Catalog (915)

A beautiful ice-colored set of drinking implements by Kato Tsubusa enclosed in the original signed wooden box consisting of a Katakuchi serving vessel and a guinomi cup. The Guinomi is 8 x 8.5 x 5.5 cm (roughly 3 inches diameter, 2 inches tall). The Katakuchi is roughly 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter, 9.5 cm (4 inches) tall and both are in perfect condition, directly from the artist this summer.
Kato Tsubusa was born in Tajimi city, the home of Shino, in 1962, graduating the municipal Pottery Design and Technical Center in 1979. From then to 1983 he worked as a decorator at the Otai Kiln moving out on his own in 1984. In 2007 he was selected for the Paramita Museum Ceramic Exhibition, and established his current ki;n in 2009. 2013 was an auspicious year, with him being awarded the 7th Enku Taishoten and the Japan Ceramic Society Award. He has been displayed at the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, The Chunichi Kokusai Togei Ten (Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition) and The Asahi Togei Ten as well as private exhibitions overseas (New York among others). Work by him is held in the Aichi Ceramics Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, The Brooklyn Museum, The Gifu Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, the Ibaraki Ceramic art Museum, the Musee Tomo in Tokyo, the Victoria & Albert Museum among others For more on this important artist see Toh, Volume 85 (1993), which is entirely dedicated to him. Also Quiet Clarity “RIN” (1996), or Fired with passion: Contemporary Ceramics of Japan (2007).

A radical heavy slab of Terracotta clay blasted with ash by Fujimoto Hide enclosed in the orignials signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Toban. It is 33 x 26.5 x 3.5cm (13 x 10-3/4 x 1-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Fujimoto Hide was born in the heart of Shigaraki in 1954, and was fascinated with the medium from a very young age. He worked in several potteries and industrial positions for a decade from 1973, always furthering his understanding of firing technique and glazes, followed by a decade of firing and sculpting, culminating in establishing his own kiln in the forests of Shigaraki in 1995. His work has been picked up by many of Japan’s preeminent galleries including several private exhibitions with Kuroda Toen in Ginza, the Togei no Mori Museum in Shiga, and just recently an exhibition in Taiwan.

Copper green tinges the mustard surface of this striking elevated dish by Hayashi Shotaro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ki-Seto Uzumaki-mon Shihozara (Swirling pattern Square Plate in Yellow Seto Glaze). It is 27 x 22 x 7.5 cm (10-3/4 x 9 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Hayashi Shotaro (b. 1947) is one of the biggest names in contemporary Mino ceramics. Although initially entering regular employment upon graduating high school, in 1967 he returned to Toki city to help his brother Kotaro. Very quickly within him was born the urge to create. He won the highest award at the Gifu Prefectural Art Exhibition in 1968, and from there his talent blossomed. He established his own kiln in 1974. Since then his list of exhibitions and awards has been amazing, including the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (National Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition), Governors Prize and five times winner of Best of Show at the Asahi Togei Ten (Asahi Ceramics Exhibition), and Best of Show at Gifu Prefectural Exhibition. At the Mino Ceramics Exhibition, in addition to the highest award, the Mino Ceramics Award, he has received all three major awards, including the Shoroku Award and the Kobei Award.

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.

