Modern Japanese Ceramics Pottery Contemporary
By Appointment is best. You might get lucky just popping by, but a great deal of the month I am out visiting artists or scouring up new items, so days in the gallery are limited.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Pre 1990 item #1467906 (stock #MC013)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
A rare set of Tokkuri by important artist Okabe Mineo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seto-te Tokkuri. The shapes are twins, one in E-shino style with iron decoration under white feldspar, the other in austere Oribe green glaze. The flaring mouths are both ulled slightly creating a perfect pouring spout. They are 13 cm (5-/4 inches) tall, 7 cm (2-3/4 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Okabe Mineo (1919-1990) was born the first son of important artist Kato Tokuro, however the relationship with his father was volatile. When he was 9 Tokuro moved the young family to Seto, where Mineo would graduate the Aichi Prefectural Ceramics School in 1937. After a year at the family kiln, he moved to Tokyo, then joined the army in 1940. He fought against the Americans and would spend several years as a prisoner of war in the Philippines, repatriated to Japan in 1947. He returned to Aichi prefecture, leaving enough distance between himself and his estranged family, and with his wife began producing pottery in Toyoda. In 1953 he met Koyama Fujio; that same year he was awarded the Hokuto prize at the Nitten, and his work was collected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was the true beginning of his career. In 1955 he received the JCS award, one of the highest honors for a Japanese potter. By the mid ‘60s. he moved to celadon ware. He changed his name from Kato to Okabe in 1978, to honor his wife who supported his efforts for so many years.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Pre 2000 item #1467937
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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One of the most beautiful pieces I have ever seen by this pioneering Shino artist, a spectacular Mizusahi by Okabe Mineo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled E-shino Mizusashi. It is 17 cm (6-3/4 inches) diameter, 16 cm (6-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Okabe Mineo (1919-1990) was born the first son of important artist Kato Tokuro, however the relationship with his father was volatile. When he was 9 Tokuro moved the young family to Seto, where Mineo would graduate the Aichi Prefectural Ceramics School in 1937. After a year at the family kiln, he moved to Tokyo, then joined the army in 1940. He fought against the Americans and would spend several years as a prisoner of war in the Philippines, repatriated to Japan in 1947. He returned to Aichi prefecture, leaving enough distance between himself and his estranged family, and with his wife began producing pottery in Toyoda. In 1953 he met Koyama Fujio; that same year he was awarded the Hokuto prize at the Nitten, and his work was collected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was the true beginning of his career. In 1955 he received the JCS award, one of the highest honors for a Japanese potter. By the mid ‘60s. he moved to celadon ware. He changed his name from Kato to Okabe in 1978, to honor his wife who supported his efforts for so many years.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1468264 (stock #MC012)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
Gold shatters on the blue surface of this large vase by legendary female potter Ono Hakuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yuri Kinsai Hana Tsubo. It is 29 cm (11-1/2 inches) diameter, 31.5 cm (12-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
From Aichi prefecture, Ono Hakuko was trained by her father initially in the ceramic arts. However, she was most strongly influenced by the great experimentive artist Kato Hajime (1901-1968) and his work with gold. This affected her own style deeply, and it can be said that she carried on his research. She was awarded the JCS award in 1980, one of Japans most prestigious ceramics awards. In 1992 she was named an important cultural asset (Juyo mukei bunkazai) of Saga prefecture. Bucking the traditional image here is another of Japans great cultural assets who fought against a system of prejudice to rise to the top and it is an honor to be able to offer something by her. For more on this important modern artist see Touch Fire, contemporary Japanese Ceramics by Women Artists (2009)
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Contemporary item #1468425 (stock #MC026)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A flash of gold blazes on the raw earth side of this masterpiece tea bowl by Kato Kiyoyuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hai-yu Chawan. Green ash runs down opposite the iridescent flash of gold. Inside the ash sees to catch on the horizontal furrows left by the artists fingers. It is 12.7 cm (5 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Kato Kiyoyuki was born in 1931, the heir to a long-established tile-making business in Seto. He studied ceramics at high school however his main interest lay in painting and sculpture, and it was only when he was in his late twenties that he began to work in pottery. He made his first submission to the Nitten exhibition in 1958, and began producing well-designed utilitarian ceramics in keeping with the principles of the then newly established Japan Craft Design Association, but soon turned his hand to sculptural ceramics. Kato's development as a ceramic sculptor owed much to his friendship with Teshigahara Sofu (1900-79), the former head of the Sogetsu school of flower-arranging. Terashige's experimental interests encouraged Kato to explore his sculptural ambitions in vessel as well as non-vessel formats. According to Kiyoyuki, “When a shape that is completely free of unnaturalness emerges, the clay and I become one”. He won the Grand Prize at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition in both 1964 and 1965. He is the recipient of the most prestigious Japan Ceramic Society Gold Prize. He has exhibited with the aforementioned Nitten National Fine Arts Exhibition and Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, Chunichi Kokusai Togeiten International Ceramics Exhibition as well as Faenze International Ceramics Exhibition, Nihon Togeiten National Ceramics Exhibition, Nihon Gendai Kogeiten National Modern Crafts Exhibition and Seto Togeiten among many many others, and his list of private exhibitions could not be covered on this page. Work by him is held in the V&A (London), Tokyo and Kyoto National Museums of Modern Art, Canterbury Museum (New Zealand) and the Sogetsu Museum in Aichi among others. For more see Toh Volume 8, which was dedicated entirely to him.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Contemporary item #1468469 (stock #MC024)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
A sculpted large blue chawan buy Sugitani Keizo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 13.5 x 14 x 10 cm and in excellent condition, directly from the artist this summer.
