Catalog (811)

A set of 5 very stylish small plates in raw porcelain with one sleek glazed surface by Kato Yoshiyaseu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Reversi Plate. The elevated surface is glazed smooth, the pierced foot and underside are in raw porcelain. Each plate is 10 cm (4 inches) diameter and in perfect condition. These were made on our order specifically to accompany the larger plate set also listed.
Kato Yoshiyasu was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1985 and graduated the Kurashiki University of Science and Arts in 2008. He graduated the Tajimi City Ishoken Ceramics Research Facility in 2014, remaining in neighboring Toki City until setting up his own studio in Nishio in 2018.

An incredible work by Furutani Hirofumi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu Hen Hanaire. A striking form covered in glistening green glass and gnarly clusters of black ash, this is an absolute must have by the artist. On the sides the earth is scorched and blackened, rivulets of olive running between. It is 25 x 8.5 x 19.5 cm (10 x 3-1/4 x 8 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
The Churoku-en pottery was established by Furutani Churoku, an artist instrumental in the post war era revival of Shigaraki Anagama and Climbing Kiln firing techniques. It is now run by the second and third generation potters Furutani Hirofumi and his son Taketoshi. Hirofumi (b. 1948) is the real deal, a Shigaraki potter trained under his father, recipient of generations of tradition and knowledge, who does not say much. He then returned to the family kiln where he headed up the preparation and firing, while, taking a second position in that very Japanese way to his long lived father, who strictly tortured clay. The Japanese title for such a person is: Ennoshita no chikara mochi (The true strength hidden under the eaves). Even today, a decade after the passing of Churoku, everyday you will find him in search of the natural phenomena which are born from his wood fired Anagama kiln in the dialog between soil and flame and the elements. He is in charge of kneading and coercing the clay, the kiln work, stacking and preparations, making and firing his own pieces while allowing his son to take the fore. He does not compete or seek fame, just quietly makes pots treading the path of the Unknown Craftsman.

A fabulous modern ceramic artwork in the form of an Arch with two openings torn into the top as flower receptacles by Okamoto Kazuyoshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The red burnt clay is splashed with color. It is quite large, at nearly 52 cm (21 inches) long and in excellent condition.
Okamoto Kazuyoshi was born into a family of Kyoto potters in 1962, graduating the Kyoto Ceramics Research Facility in 1980 before apprenticing under Okamoto Akira, then his father Kazuo. From 1987 to 1988 he went to study pottery in China, then Korea. His work has been exhibited at the Modern Art forms in Tea Exhibition, International Ceramics Exhibition in Mino and Kyoten among others.

Enigmatic characters are etched like some lost language into the connected slabs of this pottery object by rising star Kowari Tetsuya which comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seki-reki (Traces of History) exhibited at the Hakokai group exhibition. It is hard to say if the artist is looking back in time, or at something of ours somewhere far in the future, a vision; dream of the mystery one might see looking back on the traces of our own society. It is 75 cm (30 inches) long, 22 x 23 cm (roughly 9 inches) in diameter and in excellent condition. Due to size the cost of shipping will be accrued separately.
Kowari Tetsuya was born in Fuji-city Shizuoka in 1970, and graduated the prestigious Meiji University. He has apprenticed under a number of teachers, taking a bit from each without allowing their direction to overpower his own personal style. He works in Shigaraki, Bizen and Shino wares. The artist has been displayed at the Nihon Togei Ten National Ceramics Ex hibition, as well as the prestigious Nitten consistently.

