Antique Japanese Gilded Sleeping Cat Porcelain Sculpture, circa 1910

A delightful Japanese attributed porcelain figure of a resting elephant with a young boy dating from the early 20th century. The hollow molded figure portrays a sleeping elephant, ly...

"Purple Dawn", a ceramic sculpture piece by Japanese potter Kiyoharu Ichino (1957-). Purchased from Touching Stone, Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2003. Tradition meets renovation, this sculptural piece with its slab like minimal shape draws the viewer into its mysterious shape that is reminiscent of a monument. Its surface, with the typical Tanba clay fired at very high temperature and completely free of glaze, radiates a subtle metallic sheen that is nearly in a shade of purple. This piece was purchased from Touching Stone, Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2003. Artist's bio from the gallery and the exhibition: "Kiyoharu Ichino was born in 1957 in Tachikui into an extended family steeped in pottery-making tradition. He learned all aspects of Tanba pottery since childhood. When he was twenty, he moved to Seto to study pottery under a master of Akatsu-yaki. Upon returning to Tachikui, he launched his career with the Tanba Group Kiln. In 1983, he established his own kiln and began showing in galleries all over Japan. His works have been selected repeatedly for the prestigious juried Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition sponsored by the Japan Crafts Association. In 1995, he was nominated to be a permanent member of The Japan Crafts Association, an honor bestowed to the most experienced and talented artists. Traditional Tanba pottery is fired unglazed at very high temperature in large wood-fueled kilns. Ichino uses both an anagama (hole kiln) and a noborigama (climbing kiln), burning almost a thousand bundles of wood over several days to bring out the unique personalities of Tanba clay, which is renowned for its rich texture and deep purplish brown colors. Many of his pieces show silvery fire-marks like swirling mists left by the wood fire. His pieces appear to be integral parts of the clay rather than separate objects made from it. To show the unique clay texture, he often includes seemingly unfinished edges in his designs, exposing the rough clay body. Despite the high level of sophistication and innovation, Ichino's works maintain a strong connection with the ancient Tanba pottery tradition. Ichino should be no stranger to many Santa Fe residents. His work has been exhibited both in Touching Stone Gallery and as part of a major exhibition in the New Mexico Museum of International Folk Art in 2006. About Tanba ware...

Antique Meiji period Japanese porcelain temple jar with intricate hand painted decoration and gilt. The jar in Classic Kutani colors with floral and phoenix birds all over the top an...

Sharing with you this amazing Japanese Kutani model of a recumbent sleeping cat, 19th Century. The details and facial expression are amazing. With enamel ribbon bow tied around its n...

Nauru sculpture The copper details of this sculpture are able to show different colors thanks to the concentric lines present on the surface that expand and contract the space whe...

This is a good Chinese porcelain foo dog, sometimes called a temple lion all hand painted in polychrome coloured enamels, that we date to the early 20th Century period, circa 1920. ...

A fine antique Japanese Nippon porcelain vase or covered urn. With green, pink, and white tones in raised moriage enamel that gives a three-dimensional effect. Decorated with 4 cartouches throughout. The main cartouche features a moriage dragon...

A spectacularly glazed Japanese Kutani model, okimono, of a pheasant, Showa era, early 20th century, Japan. The okimono, or decorative sculpture, in the form of a magnificent phea...

A fine pair of large 19th century Chinese Export models of cockerels, decorated in blanc de chine with red highlights. Each modelled standing on pierced rockwork with head turned to ...

A single ceramic Lion Foo dog decorative object, circa early-20th century, 1930s, China. This Lion Foo Dog is green and yellow with dark brown accents and base. Piece and makes a gre...