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.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1468513 (stock #MC025)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
Earthen-toned glaze covers the fissured surface of this unusual small vase by Sugitani Keizo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is roughly 6 inches (15.5 cm) diameter and in excellent condition, directly from the artist this summer.
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 Japans top galleries as well as London, Art Miami, Maastricht, New York, Taipei and Shanghai among others.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1468547 (stock #MC030)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
A small bottle with ash draped from the shoulder like a traditional priest robe by Takeuchi Kimiaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ko-tsubo. It is 10.5 cm (4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Takeuchi Kimiaki (1948– 2011) was born in Tokoname and started learning wheel throwing when he was a middle school student. He met his mentor Ezaki Issei at the Tokoname Ceramic School when he was 16 years old. Along with Ezaki, he and Osako Mikio revitalized Tokoname ware following eh nearly lost ancient traditions using local mountain clay and ash glaze. He exhibited with and was awarded at the Asahi Togeiten, Chunichi International Ceramic Exhibition, Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Traditional Crafts Exhibition and Nihon Togeiten National Ceramic Art Exhibition among many others. He earned Grand Prize at the International Exhibition of Vallauris. While paying homage to tradition, he imbues his work with a chic contemporary ambiance. Work by him is held in the collections of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, The V&A in London, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art among others.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Contemporary item #1468626 (stock #MC031)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
An absolute classic natural ash glazed sake bottle by the reclusive potter Osako Mikio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tokkuri. Most of the surface is covered in ash, tremulous tears of liquefied ash weeping over the charred clay. It is 14 cm tall and in excellent condition.
Osako Mikio (1940-1995), born in Usa Oita prefecture on the Island of Kyushu, arrived at ceramics late in life, starting to study with Ezaki Issei at the Tokonmane ceramic Research Center in 1968 and staying with his teacher until he built his first kiln in 1982.. He received Grand Prize at the International Biennial of Ceramics in Vallauris, France in 1972. Known for his yakishime and ash glazed pottery, His profound understanding of wood firing, post firing and pottery in general was exceptional and his forms and surfaces are mature beyond his years of experience. A fitting quote by Dr. Frederick Baekeland from the catalogue; Modern Japanese Ceramics in American Collections, sums up the true nature of the potter and his pots; “The strong, conventional potting and rich sobriety of Osako’s ceramics appeal to modern taste and accords well with the aesthetic canons of the tea ceremony.”
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Contemporary item #1468650 (stock #MC033)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
A beautiful half orb in shimmering silver with matte Caribbean blue by Morino Taimei enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ginsai Hai. It is 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter and 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 governor’s prize and others at the Gendai Kogei Ten (Modern National Crafts Exhibition). He was subsequently selected for display at the Kyoto and Tokyo Natby ional 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 Fitzgerald Collection.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Contemporary item #1468667 (stock #MC032)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
Wow, a jaw-dropping bowl in igneous black like some volcanic expulsion by Kim Hono enclosed in the original signed wooden box. So impressed was even the artist with this piece that he has drawn an image of the bowl up the side of the box and over onto the lid. It is 11.5 x 13 x 10 cm 4-1/2 x 5 x 4 inches) and in excellent condition.
