A Tall Japanese Sumida Gawa Pottery Wine Ewer with Figures

Early 20th century, a large wine ewer with two handles at top flanking a fitted cover, spout directly below one handle, the primarily red glazed body is ribbed and features a continuous scene of figures in relief encircling the center waist of ewer, there is a four character mark in white jar shaped cartouche to lower side of ewer, the item comes together with a Sumida Gawa reference book, published in English.

15 1/2 x 10 x 8 in.

Collection of Michael and Ingrid Kelly, Worldwide Gallery Antiques, Fredericksburg, Virginia From the personal collection of antique gallery owners Michael and Ingrid Kelly who owned Worldwide Gallery Antiques, dealing with antiques for over sixty-five years, retiring to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where they filled their own residence with Asian and Belle Epoch fine arts and antiques.

Sumida Gawa pottery is a distinctive type of Japanese ceramic ware named after the Sumida River near the Asakusa pottery district in Tokyo where it was first produced around 1890. The style, known for its bold colors, rich glazes, and whimsical three-dimensional relief animals and figures, was primarily created for export to the West.

The most prominent artist associated with Sumida Gawa ware is Inoue Ryosai, considered to be the style's originator. However, Sumida Gawa production is also closely linked to the work of his successors, Inoue Ryosai II and Inoue Ryosai III as well as other artists like Hara Gozan, Sakurai Fuji, and Sezan.


A few small losses and possible break and repair to one figure; lid secured to ewer with putty; glaze crazing to top.