~ Japanese fine art from the ancient city of Kyoto ~

An Edo Period Oribe Vase with Stylized Grass Motif

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 Celadon Vase by Inoue Ryosai III

A student of Itaya Hazan, one of the most sought after potters in the world of Japanese art, the ceramicist who crafted this fine vase displays here a high degr

A Mizusashi by Hachizan Takatori XI

Over 400 years ago the first Takatori potter known as “Hachizan” was brought to Japan by the powerful Kuroda clan and was tasked with establishing a kiln in the

A Porcelain Hira Tea Bowl by Miura Chikusen III (Tea Master Item)

Currently in its 5th generation, the Miura Chikusen line of potters has continued to produce high-quality Kiyomizu-yaki and Kyo-yaki porcelains used in sencha f

An Excellent Edo Period Oribe Tea Bowl with Poetic Name 'Toma-bune'

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 17th–18th Century Korean Tea Bowl with Gohon Firing and Notched Foot

Here we see a quietly beautiful Korean tea bowl with a rounded, gently tapering form and a tall, dramatically notched foot. A translucent blue-grey glaze covers

A Classic Black Raku Tea Bowl by Ōhi Chōzaemon IX

An austere masterpiece of functional art — the perfect accompaniment on the journey inward to stillness and contemplation. Crafted by the 9th Ōhi Chōzaimon (190

An Antique Karatsu Amigasa Tea Bowl with Shifuku

Minimalistic, elegant, and exceptionally light in the hand, this antique Karatsu tea bowl displays an impressive milky ash glaze that descends towards the foot,

A Red Raku Tea Bowl by Tamamizu III - Nindosai (d.o.b. unknown -1763)

Price on Request Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku-ware and especially in works produced by the Tamamizu kiln, such as the 275+ year old c

An Edo Period Takatori Kataguchi Bowl with Warabaiyū Glaze

Sometime around the year 1600 the first Takatori kiln was constructed at the foot of Mt Takatori in Fukuoka. This tradition was based on styles created by Korea

A Four Cornered Black Raku “Jidai” Chawan

We have a particular interest in beautiful old Raku tea bowls and spend quite a bit of time searching for exceptional examples to include in our gallery. Here w

A Rare Antique “Tsutsu” Tea Bowl by Raku IV Ichinyū ( 1640-1696 )

Price on Request Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku pottery, especially in pieces made by the original Raku family (16 generations) and by

An Excellent Mino Tea Bowl with Cinnabar Glaze

With pottery shards from excavated kilns dating back to the 5th Century, Mino-ware is one of the oldest and most revered pottery traditions in all of Japan. Tho

A Zeze-yaki Tea Bowl from the Kageroen Kiln [Tea Master Item]

Although reports vary, it is generally thought that Zeze-yaki had its heyday in the late Momoyama to early Edo period under the influence and patronage of legen

A Dragon Kogo (Incense Caddy) by Suwa Sozan II

An often overlooked implement in tea ceremony, here we have the humble kogo (incense box) with an image of a sleek and flowing dragon. Commonly thought to repre

A Raku IX (Ryônyû) Red Tea Bowl with Extraordinary Lacquer Repairs

Price on Request 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 t

A White Raku Tea Bowl by First Generation Ito Tozan

One of the most prominent potters of the Meiji period and one of only five to ever be appointed as Imperial Court Artist, the name Tozan is synonymous with fine

An Excavated Mishima Tea Bowl [Tokugawa Clan]

Appearing to be from a 2006 excavation site in Tokyo known to be a former residence of the Owari Tokugawa clan—the most senior contingent of the Tokugawa clan t

An Excellent Edo Period Korean “Ido” Tea Bowl — Collector Piece

A very interesting chawan (tea bowl) dating from the Korean Joseon period (Richō in Japanese; 1392-1897). This particular piece appears to be from the 17th or 1

A Black Raku Tea Bowl by Ito Tozan

Crafted by one of the most well-known potting families from the Meiji period (Ito Tozan), this black Raku tea bowl displays a glossy sheen and gentle swells rip

An Antique Karatsu Bowl with Exceptional Makie Kintsugi Repairs

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century, Korean potters heavily influenced

