~ Japanese fine art from the ancient city of Kyoto ~

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

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

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 Rare Meiji Period Celadon Shuhai by First Generation Suwa Sozan

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 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 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

A Tokkuri with Enso by Tsujimura Yui

With an uncanny ability to emulate features of the natural environment, the creator of this sake vessel,Tsujimura Yui, is one of Japan’s most skilled potters wo

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

Stylized Sake Flask by Renown Potter Suzuki Goro (b. 1941)

Known for his non-conformist and bold style, Suzuki Goro has outdone himself with this stylized Oribe sake flask (tokkuri). Oribe is a visual style named after

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 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

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

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 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

Tokkuri with Enso by Living National Treasure Kato Kozo (b. 1935)

This depiction of the eternal “ensō” on a backdrop of pearly white feldspar over red clay signifies enlightenment, the eternal, the nothingness, and the freedom

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

Decorative Jar with Gold Repairs by Living National Treasure Yuzo Kondo

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 Master Work by Celebrated Studio Potter Kawai Kanjiro

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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5-Cup Set by Ōtagaki Rengetsu

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 Large Iga Tsubo by Master Ceramicist Tsujimura Shiro

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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A Rare Porcelain Tripod Ritual Wine Vessel (Jue) by Miura Chikusen

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 by Imperial Court Artist Suwa Sozan

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 Shigaraki Anagama-fired Tsubo by Michio Furutani

Fired for days at over 1,400C degrees, this primordial-looking wonder of ancient potting technology displays a number of beautiful natural effects from the inte

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A Shino Masterpiece by Living National Treasure Kato Kozo

This depiction of the eternal “ensō” on a backdrop of pearly white feldspar signifies enlightenment, the eternal, the nothingness, and the freedom of the mind t

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A Celadon Peach Kogo by Imperial Court Artist Suwa Sozan

This peach-shaped kogo (incense box) is made of fine kinuta celadon from one of the great masters of the Meiji era—Suwa Sozan. A classic design, the peach is sa

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A Large Porcelain Peach Vessel by Suwa Sozan II

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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