Catalog: Artists (843)

A spectacular bowl by Ajiki Jun enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shio-yu Wan. It is 13 cm (over 5 inches) diameter, 10.5 cm (4 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Ajiki Jun was born the son of Bizen master Ajiki Hiro in Shimane in 1982, graduating the ceramics course of the Okayama Prefectural Technical School in 2001 before apprenticing initially in Shino under Kumagai Tadao before returning to work under his illustrious father from 2004. He was accepted at the Tanabe Museum of Art Modern Tea Forms exhibition in 2006 where he has exhibited consistently in addition to the Modern Tea Ceramics Chatoten as well as many private or solo exhibitions at some of Japans premier galleries.

Silver waves form wind whipped peaks on the rich iron red surface of this large serving platter by Banura Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ha no Mon Morisara. It is 58.5 x 30 x 7 cm (23 x 12 x 3 inches) and is in perfect condition.
Banura Shiro (1941-2001) was born the fourth son of influential Lacquer Artist Banura Shogo. His sensitivity to textures may stem from that exacting influence. Although his older brother succeeded the family tradition (another branching into paper arts), Shiro, after graduating the Kyoto University of Fine Art, apprenticed in the plastic arts under Kawamura Kitaro (1899-1966) who was a student of Kitaoji Rosanjin. Rosanjin, a restaurateur, artist, and overall renaissance man believed the dish was there to support and bring out the beauty of food served. Shiro took this as his raison d’etre; his lifetime pursuit to create dishes which complimented the seasonality, texture, color and flavor. He had an impressive list of exhibitions, including a private exhibition at the Umeda Kindai Bijutsu-Ten as well as the Niponbashi Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya, and Ikebukuro Tobu, the equivalent of being displayed on New Yorks Fifth Avenue or other cities most Trendy streets, as well as many international exhibitions. Like most Iga-area artists, his output was low, but quality and originality high, making his work very much in demand.

A large serving bowl with incised designs in cloudy pale glaze by Kumakura Junkichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Hachi. It is 25 cm (10 inches) diameter, 8.5 cm (3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Kumakura Junkichi (1920-1985) began working in ceramics in the 1940s, his works submitted to innumerable National and International Exhibitions including the Japan Art Festival, New York and the international Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Florence Italy. He also submitted to the Brussels World Exposition and helped design murals for the World Exposition Osaka. At the International Ceramics Exhibition, Prague in 1962 he took a silver prize. He was also often exhibited and is in the permanent collection of the Japanese National Museum of Modern Art as well as the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. Along with Suzuki Osamu, Hikaru Yamada and Yagi Kazuo, Junkichi was one of the founding members of the influential Sodeisha (Crawling Through Mud Association), a group of revolutionary post war ceramic artists whose influence remains strong today.

An early vase with kaki and oil-spot opposing each other over Irabo glaze by Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi titled Tetsu-yu Nisai Kabin. It is 15 cm (6 inches) diameter, 23 cm (9 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Shimizu Uichi (1926-2004) was born in Kyoto the son of a ceramic dealer. Discarding the family business, he apprenticed in plastic arts under future Living National Treasure Ishiguro Munemaro. His work retains some principal elements of his teachers style while incorporating an understated elegance and avant-garde spirit of challenge uncommon for his time. He was first exhibited at the Nitten in 1951, receiving numerous awards there since. He also took the gold medal at the Prague International Exhibition, and was at the Brussels World Exposition. He is in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto Museum of Modern art, Clark Center and the Freer Gallery among many others.

Another Exquisite Tea Pot by the young Kyoto University graduate Usami Kensuke enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Dobin. It is 10.5 x 13 x 16.5 cm (4 x 5 x 6-1/2 inches) and in perfect condtion, directly from the artist.
Usami Kensuke was born in Saitama prefecture in 1995, and graduated the elite Kyoto University Faculty of Comprehensive Human Studies in 2020, before making the life-altering choice to march down the path of a potter. He enrolled in the Tajimi Municipal Ceramics Research Facility where he initially drew our attention with his absolute perfection and sublime forms. He has since been chosen for several important contemporary exhibitions, being prized at the Ceramic Synergy exhibition held the Kyoto-City Kyocera Museum in 2023 as well as the Judges award at the 13th Mino International Ceramics Exhibition in 2024.