A spectacular vessel by Contemporary Bizen favorite Ishida Kazuya enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ra (Conch). The marbled clay ripples like sand, emodying the image of ocean life after which it is named. It is huge at 64 x 17 x 28 cm (25 x 6-1/2 x 11 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist last summer, and just emerging from our back room for the first time.
Ishida Kazuya was born in Bizen in 1986. After graduating from high school, studied under Living National Treasure Isezaki Jun. After that, he moved to England and learned traditional techniques, language and culture at a local pottery studio. Invited as a leading artist in the Oxford Anagama Project (Oxford University), which started in 2015, he has been a lecturer on kiln making, firing and production workshops in Europe, Australia and North America. His work makes use of the ideas of slipwear, a traditional British technique that uses colored clay to create patterns, and an original technique that makes use of the centrifugal force of a potter's wheel. Inspired by the beauty of forms created by nature such as shells, strata, glaciers, and stalactites. His shapes fuse the idea of form with the unique Bizen spirit of drawing out the characteristics of the materials and alterations and natural glaze that occur in the wood fired kiln.

An architectural pottery sculpture made up of undulating walls delineating chambers within by Aso Rando titled Catfish. It is tantalizingly sculpted, the various rooms of squared clay walls belying the organic, undulating form of the fish. The sculpture is 22 x 10-1/2 x 7 inches (56 x 26.5 x 18 cm) and is in excellent condition. It comes with a signed placard by the artist.
Aso Rando was born in Nara in 1983. Finishing the Kanazawa College of Art in 2009 led to a year in research at the Tokoname Municipal Research Facility before settling in Tajimi city. He first exhibited with the 45th Chunichi Ceramics exhibition in 2006, but has chosen a different path from the normal large national exhibitions, focusing on more regional or trendy showings (such as the Art Program, Hyogo and Nichukan Tougei Shinsedai KokanTen Inter-Asian Young Artists Exposition) where there is more interaction with the viewing public.

A stellar work by Furutani Taketoshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu ware-Yohen Tsubo. Fired on its side, a heavy deposit of ash glaze from the 5 day firing blasts the clay, traveling in amber rivulets to gleaming beads around the fractured clay opposite. The mouth of the jar is classic Muromachi style, while the firing technique delves deep into the past while maintaining a proud modernity. It is 26.5 cm (10-1/2 inches) diameter, 32 cm (13 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Furutani Taketoshi was born the son of master craftsman Furutani Hirofumi in 1974, graduating the Shigaraki Industrial High School Ceramics department in 1992 before entering the Shiga prefectural Ceramics Research Facility studying wheel technique, graduating the following year. He then did a year apprenticeship at a pottery before re-entering for a second course at the Research Facility, graduating in 1995. From that year he returned to the family kiln, receiving the family tradition from both his grandfather Furutani Churoku and father Furutani Hirofumi. Subverting the self, he makes simple, organic pots which have a timeless quality, very much rooted in the now, but paying homage to the traditions past down through the ages. He was named a Designated Traditional Craftsman (Dento Kogeishi) in 2013. He has exhibited with the Nihon Dento Kogeiten among others, and still works closely with his father at the family kiln.

A Thorny series guinomi in bright matte yellow with glistening spikes by Masatomo Toi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 7 x 6 x 5.5 cm (roughly 2-1/2 inches diameter) plus the glinting golden thorns and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Masatomo Toi was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1992, and graduated the Design course at the Tajimi Ceramics Research Facility in 2019. Since he has been developing his series of “Thorny” vessels and objects. At the same time he has been studying the way of tea, and these bowls are his first unadorned venture into the tea world (although we will also offer a few striking horned chawan as well). His works have been featured in a number of group and juried exhibitions. He is currently on a year of study and experimentation in Australia, and we expect great things in his future.

A wide open vase in burnt orange clay covered in natural ash blaze by Furutani Taketoshi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu Yohen Kame Tsubo. Perfect for a large flower display, it is 24 x 25 x 21 cm (9-1/2 x 10 x 8-1/4 inches) and is in perfect condition, directly from the artist.
Furutani Taketoshi was born the son of master craftsman Furutani Hirofumi in 1974, graduating the Shigaraki Industrial High School Ceramics department in 1992 before entering the Shiga prefectural Ceramics Research Facility studying wheel technique, graduating the following year. He then did a year apprenticeship at a pottery before re-entering for a second course at the Research Facility, graduating in 1995. From that year he returned to the family kiln, receiving the family tradition from both his grandfather Furutani Churoku and father Furutani Hirofumi. Subverting the self, he makes simple, organic pots which have a timeless quality, very much rooted in the now, but paying homage to the traditions past down through the ages. He was named a Designated Traditional Craftsman (Dento Kogeishi) in 2013. He has exhibited with the Nihon Dento Kogeiten among others, and still works closely with his father at the family kiln.