A beautiful blue fluted bowl by Kawase Shinobu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seiji Rinka Bachi. It is 19.5 cm (8 inches) diameter, 8 cm (3 inches) tall to the rim and in excellent condition.
Kawase Shinobu was born in Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1950, heir to a family tradition of potting. His grandfather and father were Kawase Chikushun I and II respectively, masters of Chinese based ceramic styles. He began working with his father, and first came to public attention with his acceptance into the 1969 Nihon Dentō Kōgei Shinsakuten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition for New Works). This was followed by acceptance into the 1974 Nihon Dentō Kogeiten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition), at both of which he exhibited frequently. In 1980 he was selected for the Japan Ceramics Society Exhibition and was awarded there the following year. In 1983 his work was selected for the Japanese Ceramics Today exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. From then his works have been exhibited throughout the globe and he is regarded as Japan’s most outstanding celadon artist working with the traditions of the Tang and Song dynasties. With his exquisite technique, organic forms and pristine glazes, he has developed a unique style that is both traditional and challenging and it is this fusion of contemporary and tradition which draws droves to his art. Work is held in the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, San Francisco Asian Art Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Cincinnati Art Museum, Denver Art Museum, Brooklyn, Birmingham Cleveland, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Saint Louis Museums of Art among others. There is a plethora of information available on this innovative artist, including: Japanese Ceramics Today: Masterworks from the Kikuchi Collection, (Tsuji, Tomo, Hayashiya, 1983), Modern Japanese Ceramics in American Collections (Frederick Baekeland and Robert Moes, 1993), Quiet Clarity “RIN” Beauty in Contemporary Ceramics (1996), Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century (Joe Earle, 2005), The Betsy and Robert Feinberg Collection: Japanese Ceramics for the Twenty first Century (Mintz, 2014), and or Into the Fold: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection (Harn Museum, 2015)

A raw porcelain sake cup patterned with blended colored clay by Kusaba Eight enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Neriage Yakishime Guinomi. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter, 4.5 cm (just less than 2 inches) tall and in perfect condition, directly from the artist.
Kusaba Eight was born in Arita in 1982, son of the prodigal Kusaba Yuji, who began working the family kiln the year Eight turned 3. Eight as a personality is quite intense, and quick to smile. He quit school and joined the Japanese Air Force. In 2000 he moved to New York, returning to Japan in 2006 where he worked in a music production company in design and videography. He moved back to Arita in 2015, taking up residence under his father at the family kiln.

A Sake cup created from two layers of mixed colored porcelain clay by Kusaba Eight enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Neriawase Guinomi. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter, 5 cm (2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kusaba Eight was born in Arita in 1982, son of the prodigal Kusaba Yuji, who bagan working the family kiln the year Eight turned 3. Eight as a personality is quite intense, and quick to smile. He quite school and joined the Japanese Air Force. In 2000 he moved to New York, returning to Japan in 2006 where he worked in a music production company in design and videography. He moved back to Arita in 2015, taking up residence under his father at the family kiln.

A spectacular bold statement in burnt straw and raw clay by Master of the genre Yamashita Joji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Hidasuki Hirokuchi Hanaire. Slightly elongated with four somewhat flattened sides, each is a unique perspective. It is roughly 35 cm (14 inches) diameter, 38 cm (15 inches) tall and weighs 8.2 Kg (18 pounds). It is in perfect condition.
Due to size the cost of shipping will be accrued separately.
Yamashita Joji (b. Tokyo, 1947) lives in Okayama, but began his artistic career in the Vancouver Art School in Canada. Upon returning to Japan in 1971 he apprenticed under (to be) living national treasure Isezaki Jun. He was first awarded in 1972 at the 19th Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and In 1973 was exhibited at the 2nd Nihon Togeiten. This was the start of a stellar career, seeing him establish his own kiln in Inbe in 1978. He has since received too many awards to be listed here including the Nihon Togeiten and Top prize at the 14th Tanabe Art Museum Modern Tea Forms Exhibition (Chanoyu Zokei Ten), and served as mentor to a new age of potters including Wakimoto Hiroyuki.

Plovers soar over strips of white and gray along the jagged edge of a green pool on this elongated Oribe slab platter on four raised feet by Kato Kuniya enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Oribe O-zara. It displays much of the most notable aspects of Mino ware, from the rough white clay torn and scarred, the rich green of Oribe copper, and the snow-white and gray and of Shino and Nezumi Shino wares. It is 65 x 28.5 x 10 cm (25-1/2 x 11 x 4 inches) and is in perfect condition.
Kato Kuniya was born in Tajimi City, home of Oribe and Shino wares, in 1940. After initial studies at the municipal research facility, he apprenticed under Hineno Sakuzo. Following a stint as an instructor, he went to Kyoto to further his skills where he studied painting, decorating and sculpture, before returning to Toki to establish his kiln in 1970. He has since exhibited with the Nitten Nihon Gendai Togeiten National Modern Ceramics Exhibition, Asahi Togeiten, Chunichi Kokusai International Ceramics Exhibition, Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Traditional Crafts Exhibition among many others, and has received many others.