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 Black Raku “Kazuin” Tea Bowl by Higaki Soroku

The term “Raku” was once reserved for a style of pottery produced by a specific household in Kyoto that began over 450 years ago. Over the years, as it gained p

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 Ido-shaped Hagi-yaki Tea Bowl by Zenzo Hatano

Simple yet classic styling—this tea bowl is perfect for anyone looking for the quintessential Ido-shaped chawan crafted by one of Japan’s master Hagi potters. B

Black Raku Tsutsu Tea Bowl by Sasaki Shoraku

Tsutsu-shaped chawan have a unique and especially attractive shape. They are used mainly in the depths of winter to keep in the heat, and prevent the tea from c

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

Exceptional Bizen Tea Bowl with Kaiyu Glaze by Sozan Kaneshige

The distinctive and easily recognizable style of Bizen pieces, such as the one featured here, originated in Okayama (south-western Japan) and has a long history

A Hagi Tea Bowl by 7th Generation Kaneta Sanzaemon

Father to internationally known Hagi potter Kaneta Masanao (the 8th generation Sanzaemon potter), though he never achieved the same level of notoriety as his so

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

A Shino Tea Bowl (maker and era unkown)

Occasionally while browsing through the temple markets of Kyoto or perusing backstreets tea-ware shops, an attractive piece will catch my eye for no particular

A Black Raku Tea Bowl by Fumiaki Kaihatsu

A beautiful example of Ohi inspired Raku-ware; the body of this stylish tea vessel is a mix of a dark black gradating to charcoal grey with undertones of reddis

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 Katakuchi Sake Set by Hiramatsu Ryoma

If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a sak

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An Iris Inspired Bizen Tokkuri by Takahiro Ishii

Described on the wood box as a tokkuri (sake flask) with kin-kousai (metallic Iris) glaze, the size and form would allow this piece to function just as well as

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A Set of Painted Tokkuri by Living National Treasure Kondō Yuzō

Yuzo Kondo is one of the more recognized names in the world of modern Japanese pottery of the 20th century. Though known mainly for his sometsuke creations (blu

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A Momoyama Period Bizen “Shimokabura” Tokkuri (Researcher Piece)

During Japan's Momoyama period, spanning from the late 16th to the early 17th century, Bizen pottery flourished, producing exquisite pieces such as this “shimok

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Painted Tokkuri and Cups by Living National Treasure Kondō Yuzō

Kondō Yuzō is one of the more recognized names in the world of modern Japanese pottery of the 20th century. Though known mainly for his sometsuke creations (blu

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A Hagi Tokkuri by Masanao Kaneta VIII

The trademark glaze on this delightful sake flask (tokkuri) is by none other than 8th generation Hagi potter Masanao Kaneta. Close inspection reveals flecks of

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A Set of Modern Sake Cups by Hiramatsu Ryoma

If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a set

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A Black “Prism” Guinomi by Ichikawa Tōru

Scrawled across one face of the hand-crafted wood box housing this exquisite sake cup is the word “Prism,” perfectly encapsulating the inspiration for this angu

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A Set of Sake Cups by Hiramatsu Ryoma

If you are familiar with the work of Hiramatsu Ryoma you know that he creates very unconventional ceramics inspired by forms found in nature. Here we have a set

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An “Ammonite” Guinomi (Sake Cup) by Hiramatsu Ryoma

Reminiscent of a perfectly formed oyster shell or the shell of a hermit crab, this recent creation by young artist Hiramatsu Ryoma demonstrates his creative ima

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An “Ammonite” Kataguchi (Sake Pourer) by Hiramatsu Ryoma

Reminiscent of a perfectly formed oyster shell or the shell of a hermit crab, this recent creation by young artist Hiramatsu Ryoma demonstrates his creative ima

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Bizen Guinomi by Takahiro Ishii

A traditionally crafted Bizen sake cup shaped in the tradition of Oribe. The rich mineral glaze gives this guinomi an almost a metallic look. The craftsman who

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Bizen Guinomi by Takahiro Ishii

A traditionally crafted Bizen sake cup with a rich mineral glaze giving this guinomi a metallic look. The craftsman who made this piece, Takahiro Ishii, was bor

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