Ito Tozan I "Basket and Frog" Ceramic Vessel, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan

A fantastic small Japanese Satsuma vase with image of writhing dragons, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan. The vase of elegant baluster form, with a slightly flared foot, slender body...

An impressive and large Japanese Imari bowl with a golden spotted hare or rabbit, early Meiji Period (1864 to 1912), mid 19th century, Japan The fantastic Imari bowl featuring a c...

This stoneware vase of a jar form was finely decorated with low relief carving and delicate colored glazes depicting bundles of peony flowers. It was made by Ito Tozan I (1846-1920) circa 1890-1900s in the late Meiji Period. The color pallet was both bold and subtle, with dark green and rusty leaves with golden outlines and white and light yellow peony petals covering much of the surface. Impressed with potter's mark on the base. Examples of two pieces by Ito Tozan I were in the collection of MNAAG (Guimet) Paris. Inventory no. MG 13790 an 13792. A vase with similar shape and decoration techniques is featured as Lot 1340 Fine Japanese Art, 13 Sep 2017 Bonhams New York Tozan Ito I established his ceramic business in Kyoto 1867. His studio made both porcelain and stoneware in a style some considered Satsuma while they retained a sophistication of Kyoto ware...

A Japanese long neck porcelain vase circa 1900-1910s by the studio of Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), one of the most established and collected Japanese ceramist from the end of Meiji Period. Commonly known as Makuzu Kozan, which also appears as the signature on his work, his originally birth name was Miyagawa Toranosuke. He was the appointed artist to the Japanese Imperial household and his work was exhibited in many international fairs that the Meiji government participated at the turn of the century. This vase features an elegant Classic form with a slender neck and slightly flared mouth above a baluster body. It was finely painted with two swimming carps in a copper red underglaze among green ribbons like waves. The background display a brilliant verdant green overall, Around the fish a poetic hazy effect was emphasized for a visual complexity by Fuki-e (the blow painting), an invention in Kozan's studio. The new technical development of chemical colors from the west was embraced circa 1900s in Kozan studio. This empowered the more creative experiments with not only colors, but also concept of dimension, which led Makuzu Kozan's work to become a bridge between East and West aesthetics. This is particularly evident in this vase with the Masterly details of the brush strokes, the expertly employment of gradient of color, and a very realistic and detailed rendering of the fish and their vivid motions. For two similar examples of Kozan's work with similar carps decoration, see Page 148-149 of the book: Sekai ni Aisa Reta ya Kimono Miyagawa Kozan Makuzu...