If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a set of sake cups he describes as “Ou-tekko” (pyrite) and “Ammonite” (same in English - a kind of sea fossil). Part of a series he has been developing, the ancient Ammonite fossil has been the inspiration behind his latest creations. Pyrite, meanwhile refers to the metallic patterning on the outer surface of the clay body. Truly uniqu...

Currently in its 5th generation, the Miura Chikusen line of potters has continued to produce high-quality Kiyomizu-yaki and Kyo-yaki porcelains used in sencha for well over 150 years. The piece seen here is by the third generation potter and has the rare distinction of being endorsed by Sokuchusai, a former Head Tea Master of Omotesenke in Kyoto. Simple and elegant, a section of bamboo stands out in contrast to the white crackled porcelain glaze. If you are looking for a representative work by o...

Fabulous Chrysanthemum sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. This set comprises 5 pieces: coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl.

In the celebrated pattern that is an American interpretation of a Japanese motif. To Baroque forms are applied a profusion of climbing, wrapping, and bunching flower heads. Chrysanthemum was introduced in 1880 and this set dates from the first quarter century of its production.

All pieces fully marked including maker’...

Turn-of-the-century Edwardian sterling silver baby set. Made by Gorham in Providence. This set comprises cup, bowl, and plate. Cup has scroll bracket handle, raised and stepped foot, and gilt interior. Bowl has same foot. Plate has deep well. Acid-etched scenes depicting scenes from Mother Goose, including Old King Cole being presented with his Bowl, Little Bo Peep with Sheep, and Old Mother Hubbard with Bare Cupboard and Poor Dog. Cup and bowl have goose balancing a ball (vacant) between two de...

If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a sake set he describes as “Ou-tekko” (pyrite) and “Ammonite” (same in English - a kind of sea fossil). Part of a series he has been developing, the ancient Ammonite fossil has been the inspiration behind his latest creations. Pyrite, meanwhile refers to the metallic patterning on the outer surface of the clay body. Truly unique pieces...

Victorian Classical sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. This set comprises coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl.

Each: Bellied bowl on concave foot ring. Covers raised with cast bud finial (pot covers hinged). Teapot, coffeepot, and creamer have high-looping handle. Sugar has c-scroll side handles. All handles have stylized volute scroll and dart mounts. Spare with repousse rinceaux band. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 1982, ...

Victorian Classical sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1885. This set comprises 5 pieces: Coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl. Each: Round body with floral repousse between chased and engraved leaf-and-dart and ogee borders; beaded rims. Handles high looping and covers domed with reeded finial. Coffeepot and teapot have s-scroll spout with applied stylized ornament. Coffeepot neck has engraved stippled zigzag border with incised trefoils.

Fully m...

Engraved Hampton sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1920. This set comprises 8 pieces: Hot water kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, hot milk pot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl on tray.

Rectilinear with tapering sides, concave corners, and stepped rim. Covers domed (pot covers hinged). Handles scroll bracket. Coffeepot and teapot spouts faceted and s-form; milk pot has short u-spout and creamer has lip spout. Tray rectilinear with concave corners and han...

Edwardian Classical sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1910. This set comprises 5 pieces: Coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl. Tapering and fluted ovoid bodies. Feet domed. Covers double domed with vasiform finial. Handles scroll bracket (coffeepot and teapot stained-wood). Ornament acid-etched and stylized: Curvilinear fretwork and leafing borders, paterae and, on front and back, wreaths of which 1 engraved with symbol or cryptic monogram. F...

Fairfax sterling silver coffee and tea set on tray. Made by Durham, which was part of Gorham, in Concord, ca 1926. This set comprises 7 pieces: Hot water kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl on tray.

Each: Chamfered. Rectilinear and tapering body on same foot. Handles scroll bracket. Covers gently raised with soft faceting (pot covers hinged). Finials chamfered with bead. Spouts faceted except for creamer, which has u-form spout. Tray rectangular with molded rim, ...

Set of 6 Japanese silver shot glasses. Each: Straight and tapering sides; applied horned and taloned dragon. For the strong stuff. Unmarked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 5/8 x D 1 3/8 in. Total weight: 5 troy ounces. #BY231

Turn-of-the-century sterling silver baby set rich in period assumptions. Made by William B. Kerr in Newark. This set comprises cup, bowl, and plate.

Cup has acid-etched frieze depicting sailor-suited, flag-holding, all-American boy with exotic coevals in native dress relegated to background. Imagery enhanced with verse: “Little Indian, Sioux or Crow, little frosty Eskimo, little Turk or Japanese—Oh! Don’t you wish that you were me?”

Ahem.

Bowl sides feature modes of transportation...

Set of 6 Japanese Meiji silver cast figural knife rests, ca 1910. Each: A horned and taloned dragon with arched back and fan tail. Scaly, scampering serpents for the next dinner party. Unmarked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 x L 2 3/4 x W 5/8 in. Total weight: 5 troy ounces. #BY235

The term “tenmoku” (heavens eye) refers both to a shape of tea bowl popularized in the Song Dynasty dating back almost 1,000 years, and also to a style of glaze that these pieces are renowned for. In the case of tea bowls themselves, the troughs often have darker coloration with radiating colored rays and, depending on the style, often resemble the iris of a human eye. In the case of the glaze, the individual oil spots that appear on the walls of the vessel can sometime also rese...

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...

Turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau sterling silver 3-piece baby set. Made by Kerr in Newark. This set comprises cup, bowl, and plate. Acid-etched tree-framed fairytale scenes depicting beguiling maidens, stooped crones, and credulous children. Two monogram frames (vacant) on cup and bowl. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Spaulding & Co.) stamps and no. 4568. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Cup: H 2 3/4 x W 4 x D 3 in. Bowl: H 2 x D 4 3/8 in. Plate: H 1/2 x D 6 1/2 in. Total we...

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 a Mino piece. The lacquer box, while not the original was undoubtedly custom made for this tea bowl and looks to be 100 - 200...

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...

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...

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...

When the founder of the Urasenke style of tea ceremony, Senso Soshitsu (1622 -1697) was invited to Kanazawa as the lord of the tea ceremony for the powerful Kaga lords in 1666, the first Chozaemon came with him and established Ohi-yaki ware in Kanazawa. Chozaemon had been the chief apprentice for the Raku family in Kyoto and took with him many of the principles and ideas associated with Raku-ware. Since those auspicious beginnings, Ohi-ware has held a high place in the world of tea ceremony desp...

Set of 12 Midcentury Modern sterling silver cocktail cups. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Each: Curved conical bowl on tapering columnar stem with incised bands. Foot round and raised with applied cutout snowflake. A snowflake motif but not for snowflakes. These ones are for the grownups. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and postwar pattern no. 23411. One cup has director’s letter M (1947-56) and 11 have director’s letter L (1956-ca 1965). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 3/4...

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...

Being based in Kyoto we occasionally come across fine Chinese and Korean tea-ware to mix in with our Japanese offerings. Here we have an example of a ceremonial tea bowl from the Shinragi kiln in Korea. Pieces like the one seen here are baked in a traditional wood-fired “climbing kiln” at a temperature of over 1,300 degrees for 5 days. Fashioned after classical works held in museum collections, the motifs are timeless and captivating.

In excellent condition, this piece is 5.5 in...

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...

Set of 10 Art Deco sterling silver cocktail cups. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1915. Each: Cone on baluster mounted to round foot. Spare and functional. Nice balance for swishing the booze around. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 18885 (first produced in 1915) and director’s letter m. Seven have order no. 547 and three no. 9. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 1/8 x D 2 1/2 in. Total weight: 29 troy ounces. #BZ327

A testament to the brilliance of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, this lacquered mizusashi—skillfully handcrafted from bamboo—showcases a deep crimson hue that radiates warmth and sophistication. Its seamless design and flawless finish reflect the skilled hands of the first generation artisan who crafted it, achieving a harmonious balance between form and function. Designed for use in Japanese tea ceremony, this indispensable implement would love to be put back into service o...

Edwardian Regency sterling silver coffee set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1910. This set comprises coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl. Tapering and fluted ovoid bodies. Feet domed. Covers double domed with cast flower basket finial. Handles scroll bracket (coffeepot and teapot stained-wood).

All pieces fully marked including maker’s stamp and pattern nos. 13389 (coffeepot and teapot) and 13889D (creamer, sugar, and waste bowl). Coffeepot has director’s letter C (19...

Antique Chinese porcelain cricket cage of a gourd form. Its lid has reticulated air vents, enamel peonies and Chinese characters and gilt edge details. The cage front has enamel scene of a young boy and girl having tea in a field of flowers, with an inscription on the backside. Red four character mark on base.

Size: 4.75" L x 2.75" W x 1.75" H

Here we have a beautiful scroll with a mounted letter penned by famed Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) who is known as one of the 4 great haiku poets of Japan along with the likes of Bashō, Buson, and Shiki. As one might expect, Kobayashi’s life was one of turbulence punctuated by several tragedies including the death of his mother at an early age and a lengthy legal battle with his step-mother over the family inheritance after the death of his father. Through it all Kobay...

Set of 6 Chrysanthemum sterling silver bouillon bowl holders. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1910. Each: Curved and open sides comprising joined stem flowers. Flower-capped looping side handles. Foot ring with 4 scallop-shell supports. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 14782, and director’s letter m. Very good condition. Dimensions: H 2 x W 5 1/4 x D 3 1/4 in. Total weight: 18 troy ounces.

With: Set of 6 original porcelain bowls. Made by Lenox in New Jersey, ca 1910....

Zodiac sterling silver 3-piece baby set. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1915. This set comprises mug, bowl, and plate. Cup: Straight sides, short inset foot, and leaf-capped and mounted handle; interior gilt washed. Bowl: Gently tapering sides, curved bottom, and short inset foot; interior gilt washed. Plate: Round deep well and wide shoulder. Low relief borders depicting the astrological signs in scrolled frames alternating with flowers, including turn-of-the-century favorites, such as water l...

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...

This Meiji period vase is made of fine white porcelain fashioned after classic Chinese motifs.. The potter, first generation Miura Chikusen, is the same generation as many of the better known Imperial Court artists (Kozan, Siefu, Tozan, etc…) and just as accomplished in terms of mastery of technique, level of artistic expression, and volume of pieces produced.

An exceptionally skilled Meiji potter, Chikusen (1854 – 1915) specialized in high-quality Kiyomizu-yaki and...

Seto is a pottery tradition established in the 12th century with the aim of reproducing fine Chinese porcelain and tenmoku-style tea bowls—which were hard to come by in Japan at the time. Later, during the Muromachi period, Seto potters established kilns in Mino thus starting the period known as ko-Seto, or “old Seto.” These pieces were distinctive as they were produced in small batches and with great care. Later in Edo, the large-kiln style of production or “ogama” was introduced ushe...

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...