Earth tones mix with rivulets of copper green emboldened with flashes of jet black on this vase by Shigemori Yoko enclosed in a signed wooden box titled Oribe Tetsuki Kabin (Oribe Vase with Handle). The green is almost liquid, and gives the impression if you look away it will change. The blacks are solid and brisk, obviously performed spur of the moment and to wondrous effect. The vase is 26 cm (10-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition. It comes in a box annotated by her brother...

Naoki Kojima Karatsu Black Plum Flower Guinomi (sake cup)

Ceramics artist Kojima Naoki (b. 1962) works in Sogen Kiln located in the town of Karatsu creating his pieces entirely from earth and natural colours.

Naoki Kojima opened a Karatsu ceramics store at the age of 18.
Held first single exhibition at 21 and decided to pursue ceramics. Later he opened his own studio and a kiln.
His areas of specialty are Chosen Karatsu, Kairagi, and Iro Chawan...

A striking floral image decorates this odd shaped guinomi made to not be put down by Mizumoto Kayoko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Obana Guinomi. An Obana is a male flower, or a flower with only stamens and no pistils; lacking female reproductive function. The cup is 6.5 x 12 x 7 cm (2-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition, dating from last year.
Mizumoto Kayoko was born in Ishikawa, home to the Kutani Ceramic Tradition, in 1971...

Marbled porcelain clay in lavender and black in wavelike scales form this sake set by Kusaba Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nerito Kuro Namimon Shuki Soroi (Matching Sake set of Marbled Black Clay). This is absolutely perfect for summer sake, the shape is open allowing quick pours and the high fired clay keeps cool, passing on the chill through your fingers as you pour...

Tall and slender jug in the shape of a storage jar for pickles or in the shape of an actual octopus pot (trap).
Grayish brown stoneware built up from coils of clay; the inside covered with green glaze, the outside left unglazed. On the outside sits a dark brown, three-dimensional octopus, the way an octopus would sit on an octopus trap under water, on its way to inspect the inside of the jug.

Black ink inscription, almost washed away completely.

Unsigned...

An absolute classic natural ash glazed sake bottle by the reclusive potter Oasako Mikio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hai Yu Tokkuri (ash glazed flask). Much of the dark surface is raw clay, with coals charring the front and tremulous tears of liquified ash dripping down both inside and out. It is 12 cm tall and in excellent condition...

Antique Japanese Bizen ware ceramic sculpture of a pair of puppies. Each beautifully sculpted with charming features. Bizen ware pottery is made of the reddish brown clay with high iron content that is found in the area around the village of Imbe in Bizen province. Fine signature on base.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/4" high x 6" wide x 4" deep

Antique Japanese Bizen ware ceramic figure of Daikoku, the god of wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin). Daikoku is seen here seated on top of three large bags of rice. With his right hand he holds his wish-granting mallet over his head. With his left hand he holds a bag of precious things. Bizen ware pottery is made of the reddish brown clay with high iron content that is found in the area around the village of Imbe in Bizen province...

A gourd shaped black Bizen Tokkuri by Oiwa Tomoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Tokkuri. A pleasure to view, the off-kilter form is blasted with powdery dry ash on one side which turns to molten rivulets on the edges crawling around to bead up on the opposite dark shiny clay. The Tokkuri 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Acquired on our recent trip to Bizen in June...

Excellent painted work of Okuda Mokuhaku (1800–1871) who is known as the reviver of the Akahada ware traditions during the late Edo and the early Meiji periods.

Mokuhaku Okuda, a wealthy merchant, was also a notable tea master of the nearby city of Koriyama, worked in the Akahada kiln in the mid 1800`s...

Rengetsu Otagaki (1791-1875) was Buddhist nun who is widely regarded to have been one of the greatest Japanese poets of the 19th century.
She was also a skilled potter and painter and expert calligrapher and adorned her ceramics with poems written in her unique calligraphic style.
The cup style and the age of the glaze is consistent with authentic Rengetsu work.

Size
Diameter: 5.8 cm
Height: 4.3 cm

Condition
The cup has a crack but it is not a probl...

IKAYAKI AND TAIYAKI

Contemporary pottery pieces of 'Ikayaki' (Grilled squid) and 'Taiyaki' (Sea bream-shaped cake) made from old 'Kashigata' (Auspicious wooden molds for making traditional Japanese confectionery). Squid: 14 x 9cm (5.51 x 3.54in), Sea bream: 8.5 x 8cm (3.34 x 3.14in)...

An astounding work of singular design by renowned Shigaraki pioneering female artist Koyama Kiyoko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu Ryukoku Tsubo (Natural Ash Glazed Carved Flowing Tsubo). The voluminous work is like a seed pod, rising up in tapering lines to an undulating open mouth. The body is covered in rich green ash glaze, flowing down the wavering clefts to pour out and collect in thin crystalline pools...

A masterpiece by Otani Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Hai-Kaburi Tsubo (Ash blanketed Jar). Breathtaking, it appears straight from the inferno. With so much going on, the thick textured embers almost purple in color, encrustations covering the surface with a blast of molten ocher glaze on one side rivulets of color dripping down. It would wow the crowds in any museum exhibition and is the best piece I have ever owned by this legendary potter. The vessel is ...

A patterned Seki vase by Ito Shin enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hai-mon Hanaike (Ash Pattern Vase). The patterns remind me of the patterns on an Ainu Robe. Stoneware, it is 38 cm (15 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Ito Shin was born in Chiba in 1952 and has lived in worked in Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture. He studied under Kikuchi Akira, another Mashiko artist. He is a member of the Dento Kogeikai, or traditional arts guild and also the Japan Ceramics Exhibiti...

An intriguing handled cylinder vase by Mori Toshiaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Te-tsuki Hana-ire (Handled Vase). This small vase has been cut spirally down, the resulting ribbon wrapped over the top and affixed to the opposite side forming the handle. It is 18.5 cm (7-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist this summer.
Mori Toshiaki was born the first son of traditional Bizen potter Mori Yasushi in 1982.　Growing up in the fa...

An unusual form by Mori Toshiaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Te-bachi (handled basin). The basin has been paired off at the top, the ribbons of clay looping over each other to form the winding handle. A most unusual design. A blast of ash decorates the exposed upper surfaces, the basin itself rust colored raw clay. It is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter, 14.5 cm (5-3/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist this summer.
Mori Toshiaki was...

Japanese contemporary studio ware ceramic vase. Made with reddish clay and sculpted in a rounded triangular form with three large flat sides. Three curved triangular shoulders taper downward. Covered with a thick translucent white glaze with pleasing drips and crackles.

Dimensions: 12 1/2" high x 9" wide