Kim Hono was born in Seto City Aichi Prefecture in 1958, and graduated the Prefectural Ceramics School in 1977, then taking up apprenticeship at a local kiln before establishing himself as an independent artist in 1982. He held his first solo exhibition in Nagoya in 1985. He has been exhibited at the Nihon Togeiten National Ceramics Exhibition Dento Kogeiten National Traditiaonal Crafts Exhibition, Asahi Togeiten Exhibition, Chunichi Kokusai Togeiten, and his works being shown in some of Japans top galleries including Kuroda Toen in Tokyo’s Ginza ward. Not to be defined, even by himself, famously when asked by Hohnoho Magazine to define his work he cryptically replied only: Kaze wo Kanjiru Koto (Feeling the wind).
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Pre 2000 item #1468804 (stock #MC039)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
Enigmatic scribbling like some message from the past decorates the silver belt circling this white vase by Yamada Hikaru enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ginsai Hanaike. It is 20.5 cm (8 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Yamada Hikaru (1924-2001), was born into the family of layman potter and priest Yamada Tetsu, and raised in Gifu after the family home was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake. At the age of 20 he entered the Kyoto ceramics research facility, 15 years junior to those who had inspired the great Mingei movement at that same institution. Somehow escaping overseas service in the war, he met Yagi Kazuo in 1945, and the two formed an instant bond, founding a group for young potters the following year. Compounded by the austerity and poverty they faced as young artists in the immediate postwar, the group grew and along with Kumakura Junkichi, Suzuki Osamu and Yagi Kazuo formed the most influential post war ceramics organization, Sodeisha, as it was, in 1948. They eschewed public competition and espoused the ideas of art for arts sake, negating the ideas of the mingei movement, which stressed function over form. Together, members of the group worked tirelessly to promote modern Japanese pottery for the next several decades both within and outside of Japan. Held in innumerable public and private collections including the National Museum of Modern Art, both Tokyo and Kyoto, Museum of New South Wales and the Victoria Albert.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1468885 (stock #MC035)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
A fabulous Shigaraki Tsubo of austere form blasted with natural ash glaze by Otani Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. A classic work it is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.
Otani Shiro was born in Shigaraki in 1936 and graduated the Prefectural School in the ceramics department in 1956, which he followed up with 4 years studying decorating techniques under Morioka Yutaro. He then moved to Kyoto where he studied at the Municipal Ceramics Research Facility, where he trained under Kiyomizu Kyubei, Shofu Eichi and Uchida Kunio before returning to Shigaraki to yet further his studies in design. He garnered his first award at the Shiga Prefectural Art Exhibition in 1962, as well as the Governor’s prize at the National Rodosha Bijutsu-Ten Exhibition. He took a position with an industrial kiln in Shigaraki in 1963, and began potting in his free time, exhibiting and being awarded at the Asahi Togeiten among others. In 1968, he left his position at the kiln, and in 1969 was first accepted into the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Dento Kogeiten). In 1973 he established his own kilns in Shigaraki, both an Anagama submerged kiln and a climbing kiln, and began learning from future Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi. From there he participated in the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (National crafts Exhibition) as well as innumerable private exhibitions both domestic and International, and was named an Intangible Cultural Asset of Shigaraki in 1990. His work is held in The Museum of Art in Atlanta, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Fogg Art Gallery of Harvard as well as the Morikami Museum and Smithsonian among others. For an in depth look at this potter see the article by Rob Barnard in Ceramics Monthly volume 39 (Summer 1991).
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Contemporary item #1468909 (stock #MC040)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
Graffito scrawls through the silver lining of this fine Chawan by Morino Taimei enclosed in the original signed wooden box. A single dark spot, like a phpotograhic negative of the full moon reflected in water. Outside a wavering line about the foot. The bowl is 12.5 cm diameter, 7.5 cm tall and in perfect condition.