A striking deep misshapen bowl by Gomi Kenji with coloration ranging through the gray zone into red enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Glass Yu Wan. It is roughly 11 cm (4-1/4 inches) diameter, the same height and is in perfect condition.
Gomi Kenjki was born in Nagano in 1978, and graduated the prestigious Waseda University in 2001, before going to study Tsuboya potting techniques in Naha, Okinawa. He moved to Toki City in Gifu, opening his own kiln in 2004. He was awarded the Judges prize at the Mashiko Ceramic Exhibition in 2008. He took the Show prize at the Nihon Togeiten National Ceramic Exhibition in 2011, and was awarded at the Kikuchi Bienale twice, and the Modern Tea wares Exhibition in 2014 before moving his studio to Kasama, Ibaraki in 2015. For more see New Forms, New Voices (2017) He is held in the collection of the V&A in London

A striking deep misshapen bowl by Gomi Kenji with coloration ranging from earthen tones to gray outside, inside yellow with blue at the rim enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Glass Yu Wan. It is roughly 11 cm (4-1/4 inches) diameter, the same height and is in perfect condition.
Gomi Kenjki was born in Nagano in 1978, and graduated the prestigious Waseda University in 2001, before going to study Tsuboya potting techniques in Naha, Okinawa. He moved to Toki City in Gifu, opening his own kiln in 2004. He was awarded the Judges prize at the Mashiko Ceramic Exhibition in 2008. He took the Show prize at the Nihon Togeiten National Ceramic Exhibition in 2011, and was awarded at the Kikuchi Bienale twice, and the Modern Tea wares Exhibition in 2014 before moving his studio to Kasama, Ibaraki in 2015. For more see New Forms, New Voices (2017) He is held in the collection of the V&A in London

A stone formed bowl covered entirely in platinum by Inayoshi Osamu enclosed in the original signed wooden box accompanied by the shiori and Shifuku. The bowl is carved and torn from a block of clay, then textured with natural stones specially selected for their surface patterns, splashed with glaze and then covered in platinum, creating dry matte regions punctuated by glistening liquid spatters. It is 10.5 cm (4 inches) diameter, 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall and in excellent condition directly from the artist.
Inayoshi Osamu was born in Toyohashi City in 1976, and graduated the Seto pottery school in 2002, the same year he was acknowledged for excellence at the 56th Seto Municipal Art Exhibition. He set up his own studio in 2007, garnering his first of many prizes at the the Oribe no Kokoro (heart of Oribe) Ceramic Exhibition. His unique textures and glaze techniques soon won him acclaim both in Japan and abroad , and he began exhibiting with vigor both domestically and abroad.

A playful large bowl by Kim Hono decorated with geometric patterns in black on millet white glaze enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Donburi. The artist has drawn an image of the bowl on the side of the box. The bowl is 14 cm 5-3/4 inches) diameter, 10 cm (4 inches) tall and in perfect 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).

A fabulous black Tokkuri sake bottle with a lode of ocher ash flowing over the dark clay by Isezaki Koichiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kuro Tokkuri. It is 15.5 cm (6 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Isezaki Koichiro was born the son of living national treasure Isezaki Jun. He graduated the sculpture department of Tokyo Zokei University and then apprenticed under American artist Jeff Shapiro, incorporating much blending of western and eastern thought into his work. He returned to Japan in 2000 to work under his father, and was first accepted into the Tanabe museum Sculptural forms in Tea Exhibition two years later.

