Catalog (79)

Small and cute box for keeping incense, called kogo, originally used in the tea ceremony. Hand modeled coarse red stoneware with small sediment and mineral inclusions. White irregular glaze caused by feldspar inclusions in the clay that melted during the firing and dripped over the outside.
The overall shape is an irregular cylinder which turns into a plum blossom when seen from the top, with three clusters of stamen. Ash glaze inside the lower part of the box.

Small, shallow impressed seal in the shape of ‘i-no-me’ (boar’s eye, more or less heart-shaped).
The foot has been shaped to show the shame boar’s eye as to mark the kiln Most likely Shigaraki ware, possibly Iga ware.

Japan, Showa era, 1970s-80s

H 2.1 x W 2 in.

Excellent condition

A sitting lady in Heian era court dress and hair, clutching a giant golden matsudake mushroom. She wears a bright red hakama and light blue kimono. The shape of the mushroom has a close resemblance to a penis and the sculpture definitely has an erotic meaning.

Hand modeled, soft hollow earthenware, painted in cold-applied colors and gold.

Japan, 1960s or earlier.

H 5 in.

Colors somewhat smudged and chafed; frittings at the bottom edge. Because of the cold application, the colors are fragile and easily wash away.

Okame standing in blue over-kimono with a sweet and cheerful facial expression. Her garment falls open a little, showing a red colored underkimono or liner, indicating her profession. Cradled in her arms is a large matsudake mushroom. The shape of the mushroom has a close resemblance to a penis and the sculpture definitely has an erotic meaning.

Soft hollow cast earthenware or plaster, painted in vibrant cold-applied colors and sprinkled gold flakes.

Japan, 1960s or earlier.

H 5 in.

Colors somewhat smudged, especially the blue. Some black smudges in the white face, affecting her left eye. Because of the cold application, the colors are fragile and easily wash away.

A male figure sitting in ceremonial kamishimo dress of a striped hakama (pants) and a golden kataginu (vest) over a red kimono, his head shaped like the top of an erected penis.

Soft molded earthenware, painted in cold-applied colors and gold and silver.

Japan, 1960s or earlier.

H 4 in.

Colors and metal pigments chipping, otherwise good condition. Because of the cold application, the colors are fragile and easily wash away.

Rare subject matter

Fairly large bowl of irregular round shape with indentations in upper edge and openings in the side, decorated with a large red lobster. The spiny lobster is traditionally eaten during the New Year. It is an auspicious food, as its curved back reminds of an elderly person, and it thus is a symbol of longevity.

Light colored stoneware with white glaze, over which iron red and some black (lobster) and thick, dripping green glaze.

Signature on the outside: Kenzan.

Ogata Kenzan-ware, Japan, Meiji-Taisho era, early 20th century.

H 3.9 x W 9.5 in.

Tiny, old chip on the rim in the green glaze, otherwise excellent condition

Clog-shaped chawan, tea bowl to be used in the tea ceremony. Over a whitish fine clay a silky black glaze and crackled white slip over which a decoration of interlocked diamonds and rings in iron brown.

Seal impressed in bottom/underside: Juzan. Refers to the Oribe potter Mizuno Juzan.

Mino ware, Oribe style, Japan. Showa era, 1950s

H 3 x W 4.25 in.

Perfect condition

There are at least two generations of Mizuno potters going by the name Juzan. The seal most likely belongs to the second generation Juzan, who lived lived 1908-1978.

Sturdy storage jar for tea leaves or other goods with horizontally ribbed surface, sloping shoulder with very short neck. Coarse but dense clay with small inclusions. Outside middle brown with cream-colored and yellow natural ash glaze. Mingei.
Japan, 18th/19th century.

Height 7.5 inches, width 6 inches at the neck. Ash glaze partially rubbed off at upper edge and at the body commensurate with holding and using, otherwise very good condition.

Heavy, cream colored stoneware oil plate (aburazara) shaped as a lotus leaf with curled up, irregular edge. Surface on ‘inside’ structured with cloth, decorated with geometric figures in iron brown glaze and covered with feldspar and typical Oribe green glaze.
Impressed maker’s mark in bottom: Jocho? tsukuru.
Japan, Seto region, Oribe, Meiji era, ca. 1900. Diam 7.25 x H 0.8 inches

2 old small chips and some frittings on rim, consistent with age and use

Old sake bottle of strong conical shape with a short neck and everted rim.
Underneath the beautiful milky feldspar glaze a cobalt bue and black sketch-like drawing of sprigs of bamboo. Bottom glazed brown, as is typical for this ware. Mingei.

Most likely Ofuke (or Ofukei) ware, made near Nagoya, Japan.
Edo period, circa 1800
H ca. 6 x diam at bottom ca. 5.5 in.

Ofukei has a historical relation to Seto ware. Similar pieces were produced in the Seto region.

