~ Japanese fine art from the ancient city of Kyoto ~

A White Raku Tea Bowl by Master Potter Sugimoto Sadamitsu

Though rare, occasionally I come white Raku piece by one of our favorite potters, Sugimoto Sadamitsu. Adorned with subtle crackling patterns and variations in t

A Feldspar Striped Edo Period Oribe Tea Bowl

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of the

An Eye-Catching Red “Gong-yu” Tenmoku Tea Bowl

On the base of this tea bowl are the characters “供御” pronounced “Ku-go” in Japanese but “Gong-yu” in the original Chinese—translating in English to something li

An Edo Period Oribe Tea Bowl with Green Glaze

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of the

A Richo Era Kōrai Tea Bowl with Gold Repairs

At various times over the long history of tea practice in Japan, Korean-ware has come into high fashion and ships full of the finest ceramics from the neighbori

An Antique Shino Tsutsu Tea Bowl

This lovely Shino tea bowl fashioned from coarse Mino clay is covered in feldspar glazing, has a classic ferrous abstract painting across the front, and shows n

A Shigaraki Tea Bowl by Wataru Motomura

The artist who produced this piece, Wataru Motomura, prides himself in living a traditional life in the eastern hills of Kyoto—long known for its rich clay and

A Black Raku "December" Tea Bowl by Renowned Potter Ohi Chozaemon IX

When the founder of the Urasenke style of tea ceremony, Senso Soshitsu (1622 -1697) was invited to Kanazawa as the lord of the tea ceremony for the powerful Kag

An Antique Kyo-ware Tea Bowl Attributed to Ninsei

A beautiful old Kyo-ware tea bowl slightly elongated on one end producing an interesting and unique effect. The collector who furnished the box labeled it as be

An Edo Period Karatsu Tea Bowl with Gold Repairs

This kutsu-shaped (shoe-shaped) Karatsu tea bow, having stood quietly through the passage of ages is a superb example embodying both the serene beauty and power

Unique Edo Period Hagi Tea Bowl with Gold Repairs

This tall and lovely Hagi chawan rests firmly on a wari kodai or “split foot” pedestal that is unglazed—displaying the coarse rich clay. The crackled milky glaz

A Patterned Bowl from the Shinragi Kiln

Being based in Kyoto we occasionally come across fine Chinese and Korean tea-ware to mix in with our Japanese offerings. Here we have an example of a ceremonial

A ko-Seto Mizusashi with Black Lacquer Lid (Tea Master Item)

Seto is a pottery tradition established in the 12th century with the aim of reproducing fine Chinese porcelain and tenmoku-style tea bowls—which were hard to co

An Edo Period Seto-guro Mino Tea Bowl

Living in Kyoto it is not uncommon to come across beautiful antique tea bowls, however, finding pieces that are in good condition, aesthetically compelling, and

A Tetsu-yu Henko Vase by Master Potter Kawai Kanjiro

Conceived by 20th century master ceramicist Kawai Kanjiro—here an abstract depiction of flowers is used to adorn an exquisite “henko” shaped vase. The glaze use

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A Korean Celadon Goryeo Vase by LNT Yu Geun-Hyeong

This unique and captivating celadon vase is the work of an early 20th century Korean artist who spent a number of years in Japan honing his craft. Gourd-shaped,

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A Porcelain Vase by Wakao Kei

Wakao Kei continues to surprise and captivate with this turquoise blue porcelain vase from his recent offerings. Using deep, rich colors not often seen in this

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A Rice Porcelain Vase by Wakao Kei

According to Kei Wakao, the artist who crafted this extraordinary work, it took him years of trial-and-error to perfect the unique rice-porcelain glaze covering

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A Ring Handled Celadon Vase by Suwa Sozan (1852 - 1922)

A Chinese style celadon vase by one of the 5 Imperial Court Artists of Meiji. Sozan spent his life perfecting techniques for celadon production first used in th

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Mallet Vase by Imperial Court Artist Suwa Sozan

This extraordinary vase is a truly Japanese expression of a classical Chinese form. Fashioned after cylindrical Song Dynasty pieces that are thought to have bee

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A Large Sculptured Vase from Takayuki Sakiyama's Chōtō Series

From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this large contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of

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A Modern Vase by Studio Potter Sakata Jinnai (b. 1943)

A very versatile and innovative artist, Sakata Jinnai produces pieces such as the vase seen here in his easily recognizable trademark style. Many of his pieces

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A Sculptured Vase from Takayuki Sakiyama's Chōtō Series

From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of the f

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An Extraordinary Edo Period Hirado Cloud Dragon Vase

From a large collection of Edo period Nabeshima and Hirado-ware, this intricately crafted vase features two serpentine dragons intertwined across the face of th

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A Small Flower Vase with Gold Repairs by Takashi Nakazato

Takashi Nakazato is a celebrated Japanese ceramic artist whose family's mastery of pottery now spans 14 generations. Born in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture in 1937, N

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A Sculptured Vase from Takayuki Sakiyama's Chōtō Series

From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of the f

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A Mallet Vase by Imperial Court Artist Suwa Sozan

