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 : Vases : Contemporary item #1211913 (stock #651)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A powerful Chossen-Karatsu mimitsuki hanaire flower vase by Nakagawa Jinembo (Jinenbo b. 1953) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Licks of blue fire rim the blast of pale white covering the upper reaches of the dark earth. The shape is hammered and beaten by the flame, shinshoku wear from the extreme heat beginning to degrade the lip. It is 8-1/2 inches (22 cm) tall, 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) diameter and in excellent condition. A rare opportunity to acquire a masterpiece by this highly sought artist.
Jinembo was always fascinated with Karatsu ware, and studied under the great Inoue Toya from the age of 24. Several years later he returned to his hometown to establish a climbing kiln of his own, which he put to great use. From there, not satisfied with his own work skills, he went to Tanaka Sajiro for an additional apprenticeship. Since he has, as many Chajin artists, concentrated on private exhibitions as an outlet for his work, shunning the world of mass competition and retail, making his work both highly valuaed and hard to find.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Porcelain : Pre 1980 item #669902 (stock #139)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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Latticed windows of gold shine softly through the translucent blue glaze of this shapely vase by Kutani Master Matsumoto Saichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The vase is 11 inches (28 cm) tall, and in excellent condition, dating circa 1985, a time of upheaval in the artist life where he established a wood fired climbing kiln in his new home village of Yoshinodani. Saichi comes from a distinguished line of potters, his Father being Sahei and grandfather Sataro. Both were prominent figures in Kutani. Upon graduation from the Kanazawa Institute of Fine Art, he followed in the footsteps of so many greats like Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro by studying in Kyoto at the National Ceramic Research Institute before returning to Kanazawa. He was first accepted into the Nitten in 1952 (the piece exhibited was purchased by the Tokyo Governemnt), and was awarded on numerous occasions, including the grand prize there in both 1985 and 1988. He was also recipient of prizes at the Asahi Togei Ten Ceramic Exhibition, Kofukai-Ten and Kutani Dento Kogei Ten (Traditional Crafts Exhibition of Kutani, Grand prize). He has a list of exhibitions which goes beyond the scope of this description, and is in the collection of the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art among others.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Pre 2000 item #1243680 (stock #726)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A sculptural Green form by Yamazaki Akira (Yamazaki Koyo II, b. 1927) enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kujaku-yu Tori-tsubo (Peacock Glazed Bird Shaped Vase). The vase is 11 x 6 x 6 inches (28 x 15 x 14 cm) and in fine condition, signed on the base Akira.
Akira’s father, Yamazaki Koyo (1890-1979), was displayed and awarded consistently in many National Exhibitions and is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art Boston and Bern Museum of Art Switzerland among others. Akira studied under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI as well as his father and was equally exhibited and awarded, including the Hokutosho prize at the Nitten where he later served as Judge, Kofukai Ten and Governors prize at the Kyoten. For more see Fired with Passion: contemporary Japanese ceramics (2006).
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Plates : Pre 2000 item #1166097 (stock #297)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A deep Choho-zara rectangular dish decorated with morning glories in dark rust and red over yellow with a black rim, a striking combination by Kyoto female artist Takagi Hoko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Created from a heavy slab, the sides were raised and carved with wave patterns covered in white with a raw base chiseled out in long horizontal strokes. On the base is a worn piece of paper which gives the artists address and names the work, leading one to believe this was exhibited. The dish is roughly 15 x 10 inches (37.5 x 26 cm) and is in excellent condition.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1960 item #1429552 (stock #1546)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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Five Sake Cups by the ;legendary Okabe Mineo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seto-Te Hai. The cups hav a very intimate feel, tiny, just enough room for a shot, each in a different style of Mino ware: Shino, E- Shino, Ki-Seto, Nezumi Shino, and Ao-Oribe. Each cup is 4.5 cm (1-3/4 inches) diameter and all are in excellent condition. It even includes the artists biography from the time, still early in his career, likely 1950s.
