~ Japanese fine art from the ancient city of Kyoto ~

An e-Karatsu Mizusashi by Nakagawa Jinenbo

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 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 Inlaid Clay Vase / Mizusashi by Nishida Shinya

Japanese inlay ceramics (zōgan) are created by making incisions on the surface of a clay body which are then filled with various colored clays, creating a patte

A Modern Bizen Lidded Jar by Yokoyama Naoki

Traditional Japanese art tends to be timeless and inspiring in form, however, occasionally lacking in diversity and innovation. That is why artists who can inco

A Willow Patterned Black Tea Bowl by Banura Shiro

Splashed across a beautifully textured backdrop of shimmering black, the willow leaves painted in silver bring with them a sense of calm and contemplation. Gene

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 “Kase-Guro” Raku Tea Bowl by Higaki Ryota

An excellent offering from Higaki Ryota of Katsura Kiln, this piece displays a classic and iconic shape coupled with a beautiful Kase-guro glaze said to be used

A Shigaraki Tea Bowl by Sugimoto Sadamitsu

Sugimoto Sadamitsu (b. 1935) is one of the most important Shigaraki potters alive today and continues to create master works into his old age. Originally a resi

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

An Exceptional Tenmoku Tea Bowl by Sasaki Zen

With origins stretching back over 1,000 years, Tenmoku pottery is thought to have first found its way to the shores of Japan in the 12th century by monks who br

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

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

A Black Raku Tribute Tea Bowl by Kiraku Kizu

With a masterfully applied black Raku glaze and a noticeable aesthetic of austerity and stillness, this piece is what is refereed to in Japanese as an “utsushi”

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 Kohiki Tea Bowl by Sugimoto Sadamitsu

Kohiki is a traditional Japanese pottery style known for its simple and rustic aesthetic. It involves applying a white slip onto the vessel's surface, followed

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 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 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

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

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

An Antique Celadon Chōshi for Sake with a Beautiful Gold Repair

Chōshi are traditional Japanese sake pourers used in formal and ceremonial contexts, particularly in Shinto rituals and wedding ceremonies. They take the form o

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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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A Poem Inscribed Sake Cup by Buddhist Nun Rengetsu

The poem etched on the side of this exceptional piece reads: In the future — happiness — and long life — two sprouting leaves —to grow a thousand years. Indeed

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A Unique Gold and White Sake Cup by Tomita Hiroyuki

Not to be confused with the Olympic medalist, this Tomita Hiroyuki (b. 1977) is a talented potter pushing the bounds of an otherwise conservative field where ma

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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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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 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

SOLD

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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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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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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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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