Catalog (558)

Randomly patterned and ethereal porcelain mizusashi by nunozome master, Uwataki Katsuji. This wonderful example of Uwataki's nunozome technique is a fine mizusashi with pastel colors floating just under the surface of the vellum glaze making for a modern Arita tea ceremony object. The decoration though randomly applied present a well conceived pattern that are highlighted by the application of gold overglaze on some of the floral designs. Thrown out of a fine, white porcelain, the pot is light i...

Exhibited (in a gallery show) this Ko-Iga chawan was made by veteran potter, Kojima Kenji. This bowl is broad and deftly manipulated to create a rather nice form with the addition of a stamped device toward the bottom of the reverse of the piece. The face of the chawan has a nice build up of ash creating a blue-grey surface that then runs to ash tendrils embracing the sides and terminating at the rear in a variety of large drips. The rear is also decorated by three shell scar impressions from...

This unusual Bizen chawan was made Sakauchi Ensen (b. 1922) of Okayama Prefecture and is unique even among the richly diverse styles of Bizen-yaki. Sakauchi calls this style Hishoku Nanban-yaki, secret color unglazed (nanban) pottery which is different than any other Bizen of its time or since. This chawan was fired upside down as evidenced by the rich, accumulated ash drips on the mouth and is covered in a variety of thick, colorful textured on the exterior and interior of the bowl. Finely pott...

Distinctly fired mizusashi resembling stacked stones, this Sueki influenced Shigaraki mizusashi is absolutely timeless having the appearance of a piece medieval pot or a modern, abstract sculpture based on stones placed on top of one another. Made by Takahashi Makoto this feudal pot was fired in an anagama where it partially sat in a charcoal bed imbuing the piece with a variety of grey and stone colors with areas of rich ash having a pate-de-verre style surface at several points. Though fiercel...

Large, robust Shigaraki chaire by internationally recognized potter, Kanzaki Shiho. Fired for 10 days in an anagama kiln, this Shigaraki chaire has a wonderful coating of ash with some rich hi-iro fire color on the back and foot. The chaire is signed on the foot and comes complete with its shifuku, silk bag, lid and signed box. The chaire measures 8cm x 7.6cm and is in its original condition.

This large Haku-Enyu, crackled white salt fired chawan is by the master Kyoto potter; Iwabuchi Shigeya (1925-1993). This evocative and textured white chawan has very subtle undertones of a pink blush around the mouth and is covered with a series of crazed and crackled salt glaze deposited on the white slipped surface of the bowl showing the occassional gohonde fawn spots. The generous bowl shape is reminiscent of older Hagi and even Korean chawan and is terminated with an exceptional bamboo node...

Elegant and extremely practical E-Shino chawan by well known, veteran Mino potter, Arimoto Kugen (b. 1963). Working in Hiroshima at the foot of Mount Futatsugajo an old castle site and hiking region, Arimoto produces a wide array of noble forms dedicated to the old style of the Shino tradition with an emphasis on chadogu. This chawan has a greate citrus peel style texture surface on the exterior with areas of brushed iron decoration underneath to help animate the surface which continues on the ...

Robust and feudal style Ko-Iga style chawan by veteran potter, Kojima Kenji. This broad bowl has a strong, purposeful form which gentlely undulates around the pot and is seen in the roving lip and the chawan is finished with a classic foot as seen on many of Kojima's teabowls. The face and interior of the chawan have a nice deposit of ash with areas about the lip being covered in a soft, green ash with the rear of the chawan detailing both fire color, hi-iro and a nice clay flavor, tsuchi-aji. T...

This bold chawan is a lesson in texture, covered over in a thick feldspar Shino style glaze meant to imitate shark-skin, the bowl is well thrown and slightly manipulated with spatula faceting around the lower portion of the piece and an attractive, undulating lip. The highly textural glaze is in constant motion with areas of small and large nodules colliding to animate the form that has iron added under the glaze to also create a moody, atmospheric presence to the pot. The buff clay shows at the...

