A two-section studio porcelain vase - Taisho/Showa Period, signed Makuzu Kozan

The neck of cup form, flaring at the rim and above an inset base sized to fit the mouth of the globular lower section, both sections decorated with peach branches in underglaze blue and brown under a colorless glaze, the upper section with the impressed mark Makuzu within double rings in underglaze blue and incised lines, the lower section with base signed Makuzu Kozan sei in underglaze blue within a blue double ring painted over chattering. 10 3/4in (27.3cm) - Sold for $800 plus Premium and tax

Provenance: Perry Foundation

Bonhams. Fine Asian Works of Art, 18 Dec 2007. 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco, California

Note: Miyagawa (Makuzu) Kozan (1842-1916) was appointed artist to the Japanese Imperial household and was one of the greatest potters of the Meiji Era. He came from a long line of potters based in Kyoto and took over the family business in 1860, at the age of nineteen. In 1870 he opened a workshop in Yokohama and seems to have arrived at his artistic height during the 1880’s. Pieces signed "Makuzu Kozan" in various hands seems to have been made right up until the first decades of the 20th century.