Catalog (431)

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century, Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for. With crackled glazing and a beautiful gold repair along the top rim, this tokkuri is quite attractive and a pleasure to use.

Housed in its own fine kiri wood box, this piece is 4.3 inches in diameter at...

This lovely plum patterned chawan (umebachi) is done in a classic style known as e-Gorai (“e” meaning picture and “Gorai” meaning Korean). This classification is somewhat of a misnomer as the style is said to have first developed at China’s Cizhou kilns in early Ming—only later being widely copied and popularized in Korea. e-Goriai wares first made an appearance in Japan by way of Korea at the end of the 16th century and have been highly appreciated among tea enthusiasts to this day....

The creator of this lovely Hagi chawan, Hirose Tanga (b. 1939) is the master-potter of Tenpozan kiln in the city of Hagi. When I acquired this piece I thought it reminded me of bowls produced by Yoshida Shuen (apprenticed under NLT Miwa Kyusetsu). As it turns out, Yoshida worked alongside Hirose in establishing Tenpozan and in training young potters in the art of “oni” Hagi which utilizes a rough textured clay and a milky translucent glaze (like the bowl shown here). Bowls made using this te...

A lovely Shino tea bowl fashioned from coarse Mino clay and covered in a crackled feldspar glazing. The front and sides of the bowl are decorated with paintings of abstract foliage resembling Iris leaves and the base of the bowl is unglazed, displaying rough clay. The paintings, which are applied using a ferrous glaze, along with the han-zutsu shape (half cylinder) are very typical of this type of Shino-ware.

In excellent condition, this piece measures 5 inches in diameter (12.6 cm)...

Exquisite glazing featuring a gradation that seems a product of both firing conditions and careful nurture by the artist. This piece displays a wonderful balance and nice sense of three-dimensionality.

In fine condition, this tea bowl measures 4.7 inches in diameter (11.8cm) and stands 3.3 inches tall (8.2cm). The bowl comes with its own wood box with poetic name "朝日" (Asahi) inscribed on the inside cover.

Reminiscent of lines of dripping wax from a candle, the colored ripples streaming down the sides of this tea bowl give the impression of fluidity and transformation. More colorful and dynamic than the standard monochrome ame-yu chawan, the kodai (foot) of this piece is well-shaped and the rise and fall of the lip reminds us of the subtle variations in tone, form, light, and substance that we encounter in our daily lives.

When the founder of the Urasenke style of tea ceremony, Sen-So...

A traditionally crafted Bizen sake cup shaped in the tradition of Oribe. The rich mineral glaze gives this guinomi an almost a metallic look. The craftsman who made this piece, Takahiro Ishii, was born in Tokyo in 1977, and, after studying ceramics for a number of years, he moved to Bizen to become a ceramics teacher and later opened his own kiln. He takes a philosophic approach to his work as evidenced by the following quote, “As a ceramicist, I feel that the point is not just to produce pie...

Reminiscent of a perfectly formed oyster shell or the shell of a hermit crab, this recent creation by young artist Hiramatsu Ryoma demonstrates his creative imagination—influenced heavily by forms he discovered in nature. Described on the box as a “ammonite/ kataguchi” (ammonite/ sake pourer), Hiramatsu says his inspiration for this piece (and several others) came from an ancient form of sea life known as an ammonite—a large spiraled mollusk who’s shells are often found fossilized toda...

A traditionally crafted Bizen sake cup with a rich mineral glaze giving this guinomi a metallic look. The craftsman who made this piece, Takahiro Ishii, was born in Tokyo in 1977, and, after studying ceramics for a number of years, he moved to Bizen to become a ceramics teacher and later opened his own kiln. He takes a philosophic approach to his work as evidenced by the following quote, “As a ceramicist, I feel that the point is not just to produce pieces. With every new work I project a bit ...

