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and showcasing a soft and gracefully executed red glaze, this Raku tea bowl exudes a sense of ease, tenderness, and tranquility. Adorned with subtle crackling patterns and variations in texture, the tea bowl's surface adds to its unique and organic feel. Made by one of the true veterans of Japanese pottery, these are some of the finest Raku tea bowls you will find in all of Japan.

Sugimoto (b. 1935) is one of the most important...

Kohiki is a traditional Japanese pottery style known for its simple and rustic aesthetic. It involves applying a white slip onto the vessel's surface, followed by a transparent glaze, creating a contrast between the white and exposed clay areas. Kohiki ware is commonly used in tea ceremonies but it can also be found in various other forms. Its humble and understated style, with organic textures and subdued colors, continues to be appreciated by collectors worldwide. Here we see a koh...

In Japan, famous for its generational potting families, only a handful have made it all the way through to the 14th generation—the Nakazato line being one of them with over 400 years of history. Handcrafted by the current 14th potter in the renowned Karatsu tradition, this piece displays subtle, earthy tones and organic textures reminiscent of nature. Blending elements seamlessly, a canvas is created that complements the beauty of the floral elements in glossy contrast across the s...

Kobayashi Kiyochika
Rainy Day at Kudan from the Hasegawa Night Scenes series.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 11 x 8 inches.
Date: 1938-60.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Unusual "Nishinomiya Art" stamp on verso.
Sealed by artist.
Reference: Hasegawa catalog No. 1242.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Paper residue at back left. Very light crease at lower left corner.

Pair of Art Deco Classical jade and gilt sterling silver candelabra. Made by Lebkuecher in Newark, ca 1920. Each: Cylindrical jade shaft on same octagonal base with carved petal flutes and fretwork. Curvilinear silver gilt arms with block volute terminals mounted to shaft with same; each terminates in single jade socket on silver gilt leaf-and-dart mount. Raised central socket same. Ornamented silver gilt mounts on shaft top and base. Rests on silver gilt foot with block volute supports.

Full...

Okuyama Gijin (b. 1934)
Shorenin Temple Garden
Date: ca 1950s.
Size: 9.5 x 4.75 inches.
Self-published by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Okuyama Gijin (b. 1934)
Heian Shrine
Date: ca 1950s.
Size: 7.75 x 5.5 inches.
Self-published by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Jinbo Tomoyo (1902-1994)
Pensive Girl
Date: 1939.
Size: 16.5 x 11.25 inches.
Edition: First and only.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Edition: 56 of 100. Hand numbered in Japanese on back beside one hundred limitation seal.
Artist's red seal on back with date and seals of carver (Ishizaka Kenichi) and printer (Nakamura Sanjiro).
Mica highlights on hair ornaments.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Abrasion at index finger area. A few ...

Hiroshi Yoshida
Horse Turnback (Umagaeshi)
Series: Ten Views of Mt. Fuji
Date: 1928.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.25 x 10.5 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image and lower margin.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating self-printing by the artist.
Published by the artist.
Reference: Abe #52.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margin has light toning and creasing.

Handwoven with delicate precision, this Japanese bamboo ikebana basket showcases the beauty of traditional bamboo weaving and the elegance of classic Chinese design that much of Japanese traditional art is based on. Its sturdy construction and balanced proportions make it perfect for ikebana arrangements, merging floral artistry with cultural aesthetics.

Though little is known about this artisan, I was able to find examples of their work in several high-end Japanese g...

A key figure in the Japanese folk craft movement of the 20th century, Fujita Kyohei is credited with helping to develop a thriving glass-working community within Japan. Best known for his “dream” or “Liuli” boxes—very colorful and skillfully crafted boxes that often incorporated gold and silver leaf into their designs. Here we see a piece that would likely have been crafted earlier in his career but that demonstrates his masterful technique even then. In 1972 Fujita, along ...

A student of Itaya Hazan, one of the most sought after potters in the world of Japanese art, the ceramicist who crafted this fine vase displays here a high degree of mastery, both in form and glazing technique. For the collector who has always wanted a Hazan but has never been lucky enough to chance upon one, this may be a worthy acquisition. Although much of Inoue’s work is quite different in style to that of Hazan’s, you can find a number of pieces where the influence is unmistakeable—th...

Hiratsuka Un-ichi (1895 ~ 1997)
Selected Woodcuts By Un-ichi Hiratsuka
Date: 1954
Publisher: Nippon Geijyutsu Hangasha
This rare book contains 30 lithographic plates (23 black-and-white, 7 color) by the renowned sosaku hanga artist. English and Japanese text.
Size: 14.25 x 10.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good. Light toning and foxing.

Ito Nisaburo
Osaka Dotonbori
Date: 1960s
Size: 17.75 x 12 inches. Full margins shown in additional photo.
Publisher: Uchida Woodblock Printing Co., Ltd.
Artist's seal and publisher's seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned back. Slight fading. Tape residue at top margin.
- Interesting signage and fashions. This is a rarely seen design by Ito. There is an example at The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto.

Japanese inlay ceramics (zōgan) are created by making incisions on the surface of a clay body which are then filled with various colored clays, creating a pattern. After the pattern is finalized, an overglaze is applied and the piece is sent to the kiln to be fired. As can be seen here, the results are quite striking and produce unique patterns that cannot be replicated through painting alone. Inlaying as a technique is thought to have originally derived from practices in metal and ...

