Wakao Kei continues to surprise and captivate with this turquoise blue porcelain vase from his recent offerings. Using deep, rich colors not often seen in this kind of celadon, the form of the vase is reminiscent of the natural contours of a Calla Lily.[Sold]

This Meiji period vase is made of fine white porcelain fashioned after classic Chinese pieces from the Song Dynasty. The potter, first generation Miura Chikusen, is the same generation as many of the better known Imperial Court artists (Kozan, Siefu, Tozan, etc…) and just as accomplished in terms of mastery of technique, level of artistic expression, and volume of pieces produced. 

This extraordinary vase is a truly Japanese expression of a classical Chinese form. Fashioned after cylindrical Song Dynasty pieces that are thought to have been introduced in the 9th century from Syria, the handles are of Chinese origin and represent the mythical “Chiwen” (Shichihoko in Japanese). This deity, typically depicted with the body of a carp, the head of a tiger, and the scales of a dragon, is believed to be a bringer of rain and a protector against fire. The outer ring of the foot is unglazed showing the fine porcelain clay this piece is constructed from and the glazed center bears the seal of the Imperial Court Artist who fashioned this piece.[Sold]

A native of Nagoya, a bustling Japanese center for shipping and trade in Late Edo, Baiitsu was heavily influenced by works of Chinese art, especially the naturalistic landscapes that made their way into Japan through this port city. Over time he came to paint almost exclusively birds in various landscapes and gained a reputation for his brushwork, exceptional attention to detail, and as he termed it the “spirit” he imbued in a completed work. [Sold]