Another historical masterpiece in the development of Japanese culture: grey Shino Chawan, distorted cylindrical shape - hanzutsu, covered with a whitish Shino glaze over an iron oxide engobe, resulting in a beautiful grey shino glaze, which partly turns to red shino (aka shino).

A decoration of a branch with a leaf and berries on the front and a criss cross grass pattern on the back has been incised into the engobe resulting in white shino colored lines...

Here is a brilliant Chawan by Master Mashiko Potter and Living National Treasure Shimaoka Tatsuzo enclosed in the original signed and stamped wooden box. It is in mint condition with no chips or cracks.

Shimaoka Tatsuzo (1919-2007) is one of the best-known Japanese potters. The artist studied under another pottery legend, Hamada Shoji, to become one of Mashiko master craftsmen...

Slightly distorted cylinder shaped (tsuzu) tea bowl with straight walls, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife around the foot ring.

The bowl was covered with black iron oxide glaze of the non glossy type (preferable!) and then covered with a black glaze in the style of a Seto-guro bowl...

A cultural treasure - our oldest and most important mizusashi: wonderful Chosen Karatsu Tataki Mizusashi from the Momoyama Period (1573 - 1603). It was perfectly thrown first into a cylinder shape and then squeezed and paddled into a distorted pear. Iron oxide glaze has been poured inside and out.

On the rim a blueish rice straw ash glaze has been applied in the typical Chosen Karatsu fashion. The mizusashi is supplied with a tailor made lacquer lid of a somewhat later date...

This is a rare and very fine Japanese cloisonne jar covered with tiny butterflies. These butterflies are so small that probably 8 could fit on a little fingernail. It was likely created by Kumeno Teitaro. It stands 4 1/4 inches tall and is 3 5/8 inches wide. Condition is excellent.

This is the Tsutsugaki curtain used in the Edo period. This was made in the Kyushu region. It is made of fine cotton that is hand spun. This is a person expressing a wooden raft that flows through the river in the season when the cherry blossoms fall. This pattern is a pattern called flower raft. This is a very idyllic depiction of the boatman's expression. The design of the boatman on the raft to go down the river where the cherry blossoms are falling is very elegant and beautiful...

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Springtime Evening, Ote Gate (Otemon no Haru no Yugure)
Date: 1952.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Edition: First state. Watanabe red 6mm seal lower right corner. Used 1946-1957.
Reference: Hotei #573.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Removed from original folder.

A true masterpiece vase covered in the trademark sansai glazes of Ningenkokuho Tokuda Yasokichi III (Masahiko) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. A superb example of the work of this Living National Treasure.

Designated Living National Treasure in 1997 for his supremacy in the use of Kutani glazes, Yasokichi (1933-2009), born Masahiko, has gone a step further than many National Treasures by broadening his spectrum with a new style of Kutani ware...

Surely an extraordinary confluence of circumstances must have come into alignment in order to bring this remarkable composition into existence. Done in the Korai style - referring to the heavy influence from Korean forms and glazing - this exquisite late Momoyama/early Edo period (1590-1620) Karatsu-ware tea bowl is really rare.

Regular formed wan shaped, showing fine finger marks from throwing...

A rare bowl by Ninnami Dohachi from the Sangama kiln dating from the later Edo period wrapped in a silk pouch and enclosed in a fine custom made Kiri-wood collectors box. Deeply impressed into the base is the six sided Sangama kiln mark. It is 5-1/2 x 5 x 3 inches (13 x 12.5 x 9 cm) and is in excellent condition...

This is a very fine pair of Japanese satsuma vases that stand just 4 1/4 inches tall. Attractive form, enamel colors and very fine details. They look like they have spent most of their lives stored in the box. One has the original sticker and both are signed. The signature looks a bit like the Kozan mark but we are not sure. Some of the larger flowers remind us of work seen on Bizan and Yabu pieces.

A peacock stands among abstract patterns, drying fish, birds and geometrics on this large dish by Ito Hokuto with Shiori and Shifuku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yusai Iro-e Kin Gin Sai Hakkaku Zara (Silver, Gold and Colored Glaze 8-Sided Dish). It is 42 cm (16-1/2 inches) across and in excellent condition.
Ito Hokuto was born in the Nakano ward of Tokyo in 1961, and grew up in a prolific time which defined modern Japan and Japanese pop culture...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant Chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Shunkei Nuri (lacquer) on the front with a wiped lacquer technique on the top and sides which accentuates the beautiful grain pattern of the woods. The backs of all the drawers were made using very thick wood. The hand made iron hardware is also original including the stylized Gumbai handles and the bronze sliding door handles...

Antique Japanese stoneware kame (wide mouthed bowl) from Shigaraki kiln. Made using the local sandy clay from the bed of Lake Biwa, Shigaraki ware is identified by the embedded granules of feldspar. Mineral and ash glaze is dribbled and spattered over the surface leaving long, uneven drips...

Red drips slide down the dark Tenmoku glaze on this small Tsutsu-chawan tea bowl by Living National Treasure Ishiguro Munemaro enclosed in a wooden box signed by his student and future Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi titled Ishiguro Munemaro Saku Tenmoku-yu Samon Chawan...

A Japanese Satsuma Gosu blue bowl of a spiral motifs with enamels and gilt. Edo period middle 19th century Sizes: 27 x 2 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Buddhist shrine with sculpture of the bodhisattva Myoken, deity of the Polar Star and of the Big Dipper...

Sculpture of a priest sitting with his legs crossed, his hands positioned on his knees, formerly holding a scroll and a rosary. He wears a robe, carved in low relief, with the usual square pattern in red and green typical of a priest’s robe. His face is very rich in expression, his bare chest clearly shows his ribcage.
Wood with a polychrome lacquer layer on top of gesso.
Japan, Edo period, 18th century.

Height 18.5 in., width 17.25 in., depth 12 in.

Beautiful patina. Th...