Japanese tenmoku ware ceramic vessel with ribbed handle, short front spout, and wide open top. The thick oil slick glaze stops just short above the foot left in buff. Tenmoku glaze is made with feldspar, limestone, and iron oxide. The more quickly a piece is cooled, the blacker the glaze will be. Tenmokus are known for their variability. During their heating and cooling, several factors influence the formation of iron crystals within the glaze...

So unique: fantastic light blue Celadon porcelain tea bowl by master potter Makoto Wakao.

Wakao Makoto was born in 1959 in the city of Tajimi (current Gifu prefecture), one of Japan’s great ceramic center known for Mino-yaki (Mino ware). He studied industrial design and at 24 was selected for the Asahi Journal Exposition and the exposition of the Japanese Traditional Crafts Association...

Nagoro banana leaf tray lacquer over wood. The black lacquer shines through the red to reveal the ribs and veins of the leaf. In the literati tradition, banana leaves were used by scholar recluses as paper to write calligraphy. Later, this motif was incorporated into other forms of art making the image one of the symbols of the literati aesthetics.

Date: Tiasho circa 1920

Dimensions: 16" x 6" X 3/4"

Japanese gusoku bitsu (carrying box for samurai armor). Made of kiri (paulownia) wood and lacquered red and black. Iron hardware and side handles for carrying. Top lifts off. Decorated with the mon (family crest) of the Asano Clan.

Dimensions: 15 1/2" w x 21" h

Celadon is all about form, and here Yagi Akira has nailed it with this expertly executed elegant shape composed of 2 interlocking pieces covered in green celadon glaze and enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kakushaku (literally horn scoop). It is 4-3/4 inches (14.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
This name is a must have in any collection of modern Japanese Pottery...

Here is magnificent example of the beauty of Raku ware, a pottery tradition born more than 400 years ago in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, from the collaboration between great tea master Sen Rikyu (1522-1591) and a potter named Chojiro ( - 1592), the forebear of the great Raku family of potters.

Sublime half cylinder shaped (Hanzutsu) tea bowl with a rounded brim, in the typical hand built style of the Raku family...

Large late Meiji to Taisho period Japanese Arita porcelain cylindrical form hibachi decorated in underglaze blue, white, and celadon with mirrors and auspicious symbols. Scattered bisque incised signature seals accent the decoration. 12 1/4" high x 17" diameter. Early 20th century. Very good overall condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs. From the collection of an elderly woman in Sun City West, Arizona.

Massive Japanese bronze tripod censer decorated on opposing sides with a central panel featuring peacocks and birds in high relief. The handles are stylized bird form. The cover is decorated with stylized pierced waves and topped with an elephant finial. Late Meiji to Taisho Period (1880-1920). Measures about 14" high x 12" diameter (including handles) and weighs 8 lbs. Very good overall condition with a nice aged patina. One handle is firmly secured but is a bit loose...

A Japanese Export heart-shaped dish with an European harbour scene by Frederik Van Frytom. Arita 1680 ~ 1700. Frederik Van Frytom was a notable painter in 17th century Holland who was commissioned to produce Delft pottery samples for copying at Arita. This dish is a copy of one of a special set of five Delft dishes that were taken to Japan in 1684 and used in the tea ceremony. The moulded shape of the dish is reminiscent of silver tableware...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu known as a personal storage chest made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. Traditional wiped lacquer finish and original bronze fittings complement this piece. It features a hinged door that houses a compartment with a removable shelf.

This style of chest would make a great bedside stand or an elegant side table in any room of the house.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 21 3/4" High x 23 1/4" Wide x 12 5/8" Deep

Kuniyoshi
Exiled Nichiren in Snow at Tsukahara, Sado Island
Size: Approximately 13.75 x 9.0 inches.
Date of first printing by Iseya Rihei: 1830-35.
Here is a rare limited edition (numbered 182) of this famous design...

A Japanese porcelain chawan, tea bowl, decorated with a continuous landscape. The concave foot left unglazed. The rim has a number of kintsugi, repaired chips using lacquer and gold dust.

A similar tea bowl is shown in Sekai Toji Zhenshu, Ceramic Art of the World, Vol 8. Edo Period III, no:240, described as Nakano Kiln, Hirado, mid 18th century.

Approximately 11 cm diameter. Fine condition...

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant storage box) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand made iron fittings including the Hirute drawer handles and the Warabite carrying handle. It features unique Cherry blossom escutcheons behind the drawer handles and a coin slot at the top that drops into the top left drawer. The other 5 drawers were used to safely keep small store valuables...

Japanese shin hanga woodblock print by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991) titled "Misty Evening at Shinobazu Pond" dated in the left margin "4th month of Showa 7" (1932). First edition impression bearing the C-seal ("sausage seal") of the publisher Watanabe in the lower right margin. This seal was used between 1929-1942. The artist's red signature seal is located at the lower left corner of the image. Paper size: 15 1/4" x 10 1/4" (image: 14 1/8" x 9 1/4")...

Reliquary in the shape of a pagoda, used to house the Hokyoin Sutra. This type of reliquary originates from China and developed in Japan in the Kamakura era. The Hokyoin Darani sutra contains invocations that make it easier for the soul of the deceased to find its way out of Hell directly into Paradise. These pagodas are usually made of stone, so they can be buried with the deceased. The sutra is recited daily in esoteric Buddhist sects, and is venerated as a relic of the Buddha Shakyamuni. As ...

Regal free-flowing bamboo and rattan basket from one of the masters of bamaboo basket making, Sakaguchi Sounsai b. 1899-1967. Studied under Tanabe Chikuunsai I and was active in the Osaka and Kyoto region. Featured on page 90 of 'Masters of Bamboo by Melissa Rinne. Susudake (smoked farmhouse bamboo) is flattened and bent to create a bold statement of beauty and refinement. Bamboo vase inset. 9" tall by 10" wide. Ask for shipping quote.

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original wiped Urushi lacquer technique finish with original hand made iron hardware including Gumbai handles. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery with hardened wood nails.

Contemporary uses for this chest include making a lovely side table or a useful and functional bedside stand and cabinet.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 21 3/4" Wide x 22 1/2" High x ...

Beautiful Meiji Period C.1890 maki-e raised gold lacquer Tachibana citrus tree with silver inlay cherry blossoms floating around the Tachibana tree. Some of the Tachibana citrus fruit also have silver inlay. Lacquer on rest of mirror case is Nashiji or speckled gold lacquer. The pad the mirror rests on is hand dyed sarasa with natural vegitable dyes from India. On the back of the miror is " Made by Takashima Sagaminokami Mitsutada". 12" tall by 8" wide. Ask for shipping quote.