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 : Contemporary item #1450251 (stock #1784)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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Reminiscent of the Rolling Stones album cover, a wild sculpture by important contemporary sculptor Hayami Shiro. The bean shaped object is 15 cm (6 inches) diameter, 32 cm (12-1/2 inches) long and in excellent condition. It is signed on the base and appears to be dated 1999. Typical of this artist, it comes in a cardboard box
Hayami Shiro (b. 1927) was born in Kagawa Prefecture in 1927, and graduated the Tokushima Industrial University in 1949. His first exhibitions did not materialize until 1964, and from there he flourished. From the late 60s he began exhibiting in National Sculpture exhibitions, and has been often awarded; both domestic and international. He is best known for Tile works and stone sculpture. In 2000 he received the International Artistic Cultural Award (Kokusai Geijutsu Bunka Sho). A prominent work by this artist is on semi-permanent display in front of the Freer Gallery, adjacent to the Smithsonian Museum on loan from the Hirshhorn Collection. Other works are held by the Togei No Mori Museum of Shiga Prefecture, Tokyo City Hall and the Aichi Art Culture Center.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Pre 2000 item #1367741 (stock #1141)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A striking black and orange striped vase in simplified ovoid form by Mukunoki Eizo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kokusai Tsubo. This was purchased at a Mitsukoshi Exhibition. It is 8 inches (20 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Mukunoki Eizo Born in Shimane, and graduated the prefectural ceramics research facility before he apprenticed under Kawai Kanjiro in 1958. He would stay with Kanjiro until the masters death in 1966. To show respect and mourning for his sensei, Eizo quit potting for 1 year after this passing. He has since repeatedly exhibited at the Nihon Mingei Exhibition, Nihon Togeiten National Ceramics Exhibition, and the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition. In 1974 he established his kiln in Toyooka, Hyogo prefecture. He changed his name to Shunsui in 1996.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Pre 2000 item #1055211 (stock #407)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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An unusual vase with rough, pebble textured pink glaze over scratched in cranes by one of Japans most important post-war artists, Shinkai Kanzan, enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The shape and the design are exactly what we would expect from Kanzan, the coloring going even a step beyond. The texture is like unpolished jewels, the inside of a geode; very pleasing to the hands. The vase is 20.5 cm (8 inches) tall, 18 cm (7inches) diameter and in prefect condition.
Shinkai Kanzan was born the grandson of Seifu Yohei III in 1912 and was raised from a baby in the confines of the Gojo-zaka ceramic district of Kyoto, inducted daily into the realm of pottery by his father and grandfather. He graduated the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts, and moved on to study painting (after his fathers urging) before returning to ceramics under Kiyomizu Rokubei V and Vi. He was first accepted into the Teiten (later Nitten) National Exhibition in 1930, and was displayed there consistently thereafter as well as others, being prized at the 1939 San Francisco Exposition. Just as he was beginning to take off as an artist, he was drafted and sent to China, whereafter he spent three years in a Russian Gulag in Siberia. Upon his return to Japan, he branched out on his own; with a unique vision grounded in the roots of the training and instruction he had receved before the war, but with a new style and concept to differentiate himself from his peers. In 1951 he was recognized with the Gold Award at the Japanese Art Expo. Following many prizes, In 1974 he was granted the Governors prize at the Nitten, and in 1980 the Niohon Geijutsu-in Sho (Japanese Art Academy prize). In 1989 he was awarded the Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Order of Merit for his life-long endeavors. Works by him are held in the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art among others.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1980 item #1227849 (stock #696)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A sculptural Green form by Yamazaki Akira (Yamazaki Koyo II, b. 1927), one of several enigmatic works we have acquired by this artist dating from the 1970s to early 80s. With the right lighting we can see a pattern of large black spots under the glaze on the bottom half of the body reminding me of the flintstones. The vase is 17 x 7-1/2 x 10 inches (43 x 19 x 25 cm) tall and in fine condition, signed on the base Akira. There is no box.