A playful sculpture by Nakashima Harumi, the bulbous white bubbles covered in blue and silver dots enclosed in a rare signed wooden box decorated with an image of the piece and titled Zawazawa Suru Katachi. It is 34 x 24 x 24 cm (13-1/2 x 10 x 10 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Nakashima Harumi was born in Gifu prefecture, home of a long ceramic tradition, in 1950. He stidied at the Osaka University of Art and Design, graduating advanced studies there in 1973. Deeply influenced by the Avant garde Sodeisha group and specifically the work of his mentor Kumakura Junkichi, he set out not to create works that sell, but to create works which met some inner need. After several years in Shigaraki, he moved to Tajimi, near his hometown, in 1976, accepting a position at the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center where he would remain employed until becoming head of the ceramics department at the Aichi Prefectural University of Education in 2003 where he would mentor a great many young artists who are now stars in the contemporary pottery realm (Hattori Makiko, Tanaka Tomomi etc). He was recipient of the prestigious Japan Ceramics Society Award in 2010. From 2014 he has served as head of the Ishoken Ceramics Research facility. Work by him is held in the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, 21st century Museum of Art in Kanazawa, Ibaragi Ceramic Art Museum, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Museum of Modern Ceramic Art in Gifu, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Everson Museum of Art New York, Museum of Art and Design New York, The International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza in Italy, Hetjens Museum in Germany, as well as the China Ceramic Art Center in Shangyu and Tsinghua University in Beijing, among many others.

Ready to soar off the table, a magnificent basin by Minegishi Seiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Suiseiji Utsuwa. The glaze is like layers of shattered ice, mirror smooth and emerald (actually Jade according to the title). It is 46 x 30 x 20 cm (18 x 12 x 8 inches) and in perfect condition.
Born in 1952 in Saitama, Minegishi Seiko studied under various masters in Nagano, Tochigi and Ibaragi, going solo at the young age of 22. He worked in Kohiko ware initially, but moved to celadon, and is considered one of a select few true masters of that form in Japan today. He moved his kiln from Saitama to Nasu in Tochigi in 1993, and has since exhibited with the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten, Dento Kogei Shinsaku Ten and Nihon Togeiten among others.

A set of Gohon glazed dishes decorated with Akebi mountain fruits by Komatsu Kin (Hitoshi) fired at the Fuki Kiln enclosed in the original signed and compartmentalized wooden box also decorated inside the lid with the same hanging fruit. Each dish is roughly 16 cm (6 inches) diameter and all are in perfect condition.
Komatsu Kin (Hitoshi, 1902-1989) was born as the son of Buddhist priest Komatsu Baiyu, Head of Enmeiji Temple in Yamagata prefecture. At the age of 16 he went to Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture as an apprentice at a clothing store, but soon returned to his hometown where he worked in a geta store making wooden shoes. In 1920, he returned to Tokyo with the intention of becoming a painter, and attended the Kawabata Gajuku while delivering newspapers. Following the devastation of the Great Kanto Earthquake he moved to Kyoto and studied under Tsuchida Bakusen. In1926, he won the National Painting Award with his wroks "Akibayashi" and "Evening Moon" at the 5th Teiten National Art Exhibition. While living a self-sufficient life in Ohara, a valley town on the outskirts of Kyoto, he created a unique painting world stylistically unique and easily identifiable; rustic yet bold. In 1946, he exhibited "Peony" at the 31st Inten Exhibition and was awarded the Japan Art Institute Award. In 1979, he won the Prime Minister's Prize for "Yuki no Mogami River," which was exhibited at the 64th Inten Exhibition. A year before his death a large traveling exhibition beginning at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art toured Yamagata Museum of Art, Kure City Museum of Art, Hirosaki City Museum, and Takaoka City Museum of Art. He passed away in 1989. In 1990, the Komatsu Hitoshi Museum opened in Kyoto.

