Antique Japanese Art
Welcome to our website for Japanese art. We would like to invite you to discover our collection of fine antique works of art, ranging from screen paintings and hanging scroll to traditional ceramics, elegant lacquer works, exceptional sculptures and intricately woven bamboo flower baskets. All of our objects are unique masterpieces carefully selected by the gallerist and art historian Dr. Fabian Alexander Kommoss for their historical significance and outstanding quality. Galerie Kommoss is a leading gallery for fine Japanese art in Europe.
Why Japanese Art?
Refined elegance and astonishing craftsmanship on one side, and rough, coarse-looking ceramics that seem to have been created by nature itself on the other, the wide spectrum of Japanese art is fascinating and never monotonous. In fact, the opposite is true: Whether you look at the more popular and immediately appealing images of a Hokusai, the serene beauty of Japanese Buddhist sculpture, or the often complex aesthetic programs of traditional tea culture, the deeper you delve into the complex images, often subtly imbued with metaphorical meaning or humor, the more exciting it gets. What makes Japanese art so attractive to us is its pervasive characteristic of understanding the natural world as a source of spiritual insight and an instructive mirror of human emotion.
Special Exhibition "Mizusashi"
A Mizusashi is a traditional, lidded vessel created to contain the fresh, cold water used in the Japanese tea ceremony. A Mizusashi therefore plays a central role by holding one of the two main ingredients used in the preparation of tea. Bringing together a select range of unique Japanese water vessels from the early 17th century to contemporary traditional pieces by some of the greatest pottery masters, Galerie Kommoss' next special exhibition explores the fascinating world of fresh water vessels and their deep connection to the tea ceremony as a source of inspiration and cultural heritage in Japan.
Object of the Month
Embrace the summer with this extraordinary work of art. The gold-lacquered tea caddy by Suzuki Shōei features a delicate motif of fireflies in reeds. This specific work highlights the precision and artistry of the maki-e technique.
The primary motif depicts fireflies flitting among tall reeds, a scene rendered with stunning detail and elegance. The reeds, finely drawn with thin lines of gold, rise gracefully around the body of the tea caddy, creating a sense of movement and natural beauty.
The overall effect of this outstanding work lies within the delicate interplay between light and shadow, enhancing the dynamic nature of the scene. The gold-lacquered tea caddy is not only a functional object but also a piece of art that captures the fleeting beauty of nature with exceptional skill.
