Catalog (431)

Wood fired Mino-ware with a deep and expressive iron glaze, this tea bowl is a delight to hold in the hand.

A native of Aichi Prefecture, the potter Kajiura Soshyu was born in 1916 and studied under Hayashi Sekko and Kimura Giichi. A multitalented artist, he is also rumored to have worked in painting and calligraphy. While little information can be found on this artist, the few works that I have seen show great competence and sensitivity to aesthetics.

In excellent cond...

This antique Seto piece features a warm matte ash glaze with several patches of darker and lighter pigmentation. The molded clay shows striations that resemble textured wood grains—highlighted by a soft patina developed over many decades of use.

Seto is a pottery tradition established in the 12th century with the aim of reproducing fine Chinese porcelain and tenmoku-style chawan—which were hard to come by in Japan at the time. Later, during the Muromachi period, Seto potters es...

One of my personal favorite shapes for a chawan, the wa-nari (sometimes pronounced rin-nari) appears firmly grounded and balanced at all times. With round curving surfaces so natural in the hand—they conjure images of ripe fruit waiting to be devoured.

This piece was produced by Koizumi kiln in Aichi Prefecture, most likely by the head potter Kato Shineda—though it only bears the seal of the kiln and not the potter. The outside of the bowl displays a gray field with swaths of l...

A very elegant and mature tsutsu style chawan created by Ito Tozan III (1900-1970), third generation of the Ito Tozan line of potters. Tozan, who at one time worked in the kiln of Hamada Shoji, learned pottery from his father Ito Tozan II (1871-1937) and his grandfather Ito Tozan I (1846-1920) from a very young age. Tozan III received many prestigious awards during his years as a potter and has the distinction of having his pottery held by the Imperial Household. Tsutsu chawan have an especia...

Labeled as yu-Shino on the box or “evening†Shino, this recent composition by Ryouji Hayashi III displays wonderful textures and hues resembling the blazing sky at sunset. The front of the bowl is decorated with radiating fissures— boldly contrasting with the background while the kodai or foot of the bowl is unglazed showing the light-colored clay beneath.

Ryouji Hayashi (1940 - ) is the third generation potter of the Shozan kiln in Mino. This line of potters has de...

Graceful, sensitive, and with a distinctively feminine aura—this subtle work of ceramic art has an air of quiet days spent in the garden or of spending an afternoon brightening up an interior space. Using a technique known as 灰釉 (kai-yu) Terai uses the natural ash of various hardwoods to achieve a subtle textured matte glow which is unique to each piece.

Yoko Terai (b. 1972) graduated from the Kyoto University of Art and later studied under Nobuo Nojima who—upon recognizing...

Ripples of light and dark pigmentation flowing on a background of sky-blue glaze—the description on the box reads 萩孔雀 (Hagi kujyaku) translating as “peacock Hagi” in English. With a distinctive wari-kodai (segmented foot) and unique glaze emulating the vibrant plumage of the notoriously flamboyant bird, this piece leaves a lasting impression.

Born in the illustrious potting town of Hagi, Yamane began his potter’s journey at the age of 35. Unlike many ceramicists who b...

This lovely white Hagi chawan rests firmly on a wari kodai or “split foot.” The crackled milky glaze varies in consistency across the curves and contours of the bowl with some areas tending towards a faint brown, adding an interesting dimension to the landscape.

The creator of this piece Matsuura Mugen (1944 - ) has spent his life in the pursuit of perfecting the art of Hagi. In his formative years as a potter, he was fortunate enough to study under Living National Treasure Miwa...

Located at the foot of an active volcano, the Ougaku kiln specializes in a type of pottery know as Sakurajima-yaki. The kiln is headed by Hashino Midori and run entirely by female potters who strive to infuse each piece they produce with the “energy” of the surrounding environment. Pieces such as the one featured here are made from volcanic ash and mineral-rich onsen spring water giving them a unique luster that is difficult to reproduce. In addition, each pieces is made by hand, one-at-a-ti...