Akira’s father Yamazaki Koyo (1890-1979) was displayed and awarded consistently in many National Exhibitions and is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art Boston and Bern Museum of Art Switzerland among others. Akira studied under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI as well as his father and was equally exhibited and awarded, including the Hokutosho prize at the Nitten where he later served as Judge, Kofukai Ten and Governors prize at the Kyoten. For more see Fired with Passion: contemporary Japanese ceramics (2006).
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1980 item #1168946 (stock #550)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A beautifully shaped green vessel by Miyashita Zenju enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It stands 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall, 8-1/2 inches (22 cm) diameter and is in fine condition.
Zenju (1901-1968) studied pottery in Japan, Korea and China, and is held in the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art as well as the Kyoto National Museum. Work by the artist was exhibited pre-war at the Bunten and Nitten National Exhibitions as well as the 1939 and 1940 World Exposition. Post war he put his energy into reviving Kyoto’s Ceramic tradition and was exhibited at the National Ceramics Exhibition among many others. He was a leading figure in Kyoto art circles, and he passed the torch on to his son, Miyashita Zenji.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1980 item #762888 (stock #232)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A deep, almost bulbous, Wan-gata Chawan by Ueda Tsuneji Titled Kikumon, or Chrysanthemum, enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The large bowl is covered in speckled green glaze turning blue on the lower edges, with a bodacious mum in blue and black. It measures 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) diameter, the slightly tapered rim just over 3 inches (8cm) tall. Ueda Tsuneji (1914-1987) was born the second son of a Kimono maker in Kyoto, the designs seen in his youth having a lasting impression on his work. He graduated from the Kyoto Industrial School of Ceramics and established his own kiln Kinozarayama in 1936. In 1955 he discipled for two years under Kawai Kanjiro; becoming a recognized master of Neriage technique. His work is in the permanent collection of the Japan Folk Craft Museum.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Jars : Pre 2000 item #1143210 (stock #505)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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Gold invites the cool drink covered in a yellow glaze on this fine tokkuri by Ono Hakuko enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 5 inches (13 cm) tall, 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) diameter and in excellent condition.
From Aichi prefecture, 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 Japan 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 : Sculptural : Contemporary item #1058751 (stock #416)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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The glaze on this sculpted form by The Bear of Echizen Kumano Kuroemon (also Kurouemon) is covered in the most fantastic crustations of glaze. Thick white over scarred red over shatterd black on an unconventional shape the artist has titled marukawara (round tile). It has Tomo everything, Artists history, wrapping cloth, with his ubiquitous calligraphy all over the signed box. The piece is 29 x 17 x 8 cm (11-1/2 x 6-1/2 x 3 inches) and is in perfect condition.