A pair of gourd-shaped Tokkuri colored with blue, green, yellow and aubergine over white fading to purple by Living National Treasure Tokuda Masahiko ‘(Yasokichi III) enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Each is 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) diameter, 17 cm (6-3/4 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Tokuda Yasokichi III (Masahiko, 1933-2009) was born the first son of Tokuda Yasokichi II who had been adopted as a teenager into the Tokuda family. Masahiko graduated from the Kanazawa school of arts, and took up apprenticeship under his grandfather and father Yasokichi I & II. Well versed in orthodox Kutani design, he broke with tradition developing his own unique style titled Saiyu in the 1970s. By broadening his spectrum with this new style of Kutani ware he garnered considerable attention. In 1986, he was named a Bearer of Important Intangible Cultural Assets by Ishikawa Prefecture (local version of Living National Treasure) and a decade later was designated Living National Treasure in 1997 for his supremacy in the use of Kutani glazes. Yasokichi III, His works are held by the Polk Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, The British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Smithsonian, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and Kanazawa Contemporary Museum of Art among many others.

A spiraling porcelain tower in two parts forming a container by Yamaura Yosuke enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shiroyari no Futamono (White Spear Container) It is 20 cm (8 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Yamaura Yosuke was born in Fukui in 1982, and graduated with a masters from the Shizuoka Universilty of Art and Culture in 2008. He went on to further study at the Tajimi City ceramics Design and Technical Center, graduating in 2010. He held a position in the product desing department of the Ceramics manufacturer,miyama Co., Ltd. until 2019 from when he went fully independent. He has been awarded at the 2009 Grand Prix for Graduation Exhibition of Tajimi City ceramics Design and Technical Center, 2011 Selected for the Ceramics category of International Ceramic Festival IN MINO, .2013 Selected for The 40th Mino Ceramics Exhibition 2014 he received Bronze prize “mizu-hiki”for Mino table ware new work exhibition the Ceramics Park Mino and in 2016 Theme prize “rante” for Mino table ware new work exhibition and agin there in 2017 as well as being selected for the International Ceramic Festival IN MINO. In 2019 his work was selected for “Kanazawa International Craft Competition”21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. He is held in the collection of the Faenza Museum of Contemporary Ceramics (Faenza,Italy)

A porcelain box bridging the Jigen (Time & Space) series and the influential Mist Series by Kondo Takahiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Jigen Tobako. Silver mist beads on the outer surface decorated inside with blue and white designs. It is 22.5 x 12.5 x 9 cm (9 x 5 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kondo Takahiro (b. 1958) was born the grandson of Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo. However, he graduated Hosei University not with a degree in sculpture or crafts, but in Literature. From there he studied at the Kyoto Prefectural Technical Institute of Ceramics, followed by a year at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research. 15 years later he would spend a year in Edinburgh studying glass making, and with this combination of skills, was born the silver mist series for which he is so highly acclaimed. Work by him is held in Museums throughout the world, including the National Museum of Scotland, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Museum of Arts & Design, New York, Spencer Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Art Gallery NSW, Sydney, Hamilton Art Gallery, Australia, Miho Museum. National Gallery of Victoria, Paramita Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art, Shigaraki, and The São Paulo Museum of Art, Brazil among others. Without a doubt one of the most important contemporary artists in Japan today. For more see Celestial Ceramics: The Art of Kondo Takahiro (2002)

A large seed-shaped object by legendary female artist Koike Shoko. It is 27.5 x 17.5 x 17 cm (11 x 7 x 6-3/4 inches) and is in excellent condition, enclosed in a contemporary kiri-wood box.
Born in 1943, Koike Shoko graduated Japan’s top art school (the Tokyo University of Art) in 1969. Eschewing the world of public Exhibition, Shoko has concentrated on private venues and museums. Her list of exhibitions both within Japan and out is extensive, with works in any number of important public and private collections including the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo. For more on this artist see Soaring Voices (2007) or Touch Fire (2009)

A set of demitasse sized coffee cups with saucers in vibrant colors by Matsuda Yuriko. The cups are roughly 9 x 6.5 x 6.5 cm, the saucers 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches) diameter and all are in perfect condition.
Matsuda Yuriko was born in Ashiya, Hyōgō Prefecture in 1943nd lives and works in Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture. Yuriko is an avid exhibitor; it is a wonder she has time to do any work at all. Both within Japan (Nihon Togei Ten, Gendai Togei Ten etc.) and without she has an impressive list of exhibitions in a host of countries. She received the Yagi Kazuo prize in 1986 among many others. According to the book “Touch Fire”, Many of the women artists included in this exhibition are independent innovators who work outside the constraints of Japanese ceramic traditions. However, several of the artists, including Matsuda Yuriko, continue to use traditional techniques with skills that rival, if not exceed, those of their predecessors, and in doing so they create new and challenging contemporary ceramic art. They reinterpret the traditional decorative technique for porcelain vessels, called iro-e over-glaze enameling, and transposes its motifs onto nonfunctional objects. Her beautifully enameled iro-e porcelain sculptures are witty odes to two favorite subjects: the female body and Mount Fuji. For more information on this artist and examples of her work see the books Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, Fired with Passion by Beatrice Chang and Samuel Lurie. Also see Contemporary Clay, Japanese Ceramics for the New Century based on the Museum of Fine Arts Boston exhibition or Soaring Voices, Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists (2010). Her work is also currently on tour with the Radical Clay Exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago.