Biho Takahashi (Yoshikuni) (1873-)
Bee and Pink Hollyhock
Date: 1900-1910.
Size: Shikishiban. Approximately 9.75 x 9.5 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Chipped corner and light creasing.

Kaoru Kawano (1916-1965)
Two Kittens
Date: 1950s-60s.
Size: Approximately 16.75 x 11.25 inches.
Sealed by the artist at lower right and on verso.
Self-published by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Tape residue at back margins and top front margin.

Shiko Munakata (1903 ~ 1975)
Date: April 10, 1959.
Seated Figure. Here titled by the artist, "At Columbus" (コランバスに於て). Also signed by the artist and dedicated in pencil in Japanese at the top right, "to Ms. Ryuko Sato".
Munakata's famous 1959 United States lecture tour took him through Ohio. On the tour, he was known to carve one-off woodblock prints on the spot at gatherings and present them to hosts or guests, as once described on the Antiques Roadshow. We believ...

An often overlooked implement in tea ceremony, here we have the humble kogo (incense box) with an image of a sleek and flowing dragon. Commonly thought to represent strength, freedom, good luck, and magic, dragons are a popular theme in the artwork across Eastern cultures. Interesting to note, the dragon here is portrayed in the Korean style with four claws, with dragons in China typically having five claws and dragons in Japan typically having three. Fashioned by one of the few great female Jap...

An example of some of the finest porcelain modern Japan has to offer. According to Wakao Kei, the artist who crafted this piece, it took him years of trial and error to perfect these stunning translucent glazes and associated techniques such as getting the right flowing consistency and pooling effect around the base. The unglazed portions at the foot of the bowl seen here in pictures was created by the artist's fingers as he plunged the vessel into the glaze while holding firmly to the porcelain...

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Spring from the Birds of the Seasons series.
"Flying Around the Plum Tree"
Date: ca. 1980.
Size: 21.25 x 13.5 inches.
Publisher: The Yoshida Family Studio. Issued by the Franklin Mint.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back margin has tape residue.

Simple yet classic styling—this tea bowl is perfect for anyone looking for the quintessential Ido-shaped chawan crafted by one of Japan’s master Hagi potters.

Born in the famed pottery town of Karatsu in 1942, Zenzo Hatano spent a number of years learning the various styles particular to his region before taking up an apprenticeship under well-known Hagi potter Yoshiga Taibi. Winner of a number of awards including the Japan Crafts Exhibition Award in 1977, Hatano’s greatest d...

Yuichi Hasegawa (b. 1945)
Record of Wind Erosion (Red)
Japanese title: Fushoku-ki (Aka)
Date: 1989
Edition: 4/20
Signed in pencil by the artist.
Paper size: 24.25 x 12 inches. Image size: 20 x 8.75 inches.
Reference: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Shizuo Ashikaga
Sparrow on Bamboo
Date: 1950s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.75 x 5.25 inches.
Bears the artist's seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Smudge in margin.

The artist who produced this piece, Wataru Motomura, prides himself in living a traditional life in the eastern hills of Kyoto—long known for its rich clay and idyllic pastoral lands. Though the form of this vessel appears innovative and modern, the techniques and materials used to produce it have been around for many hundreds of years. Taking inspiration from the varied pottery traditions of his native Hyogo, Motomura is also known to use clay and methods from the Shigaraki region and many of...

An interesting contemporary Hagi piece resting on a split-foot (wari-kodai) and a unique glaze patterning that somewhat resembles layers of flower petals. A creation of Morishige Tetsuyo, a native of the famous potting town of Hagi who later studied in Kyoto and eventually took up a position at the family kiln “Renkozan” with tutelage from both his father and grandfather. This particular piece is from a series he began in 2009 aptly named “Kaben” (The petal series). Actively displaying b...

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Summer from the Birds of the Seasons series.
"Gathering Around Sarusuberi"
Date: ca. 1980.
Size: 21.25 x 13.25 inches.
Publisher: The Yoshida Family Studio. Issued by the Franklin Mint.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back margin has tape residue. Very slight toning.

Paul Jacoulet
Les Jades, Mandchoukuo
1940s~1950s.
Approximately 6.0 x 4.0 inches.
Self-published, one of a series of surimono.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Attached along top edge only to original card.

Ota Shumin (1884-1950, Japanese)
Boats on River (given title).
Date: 1930s.
Size: Oban. 17.25 x 12.625 inches.
Signed "Shumin" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Tonal difference at edges where formerly matted. Light creasing visible in side light.
Note: Shumin participated in a painting event at the 1936 Olympics.

Ted Colyer (b. 1947)
Winter '84
Size: 16.5 x 16.5 inches. Sheet size: 18.5 x 18.5 inches. Matte size: 21.75 x 21.75 inches.
Date: 1984.
Signed, dated, and numbered by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Hinged at top back with tape to circular matte.
Canadian native Colyer studied Japanese printmaking under Toshi Yoshida.

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Autumn from the Birds of the Seasons series.
"Serenity of Red Maple"
Date: ca. 1980.
Size: 21 x 13.25 inches.
Publisher: The Yoshida Family Studio. Issued by the Franklin Mint.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top and bottom back margins have tape residue. Very slight toning.