A very unusual sake cup by Kusaba Eight enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Neriage Yakishime Guinomi. In this case there is no glaze over the raw porcelain clay, allowing it to feel soft and textured to the touch. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter, 4.5 cm (just less than 2 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Kusaba Eight was born in Arita in 1982, son of the prodigal Kusaba Yuji, who bagan working the family kiln the year Eight turned 3. Eight as a personality is quite intense, and quick to smile. He quite school and joined the Japanese Air Force. In 2000 he moved to New York, returning to Japan in 2006 where he worked in a music production company in design and videography. He moved back to Arita in 2015, taking up residence under his father at the family kiln.

A very unusual sake cup by Kusaba Eight enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Neriage Yakishime Guinomi. In this case there is no glaze over the raw porcelain clay, allowing it to feel soft and textured to the touch. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter, 5 cm (2 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Kusaba Eight was born in Arita in 1982, son of the prodigal Kusaba Yuji, who bagan working the family kiln the year Eight turned 3. Eight as a personality is quite intense, and quick to smile. He quite school and joined the Japanese Air Force. In 2000 he moved to New York, returning to Japan in 2006 where he worked in a music production company in design and videography. He moved back to Arita in 2015, taking up residence under his father at the family kiln.

A very unusual digital camouflage tea cup by Kusaba Eight enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Saiji Neriage Kappu. It is 8 cm (just more than 3 inches) diameter,7.6 cm (3 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Kusaba Eight was born in Arita in 1982, son of the prodigal Kusaba Yuji, who bagan working the family kiln the year Eight turned 3. Eight as a personality is quite intense, and quick to smile. He quit school to join the Japanese Air Force. In 2000 he moved to New York, returning to Japan in 2006 where he worked in a music production company in design and videography. He moved back to Arita in 2015, taking up residence under his father at the family kiln mastering the techniques of Neriage, the only kiln in Arita to specialize in this aesthetic.

A museum quality work by eclectic artist Kawamoto Goro, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Sometsuke Utagaki-mon Kabin. This eight-sided vessel is decorated with key frets framing the maw under which people frolic about a stream of crashing waves. From his mature period, it is 8 3/4 inches (22 cm) tall roughly the same diameter 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 winner. 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 National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo among many others.

An ultra-modern hanging vase in ivory white porcelain by Matsumura Jun enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 34 cm (13-1/2 inches) long and in perfect condition, directly from the artist.
Matsumura Jun was born in Chiba Prefecture on the outskirts of Tokyo in 1986. He graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2010, and graduated the Tajimi Municipal Ceramics Research Facility in 2015, then went on to the Utatsuyama Research Facility in Kanazawa, leaving there in 2018. His transcendent, innovative forms have set the heart of the ceramic world racing and he has been awarded at the exhibition Tradition and Innovation-Japanese Ceramics Now as well as the 3rd Triennale of KOGEI in Kanazawa and have been presented at TEFAF in Maastricht, Art Fair Tokyo in 2018, Art Collect in London and Art Kyoto in 2019.

A footed square plate with sake cup inserted of raw colored porcelain clay by Kusaba Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Neriage Yakishime Nami-mon Ita-Zara (Mixed Colored Clay Unglazed Wave Pattern Flat Plate). It is 24.7 x 13 x 3.5 cm (10 x 5 x 1-1/2 inches) and in perfect condition, directly from the artist.
Kusaba Yuji was born in Arita, the heartland of Japanese porcelain, in 1955, and graduated the prestigious Nihon Daigaku in 1979. He returned to the family kiln in 1984, to apprentice under his father, diverging from ordinary porcelain production, he chose to attempt the unexplored techniques of Neriage colored clay in porcelain. His work was first exhibited in 1990 at the Nagasaki Togeiten, where he received the Governors prize. Since he has been accepted into or awarded at The Nihon Togeiten National Ceramics Exhibition, Dento Kogeiten Traditional Ceramics Exhibition Saga Kenten Prefectural Exhibition and Asahi Crafts Exhibition among others.