~ Japanese fine art from the ancient city of Kyoto ~

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 - Ōhi Chōzaemon IX (1901-1986)

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)

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 ceremonial tea bow

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

An Edo Period Bizen Tokkuri with Hotei Engraving - Researcher Piece

Crafted from locally sourced Bizen clay, this Edo period vase features an engraving of the jolly gift-giver, Hotei. Said to be based on a historical Chinese Zen

A Rare Meiji Period Celadon Shuhai - Suwa Sozan I (1851-1922)

A rare and unusual offering, here we have an exquisite celadon shuhai with Chinese styled patterning lining the inside of the cup. First generation Sozan gained

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 - Raku Ichinyū IV (1640-1696)

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 a branch kiln kno

A Large Bizen Vase from Mid-Edo with Researcher Certification

Crafted from locally sourced Bizen clay, this mid-Edo period vase embodies simplicity, beauty, and understated elegance. Originally crafted as a tokkuri, or sak

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 kōgō (Incense Caddy) - Suwa Sozan II (1890-1977)

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 Meticulously Repaired Momoyama Period Sake Cup

The perfect vessel for enjoying fine Japanese sake or whatever spirit fits the mood. Over 425 years old, this excavated and wonderfully restored sake cup is one

A Red Tea Bowl with Extraordinary Lacquer Repairs - Raku Ryōnyū IX (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,

A White Raku Tea Bowl - Itō Tōzan I (1846-1920)

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 - Hatano Zenzō (b. 1942)

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 - Kaneshige Sozan (1909-1995)

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 Tokoname Sake Flask - Yamada Jōzan III (1924-2005)

Tokoname pottery has a rich history that dates back over a thousand years. Originating in the town of Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, this pottery traditio

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 Kaihatsu Fumiaki

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

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 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 Large Iga Tsubo - Tsujimura Shirō (b. 1947)

An exceptionally large work by one of the most important contemporary ceramic artists in Japan. Collected widely both here and abroad, a favorite of Daitoku tem

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5-Cup Set - Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)

Rengetsu is a unique and celebrated figure from Japanese 19th century history. Despite her reported great beauty and talent for the arts, she faced many persona

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A Rare Porcelain Tripod Ritual Wine Vessel (Jue) - Miura Chikusen (1854-1915)

Used for ceremonial purposes by the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. Traditionally, the jue vessel was made of bronze with a pouring spout on either end and a pa

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A Celadon Suiteki Water Dropper - Suwa Sozan I (1851-1922)

This peach-shaped suiteki (water dropper for calligraphy) is made of fine kinuta celadon from one of the great masters of the Meiji era—Suwa Sozan. A classic de

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A Master Work - Kawai Kanjirō (1890-1966)

Raised, undulating ridges on a field of cobalt blue highlighted with white slip and bronze flecks around the rim, this piece conjures images of the deep and sto

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Ceramic Jar with Gold Repair - Kondō Yūzō (1902-1985)

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 Large Porcelain Peach Vessel - Suwa Sozan II (1890-1977)

A classic design, the peach is said to represent long-life for mortals and immortality for the gods in Asian folklore. According to legend, the moon goddess—a p

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A “Rose Oribe” Masterpiece - Suzuki Gorō (b. 1941)

One of the finest, most daring, and well-crafted works I have seen by this legendary artist who is known for his non-conformist and bold style. Suzuki Goro has

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A White Shino Masterpiece - Hayashi Shōtarō (b. 1947)

A stunning work of Shino-ware by veteran potter Hayashi Shotaro—winner of numerous awards for his bold and innovative style and widely recognized as one of the

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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 Master Work - Kakurezaki Ryūichi (b. 1950)

An awe-inspiring masterpiece, this tea bowl by Kakurezaki showcases his unparalleled skill and artistic vision. Crafted with meticulous precision, the bowl seam

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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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