Kintsugi or gold-lacquer repair of lip, otherwise excellent condition

Large porcelain charger decorated in underglaze blue with a map of Japan, as drawn in the Edo period. The map (Gyoji type) shows the main islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, divided into the 63 provinces. The names of the provinces are written in kanji. Here and there a name of a city (i.e. Edo) is added.
The main islands of Japan are surrounded by several islands (names written partly or entirely in katakana) and real and imaginary countries, such as Choseon, the Ryukyus, the country of the small people and the country where women rule.
The sea is indicated by stylized waves. Around the islands are stylized clouds and on top and bottom fly crane-like birds.
Outside rim decorated with meandering flowering vines. Five spur marks. 6-mark seal within foot: Honcho Tenpo nensei.
Japan, Hizen, Mikawachi, 1830s-1840s or slightly later (but still Edo period).

Diameter 16 inches, H 2.25 inches (Diam. 40.6 cm, H 5.7 cm).

Condition excellent.

Incense box of irregular circular shape. Over a light gray clay thickly applied opaque, lightly crackled glaze with feldspar that leaves bare a few small areas uncovered, which colored orange red during firing. On the cover a few circular black-brown underglaze "brush strokes".
Although bottom and cover clearly match, they do not make an airtight close line, but leave a couple of gaps. Few very short firing cracks.
Shino ware, Japan. Showa era, mid-20th century.

H 1.25 in.; W 2.25 in.

One tiny chip on a rim, otherwise excellent condition

Small covered box in the shape of a clam shell. Cream-colored stoneware with translucent brown glaze, partially covered with opaque beige-colored glaze with blue and purple streaks. Bottom left unglazed. Takatori style. Japan, first half 20th century.

H ca. 1-1/4 x L 2-1/2 inches

Fine condition

Paper collection label with no. 106. From a private FL collection of incense boxes, water droppers and other antiques

Tea bowl of irregular shape. Deep dark brown clay covered in a greenish-gray glaze that leaves the bottom part of the bowl uncovered. The inside in the same tone with a brown patch. The rim covered with a brownish-green glaze. One looped line decoration in brownish green on the outside. A small patch at the inside of the bowl left uncovered. Karatsu ware, of the type ‘egaratsu’ (decorated Karatsu), Japan, Edo period, early 19th century.

H 2.75 inches, diameter 5 inches (6.9 x 12.6 cm).

Short firing crack, bottom a slightly pitted consistent with usage

Comes with the original inscribed tomobako (Egaratsu; chawan, ichiko) and cotton pouch. Both damaged due to usage

Ex collection R.B. Caldwell

Small food dish for vegetables, relish etc. of round shape with small indentations in the rim. Thin, light colored stoneware, covered in cream-colored glaze with very fine crackle and pinkish brown swirls. In the bottom a highly stylized kotobuki character (longevity) in iron brown and three green glaze splashes on the rim. Glazes have left a few spots uncovered. Oribe ware, Japan, early Taisho era, 1920s.
H 2 x diam. 4-1/2 in.

Minimal traces of usage, fine condition.

Small serving dish of square, mokuzuke, of octagonal shape with two handles standing off the side. Thin light-colored stoneware covered with cream-colored glaze with fine crackle filled in the brown color from the foot to ¾ of the height. On top of the cream-colored glaze some iron-brown decorations of pine needle, plum blossom, cross hatch design and a mon-shaped design and a splash of green glaze with some blue in it. Inside a light textile structure impressed in the glaze. Oribe ware, Japan, Meiji era, 19th century.
H 2-3/8 x W 4 x D 3-3/8 inches.

One small area on top of rim scraped, all in all excellent condition.

Storage jar with tapering body, broad shoulder and slightly everted lip. Used for storing tea leaves.
Stoneware with some inclusions, pitted surface and natural ash glaze patches.

Iga ware, Mie Prefecture, Japan, Edo period, 17th or possibly a little later (early 18th century).

Comes with wooden storage box of a later date.

H 10-1/2 inches

Excellent condition

From the Collection of Osborne and Victor Hauge and their wives

Wall vase for ikebana flower arrangement, to be hung at one of the vertical beams of the tokonoma. Brown stoneware with white inclusions, splash of greenish glaze. Metal eyelet through hole in the back for hanging the vase up (new replacement).
Signature in bottom: Jinsai.

Shigaraki ware, Japan, mid-20th century, before 1977, when Jinsai changed his name.

H 5 - 5-1/4 inches, diam 3-1/4 inches

Fine condition

Ogawa Jinsai was born in 1914 as the eldest son of the Ogawa Tokusai III, a master of Shigaraki ware. The family was founded in the late Edo period. The founder was a master at replicating ancient Iga warea and was invited by the Todo clan in Iga to make such warea. In 1977 Jinsai took over the family business and became head of the family, changing his name to Tokusai IV. He made tea and sake wares, firing in a traditional cellar kiln. He passed away late Showa/early Heisei era.

Large, relatively tall chawan, as used in the tea ceremony. Light brown coarse stoneware covered with a celadon colored translucent glaze with brown speckles and with a purple and blue-green splash on the front. Unsigned. Japan, Aizu, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, Showa era, circa 1973.
Comes with the original fitted wooden tomobako, inscribed on the outside … chawan; on the inside signed ‘made by Ryoichi, 7th generation of the Munakata kiln’ and with the seal Munakata-gama (Munakata kiln).

H 3-1/8 x Dia 4-1/2 inches

Perfect condition.

Munakata Ryoichi (b. 1933). For more information on the artist (in Japanese), see www.munakatagama.net