Hands that left no name
Works whose sculptor is not known. 18 of the 170 are National Treasures.
Most Buddhist sculpture in Japan carries no sculptor's name. Names are recorded from early on — Kuratsukuri no Tori worked in the 7th century — but they are the exception. Many of the great Nara images were made by temple workshops, and individual sculptors become widely known only after Jōchō, in the late Heian period.
Works170
Photographs wanted
Yayoi jar excavated at Kanaya, Futtsu, Chiba
Yayoi period
Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Tang jar with blue glaze and applied decoration
Tang, 8th century
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Tang sancai dish with floral design
Tang, 8th century
Eisei Bunko Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Tang sancai large dish with floral design
Tang, 8th century
Eisei Bunko Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
White porcelain foliate bowl with lotus design
Northern Song, 11th–12th century
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Melon-shaped ewer, qingbai ware
Northern Song, 11th–12th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Cizhou bottle with peonies in black sgraffito on white slip, Song
Northern Song, 11th–12th century
Eisei Bunko Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Goryeo celadon ewer with nine dragons
Goryeo, 12th century
Yamato Bunkakan, Nara
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Goryeo celadon ewer with lotus scrolls
Goryeo, 12th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Large jar with tomoe motifs, Suzu ware
Late Heian period, 12th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Tortoiseshell-glaze tenmoku tea bowl (taihi tenmoku)
Southern Song, 12th–13th century
Sunritz Hattori Museum of Arts, Suwa, Nagano
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Celadon vase with turnip-shaped body
Southern Song, 12th–13th century
Hara Museum ARC, Shibukawa, Gunma
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Celadon vase in the shape of a bamboo shoot
Southern Song, 12th–13th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Celadon vase with phoenix handles, kinuta type
Southern Song, 13th–14th century
Gotoh Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Celadon incense burner, hakamagoshi type
Southern Song, 13th century
Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Celadon vase with bulbous lower body (Idemitsu)
Southern Song, 13th century
Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Celadon cylindrical vase, "Ōuchi-zutsu"
Southern Song, 13th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Yuteki tenmoku bowl with white rim
Southern Song, 12th–13th century
Fujita Museum, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Jar with plants and trees, Suzu ware
Kamakura period, 13th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Yuteki tenmoku bowl
Southern Song, 12th–13th century
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Haikatsugi tenmoku tea bowl, named "Niji"
Southern Song to Yuan, 13th–14th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Jar with cypress-fence pattern, Shigaraki ware
Kamakura period, 13th–14th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Chinese eggplant-shaped tea caddy, "Jōō nasu"
Southern Song to Yuan, 13th–14th century
Yuki Museum of Art, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Chinese tea-leaf jar, named "Shōka"
Southern Song to Yuan, 13th–14th century
Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Chinese shoulder-type tea caddy, named "Aburaya"
Southern Song to Yuan, 13th–14th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Celadon drum-shaped water jar with peonies in relief
Yuan, 13th–14th century
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Wide-mouthed jar, dated Kagen 4 (1306), Ko-Echizen ware
Kamakura period, Kagen 4 (1306)
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ko-Bizen four-lugged jar, dated Fukuan 1 (1444)
Muromachi period, Bun'an 1 (1444)
Senkō-ji, Akaiwa, Okayama
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Shoulder-type tea caddy "Zaichūan", Seto
Muromachi period, 15th century
Fujita Museum, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Chrysanthemum tenmoku tea bowl, Seto
Muromachi period, 15th century
Fujita Museum, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Four-lugged jar with autumn grasses, Ko-Tamba ware
Muromachi period, 15th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Blue-and-white large dish with flowers, Ming
Ming, 15th–16th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Blue-and-white large vase with dragons and waves
Ming, 15th–16th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Amamori (rain-leak) tea bowl
Joseon, 16th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ido tea bowl, named "Echigo"
Joseon, 16th century
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ido tea bowl, named "Hosokawa"
Joseon, 16th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ido tea bowl, named "Shibata"
Joseon, 16th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Katade tea bowl, named "Nagasaki"
Joseon, 16th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Kinrande hexagonal gourd-shaped vase
Ming, 16th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Kinrande vase with bulbous lower body
Ming, 16th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Gourd-shaped ewer with openwork birds and flowers, gold-painted enamels (kinrande)
Ming, 16th century
Gotoh Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Kōchi incense container in the shape of a large tortoise
Ming, 16th century
Fujita Museum, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Kohiki tea bowl, named "Miyoshi"
Joseon, 16th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Mishima water jar, imogashira type
Joseon, 16th century
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
White tenmoku tea bowl
Muromachi period, 16th century
Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Bizen cylindrical vase, dated Kōji 3 (1557)
Muromachi period, Kōji 3 (1557)
Private collection
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Bizen water jar, named "Seikai"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Bizen water jar with notched rim, named "Yabureya"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Hokuriku University, Kanazawa
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ki-Seto bowl with the character "fuku"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Yuki Museum of Art, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ki-Seto vase in drum shape, named "Tabimakura"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts, Izumi, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ko-Bizen water jar with hidasuki (fire-cord) marks
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Nezumi-Shino tea bowl with tortoiseshell pattern, named "Mine no Momiji"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Gotoh Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Nezumi-Shino tea bowl with tortoiseshell pattern, named "Yamanoha"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Bowl with flowering plants, Nezumi-Shino ware