Robust and classically medieval in origin, this Seto-Guro chawan was made by Toki Intangible Cultural property, Mizuno Takuzo. The deep black surface has a wetness to the glaze that adds to curdled surface of the chawan that gives way to the buff clay and well addressed kodai. The chawan is well animated by way of deep throwing marks made while the bowl was wet and on the wheel and then was ovalled slightly to create a pleasing form to the hand and the eye. Strong form, strong surface and well s...

Classic Hamada Shoji lugged vase measuring approximately 20.5cm high and just over 10cm wide, this vase is made of stoneware and then was covered in a thin wash over the surface. The vase was dipped at angles almost kakewake style in a rich dark temmoku which breaks to a rusty accent here and there and also in the classic Hamada nuka glaze which has a wonderful quality and various effects about the surface with the attached lugs adding a nice focal point to the form. This fine vase is in excelle...

Timeless Ko-Iga style Shingama chawan by veteran potter, Kojima Kenji made back in the 1990s. This bowl has good size, posture and feel, being rather purposeful and practical in form which has a visual rhythm contained within the mouth and transition area to the foot with nice, crisp throwing marks adding to the movement of the bowl. This chawan is finished with a classic foot as seen on many of Kojima's teabowls and has three distinct areas where the piece was placed on wads during the arduous ...

Serene and noble seihakuji koro by veteran and master potter Kishimoto Kennin. Published in an exhibition catalogue for a Takashimiya show (a xerox of the relevant pages are included) this seihakuji celadon koro is a classic example of Kishimoto's style and modernization of a traditional form. This koro is in excellent condition except one of the wing-like appendages was unfortunately damaged and has been repaired, please see the attached photo showing both sides of the area in question. The kor...

Large and bold yakishime wood fired chawan by Konno Haruo with crisp facets and a wide array of ash effects enveloping the bowl. The exterior is painted with wet and drier ash with the rear having a reddish, purple that accentuates the facets and makes them come to life. The interior and lip are covered in a wet ash that has a wonderful depth and at times you expect the ash to pour out of the chawan as if it were liquid. the bottom of the bowl and kodai are crisply cut and are also finished off ...

Lustrous and richly glazed chawan by Raku specialist, Sasaki Shoraku, this is not your typical chawan. Created and inspired by Honami Koetsu's Kamiya chawan, this large, broad, high quality utsushi chawan has a deep black surface with areas of rusty red sprinkled on the interior and exterior of the bowl creating a wonderful landscape which is as pleasant to look at as it is to hold. This chawan measures 13.5 x 8.5cm and is in perfect condition in its original signed wood box.

Very fine Iga mimitsuki style hanaire by Furutani Michio with some vivid bidoro ash across the surface and rather expressive pottery marks made while the clay was still wet. I think it goes without saying that Furutani Michio was one of the most important anagama potters of the 20th century specializing in Iga and Shigaraki pottery. If you do a web search there is quite a bit of information about his life and work.

This vase measures approximately 25 x 12cm and is in great original conditi...

This vivid Aka-e tsubo was made by Persian blue specialist Kato kenji who is as well known for his brilliant overglaze enamels as he is for his rich temmoku and Mino tradition pottery. The iron rich clay peaks through at the foot creating a reddish base to the black and white glazed tsubo which is then decorated in fluid red and green overglaze in a pattern Kato Kenji used to the fullest extent on platters, trays, bowl and vases. This animated and very practical tsubo measures 24.5 x 21cm and co...

Solemn and noble vase Hakusetsu Shino vase by Shino and Oribe specialist; Higashida Shigemasa (b. 1955). Glazed in his signature Hakusetsu Shino this vase shows his unique Shino styling which blend the traditional with the contemporary, attributes which have gained him a worldwide following. Measuring 9.5" x 3.85" this cylindrical vase has a serene surface punctuated by the cut lip and spatula swipes up opposing sides and the textured surface is truly reminiscent of pure snow light by the moonli...