Catalog (775)

The inside of this bowl has been glazed, the exterior left in raw clay before the entire was dipped in white gold, creating a stark contrast between inner and outer surfaces by Ogawa Machiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hakukinsai Hachi. It is 14.5cm (just under 6 inches) wide 8cm (3-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Ogawa Machiko was born in Sapporo on the Northern Island of Hokkaido in 1946. She studied under future Living National Treasures Fujimoto Yoshimichi, Tamura Koichi and Kato Hajime at the Tokyo University of Arts, graduating in 1969, then went on to further studies in France and Africa, returning to Japan in 1975. She began garnering attention in the mid eighties, and has since become one of the leading female figures in Japanese pottery. She was awarded the JCS prize in 2001, one of Japans most prestigious awards. Work by her is held in the Brooklyn Art Museum, LACMA, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smith College, MIA, MOMAT and a host of others. For more see “Touch Fire, Contemporary Ceramics by Women Artists” (2009) or Toh, volume 67 (1993). For more information see the current exhibition Radical Clay at the Chicago Art Institute.

Invisible from the top, glimmering stones catch the light in the raw cracked clay on the outside of this dark earthen bowl by Ogawa Machiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yami to Sei (Darkness and Stars) Chawan. A beautiful bowl showing the artists fascination with the combination of smooth crystalline surfaces and raw matte clay. The interior is glazed, while the outside is raw clay. It is roughly 15.3 cm (6 inches) diameter, 8 cm (3-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Ogawa Machiko was born in Sapporo on the Northern Island of Hokkaido in 1946. She studied under future Living National Treasures Fujimoto Yoshimichi, Tamura Koichi and Kato Hajime at the Tokyo University of Arts, graduating in 1969, then went on to further studies in France and Africa, returning to Japan in 1975. She began garnering attention in the mid eighties, and has since become one of the leading female figures in Japanese pottery. She was awarded the JCS prize in 2001, one of Japans most prestigious awards. Work by her is held in the Brooklyn Art Museum, LACMA, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smith College, MIA, MOMAT and a host of others. For more see “Touch Fire, Contemporary Ceramics by Women Artists” (2009) or Toh, volume 67 (1993). For more information see the current exhibition Radical Clay at the Chicago Art Institute.

A large Tsubo with ruptured rim burnt to a mellow orange with a dusting of natural ash glaze on the shoulder by important Shigaraki artist Sawa Kiyotsugu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Tsuboi. Comb marks sweep the surface like rake marks in a Zen garden, a meandering trail scored into the side like a mountain path. Slightly misshapen, it is roughly 30 x 31 x 33 cm (12-1/4 x 12 x 13 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Sawa Kiyotsugu (b. 1948), originally of Shigaraki, spent two years at the Kyoto Ceramics Research institute before a five year apprenticeship under Takahashi Shunsai back in his hometown of Shigaraki. He has been a staunch supporter of the modern revival and development of Shigaraki yaki, his works sold through a network of private exhibitions. Work by him is held in the British museum

A beautiful small Guinomi by Matsuo Takaaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu Yohen Hai. It is 7 cm 2-3/4 inches) diameter, 5 cm (2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Matsuo Takaaki was born in Yokohama in 1938. He began studies under Tsuji Seimei at Renkoji in 1960 where he trained for over 15 years. He became independent in 1975 and built a climbing kiln in Tama. Since he has been exhibited with the Issuikai but mainly focuses on the intimacy of private exhibitions.

A beautiful Shigaraki Chaire Tea urn by Matsuo Takaaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box measuring 5.5 cm (2 inches) diameter, 8 cm (3 inches) tall in excellent condition. Matsuo Takaaki was born in Yokohama in 1938. He began studies under Tsuji Seimei at Renkoji in 1960 where he trained for over 15 years. He became independent in 1975 and built a climbing kiln in Tama. Since he has been exhibited with the Issuikai but mainly focuses on the intimacy of private exhibitions.

