Sawa Kiyotsugu - Jar - Stoneware - Ash Glaze Lidded Jar
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Current bid
€ 85
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
Estimate € 170 - € 280
 | €85 | |
|---|---|---|
| €80 | |
| €75 |
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Shigaraki-yaki mizusashi water jar in unglazed stoneware by Sawa Kiyotsugu (b. 1948), with a domed lid and three lug projections on the shoulder, surface showing ash-wood firing in charcoal, ochre and buff tones, dimensions W 18.8 cm x H 16.0 cm (excluding lid), in good condition with no chips or cracks.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Item Description
This is a Shigaraki-yaki mizusashi (water jar for the tea ceremony) by 澤清嗣 Sawa Kiyotsugu (b. 1948), a recognised Shigaraki potter working in the anagama and noborigama tradition. The jar has a full, rounded body rising to a short neck, fitted with a matching domed lid topped by a sculptural, knob-like handle. Three small lug-form projections encircle the shoulder, echoing the raw, gestural handling for which the artist is known.
The unglazed stoneware body shows the dramatic surface effects produced by long wood firing: areas of deep charcoal-black ash deposit contrast with warm ochre and buff clay tones, while patches of natural green ash glaze have pooled near the rim and lid. The rough Shigaraki clay, embedded with visible feldspar and quartz particles, has been further worked with incised, comb-like scoring across the body, giving the surface strong tactile texture and movement.
This piece is well suited to a serious collection of contemporary Japanese studio ceramics or for practical use in tea ceremony settings.
Artist Profile
Sawa Kiyotsugu was born in 1948 in Shigaraki-chō, Kōka City, Shiga Prefecture, into a family with a long history of operating a Shigaraki pottery kiln. He graduated from Shiga Prefectural Shigaraki High School in 1967 and, in 1968, completed training at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Vocational Training Institute, spending two years working in Kyoto. In 1969 he returned to Shigaraki to study under master potter Takahashi Shunsai. In 1981 he established his independence, building both a noborigama (climbing kiln) and an anagama (cave kiln). In 2001, a work he submitted to the "Dai-Shigaraki-ten" (Grand Shigaraki Exhibition) was acquired by the Shiga Prefectural Ceramic Art Forest.
Size
Width: 18.8 cm
Height: 16.0 cm (excluding lid)
Condition
The piece has been inspected and shows no chips, cracks, or repairs; it is in excellent, near-unused condition. Minor surface variation from the wood-firing process is inherent to the making process rather than damage.
Additional Information
Ware type: Shigaraki-yaki (Shigaraki ware), Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Artist: Sawa Kiyotsugu (澤清嗣)
Accessories: no original signed box (tomobako) or other accessories are included
Authenticity: guaranteed genuine work by the artist
NOITICE:
The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation.
It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally.
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost.
These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping.
I appreciate your cooperation.
Seller's Story
We have been experienced as an antique dealer for more than a decade, we select and purchase high-quality products from all over Japan. I carefully select items with good taste, whether famous or not. I offer you an encounter with unknown Japanese goods.
Owner Profile
Name: Michito Nagahiro
Born in 1986 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. From an early age, I have been fascinated by the beautiful and practical designs of Japanese art, antiques, and consumer products, as well as the mindset and dedication of craftsmen and artists. I frequently visited museums and solo exhibitions as part of my daily life.
In 2012, under the guidance of a top mentor in the industry, I established myself as an antique dealer, handling a wide range of items, including Japanese antiques and artworks. Since 2017, I have specialized in selling Japanese antiques and fine art, primarily in Europe, achieving over 20,000 successful sales to date.
In 2019, I launched a completely free service to support individuals in Japan who experience loneliness. This initiative involves personally visiting people, engaging in conversations, sharing meals, and, if necessary, providing career advice. More than 1,000 people reach out to me annually for support.
Additionally, I am committed to promoting and supporting the sales of emerging artists whose work has not yet received public recognition. My philosophy goes beyond merely selling objects—I strive to convey the stories, history, and emotions embedded in each piece. By doing so, I aim to connect people with the lives of the artists and bring inspiration to those who encounter their work.