A spectacular bowl with torn edges covered in thick green and crackled pale glaze by one of Japan’s most renowned potters Kawakita Handeishi enclosed in a wooden box titled Shiro Gake Hachi signed by the great collector Fujita Tofu. The bowl is 16 cm (6-1/4 inches) diameter, 7 cm (3 inches) tall and in perfect condition. The deep connection Between Handeishi and Fujita Tofu was explored in the Sekisui Hakubutsukan Museum exhibition in 2012.
Kawakita Handeishi (1878-1963) was born in Osaka and was appointed director of the Hyakugo Bank at the young age of 25. In his early 30s he expanded his influence into the political world becoming a member of the Mie Prefectural Assembly in 1910, and shortly thereafter began studying pottery. He became the bank president in 1919, and in the 1920s established his own pottery studio. He had a Profound impact on the 20th century Tea aesthetic as well as the revival of traditional pottery traditions through his influence on younger researchers such as Kaneshige Toyo, Arakawa Toyozo and Miwa Kyuwa. Work by him is held in the Brooklyn Museum, National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Miho Museum, Gifu Prefectural Museum of Modern Ceramic Art and Sekisui Museum among many others.

A small pottery box impressed with flower designs by Kondo Yutaka from his Funka (Scattered Blossom) series. It is 13.4 cm (5-1/2 inches) diameter, 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition. It comes in a contemporary wooden box.
Kondo Yutaka (1932-1983) was born into a traditional pottery family in Kyoto. He studied under Living National Treasures Kondo Yuzo and Tomimoto Kenkichi at the Kyoto Municipal University of Art, graduating in 1957. That same year his work was accepted into the New Masters of Crafts Exhibition (Shin-takumi Kogeikai Ten). From 1962-63 he traveled in the US and lectured at Indiana Universtiy with Karl Martz. Returning to Japan he was granted a position at his Alma Matter, where he would continue to teach for the rest of his life, while making frequent research trips abroad to South and Central Asia, where he would master the T’zu Chou techniques expressed in these works. He twice received the Mayors prize at the Kyoten Exhibition, was awarded at the Asahi Togeiten, and is recipient of the coveted JCS award in 1967. The following year would see his work displayed at the New Generation of Ceramics Exhibition held at the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art. In 1985 a posthumous exhibition was held honoring his lifes work at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art. Work by the artist is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, Musée Tomo, Tokyo And the Victoria & Albert Museum, London among others. For more on this important artist see the book Kondo Yutaka: The Transformation of a Traditional Kyoto Family (2010)

A classical Iga Mizusashi fresh water jar by veteran artist and tea master Sugimoto Sadamitsu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Mizusashi and endorsed by the Buddhist priest Tachibana Daiki. It is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter, 18 cm (just over 7 inches) tall and in excellent condition, retaining the original ceramic lid.
Sugimoto Sadamitsu was born in Tokyo in 1935. A strong adherent to the Zen tradition, Sadamitsu established his own kiln at 33, receiving the kiln name from his mentor Daitokuji priest Tachibana Oki. His Zen studies have refined the spiritual side of his work, and all of his wood fired ceramics have a quiet and confident power. He has spent his life in the research of kohiki, Shigaraki Iga and Raku wares, and is more than well known in tea circles for the discriminating soul of his works. For more information on this artist see the book Fired with passion : contemporary Japanese ceramics ISBN 1-891640-38-0. Tachibana Daiki (1898-2005) born in Osaka, entered the Buddhist orders at Nansoji. He later moved to Myoshinji in Kyoto where he received Inka. He would go on to serve as the 511th abbot of Daitokuji, and be given the reins of Nyoian in Tokusenji, a subtemple of Daitokuji. He would serve as head of Hanazono University and was a strong proponent of The Way of Tea.