Though this piece appears quite old and nicely worn by time, it is in fact a very recent work from Sekizanjin kiln. Using a special organic process to “ferment” powdered ore used in the clay, they then fire the hand molded pieces under extreme heat to produce bowls they call “Chibori.” The Chibori bowl featured here is inspired by works of Chojiro—forbearer of the Raku line of potters and collaborator with legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu.

The master potter of Sekizanjin...

Ivory white, forest green, and metallic brown/ gold combine to lend this tea bowl a dynamic and refreshing landscape. Bamboo fronds perceived here in the stylized outlines of white marks crisscrossing the front and back inside lip of the bowl signifying strength and resilience. Together with pine and plum (sho chiku bai)—bamboo is one of the auspicious symbols running through the heart of Japanese art and culture.

In fine condition, this piece is 5.1 inches in diameter (13 cm) and...

This remarkable tea bowl is from the kilns of Yoshida Shuen (1940-1987)—an apprentice of Miwa Kyusetsu (1910-2012) who was awarded the status of Living National Treasure in 1983. It features a warm milky beige glaze with light umber accents and shows a bit of exposed clay on the kodai (foot) where the artists seal is located.

Hagi-yaki has a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery. Hagi-ware is prized for its subdued colors and class...

Weighty, yet smooth and even in the hand, this Kuro Oribe bowl is quite attractive and unique in its construction. The jet-black glaze nicely highlights the Chrysanthemum flowers (Kiku) on the front and back of the bowl which are auspicious symbols of longevity and rejuvenation in Japan. When first introduced to the island nation during the Nara period (710 – 793 AC), the Japanese Royal Family was fascinated with the Chrysanthemum. Eventually, during the passing of the years, the Chrysanthemum...

This attractive e-Shino bowl (“e†meaning picture) bears a pine-needle motif on the front surrounded by fields of dazzling ochre and white.

Fired in the kilns of Kato Kageaki (1899-1972), this Shino bowl is from one of the oldest traditions in Japanese pottery. Kageyaki was the 12th generation of Mino potters known for their distinctive styles of Shino and Oribe pottery. He was a great potter in his own right who was designated as a Human Intangible Cultural Treasure...

A beautiful Hagi-yaki chawan done by well-known artist Kaneda Keien (1949-). Keien is an 8th generation potter who has been producing works for over 40 years and is the winner of several awards for excellence. A distinctive feature of his works is that they utilize an iron-rich soil collected on the island of Mishima in the Sea of Japan. Pieces made using this soil tend to display a soft cherry petal hue which gives these bowls an excellent “keshiki” or what might be referred to as a “cera...

A lovely mizusashi for tea-ceremony. This piece dates from the Edo period and is of the e-Seto variety, “e” meaning drawing. Featuring rich earthy tones and intricate hand-drawn stencil designs of what appear to be a ring of passion flowers resting on a vine, this splendid composition leaves a lasting impression. Several kintsugi (gold) repairs attest to its great age and care that went into maintaining this piece through generations. The label on the lid of the box reads “e-Seto Hira Mizu...

Fantastic execution of the Shino pottery style in the form of a bold and attractive Henko vase. The feldspar glazing and visually captivating red scorch marks serve as a backdrop for several attractive and well placed kiln effects—overall an exceptional piece by this artist.

Ando Hidetake was born the third generation of a Mino pottery family in Gifu prefecture in 1938. He began as an apprenticeship under Kato Tokuro in 1960. A testament to his skill, he was accepted for the first...

A large and ornate kiseru (tobacco pipe) dating from mid-to-late Edo. The metal fittings forming the ends of the pipe are engraved with detailed cherry blossoms and maple leaves being carried by the current of a stream. The bamboo tube connecting the fittings is in excellent condition and displays a soft warm luster. This piece is quite large as kiseru go—measuring 11.2 inches in length (28.5 cm). It is in fine condition and has a nice rustic antique quality to it that makes it unique and quit...