Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

Shiko Shikou Munakata Rare Signed Japanese Pottery Chawan Tea Bowl Signed Box

About the Item

An exceptionally rare, wonderfully designed Chawan tea bowl by famed Japanese master woodblock printmaker/ artist Shiko Munakata (1903-1975) who is widely considered to be the most important Japanese visual artist of the 20th century and the Pablo Picasso of Japan. This hand-painted work clearly illustrates Munakata's whimsical side as it is of a Koma - a child's spinning top toy. Very few examples of Munakata's work in ceramics exist still today. The work is signed by Munakata on the base as well as the original wood protective storage box (his seal can also be seen faintly in the lower-left corner). The bowl has a small kintsugi or "golden joinery" repair - the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold - on the inside. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. Munakata who is often compared to Picasso was primarily associated with and a principal figure in both the Sosaku-Hanga (which stressed the artist as the sole creator ) and the Mingei (folk art) movements. His many accolades and awards include the "Prize of Excellence" at the Second International Print Exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland in 1952, and first prize at the São Paulo Bienal Exhibition in Brazil in 1955, followed by the Grand Prix Award at the Venice Biennale in 1956, and the Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor in the arts by the Japanese government in 1970. In 1960 after returning from a year abroad exhibiting his work in the United States, the Horinji Temple in Kyoto bestowed upon him the honorary rank of “Hokkyo”. In 1962, he received the rank of “Hogan” from Nisseki Temple in Toyama prefecture. He also received a Medal of Honor in 1963 and the Asahi Shimbun culture prize in 1965. Munakata's work can be found in numerous international collections and museums including: The Britsih Museum, UK The Chicago Art Institute Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), NY The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), NY The Philadelphia Museum of Art The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), Washington DC Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis And his own museum The Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art located in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Clearly, the bowl would be a great addition to any collectors of Shiko Munakat'a work or Japanese/ Asian ceramics/ pottery collection. Dimensions: 2.8" high, 4.5" wide, 4.5" deep Box: 4.5" high, 5.75" wide, 5.75" deep.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 2.8 in (7.12 cm)Width: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Depth: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)
  • Style:
    Showa (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1950s-1960s
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Only the minor previously mentioned small kintsugi gold lacquer repair on the inside (please see photos). Very acceptable within Japanese art culture. Else pristine. The bowl is in very good vintage condition with the small kintsugi gold repair else no discernable flaws, cracks, chips etc.. Box has light, natural wear consistent with age and use (please see photos). A truly beautiful and special work overall.
  • Seller Location:
    Studio City, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2254328592312
More From This SellerView All
  • Sasaki Shoraku III Signed Japanese Raku Pottery Chawan Tea Bowl with Signed Box
    Located in Studio City, CA
    A wonderful Raku-fired pottery Chawan tea bowl by a renowned Japanese pottery master and one of Kyoto’s most prominent and best-known Raku-yaki potters Sasaki Shoraku III (1944- ). The work features a beautifully contoured body and dark rich glaze. The Shoraku line began when the grandfather of the current potter established a kiln near the famous Kiyomizu Temple, nestled at the foot of the eastern mountains...
    Category

    20th Century Japanese Showa Ceramics

    Materials

    Pottery

  • Sasaki Shoraku III Signed Japanese Raku Pottery Chawan Tea Bowl with Signed Box
    Located in Studio City, CA
    A wonderful Raku-fired pottery Chawan tea bowl by a renowned Japanese pottery master and one of Kyoto’s most prominent and best-known Raku-yaki potters Sasaki Shoraku III (1944- ). The work features a beautiful image of Mount Fuji which is molded on the body. The Shoraku line began when the grandfather of the current potter established a kiln near the famous Kiyomizu Temple, nestled at the foot of the eastern mountains...
    Category

    20th Century Japanese Showa Ceramics

    Materials

    Pottery

  • Rakusai Takahashi III Signed Japanese Shigaraki Pottery Chawan Tea Bowl with Box
    By Takahashi Rakusai III
    Located in Studio City, CA
    A stunning Shigaraki ware pottery chawan tea bowl by famed Japanese master potter the 3rd Rakusai Takahashi. The bowl features a beautiful, unique natural organic ash glaze with wond...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Ceramics

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Rakusai Takahashi III Signed Japanese Shigaraki Pottery Chawan Tea Bowl with Box
    By Takahashi Rakusai III
    Located in Studio City, CA
    A stunning Shigaraki ware pottery chawan tea bowl by famed Japanese master potter the 3rd Rakusai Takahashi. The bowl features a beautiful, unique natural organic ash glaze with wonderful shifts in colour and texture. Rakusai Takahashi III (1898-1976) is universally considered one of the most important Japanese potters of the 20th century. In 1964 he was named a human cultural treasure and bestowed a Shiga Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property. His work can be found in numerous collections and international museums including the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, and the Brooklyn Museum to name a couple. Shigaraki Ware pottery comes from Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The kiln there is one of six ancient kilns in Japan (along with Echizen ware, Seto ware, Bizen ware, Tamba ware...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Ceramics

