Tea Cup, Yunomi, by Tagami Munetoshi of Hinata Kiln, Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture. Bamboo node shape with kaki ("persimmon") & white glazes. H.2.75"(7cm) x Dia.3.875"(9.75cm.) Tagami Munetoshi (b. 1972) is the son of Tagami Isamu and grandson of Sudo Takeo. He is the 5th generation of potters in Mashiko’s Hinatagama (Hinata Kiln) founded during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) by Sudo Yujiro...

A wonderful Sake Flask by Wakao Kei enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seij Tokkuri. A darkly crackled rich blue-gray like a block of shattered ice covers the surface with a spot of lavender color Yohen kiln effects. The form floats lightly over the dark clay of the perfectly formed kodai base.
Size, D 9.1 cm H 14.4 cm
Condition, Excellent
Wakao Kei was born in Gifu in 1967 ,the first son of the legendary artist Wakao Toshisada ...

Spectacular Hi-iro defines this sake set by Konishi Toko II enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Various shades of color scorch the undecorated flame licked raw earth. A pleasure to drink from in every aspect, every cup offering a new facet. The tokkuri is 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) tall, cups 2-1/4 inches (6 cm) diameter and all is in perfect condition. Toko, of course, learned from his father Toko I (1899-1954) and was succeeded by his own son Toko III.

White porcelain cups ideal for sipping sake or whiskey, by Hanako Nakazato of Union, Maine and Karatsu, Japan. H. 2.25"(5.75cm) x Dia. 1.75"(4.5cm.) Hanako Nakazato is a 14th generation potter from Japan. The Nakazato family is a well-known pottery family in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, with the 12th generation Nakazato Taroemon being designated a National Living Treasure for Karatsu ceramics. Hanako moved to the US at age 16 to pursue her education...

Guinomi covered in rivulets of flowing ash in the front and the backside with a pale brown color. the Tokkuri, shows a flash of light strikes out on the front and the neck. Like staring at the burning wick of a candle it makes all around it seem dark. This wonderful sake set was created by Isezaki Koichiro and comes enclosed in their original signed wooden boxes titled Kuro Tokkuri and Guinomi respectively...

This young guy’s stuff is very chic; a sake set by Kato Yoshiyasu in purest white and darkest black, everything a dialog between shadow and form. Here the artist has used a combination of his repertoire. The cup is pure white dipped into black, the black then chiseled away in divots creating a beautiful pattern for the eyes and texture for fingers. The Ozabu (Pillow shaped Daiza saucer) is a flattened ball, dimpled to receive the cup, then pierced with various sized holes...

Large take-gata, bamboo form teabowl with impressed decoration under a temmoku and tetsu-yu glaze.

A video of throwing a similar teabowl can be seen on my pottery blog, please check my links page.

Stoneware and glazes

6" X 4.25"

Functional, decorative and food safe

An artist whose bold creations work well in a Western setting, here is a seminal piece decorated with huge white peony blossoms by Miyake Yoji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nuki-e Kinsai Botan Mon Henko. Here the artist has set the luscious white flowers and leaves outlined in gold on a ground of rusty yellow, an intriguing combination. It is 27 x 15 x 34 cm (10-1/2 x 6 x 13-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition...

Thick white glaze and lavender clouds on the surface of this cool and elegant White Hagi chawan by important artist Kaneta Masanao enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hagi Kurinuki Chawan. Up from the base drive three fingers , the blanks left by the artists fingers when he dipped the bowl in glaze. The style is Kurinuki, not formed on a wheel but cut and worked from a block of clay, an approach the artist is famous for...

Looking something akin to dragon skin with gilded beads glistening between the scales, this recent creation by young artist Hiramatsu Ryoma demonstrates his creative imagination and challenges the traditional boundaries of what defines a guinomi (Saké cup)...

Large Karatsu influenced kutsu-gata style chawan with hakeme slip decoration under haiyu and temmoku glazes

Stoneware, slip and glazes

6" X 4.75" X 4.25"

Functional, decorative and food safe

Shjades of lavender dust the thick coating of white glaze which covers the rugged form of this spectacular Sake set by Kaneta Masanao enclosed in the original signed wooden boxes titled Hagi Kurinuki Tokkuri and Guinomi respectively. The style is Kurinuki, not formed on a wheel but cut and worked from a block of clay, an approach the artist is famous for...

Shadows of flame exhume the granular qualities of the clay on this superb tea bowl by Mihara Ken enclosed in the original signed wooden box understatedly titled simply Wan. The unassuming form is simple and refined, a perfect compliment to the austere recesses of the tea room aesthetic.

Size, D 13.1 cm H 8.8 cm
Condition, Excellent
Mihara Ken was born in Shimane prefecture in 1958, and apprenticed under Funaki Kenji at the age of 23...

A sake serving vessel by Yamada Kazu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kaku-yu Oribe Shuchu. It is 18.5 cm tall and in excellent condition.
Yamada Kazu was born in Tokoname city in 1954, one of Japans ancient kiln areas, into a line of potters...

The Mino region of Japan has been renowned for centuries for producing high-quality Shino, Oribe, Seto-guro, along with the style shown here, ki-Seto, or “yellow” Seto. The creator, Hori Ichiro, is one of the most acclaimed among Mino potters, tirelessly producing splendid works while continuing to use traditional methods passed down from other great potters before him. The lush yellow glaze seen here is applied thickly, pooling beautifully around the unglazed foot of the bowl—proudly high...

A modernist form in white decorated with a simple zen circle by Yoshikawa Masamichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Utsuwa (vessel) and dating circa 1985. The minimalist approach is a feature of this artists work, and accentuates the aesthetic Mono-no-aware (p an awareness of impermanence)and the circle on front seems to remind us “keep it simple”. It is 11 x 16 x 18 cm (4-1/4 x 6-1/2 x 7 inches) and in excellent condition.
Yoshikawa Masamichi was born in Ka...

Lustrous and richly glazed chawan by Raku specialist, Sasaki Shoraku, this is not your typical chawan. Created and inspired by Honami Koetsu's Kamiya chawan, this large, broad, high quality utsushi chawan has a deep black surface with areas of rusty red sprinkled on the interior and exterior of the bowl creating a wonderful landscape which is as pleasant to look at as it is to hold. This chawan measures 13.5 x 8.5cm and is in perfect condition in its original signed wood box.

Another super examples of the shell form sake cups by Goto Hideki enclosed in the original signed wooden boxes.
Size, Ki-seto D 7.7 cm H 8.7 cm
Size, Shino D 8.6 cm H 6.5 cm
Condition, New
Goto was born in 1973 in Miyazaki in Kyushu and graduated from the Tajimi Technical High School. He has exhibited at many of Japans top galleries as well in the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Work by him is held in the Phoenix Art Museum, Ibaraki Ceramic Art Mus...