This extraordinary vase is a truly Japanese expression of a classical Chinese form. Fashioned after cylindrical Song Dynasty pieces that are thought to have bee

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A Shigaraki Uzukumaru Vase by Sugimoto Sadamitsu

A beautiful example of Shigaraki pottery—the result of techniques perfected over centuries by dedicated artisans residing in the provinces east of Kyoto. This p

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A Large Sculptured Vase from Takayuki Sakiyama's Chōtō Series

From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this large contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of

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A Ridged Bizen Vase by Isezaki Koichiro

First born son to Living National Treasure Isezaki Jun, Koichiro (b. 1974) has quickly made a name for himself as an independent artist. Not content to rely sol

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A Mizusashi by Tsuboshima Dohei

A truly unique work of Shino pottery developed among the company of some of Japan’s most respected and influential potters of the last century. Defying conventi

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An Asahi-yaki Tea Bowl with Extraordinary Maki-e Gold Repairs

One of the most extraordinary gold repairs I have seen on a tea bowl in my nearly 30 years in Japan. If you search far and wide occasionally you can find maki-e

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A Porcelain Chawan with Gold-leaf by Ono Hakuko

This eye-catching porcelain composition covered in red-glaze and highlighted with sensational gold-leaf inlay is an iconic design often employed by Ono Hakuko.

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A Classic Black Raku Tea Bowl by Ōhi Chōzaemon IX

Endorsed by the recent Head Tea Master of Urasenke as an exceptional work, this black Raku tea bowl was granted the poetic name “Kokon” Ko, meaning “the distant

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Tsukigata Nahiko Mizusashi w/ Silk Pouch

This extraordinary mizusashi is a fine example of Oni Shino (carbon trap and natural ash glazing) that Tsukigata is so well-known for. Coining the term in the m

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An Iris Tea Bowl by Murakami Yoichi

According to the potter who crafted this fine piece, “The clay from our area in the north is alive. We listen to it in order to divine the most suitable objects

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A Hagi Mizusashi by Tahara Tobei XII (Urasenke Tea Master Item)

Heavily influenced by Koryo potting styles and techniques, the Tobei lineage has been crafting exceptional tea-ware implements for 13 generations. The piece sho

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A Black Raku Tea Bowl by Samukawa Seiho

Comfortable in the hand and with a unique textured black Raku glaze, this tea bowl by 20th century potter Samukawa Seiho would make a fine addition for collecto

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A Hagi Tea Bowl by Yoshida Shuen

This remarkable tea bowl is from the kilns of Yoshida Shuen (1940-1987)—an apprentice of Miwa Kyusetsu (1910-2012) who was awarded the status of Living National

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Black Raku Tea Bowl with Irises by Nakamura Donen III

In Japan every season and every phase of the year is marked by the presence of a flower, the most noted of course being the cherry blossoms signifying the long-

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A Karatsu Tea Bowl by Takashi Hashimura

This elegant work of Karatsu pottery has an unglazed foot, showing the rich ferrous clay, and displays a beautiful ashen glaze with hues of blue, grey, green, a

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A Hagi Tea Bowl by Watanabe Jōzan

A delightful Hagi tea bowl from the Jōzan Kiln in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Very representative of the genre with its milky glaze and ido-shape. This piece is a ste

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A Koetsu Tribute Bowl by Ōhi IX (1901-1986)

The craftsman who fashioned this piece, the 9th Ohi Chozaimon (1901-1986), is the most widely recognized and most accomplished of the now 11 generations of Ohi

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A Bizen Tea Bowl by Isezaki Koichiro

First born son to Living National Treasure Isezaki Jun, Koichiro (b. 1974) has quickly made a name for himself as an independent artist. Not content to rely sol

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A Black Raku Tea Bowl by “Rakuen”

A black Raku ceremonial tea bowl displaying an excellent patina bestowed by time. The light colored clay peeks through in areas giving this piece a unique feel.

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A “Koyo” Tenmoku Tea Bowl with Silk Pouch by Touetsu Kiln

Before styles such as Raku, Hagi, Karatsu, etc came into fashion for use in the tearoom in early Edo, it was commonplace in cultured society to use tea-ware imp

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An “Imogashira” Mizusashi by Raku IX (Ryônyû) [1756 - 1834]

Raku-ware carries with it a very naturalistic aura; with its implements made of raw clay, its use of fire water and air to shape and harden these implements, an

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A Rare Tamamizu Tea Bowl by Famed Raku Potter Ichigen (1662 - 1722)

In the world of Japanese ceramics, Tamamizu-ware has an almost mythical standing. A branch of the main Raku line, at one time the two kilns held equal prominenc

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A Raku Tea Bowl by Tamamizu Souske

In the world of Japanese ceramics, Tamamizu-ware has an almost mythical standing. A branch of the main Raku line, at one time the two kilns held equal prominenc

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A Red Raku Tea Bowl w/ Painted Chrysanthemum by Raku Konyu (12)

This iconic tea bowl was crafted by one of the great masters of Japanese pottery and given the poetic name "Dewdrop" by a famous tea master of the Omote-senke s

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