Yuzo Kondo is one of the more recognized names in the world of modern Japanese pottery of the 20th century. Though known mainly for his sometsuke creations (blue and white porcelain), he did not settle on this style until well into his potting career that lasted over seven decades. The piece shown here then would be from an earlier period and is evidence of his competency with varied styles and glazes—not just the one he is most well-known for. As any experienced potter will tell you, tenmoku ...

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.

Toshi Yoshida
Okaramon
Date: 1940. Hand signed and titled.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 8.0 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

An exceptional, pierced yellow gold slip-on bangle with floral design. For a smaller wrist, the inner diameter is 2-3/8" and it weighs 8 grams. It appears to be hollow and shows light wear on the inside band with a few very faint scratches and a very, very tiny indentation. Marked 14kt along with the Sloan hallmark.

Jun (Jun'ichiro) Sekino
Postscript Thoughts on "The Book of the Ghost". This very rare booklet with woodblock-printed covers is Sekino's reflections on having produced and self-published the 1950 woodblock-printed work, "The Book of the Ghost". The cover page reads, "Please Read this Little Booklet as a Personal Letter from Me."
Publisher: The artist's Sosaku Shuppan company.
The book is a single sheet folded into eight pages and has a wonderful T. Kato ex-libris inside.
Siz...

Over 400 years ago the first Takatori potter known as “Hachizan” was brought to Japan by the powerful Kuroda clan and was tasked with establishing a kiln in the town of Fukuoka. Since that time, the Takatori lineage has produced many fine works and gained a reputation across Japan for their skill at producing porcelains of thin construction, using many layers of glaze, and with a variety of unique colorations.

Born in 1907, the 11th generation Takatori potter (Seizan), along wit...

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...

A truly unique work of Shino pottery developed among the company of some of Japan’s most respected and influential potters of the last century. Defying conventions of form and genre, this exceptional mizusashi looks like it could have emerged from the ground fully formed, the result of geological processes lasting millennia. The creator of this fine work is none other than Tsuboshima Dohei, a true master of the ceramic arts.

Born in 1929, at the age of 17 Tsuboshima took an appre...

Ito Sozan
Peahen
Date: Pre-1923. Pre-earthquake.
Size: Tanzaku. 11.75 x 5.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's double red square seal at lower right.
Reference: Attribution by Mauro Novelli as T-48 at itosozan.com.
Medium: Crepe (chirimen) Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Lightly foxed.

The distinctive and easily recognizable style of Bizen pieces, such as the one featured here, originated in Okayama (south-western Japan) and has a long history that is closely intertwined with that of tea culture. Bizen-ware is known for employing a natural-ash glazing technique that is unique to this type of pottery and which requires extremely long firing times (7-14 days) at very high temperatures. This means that constant attention is required to ensure good results. The tea bowl shown here...

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Asakusa Kinryusan, 1938
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.75 x 11.25 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Doi watermark.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi.
This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-51.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Left margin has two tears that do not impinge on image.

Kawase Hasui
The Torii at Miyajima at Night
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Size: Koban. Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Reference: Hotei Hp-52.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

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...

Ramp up your allure with a turn-of-the-century parasol handle. Silver and amber cylinder mounted to cone with enameled stylized vertical leafing branches on green guilloche basket-weave ground. Silver rim with seed-pearl border and cabochon-cut pink hardstone top. For a flirty, twirling come-hither. In a leather-bound case with fitted velvet and silk lining with Parisian retailer’s gilt stamp (Dupuy). Worn marks appear to be those of Georg Adam Scheid; also, French import marks. Very good cond...

Ohara Koson
Two goldfish and lotus plants
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.75 x 7.5 inches.
Date: Early 20th century.
Reference: AK.21 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Publisher: Daikokuya.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Marks in top margin. Slight edge indentation as shown.

Large French Rococo Revival 950 silver oval centerpiece plateau, ca 1890. Curvilinear cartouche with 6 leaf-mounted scroll supports. Beaded oval on strapwork armorial with ribbon and quiver, and interlaced script monogram. Mirrored top. Note: Larger and more ovalish than appears in images. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 3/8 x W 31 3/4 x D 20 1/2 in. #BS831

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...

Exquisitely painted cherry blossoms (sakura) and willow branches (yanagi) on a background of jet-black traditional lacquer.

The craftsman, Wakashima Takao (b. 1935) was born in the north of Japan in the picturesque town of Wajima. The lacquer technique particular to this region (Wajima-nuri) is rather unique in its use of an undercoating incorporating special compounds that make it exceptionally durable over time. Wakashima perfected this demanding technique and, over the course of...