A ceramic madman, oil painter and recluse, Kuroemon is as eccentric as his pottery predicts. Born in Fukui prefecture in 1955 Kroemon was a painter from youth, he began his studies under Fujita Jurouemon in 1976, and moved to study also under Toda Soshiro. Invited to the Soviet Union he spent time there and in Sakhalin in the 80s, returning to Japan to build his own kiln in 1987. He was the feature of a major exhibition in Germany in 2004, butaside from a few small exhibitions held in Japan (which quckly sell out) he remains a huble artist holed up in his mountain hermitage and works by him are not easy to acquire, with guinomi selling at 1000 dollars.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Sculptural : Contemporary item #915271 (stock #338)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A proud striated egg shaped orb floats above the square block forming the base of this sculpture by Matsumoto Hideo covered with enigmatic graffito. The object is 12-1/2 inches (31.5 cm) tall, 4 x 7 inches (11 x 18 cm) at the base, and is in excellent condition. This piece was purchased from an exhibition held in October, 1993, and a copy of a Newspaper article introducing the exhibition is enclosed with the piece. Hideo has been widely represented in Museum exhibitions throughout Japan. He was born in the 1950s, when Sodeisha was leading the charge away from traditionalism and function to form, and this has had a lasting effect on his work, which is largely sculptural, often beyond recognition. This piece comes in a tag-board box.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Pre 2000 item #738539 (stock #205)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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Each uniquely carved row of frets on this large textured vase is a variegated shade of raw clay by Mihara Ken enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The vase is 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall, 8-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches (22 x 14.5 cm) and dates circa 1994. Ken was born in Shimane prefecture in 1958, and apprenticed under Funaki Kenji at the age of 23. He has been exhibited and or prized at the All Japan Ceramic Exhibition (Nihon Togei Ten), Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Dento Kogei Ten) as well as the Tanabe Museum Chanoyu no Zokei Ten (Modern tea forms Sculpture Exhibition). He has displayed in both Europe and America and is held in the permanent collection of the Tanabe Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art among others.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Vases : Pre 2000 item #1149315 (stock #524)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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This piece is almost identical to the work submitted by the artist to the 7th Nihon Dento Kogei Ten in 1983 (featured as item number 116 in the catalog for that year) and indeed, shares the title Hi-iro In-mon Tsubo (Flame-Colored Stamp-Patterned Tsubo). It measures 34 cm (13-1/2 inches) diameter, 29.5 cm (12 inches) tall and is in excellent condition.
Kanzaki Muneaki (b 1949) is the fourth generation head of the traditional Mokusen Kiln in Koga, Shigaraki. His works have been exhibited at the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition), Nihon Togeiten (National Ceramics Exhibition), Asahi Togeiten Asahi Ceramics Exhibition) and Chunichi Kokusai Togeiten (Chunichi International Exhibition) among many others.
All Items : Artists : Ceramics : Pottery : Bowls : Pre 2000 item #724989 (stock #193)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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Red burns through the dramatically pin-holed white glaze clinging viciously to the sides of this large Shino Chawan by representative Mino artist Kato Takeshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Enigmatic dark iron cuts through the clouds of tinged white, lending a brash sense of the primitive power of fire. It has great Hada, the texture so good it would certainly add flavor to your cup of tea. The chawan is 5 inches (12.5 cm) diameter, 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) tall and of course in excellent condition. Takeshi was born in 1947 and like so many other Shino artists attended the Tajimi Industrial School. He studied under Kobayashi Bunichi, Ohashi Momonosuke and later in Kyoto under Uchida Kunio, opening his own kiln in 1973. Since he has spurned the realm of public competition in favor of the personal world of private exhibitions, including the Shinjuku Odakyu and Isetan galleries among many others.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1980 item #1163560 (stock #538)
Modern Japanese Ceramics
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Yuteki black slips down over the pourous, crackled white of this bold work by Taniguchi Ryozo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 8-1/2 inches (21.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition. The box is darkened with age.
Ryozo (1926-1996) studied initially under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI. He was first accepted into the Japan Academy of Arts exhibition in 1948, and subsequently into the Nitten National exhibition in 1951 and exhibited there often after, receiving many prizes including the Hokuto-sho, Prime Ministers Prize and Kiku-ka-sho as well as serving as a jury member. In 1956 he was awarded at the Modern Ceramic Art Exhibition, and five years later was recipient of the prestigious Japan Ceramics Society (JCS) Award (1961). Showing his prowess he was invited to exhibit at the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo in 1964, and was invited to serve as a juror for the Kyoten that same year. From then his list of exhibitions and prizes is impressive and much too long to list in this add. He has also exhibited with the Modern Japanese Ceramics Exhibition as well as being awarded at the Modern Japanese Crafts Exhibition and the Kofukai, where he was awarded the Kofukai Members Prize (participating there from 1960). From the 1970s, other international and domestic exhibitions as well as a slew of private exhibitions at Japans top galleries. Works by the artist are held in the MOMAT, In 1989 he received the Kyoto Cultural award for his life works in the ceramics field.