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Kaneshige Toyo National Treasure Signed Japanese Bizen Pottery Chawan Tea Bowl
    Located in Studio City, CA
    A beautiful, perfectly shaped antique Bizen ware Chawan tea bowl by renowned Japanese master potter/artist Kaneshige Toyo (1896-1967) featuring a unique natural, organic forming ash glaze. Kaneshige is universally considered to be the founder of modern Bizen pottery. In 1956, Kaneshige was certified as a Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Heritage) for his work in Bizen Ware pottery/ceramics. Bizen Ware is a type of Japanese pottery traditionally from the Bizen province, presently a part of the Okayama prefecture. It is considered one of the Six Ancient Japanese Kilns (along with Echizen ware, Seto ware, Shigaraki ware, Tamba ware, and Tokoname ware). The piece is signed/ sealed on the base with one of Kaneshige's traditional incised marks. A rather engaging and scarce work. Would be a fantastic addition to any Japanese/Asian pottery or Bizen Ware collection or eye-catching stand-alone work in about any setting. Kaneshige's work can be found in numerous prominent collections and museums including: Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Seto, Japan Brooklyn Museum, NY Hagi Uragami Museum, Yamaguchi, Japan Honolulu Art Museum, HI Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Kasama, Japan Indiana Art...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Ceramics

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Shiko Shikou Munakata Signed Japanese Woodblock Buddha Bodhisattva Print
    By Shikou Munakata
    Located in Studio City, CA
    A wonderful Mingei woodblock print featuring the Buddha or Bodhisattva by famed Japanese master Showa era printer/ artist Shiko Munakata who is regarded by many as one of the most si...
    Category

    20th Century Japanese Showa Prints

    Materials

    Paper

You May Also Like
  • Korean Gohon Chawan Tea Bowl for Japanese Market Joseon Dynasty
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    A ceramic chawan (tea bowl) circa 17-18th century fired in the Busan kiln in Korean specifically for the Japanese market. The kilns were run by the So c...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Ceramics

    Materials

    Ceramic

  • Vintage Japanese Oribe Ware Tea Bowl, Chawan, by Matsumoto Tetsuzan
    Located in Austin, TX
    A charming vintage Japanese oribe glazed chawan by Matsumoto Tetsuzan (b. 1955), Seto, Japan. The tea bowl, called a chawan, wonderfully potted with...
    Category

    Early 2000s Japanese Edo Ceramics

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Korean Ceramic Kakinoheta Chawan Tea Bowl
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    A "Kakinoheta" type ceramic chawan (tea bowl) made in Korean during Joseon dynasty circa 16th-17th century. The bowl has a slight irregular flat shape w...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century Korean Other Ceramics

    Materials

    Ceramic

  • Korean Ceramic Irabo Tea Bowl Chawan Joseon Dynasty
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    A ceramic chawan tea bowl made in Korea for Japanese market circa 17th century. The chawan is identified as Irabo type. Irabo bowls were essentially con...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century Korean Other Ceramics

    Materials

    Ceramic

  • Antique Korean Mishma Tea Bowl Chawan Joseon Dynasty
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    A Korean Hori-Mishima Chawan (tea bowl) circa 16th-17th century (Joseon Dynasty). The tea bowl is of an upright conical form supported by a high foot ring. It was decorated with incised brushwood fence patterns filled with white slip on both the interior and exterior surface. These dominant motifs were spaced by three encircling double lines. Seven chrysanthemum flowers (inka) were stamped on the lower interior surrounding a swirling tea well on the bottom. There are six spur marks known as Meato in Japanese on the interior bottom and a pointy spot in the center of the foot ring known as Tokin. Two crack lines were historically repaired by superb Kintsugi, adding a mysterious wabi-sabi appeal to the piece. The Hori-Mishima bowl was also known as Gohon Mishima. It was made in Bushan Kilns of the Southern Gyeongsang Province specifically for the Japanese market in the 16th-17th century, when the tea ceremonies in Japan demanded such ware. The bowl comes with a purple fabric pouch...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century Korean Other Ceramics

    Materials

    Ceramic

  • Korean Ceramic Ido Tea Bowl Chawan Joseon Dynasty
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    A ceramic stoneware chawan tea bowl made in Korea circa 16-17th century. The chawan is identified as Ko-ido (small ido) due to its size and form. Ido bowls were made since 15th centu...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century Korean Other Ceramics

    Materials

    Ceramic

Recently Viewed

View All