A fabulous Kutsugata Chawan by Matsuo Takaaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigarai Shizen-yu Yohen Chawan. Rising from a round base to an elongated rim, it has been blasted by the inferno on one side, the molten ash circling about to form a Zen circle where it had been supported on its side in the kiln. At the narrowest part of the rim it has adhered to something else in the kiln, causing a break which has been filled with gold by the artist. In addition gold completes the Zen circle on the side, and glimmers like morning dew on the foot. A true masterpiece by this veteran artist. It is 14.5 x10.5 cm (5-1/2 x 4-1/8 inches) at the rim, 8.5cm(3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Matsuo Takaaki was born in Yokohama in 1938. He began studies under Tsuji Seimei at Renkoji in 1960 where he trained for over 15 years. He became independent in 1975 and built a climbing kiln in Tama. Since he has been exhibited with the Issuikai but mainly focuses on the intimacy of private exhibitions.

A surprisingly thin-walled deep Sake cup covered in blasted ash by Matsuo Takaaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Shizen-yu Youhen Nozoki Hai. It is 5.5cm (2 inches) diameter 7cm (just under 3 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Matsuo Takaaki was born in Yokohama in 1938. He began studies under Tsuji Seimei at Renkoji in 1960 where he trained for over 15 years. He became independent in 1975 and built a climbing kiln in Tama. Since he has been exhibited with the Issuikai but mainly focuses on the intimacy of private exhibitions.

A glowering charred dark sake cup by Matsuo Takaaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Shizen-yu Youhen Nozoki Hai. It is 6cm (just over 2 inches) diameter, 7.5cm (3 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Matsuo Takaaki was born in Yokohama in 1938. He began studies under Tsuji Seimei at Renkoji in 1960 where he trained for over 15 years. He became independent in 1975 and built a climbing kiln in Tama. Since he has been exhibited with the Issuikai but mainly focuses on the intimacy of private exhibitions.

A perfect example of the more refined side of Iga pottery by is represented by this large chawan by Tanimoto Yo enclosed in the original singed wooden box titled Iga Chawan. It is 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter, 8.5 cm (3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Born in 1958 the son of Iga potter Tanimoto Kosei, Yo was raised among the kilns and has always had his hands in clay. He first began exhibiting in 1982, and in 1984 moved to Europe where he studied oil painting and sculpture (in Spain), and set up a pottery studio outside Paris. After returning to Japan he set up his own studio in 1988, working both in Japan and Spain. Since his works have been exhibited widely, both domestically and abroad in New York, London, Barcelona and Paris.

A striking Tenmoku Vase by maser of the genre Kamada Koji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ginsho Tenmoku Hyo-gata Kabin. It is 15cm (6 inches) diameter, 31cm (12 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Kamada Koji (sometimes written Kamata) was born in Kyoto in 1948, and apprenticed under Shimizu Tadashi from the age of 19. In 1971 he graduated from the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Research facility and began teaching there while beginning his research into Tenmoku ware. The following year he was accepted into the Nihon Dento Kogeiten Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and in 1975 the bi-annual Japan Ceramics Exhibition (Nihon Togeiten). In 1977 he quit teaching in order to devote his full talents to exploring the possibilities of his medium. In 1988 he would enter under the wing of Living National Treasure Shimizu uichi, undeniably one of the leading experts in the field at that time. Since his work has ben exhibited widely both domestically and in Europe and the Americas. He is held in the collection of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and Philadelphia Museum among others. For more see Japanese Ceramics for the Twenty-first Century, (Walters Art Museum, 2014) or Into the Fold: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection (Nagakura, 2015).