The surface of this deep bowl is like glossy rust, shot through with various shades and mottled colors, the base irredescent red. It is by rising star Hashimoto Tomonari and comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled: Untitled Utsuwa (vessel). It is 13 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter, 10 cm (4 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist. This series was sold only through our gallery, and this is the last remaining bowl.
Hashimoto Tomonari was born the son of a sculptor and has felt comfortable with the processes of creation since childhood. He graduated with a masters from the Kanazawa University of Art in March 2017, then relocated to Shigaraki. A visit to his humble home studio is eye opening. Although he comes across as shy in conversation, when you move on to the subject of art, he is all confidence. He was named a finalist for the Loewe Craft Prize in 2019 and is already making international waves around Asia. Work by him is held in the V&A in London, another piece has entered LACMA and a large sculpture has recently been installed in his home prefecture of Wakayama. Get pieces by him while you can!

A traditional wide basin decorated with staggering pine in iron by Nakazato Tarouemon XIV enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled E-Karatsu Hachi. It is 26 cm (10-1/4 inches) diameter 11 cm (4-1/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition. Nakazato Taouemon XIV wa born the eldest son of Nakazato Taouemon XIII in 1957. He completed graduate school at the Department of Sculpture at Musashino Art University in 1981. He returned ot the family studio in 1983 and began making pottery. In 1984 his work was selected for the first time at the Nitten National Art Exhibition. In 2002 he succeeded the family name.

A gorgeous set of five clam-shell Shaped dishes in organic Chossen Karatsu glaze by Koga Kenji enclosed in the original compartmentalized signed wooden box titled Chossen Karatsu Hamaguri Mukozuke. Each dish is roughly 14 x 16 cm (5-1/2 x 6-1/2 inches) and all are in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Koga Kenji was born in Fukuoka in 1936, but did not start potting until much later in life, at the age of 38. He opened his own kiln in 1991, exhibiting with the prefectural exhibition the following year. Not a competitive person, eh has concentrated on private exhibitions, of which he has had many. His work is humble and easy to use true to that vein of the unknown craftsman of Mingei lore.

A pink sunset band rings this Caribbean blue bowl by Yamato Tsutomu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Hagi Chawan. It is gorgeous to behold, wide and comfortable in the hands, perfect for tea in the warm seasons. It is 15 cm ((6 inches) diameter, 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Yamato Tsutomu was born the second son of Yamato Yasuo, the man who brought Hagi into the 20th century, in 1965. He graduated the Yamaguchi University of Arts in 1988. He has exhibited with Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition, the Nihon Dento Kogeiten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition) and Dento Kogei Shinsaku Ten (New Traditional Crafts Exhibition) among others. His first solo exhibition was held in 1996. He served as a guest lecturer at Mendocino Art Center in California in 2001, and currently lectures at the Yamaguchi Prefectural University. Work by him is held in the British Museum, the Japan Foundation, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the Yamaguchi Prefectural Museum of Art and Nomura Art Museum among others.

Pink belts this blue-gray bowl like the rising sun reflected off a pre-dawn cloud by Yamato Tsutomu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hagi Chawan and featured in the 59th National Traditional Crafts Exhibition (catalog page 65, catalog included). It is 15.5 cm (6 inches) diameter and in perfect condition.
Yamato Tsutomu was born the second son of Yamato Yasuo, the man who brought Hagi into the 20th century, in 1965. He graduated the Yamaguchi University of Arts in 1988. He has exhibited with Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition, the Nihon Dento Kogeiten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition) and Dento Kogei Shinsaku Ten (New Traditional Crafts Exhibition) among others. His first solo exhibition was held in 1996. He served as a guest lecturer at Mendocino Art Center in California in 2001, and currently lectures at the Yamaguchi Prefectural University. Work by him is held in the British Museum, the Japan Foundation, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the Yamaguchi Prefectural Museum of Art and Nomura Art Museum among others.