Item Description
This is a Shigaraki-yaki mizusashi (water jar for the tea ceremony) by 澤清嗣 Sawa Kiyotsugu (b. 1948), a recognised Shigaraki potter working in the anagama and noborigama tradition. The jar has a full, rounded body rising to a short neck, fitted with a matching domed lid topped by a sculptural, knob-like handle. Three small lug-form projections encircle the shoulder, echoing the raw, gestural handling for which the artist is known.
The unglazed stoneware body shows the dramatic surface effects produced by long wood firing: areas of deep charcoal-black ash deposit contrast with warm ochre and buff clay tones, while patches of natural green ash glaze have pooled near the rim and lid. The rough Shigaraki clay, embedded with visible feldspar and quartz particles, has been further worked with incised, comb-like scoring across the body, giving the surface strong tactile texture and movement.
This piece is well suited to a serious collection of contemporary Japanese studio ceramics or for practical use in tea ceremony settings.
Artist Profile
Sawa Kiyotsugu was born in 1948 in Shigaraki-chō, Kōka City, Shiga Prefecture, into a family with a long history of operating a Shigaraki pottery kiln. He graduated from Shiga Prefectural Shigaraki High School in 1967 and, in 1968, completed training at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Vocational Training Institute, spending two years working in Kyoto. In 1969 he returned to Shigaraki to study under master potter Takahashi Shunsai. In 1981 he established his independence, building both a noborigama (climbing kiln) and an anagama (cave kiln). In 2001, a work he submitted to the "Dai-Shigaraki-ten" (Grand Shigaraki Exhibition) was acquired by the Shiga Prefectural Ceramic Art Forest.
Size
Width: 18.8 cm
Height: 16.0 cm (excluding lid)
Condition
The piece has been inspected and shows no chips, cracks, or repairs; it is in excellent, near-unused condition. Minor surface variation from the wood-firing process is inherent to the making process rather than damage.
Additional Information
Ware type: Shigaraki-yaki (Shigaraki ware), Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Artist: Sawa Kiyotsugu (澤清嗣)
Accessories: no original signed box (tomobako) or other accessories are included
Authenticity: guaranteed genuine work by the artist
NOITICE:
The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation.
It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally.
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost.
These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping.
I appreciate your cooperation.
Seller's Story
We have been experienced as an antique dealer for more than a decade, we select and purchase high-quality products from all over Japan. I carefully select items with good taste, whether famous or not. I offer you an encounter with unknown Japanese goods.
Owner Profile
Name: Michito Nagahiro
Born in 1986 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. From an early age, I have been fascinated by the beautiful and practical designs of Japanese art, antiques, and consumer products, as well as the mindset and dedication of craftsmen and artists. I frequently visited museums and solo exhibitions as part of my daily life.
In 2012, under the guidance of a top mentor in the industry, I established myself as an antique dealer, handling a wide range of items, including Japanese antiques and artworks. Since 2017, I have specialized in selling Japanese antiques and fine art, primarily in Europe, achieving over 20,000 successful sales to date.
In 2019, I launched a completely free service to support individuals in Japan who experience loneliness. This initiative involves personally visiting people, engaging in conversations, sharing meals, and, if necessary, providing career advice. More than 1,000 people reach out to me annually for support.
Additionally, I am committed to promoting and supporting the sales of emerging artists whose work has not yet received public recognition. My philosophy goes beyond merely selling objects—I strive to convey the stories, history, and emotions embedded in each piece. By doing so, I aim to connect people with the lives of the artists and bring inspiration to those who encounter their work.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Title additional information
Ash Glaze Lidded Jar
Number of objects
1
Country of origin
Japan
Material
Stoneware
Designer/artist/maker
Sawa Kiyotsugu
Style
Contemporary
Colour
Multicolour
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of ageing
Height
16 cm
Width
18.8 cm
Depth
18.8 cm
Estimated period
1900-2000
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