A beautiful vessel by Kitamura Junko exhibiting the best of her handiwork. It is 16 cm (6-1/4 inches) diameter, 13.5 cm (5-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. There is no box.
Kitamura Junko learned under the tutelage of Suzuki Osamu and Kondo Yutaka of the influential Sodeisha. Like Mashiko artist Shimaoka Tatsuzo, her work is influenced by Jomon pottery, however her approach is very different. After impressing patterns into the clay with bamboo and firing once with a dark slip, the impressions are painstakingly filled with white slip, defining the pattern, and fired again. Works by the artist are held in many public collections, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Houston Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum of Art among many others.

The cloth textured surface seems to glow warm like the promise of warm days to come, cherries blossoming wide on this sake set by Ito Motohiko enclosed in the original signed wooden boxes. The Guinomi is 7.5cm (3 inches) diameter 3.5cm (1-1/2 inches) tall. The Tokkuri is 9.5cm (just less than 4 inches) diameter, 14.5cm (just less than 6 inches) tall and both are in excellent condition.
Ito Motohiko is a famous Kasama potter, best known for his nunome pattern and exceptional designs. Motohiko was born in Fukuoka prefecture, 1939, and graduated the Tokyo University of Art in 1964, then moved on to advanced courses there, finishing in 1966. While at University he studied under Kato Hajime and Fujimoto Yoshimichi. It was in 1967 his first piece was accepted into the 6th Modern National Crafts Exhibition, and the next year would be spent working under to-be-Living National Treasure Matsui Kosei. His list of prizes and exhibitions is much too long to reproduce, but since 1967, he has Exhibited with the Nihon Dento Kogeiten, Nihon Dento Kogei Shinsaku Ten, Dento Kogei Musashino Ten, Tanabe Museum Modern Tea Forms Exhibition, been the subject of an NHK Television documentary, and participated in a ridiculous number of private exhibits at many of Japans top venues, and has been purchased by the Heisei Emperor in person as well as receiving the Shijuho-sho prize from his majesty.

A playful Oribe style basin for Bonsai trees by Sugitani Keizo refecting the shapes of his Silent Shadows Series in the design. It is 19 x 19 x 6.5 cm (just less than 8 inches square) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist. A signed wooden box will be ordered from Keizo upon sale.
Sugitani Keizo was born in Osaka in 1959. In 1982 he graduated the Ceramic Art Institute of the Tekisui Museum of Art. He has selected for a number of group exhibitions including the International Ceramics Competition Mino and the Asahi Art exhibition, where he has been awarded. He has been exhibited at some of Japns top galleries as well as London, Art Miami, Maastricht, New York, Taipei and Shanghai among others.

A pair of eight sided Shino Yunomi Cups by Suzuki Osamu (Kura) enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shino Yunomi. Each is decorated with triangles about the skirt, in red on white and in white on red. A striking combination, they are 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall, roughly the same diameter, and in excellent condition. A major retrospective will be held on the artist in Japan.
Suzuki Osamu was born in Gifu prefecture in 1934, and graduated the Tajimi Technical School ceramics division in 1953. (not to be confused with avant garde potter Suzuki Osamu of Kyoto Sodeisha fame) That same year he was awarded at the 6th Dento Kogeiten Traditional Crafts Exhibition. One of the great researchers, he spent many years excavating old kiln sites in an effort to re-invent Shino ware. In 1962 he was exhibited in Prague. And the next year took a prize at the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition. Very much lauded at this time, it culminated in 1969 when he received the JCS Gold award (Japan Ceramic Society), one of the highest honors for a Japanese potter. He would receive the JCS award again in 1982, and by that point be nurturing or inspiring a number of young potters aspiring to the forgotten ways of Shino ware. He was named a Living National Treasure in 1994 for his life-work. Work by him is held in a multitude of public collections throughout the world. For more see “Japanese Studio Crafts, Tradition and the Avant-Garde” (1995) by R. Faulkner.