This simple and elegant green porcelain vase was made by a student of Kiyomizu Rokubei (VI) who was well-known for creating fine porcelain pieces modeled on ancient Chinese forms.

Kato Keizan I (1886-1963) was born in Tajimi, Gifu prefecture but later moved to Kyoto and opened a kiln in Gojozaka in 1912. He specialized in Longquan style celadon ceramics—often referred to as "tenryuji seiji”—and the bulk of Keizan's work closely approximated the style of the Chinese Yuan to Min...

Well proportioned and exceptionally light in the hand, this lovely tea bowl features a stylized depiction of a horse in stride in what appears to be a brown ferrous glaze on a background of ash glaze (灰油 hai-yu). A creation of Kyoto potter Kimura Moriyasu, this is a difficult style to perform, with results dependent on how the clay and glazes interact when exposed to the specific firing condition in the kiln.

The youngest of three brothers famed for their potting skill...

A harmonious blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistic expression, this extraordinary sake cup (guinomi) encapsulates the essence of Oribe pottery while infusing it with a fresh and modern interpretation. The surface is adorned with a striking interplay of colors and textures. Vibrant and richly glazed, it displays a fusion of deep emerald greens, ferrous reds, sumi blacks, and pearlescent whites. These glazes are skillfully applied to create captivating patterns a...

A mature work by an artist who’s career as a potter has spanned over 55 years. This beautiful white Hagi bowl by Takenouchi Akihiro (1937-) displays a quiet elegance that sets the mind at ease.

Takenouchi is a member of the Japan Arts and Crafts Association and the winner of various prizes and awards for pieces he produced at the Sousou kiln which he established in 1967.

The piece is 4.5 inches in diameter (11.5cm) and stands 3.7 inches tall (9.5cm) and comes with a ...

Most noted for his works of Shino, this attractive Oribe piece by Kato Takeshi is distinctive and eye-catching.

Born the son of a potter in 1947, Takeshi studied under Kobayashi Bunichi, Ohashi Momonosuke and later in Kyoto under Uchida Kunio, opening his own kiln in 1973 (Genkuro-gama). Since then he has shied from the realm of public competition in favor of the personal world of private exhibitions, including the Shinjuku Odakyu and Isetan galleries among many others.

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An enchanting tea bowl with painted plum blossoms. The blossoms appears to be of the "un-ryu" species which translates as "flying dragon" in English. Grounded and weighty in construction, the innocent and playful drawings on the outer surface of this tea bowl make for a well-balanced composition.

In excellent condition, this piece measure 4.7 inches in diameter (12 cm) and stands 4 inches tall (10 cm). It features a signature in the clay of the pedestal (unknown potter). It comes wi...

A captivating bowl created by Kyoto potter Kawai Zuiho, most likely in the early 70’s. This bowl features a red undercoat which is visible in places through the greenish overglaze. The effect is quite striking and sure to attract the eye. With a convenient indent on the side, this bowl fits comfortably in the hand.

Kyo-Yaki is high-fired ceramic and pottery that centers around the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. Dating back to the 17th century, this style of pottery stems from the...

This chawan was fired in the kilns of one of Kyoto’s best known raku-yaki potters, Sasaki Shoraku III (1944-). The Shoraku line began when the grandfather of the current potter established a kiln near the famous Kiyomizu temple, nestled at the foot of the eastern mountains in Kyoto. In 1945, the kiln was moved to Kameoka near the Yada shrine where it remains today.

Raku teabowls are made by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel. In the process of shaping the bowls, potters ha...

The light-grey glazed interior of this piece makes an inviting backdrop for a smooth cup of saké. The exterior by contrast is matte with a slightly coarse texture making it easy to hold in the hand. Overall it has a decidedly modern feel to it however the techniques used to produce this attractive guinomi go back many generations.

Born in Akita prefecture in 1950, Akira Miyazawa began studying pottery at the age of 24 under the guidance of Susukida Kouji, a master potter heavily i...