Vibrant colors splash playful designs across the flattened sides of this serving vessel by Matsuda Yuriko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Suichu. It is 20 x 8 x 24 xm (roughly 8 x 3-1/4 x 9-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Matsuda Yuriko was born in Ashiya, Hyōgō Prefecture in 1943nd lives and works in Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture. Yuriko is an avid exhibitor; it is a wonder she has time to do any work at all. Both within Japan (Nihon Togei Ten, Gendai Togei Ten etc.) and without she has an impressive list of exhibitions in a host of countries. She received the Yagi Kazuo prize in 1986 among many others. According to the book “Touch Fire”, Many of the women artists included in this exhibition are independent innovators who work outside the constraints of Japanese ceramic traditions. However, several of the artists, including Matsuda Yuriko, continue to use traditional techniques with skills that rival, if not exceed, those of their predecessors, and in doing so they create new and challenging contemporary ceramic art. They reinterpret the traditional decorative technique for porcelain vessels, called iro-e over-glaze enameling, and transposes its motifs onto nonfunctional objects. Her beautifully enameled iro-e porcelain sculptures are witty odes to two favorite subjects: the female body and Mount Fuji. For more information on this artist and examples of her work see the books Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, Fired with Passion by Beatrice Chang and Samuel Lurie. Also see Contemporary Clay, Japanese Ceramics for the New Century based on the Museum of Fine Arts Boston exhibition or Soaring Voices, Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists (2010). Her work is also currently on tour with the Radical Clay Exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago.

A massive blue and white porcelain basin with silver glaze by Leg3endary Kyoto artist Kondo Takahiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Sometsuke Ginsai Hachi. It is 42.5 cm (16-3/4 inches) diameter, 13 cm (just over 5 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Kondo Takahiro (b. 1958) was born the grandson of Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo. However, he graduated Hosei University not with a degree in sculpture or crafts, but in Literature. From there he studied at the Kyoto Prefectural Technical Institute of Ceramics, followed by a year at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research. 15 years later he would spend a year in Edinburgh studying glass making, and with this combination of skills, was born the silver mist series for which he is so highly acclaimed. Work by him is held in Museums throughout the world, including the National Museum of Scotland, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Museum of Arts & Design, New York, Spencer Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Art Gallery NSW, Sydney, Hamilton Art Gallery, Australia, Miho Museum. National Gallery of Victoria, Paramita Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art, Shigaraki, and The São Paulo Museum of Art, Brazil among others. Without a doubt one of the most important contemporary artists in Japan today. For more see Celestial Ceramics: The Art of Kondo Takahiro (2002)

A striking receptacle in rippling sandy clay by Sakiyama Takayuki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hamon (Ripples). It is 23.5 cm (9 inches) diameter, 20.5 cm (8 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Sakiyama Takayuki (b. 1958) graduated the Osaka Art University in 1981. In 1984 he exhibited for the first time at the Nitten National Exhibition. He established his kiln in Shizuoka in 1987, and was accepted into and prized at the National Ceramics Exhibition (Nihon Togeiten) for the first time in 1991 as well as being prized at the Nihon Gendai Kogeiten (modern crafts exhibition). In 2005 he received Grand Prize at the Nihon Togeiten. Work by the artist is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum New York, Brooklyn Museum, Minneapolis, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, LACMA, Musée national de Céramique- Sèvres, France, National Museum of Scotland as well as the Museum of Ceramic Art in Hyogo and the Sano Museum among many others.

Playful designs in vibrant color decorate this sake cup by ground-breaking female artist Matsuda Yuriko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Hai. It is 6 cm (2-1/4 inches) diameter, 6 cm tall and in perfect condition.
Matsuda Yuriko was born in Ashiya, Hyōgō Prefecture in 1943nd lives and works in Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture. Yuriko is an avid exhibitor; it is a wonder she has time to do any work at all. Both within Japan (Nihon Togei Ten, Gendai Togei Ten etc.) and without she has an impressive list of exhibitions in a host of countries. She received the Yagi Kazuo prize in 1986 among many others. According to the book “Touch Fire”, Many of the women artists included in this exhibition are independent innovators who work outside the constraints of Japanese ceramic traditions. However, several of the artists, including Matsuda Yuriko, continue to use traditional techniques with skills that rival, if not exceed, those of their predecessors, and in doing so they create new and challenging contemporary ceramic art. They reinterpret the traditional decorative technique for porcelain vessels, called iro-e over-glaze enameling, and transposes its motifs onto nonfunctional objects. Her beautifully enameled iro-e porcelain sculptures are witty odes to two favorite subjects: the female body and Mount Fuji. For more information on this artist and examples of her work see the books Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, Fired with Passion by Beatrice Chang and Samuel Lurie. Also see Contemporary Clay, Japanese Ceramics for the New Century based on the Museum of Fine Arts Boston exhibition or Soaring Voices, Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists (2010). Her work is also currently on tour with the Radical Clay Exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago.

A guinomi on a tall pedestal in white by female artist Koike Shoko enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shiroi no Katachi (White form). It is 8 cm (3 inches) diameter, 6.8 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Born in 1943, Koike Shoko graduated Japan’s top art school (the Tokyo University of Art) in 1969. Eschewing the world of public Exhibition, Shoko has concentrated on private venues and museums. Her list of exhibitions both within Japan and out is extensive, with works in any number of important public and private collections including the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo. For more on this artist see Soaring Voices (2007) or Touch Fire (2009)