9 faceted sides rise up to the circular rim forming this deep bowl enveloping a jade pool by Yoshikawa Masamichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Wan. The sides have been slabbed away forming 9 facets on 9 facets, resting on a seven sided foot. Defining each flattened surface are blue architectural lines. It is 13 cm (5 inches) diameter, 8 cm tall and in perfect condition.
Yoshikawa Masamichi was born in Kanagawa in 1946, and graduated the Japanese Design Academy in 1968. He first garnered attention in Japan being awarded at the 1971 Asahi Togeiten Ceramics Exhibition, and the following year received honorable mention at the 3rd International Biennale of Ceramic Art Vallorious France(Gold prize there in 2002). He has since received numerous prizes including Grand Prize at the Asahi Togeiten 1981, 1983 as well as the Aichi Prefectural Art and Cultur Award in 2005. Work is held in the Korea World Ceramic Center (Soul), American Craft Museum New York, Keramik Museum Germany, Brooklyn Musuem, Tokoname City Museum, V&A London among many others.

An iconic large tea bowl by Mino legend Kawamoto Goro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Haiyu Chawan. It is 13 cm (5 inches) diameter, 9 cm tall and in excellent condition. Kawamoto Goro (1919-1986) was born in Seto to a family of potters. He studied in Kyoto at the same institution as Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji. Returning to work at the family kiln, he was later adopted by Kawamoto Rekitei, a famous decorator of pottery. In 1953 he gained first recognition, accepted into the Nitten National Exhibition and garnering top prize at the Asahi Modern Ceramics Exhibition. In 1958 he would be awarded in Brussels, and in 1959 in California and at home was granted the 1959 JCS award. Much lauded the list is much too long for this article. work by him is held in the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art as well as the The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo among many others.

A masterpiece by contemporary ceramic legend Morino (Hiroaki) Taimei enclosed in the original signed wooden box showing his famous Kujaku (Peacock) design. It is 15.5 x 31.5cm x 34cm (6 x 12 x 13-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Morino Taimei was born in Kyoto in 1934, and was first accepted into the Nitten National Exhibition at a relatively young age in 1957 (a year before graduating the Kyoto Municipal University of Fine Art!). In 1960 he received the prestigious Hokutosho prize at the same National Exhibition. In the early 60s he worked as a guest professor at the University of Chicago. Upon his return to Japan his career began to lift off with a second Hokutosho Prize at the Nitten, followed by The governors prize and others at the Gendai Kogei Ten (Modern National Crafts Exhibition). He was subsequently selected for display at the Kyoto and Tokyo National Museums in 1972 and was accepted into the first Nihon Togei Ten that same year. Since his list of exhibitions and prizes has continued to grow, with subsequent selections in the Tokyo and Kyoto museums of Art, as well as exhibitions in Paris, Italy, America, Canada, Denmark and others. In 2007 he received the Japan Art Academy Prize, an award to a work of art similar in weight to the bestowing of Living National Treasure to an artist. This puts the artist in a small club, rare and important. For more information on the artist see Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, Fired with Passion by (Lurie/Chan, 2006) or the recent exhibition of works titled Generosity in Clay from the Natalie Fitz-gerald Collection.

A splash of metalic glaze runs down opposite a splash of thick Kaki-colored glaze on the highly textured earth-colored surface of this bottle shaped vase by Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Titiled Tetsu-yu Nagashi Bin, this dates from early in his career, 1960-1965. It is 14.5 cm (5-3/4 inches) diameter, 22.5 cm (9 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Shimizu Uichi (1926-2004) was born in Kyoto the son of a ceramic dealer. Discarding the family business, he apprenticed in plastic arts under future Living National Treasure Ishiguro Munemaro. His work retains some principal elements of his teachers style while incorporating an understated elegance and avant-garde spirit of challenge uncommon for his time. He was first exhibited at the Nitten in 1951, receiving numerous awards there since. He also took the gold medal at the Prague International Exhibition, and was at the Brussels World Exposition. He is in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto Museum of Modern art, Clark Center and the Freer Gallery among many others.