Georgia - Ceramics

A tri-pod ceramic incense burner (koro) by Japanese Imperial potter Makuzu Kozan (1842-1916) circa late Meiji to the start of Taisho period (1890-1910s). A fine example of the artist's work belonging to the late part of his underglaze paint phase (started around 1887 until his death), the surface of the koro was painted in beautiful shades of blue to depict a continuous landscape not unlike a traditional ink and watercolor hand scroll. The rise and fall mountains recede and fade into the horizon and are dotted with groves of pines. The sky is painted with a beautiful subtle shade of pink, suggesting a time of sunrise or sunset. The koro is fitted with an ensuite reticulated sterling silver hoya (incense cover), pierced with swirling cloud and marked with "pure silver' in Kanji. The base is signed in underglaze blue "Makuzu Kozan Sei" within a double ring. The piece is beautifully potted in form and the decoration was done with expertise using the novel technique developed by Kozan called Fuki-e (the blow painting), in order to achieve the striking landscape known as "Mountain and Water" with sense of dimensions and gradient, the poetic effects normally conveyed only by sumi ink staining on paper. The piece comes with an unsigned tomobako (wood storage box) of a recent age. Also known as Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), Makuzu Kozan was one of the most established and collected ceramist from Meiji Period. Born as Miyagawa Toranosuke, Kozan established his pottery studio in Yokohama around 1870s and later became one of the appointed artists to the Japanese Imperial household. His work was exhibited in many international fairs that the Meiji government participated at the turn of the century and won many grand prizes. Being one of the most creative ceramists, Kozan started experimenting with new chemical colors from the West in the format of his porcelain glaze around 1880s. New colors allowed him to create underglaze designs that appeared bright, smooth and glossy. He even invented his own receipt of cobalt blue to achieve a much brighter yet softer shade, as evident on this vase. To create landscape that is realistic and dimensional, more common in the western paintings, he was inspired by the native Japanese ink painting technique developed around 1900 by Yokoyama...

A Chinese stoneware day bed model circa Ming dynasty (15th-17th century). The miniature models were traditionally made as burial offering objects. Pottery models of daily life necess...

A pair of Japanese decorative ceramic plates, made in Arita for export market circa 17-18th century. The cabinet-display dishes feature lotus-petal gilt rim and a lavish tricolor ene...

An impressive stoneware bottle form vase by contemporary Japanese studio potter Ken Matsuzaki (1950-) circa 2010s. The solid form takes its cue from Chinese traditional plum vase (Meiping) with raised and swelled shoulder and a small opening, yet it rises from a non-conventional pentagonal faceted base. The extraordinary surface was covered with Yohen Shino glaze in a deep iron hue. Thick white slips were applied in bold strokes to the lower portion of the vase. The abstract pattern calls to mind of the imagery of the iconic ocean waves found in traditional Japanese art. The presence of the vase is strong and none-compromising, reaching back to the past yet appearing utterly modern. It is marked by the artist underneath and comes with the original tomobako with title and author inscriptions and a wrapping cloth with the artist's seal. "Ken Matsuzaki’s haptic ceramics bring a contemporary approach to traditional Japanese ceramicware, most notably 16th-century Oribe pottery...

A stoneware vase with white dripping glaze from Hagi by Kyusetsu Miwa X (1895-1981), Showa Period. The vase is in the shape of "Double Gourd" with a bulbous ...

A tall ceramic vase made in the tradition of Shigaraki ware by Japanese potter Takahashi Shunsai (1927-2011), the fourth heir of the famed Rakusai lineage of potters. The vase is heavily potted in the reddish sandy Shigaraki clay. It has a Classic vase form made for Ikebana display. The surface is thickly draped with natural ash glaze that deposited onto the body during the firing process in the kiln. It also features decoration of carved lines. Nuggets of feldspar were incorporated in the clay and exposed onto the surface as crystal like jewels. Substantial and archaic looking, the vase also has a strong modern appeal due to its Mingei styling. It was signed on the base with a pressed seal Shunsai as shown. The vase comes with its original wood storage box (tomobako) with bears the title and signature in Kanji and a seal. It also retains a paperwork noting the artist's biography and practice philosophy in Japanese. Born in Shigaraki, Shunsai was the second son of renowned potter Takahashi Rakusai...

Japanese ceramic Suzuki Tomio (born in 1948) specializes in Shino ware. In 2003, he successfully developed Yohen-kin or transformed gold Shino, an opulent and golden glaze which led to a number of luster glazes in the artist’s growing body of work. Inspired by the golden tea ceremony room in Osaka Castle commissioned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) where honored guests were served tea from a glittering bowl coated with pure gold, it took the artist nearly a decade of experimentation and refinement to achieve the glaze while strictly adhering to traditional shino making techniques. This set of five Yohen-kin plates displays a lustrous transformation. Signed on the bottom of plates. With original wrap cloth and the storage tomobako box entitled and signed by the artist in Kanji, with additional red seal. The size of the box is 5-1/8 x 8-1/4 x 8-1/4 inches. Many of Suzuki Tomio's shino pottery...

A spindle form porcelain vase by Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007). As a modern interpretation of "Mei-Ping", a classic form of Chinese vase,...

18th century Japanese Kakiemon foliate rimmed bowl, Edo period (1603-1867). This charming bowl's decor shows a guardian lion ("shi shi") and a floral...

Miniature 17th century blue and white pear-shaped vase decorated with birds and flowers. This miniature vase was part of a hoard recovered by Captain Michael Hatcher...

18th Century miniature blue and white vase with celadon base and cafe au lait band, Qianlong period (1736 - 1795). Small and elegant, wit...

Song jarlet with deep brown glaze, 12th century. This small piece is all about purity of form, enhanced by the rich color of its glaze, which has a subtle crackle. The glaze, which covers almost the entire piece except for the very edge of its foot, looks like melted chocolate poured over...

Pair of small Ming Dynasty (1364-1644) terracotta polychrome figures, in excellent condition. Here's a cute little couple, looking very spry for their age. Both figures are wearing...

Ming dynasty pottery figure of a standing woman, likely from the Suzhou region. This is a small figure with a lot of personality, rendered in crea...

12th century terracotta head of a woman, Song Dynasty (from 960 to 1279). This small, delicately molded head of a woman wearing an elaborate headdress is mounted on a cube-shaped...