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.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1468971 (stock #MC137)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
$950.00
Sale Pending
An exquisite vessel in white with elegant stripes of soft color by hard to find Niwa Ryochi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Senmon Tsubo. There is a palpable grace to the piece which seems to reflect the Japanese appreciation of silence and shadows. It is 27.5 cm (11 inches) diameter, 33 cm (13 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Hirashimizu-yaki started when the Lord Niwa Jizaemon, invited Tojihei Ono, a potter from Ibaraki, to make pottery using clay from Chitoseyama during the Bunka era of the late Edo period. There are four kilns in operation today. During the Bunsei era (1818-1829) Abe Kakuzaemon of the Soma clan visited here, built a kiln, and spread the techniques of Soma-yaki pottery, which contributed to Hirashimizu becoming a large pottery-producing area. During the middle of the Meiji period (late 19th century) when the area was enjoying its most prosperous time, over 30 kilns were in operation. Today only 4 exist. Niwa Ryochi was born in Yamagata in 1931. In 1946 he entered apprenticeship at the Ryusen kiln, and due to circumstance, became 4th head of the kiln in 1950. He has exhibited at the Kofu-Kai, and Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Traditional Crafts exhibition as well as at many of Japans top galleries.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1469039 (stock #MC066)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
An earing clings to the “mimi” on this fabulous ash glazed vessel by one of our favorite hidden treasures, Tamura Roppo, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Koshu Iga Mimitsuki Hanaire. The traditional form is affixed with two “ears”, from one of which clings one tremulous drip of ash, seeming to slightly weigh down that side. Happenstance occurring at just the right place at just the right time during the firing process that it survived without falling or breaking off. It is this fostering of the accidental that is so definitive of the Japanese aesthetic. It is 27 cm (10-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Tamura Roppo (b. 1960) claims his potting career began at the age of 20 when he took a lump of clay he had molded to the kiln of a nearby young potter begging for him to fire it. In 1982 he opened a kiln in Shinshu, then moved to Yamanashi in 1991. In 2001 he moved to his present location. He uses all local materials, and is well known for his Kosyu-Iga yakishime wares. Perhaps due to the hardships of his beginning, he allows young potters free use of his Anagama kiln, helping to cultivate the next generation.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1469040 (stock #MC008)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
Lavender and pink tinge the thick glaze applied to this large open tsubo by Kimura Morinobu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nasu-yu Shitomon Tsubo (Tsubo with Eggplant Glaze). This is a coloration for which Morinobu is well known and is unique to him. I remember meeting him one day at his house in Northern Kyoto and talking about this unusual glaze. He said an entire field of Nasu (eggplant) garners just a handful of this precious ash. The vessel is 29 cm diameter (just less than 12 inches) and stands 31.5 cm (12.5 inches) tall. It is in perfect condition.
Kimura Morinobu (b. 1932) was one of three born into a pottery family in Kyotos Higashiyama pottery district. He attended the Kyoto Municipal School of Art graduating from the sculpture division, and entered the Kyoto Ceramic Research Facility, the stomping grounds of so many of the brightest talents in modern Japanese Pottery. After apprenticing under both his brother, Morikazu, and Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi, he established his own kiln in 1967. His list of exhibitions is much too long to put down here, he was named an intangible Cultural Property (Mukei Bunkazai) of Kyoto Prefecture in 1992. Works by the artist are held in the Kyoto National Museum among others.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1469113 (stock #MC007)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
A ghostly pale tsubo with jagged grooves cut into the shoulder by Kimura Morinobu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kaede-yu O-Tsubo (Large Tsubo with Maple-Ash Glaze). It is 36 cm (14 inches) diameter, 42 cm (16-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Due to size the cost of shipping will be accrued separately.
Kimura Morinobu (b. 1932) was one of three born into a pottery family in Kyotos Higashiyama pottery district. He attended the Kyoto Municipal School of Art graduating from the sculpture division, and entered the Kyoto Ceramic Research Facility, the stomping grounds of so many of the brightest talents in modern Japanese Pottery. After apprenticing under both his brother, Morikazu, and Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi, he established his own kiln in 1967. His list of exhibitions is much too long to put down here, he was named an intangible Cultural Property (Mukei Bunkazai) of Kyoto Prefecture in 1992. Works by the artist are held in the Kyoto National Museum among others.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Contemporary item #1469256 (stock #MC119)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
sold, thank you
Dragonflies alight on autumn grasses and bush clover forming the perfect seasonal connotation under an engorged white moon on this pair of mouse-colored (Nezumi) vases by Shino legend Wakao Toshisada enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nezumi Shino So-heki. Together they are 29 cm (11-1/2 inches) long, 18 cm (7 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Wakao Toshisada was born in Tajimi, Gifu prefecture, home of Mino pottery, in 1933. He was first recognized at the New Crafts exhibition of 1960, the same year he was first exhibited at the Central Japan Art Exhibition. Three years later he made his debut at the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, following in 1965 with the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition. In 1971 he first exhibited with the Nihon Togeiten (All Japan Ceramics Exhibition) and was awarded the following year the New Mino Artists Prize, gathering acclaim as a leader in the field. After many domestic and International exhibits, he was awarded the Kato Kohei prize in 1986. and was recipient of the prestigious Japan Ceramics Society (JCS) Award in 1989. He was named an intangible cultural asset of Tajimi city in 1995, and of Gifu Prefecture in 2003, and works by the artist are held in the Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, V&A, Freer Gallery and Sackler among many others.