Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian (75)

Enigmatic green and red florals capped by ascending butterflies alternate with bird images in the cathedral-like windows on the side of this large vessel by Kyoto artist Yamazaki Koyo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The vase is 13-1/2 inches (34 cm) tall and in fine condition, dating circa 1950. Koyo (1890-1979) studied under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI, and was displayed consistently in many National and Local Exhibitions. He has been awarded four times at the Nitten, twice at the Nihon Shin Kogei Ten (Japanese National New Craft Exhibition) as well as the Kofukai and is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art Boston and Bern Museum of Art Switzerland among others

This is a stunner; a piece exemplifying the style of this incredible artist! Radical black florals decorate the rich iron sides of the bowl, tapering ever so slightly closed toward the top to help trap the aroma of the green tea within. Imagine the color contrast of dark earth-tones with the foamy maccha inside! It comes enclosed in a fine kiri-wood box endorsed by Kawai Koha, current head of the Kawai Kanjiro Museum. The bowl is 4-3/4 inches (12 cm) in diameter, 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) tall and in perfect condition. Kanjiro was a true artist by nature, and together with Hamada Shoji, set a pattern of study for modern potters. After graduating the Tokyo School of Industrial Design, he came to study in Kyoto, eventually establishing his own kiln on the Gojo-no-Saka (It remains standing today and is a must see for anyone visiting Kyoto). Together with compatriots Hamada Shoji and Bernard Leach (with whom he traveled throughout Asia) established the modern Mingei movement in ceramics, the most influential ceramics movement in the 20th century. His research on glazes (of which he developed thousands over a lifetime of work) remains influential as well. Refusing to be limited to ceramics, Kanjiro also worked in bronze, wood and paint. An interesting final note on this unusual artist, when offered the title of Living National Treasure, an honor bestowed on very few, he declined.

A heavily potted Ash-glaze vase by Seto potter Kato Shinya enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The geometric patterns collide and dance off each other, gray on white, a piece well representing the artistic endeavors of the era in which it was created. The vase is quite large, 13 inches tall, 8-1/4 inches diameter and in excellent condition. Shinya was born into the family of Seto potter Kato Sakusuke in 1940, and graduated the Tokyo University of Art sculpture division in 1964, following two years later with a Masters from the Tokyo Art University Ceramics Division. He later moved to study under both Living National Treasure Tamura Koichi and Fujimoto Yoshimichi. He has been displayed at the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (National Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition) among others. This is a taller version of a design he submitted to that exhibition in 1989.