Japanese Ko-Bizen Water Jar ‘Mizusashi’ Named “Matsugane”, 16th Century

What is immediately striking about the work of Yabe is his keen and natural sense of line. The artist, in fact, takes great care in first drawing an image of the work, and after hand-building the basic form a blend of Bizen mountain and rice-paddy clays, the work is carved with a knife into the form he had envisioned. After carving, the work is first bisque-fired and then its main-firing is executed in a small wood kiln for 3 days at a temperature reaching 1180 degrees. The resulting futuristic forms of Yabe’s stoneware present fresh new possibilities for Japanese Bizen clay in the 21st century. Shunichi Yabe...

Dish with karatuuri (melon) design Late 17th-early 18th century Porcelain decorated with cobalt blu underglaze and red fruits Diameter 15.2 cm Nabeshima ware was made at Okawachi near Arita in Kyushu under the authority of the Nabeshima clan. The feudal lords of Nabeshima were so proud of their technological skill, that throughout the Edo period (1615-1867) they gave porcelain (and swords) as presents to the lords of other provinces. Most of Nabeshima porcelain...

A ceramic tea bowl decorated with autumn grasses with signed and sealed tomobako. Painter and designer, Kamisaka Sekka (Japan, 1866-1942) has been one ...

Antique Negoro lacquer wares were produced at the Negoro-ji temple complex in Izumi Province. The red layers of lacquer on Negoro wares are intended to ...

The Amitabha (Amida in Japanese) Buddha is shown standing with his hands forming the Amida raigo-in mudra. The face has a serene expression, with closed eyes under delicately arched brows and a severe face. The hair is arranged in rows of coils that also cover the "ushnisha", the protuberance on the head. The drapery is folded in elegant pleats falling from the shoulders to the feet. The antique sculpture is placed on a lotus flower which is located on a richly decorated base. Faith in Amida Buddha remained largely confined to a small segment of the Japanese population until the Kamakura Era (1185-1333) when it was popularized by new Pure Land sects committed to bringing Buddhism to the illiterate commoner. These sects expressed concern for the salvation of the ordinary person and stressed pure and simple faith over complicated rites and doctrines. Amida Nyorai...

Wooden basin with ear-shaped handles decorated with hiramaki-e lacquer and gold and silver kirigane on a nashi-ji ground. The large and thick antique woo...

This is a very old interesting provincial Chinese stoneware Celadon Jar, probably Longquan, with fluted or ribbed decoration, which we date to the Ming Dynasty, between the 14th and 16th Centuries. The Jar has an interesting circular baluster shape with an open everted rim and low foot. It has been decorated with moulded vertical flutes or ribs to its lower half. The base is concave and fairly deep. The Jar has a mossy-olive green colour having a celadon glaze which runs from the base to the upper rim as it would have been glazed upside down, with some glaze around the top section of the inner rim. Unglazed parts fire to a terracotta brown colour at the rim, lower body and the foot rim. The piece is unmarked but for similar pieces see the superb book: Chinese Ceramics by He Li published by Thames & Hudson, 1996; pages 164 to 184. NOTES Longquan is a city in South west China. These wares were produced over a long time period from 959 to 1550; which covers the Northern Song...

A rare yellow ground Japanese ceramic charger 15.5 inches in diameter. Decorated on a yellow base with a bird, foliage and blossom in shades of yellow, blue, brown and green. S...

On offer is a rare Ko-seto (old seto) stoneware ewer from Kamakura period (12-14th century) Japan. The exceptionally heavily potted ewer is made of stoneware. The main body was likely hand-coiled with individually built handle, sprout and wheel-made neck and mouth assembled. It takes the basic form from the contemporary Chinese ewer...

A gorgeous 19th-century Japanese Imari porcelain charger with a hand painted floral design in the traditional Imari colors. This fine large plate has...

Vintage pair of Arts & Crafts / Aesthetic style transfer decorated chargers - hand painted highlights - large size - signed - Japan - mid 20th century. Excellent vintage condition...

Set of three Japanese Imari Graduated porcelain bowls, 19th century. Sizes are 7.25" x 2.5" - 8.25" x 3" - 9.5" x 3.5".