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Shino water jar with reeds, named "Kogan"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Shino tea bowl, named "Hirosawa"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Yuki Museum of Art, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Shino water jar with landscape and notched rim
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Kosetsu Museum of Art, Kobe
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
E-Karatsu jar with reeds
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Large dish with reeds, E-Karatsu ware
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (state-owned)
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
E-Karatsu three-lugged jar with persimmons
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Goshomaru tea bowl with black brush marks, named "Sekiyō"
Joseon, early 17th century
Fujita Museum, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Iga vase, "Ogura Iga"
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Private collection
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Iga vase with lugs, named "Jurōjin"
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Fujita Museum, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Iga vase with lugs, named "Karatachi"
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Iga vase with studs, named "Fuyō"
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Private collection
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Iga water jar with studs, named "Yaburebukuro"
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Private collection
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Kakinoheta tea bowl, named "Bishamondō"
Joseon, 16th–17th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Karatsu tea bowl, named "Sanpō"
Azuchi–Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century
Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts, Izumi, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ko-Iga water jar, named "Yaburebukuro" (Burst Bag)
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Gotoh Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Tea bowl with notched foot (warikōdai)
Joseon, 16th–17th century
Ebara Hatakeyama Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Black Oribe tea bowl, named "Fuyugare"
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Oribe square bowl
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Private collection
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Oribe handled bowl in pine-bark lozenge shape
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Kitamura Museum, Kyoto
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Oribe shoe-shaped tea bowl with stripes
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Yamato Bunkakan, Nara
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Oribe square handled bowl
Azuchi–Momoyama to early Edo, early 17th century
Yuki Museum of Art, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ko-sometsuke vase with the Takasago motif
Late Ming, early 17th century
Kitamura Museum, Kyoto
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Shonzui water jar in the shape of a mandarin orange
Late Ming, early 17th century
Yuki Museum of Art, Osaka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Bottle with flowering plants in underglaze blue, Imari
Early Edo period, 17th century
MOA Museum of Art, Atami, Shizuoka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Large dish with tortoiseshell pattern, peonies, and butterflies, Ko-Kutani style
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Umezawa Memorial Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Octagonal large dish with peonies in overglaze enamels, Ko-Kutani style
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Sunritz Hattori Museum of Arts, Suwa, Nagano
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Large dish with peonies and birds in overglaze enamels, Ko-Kutani style
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Sunritz Hattori Museum of Arts, Suwa, Nagano
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Large bowl with landscape in underglaze blue, Imari
Early Edo period, 17th century
Yamato Bunkakan, Nara
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Foliate large dish with landscape in underglaze blue, Yanbeta kiln
Early Edo period, 17th century
Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Arita, Saga
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Octagonal jar with birds and flowers in overglaze enamels
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Octagonal jar with birds and flowers in overglaze enamels (Suntory)
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Bottle with paulownia and phoenix in overglaze enamels
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Ko-Kiyomizu incense burner in the shape of a lotus
Early Edo period, 17th century
Hōkongō-in, Kyoto
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Large shallow bowl with five ships in overglaze enamels
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Foliate bowl with flowering plants in overglaze enamels
Early Edo period, late 17th century
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with hibiscus and chrysanthemums in overglaze enamels, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Sunritz Hattori Museum of Arts, Suwa, Nagano
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Large dish with rock and peonies in overglaze enamels, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Kurita Museum, Ashikaga, Tochigi
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with peach blossoms in overglaze enamels, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
MOA Museum of Art, Atami, Shizuoka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with orchids in overglaze enamels, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Private collection
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with waterwheel, celadon and underglaze blue, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Imaemon Museum of Ceramic Antiques, Arita, Saga
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with treasure motifs, celadon and underglaze blue, Nabeshima (Hayashibara)
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Hayashibara Museum of Art, Okayama
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with treasure motifs, celadon and underglaze blue, Nabeshima (Nezu)
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Three-footed large dish with herons in underglaze blue, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Arita, Saga
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Three-footed dish with pine tree in underglaze blue, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with mandarin oranges in overglaze enamels, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
MOA Museum of Art, Atami, Shizuoka
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with treasure motifs in overglaze enamels, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Hayashibara Museum of Art, Okayama
Maker unknown
Photographs wanted
Dish with pomegranates in overglaze enamels, Nabeshima
Edo period, late 17th to early 18th century
Private collection
Maker unknown