Japan hares matcha bowl

Small round hare in bronze with dark brown patina, standing on its four legs. In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are referred to by a single word: usagi. The animal is one of the t...

Round hare in bronze with a dark brown patina, standing on two legs. In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are referred to by a single word: usagi. The animal is one of the twelve an...

Perfume fountain in porcelain Imari kinrandé mounted in gilt bronze from the same set of porcelain. The cup and the bowl form the base, the pot covers the perfume container...

Japanese bronze representing two mice, one of them pulling a treasure bag. The mouse or the rat (both called nezumi in Japanese), one of the zodiac signs, is a symbol of fortune. T...

Quadrangular kobako box decorated with flowers in gold and blue lacquer with aogai inlay. Lid and sides in fundame lacquer, underside and interio...

Okimono sculpture of a bronze turtle, tail retractable. In Japan, the turtle (kame) is a symbol of longevity and an auspicious animal. It is believed to bring ten thousand years of h...

Exquisite contemporary Japanese porcelain matcha tea bowl, a unique piece platinum-gilded on the inside and hand painted in vivid pink and green on the outside set...

The matcha bowl from SoShiro’s Ainu collection, a collaboration between award-winning artist Toru Kaizawa and Shiro Muchiri, is the perfect ceramic tea war...

Satsuma ceramic lobed bowl with curved corners and embellished with a refined scene of daily life along a watercourse on the outside. The interior is adorne...

A rare ceramic bowl with over glaze painted decoration by Japanese imperial potter Makuzu Kozan ((1842–1916). Unlike the better known works Kozan made for the expositions in the west and export to the foreign market, this piece exemplifies his work for the domestic market and the tea ceremony. The bowl was made in the so called "Utusushi" Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), an celebrated Edo painter and ceramicist. Utusushi is loosely translated as "in the spirit of". It is not at all a simple imitation of a master, but a Japanese concept of embracing the spiritual essence of a master while the creator is free to mix in his or her own unique artistic interpretation and flavor. The bowl was made to hold fruits during the tea ceremony. It has a very distinguished form with a circular lower body morphing into a square upper portion that further opening with flared rim. The surface has a grey glaze onto which Asagao flowers (Japanese morning glory) on the vines were painted in a free and poetic style. White was used for the petals, green for the leaves with touches of gold highlight. Asagao, the symbol of the summer was rendered in the spirit of Ogata Kenzan, and interestingly the shape of the blossom echoes the unique form the bowl. It was likely reserved for the tea ceremony during the summer months. Under the base, Kozan was signed in black on an white porcelain plaque inlay. For two similar examples of Kozan's work Utusushi Kenzan, see Page 168-169 of the book: Sekai ni Aisa Reta ya Kimono Miyagawa Kozan Makuzu...

Japanese contemporary porcelain tea cup/matcha cup, hand painted in blue underglaze in stunning shades of blue and gray on an elegantly shaped ovoid porcelain body, a signed piece by highly acclaimed master porcelain artist in the Imari-Arita tradition. In 2016, the British Museum added a work by this artist to its collection of contemporary Japanese porcelain, a large lidded jar in the Imari-Arita polychrome enamel tradition. This artist is the recipient of numerous awards for his exceptional porcelain work and his unique signature gold and platinum work on porcelain. His profile is available upon request. This stunning porcelain Japanese matcha tea cup depicts elegant gold fish in soft shades of blue, decorated with gold swimming all around the body of the vase, the intricate wave pattern indicates that the fish are swimming in the ocean. Two bands of exquisite floral patterns decorate the top of the vase all the way to the rim, to add another layer of interest to this piece. “Fired-on gold,” this artist’s signature style, highlights unique techniques for incorporating gold and platinum into the hand painting and multiple firing processes that yield a stunningly opulent look. The polychrome overglaze is fired at 800 degrees, followed by the application of gold and platinum that are fired at slightly lower temperature to maintain the luster of the precious metals. As a result, a single piece may undergo as many as 5-10 firings. This artist's profile is available upon request. This hand-painted porcelain Japanese tea cup...

Hand decorated Japanese Meiji period porcelain bowl. The interior hand painted scene depicts three birds sitting on the limb of a tree. The reverse is hand painted with underglaze bl...