Masterpieces of Chinese Ceramics from the Ise Collection

About the Ise Collection

Tadashi Kawashima
Mayuyama & Co., Ltd.
Representative director

The lse Collection of Chinese ceramics was assembled by Mr. Hikonobu lse (b.1929) across three decades - from the early 1990s to the late 2010s. In this time it has been widely regarded as one of the finest, most significant private collections in Japan, prized for the high quality of its pieces, and well respected overseas. The collection spans the course of Chinese ceramic history, from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty, with a primary focus on ceramics from the Song and Ming dynasties. In particular, the Ming dynasty works were collected systematically, covering early through to late Ming. Notably, the imperial polychrome wares hailing from the period of Jiajing are remarkably diverse, representing a variety that is rare even globally.

The lse Collection was fundamentally modelled on eminent collections from Europe and America. However, it also includes many works that align with Japan's unique tea culture, making it valuable from both the perspectives of "appreciation" and "function." From an academic standpoint, it is regarded as a highly esteemed collection, earning a prominent reputation. Masterpieces from the collection have been exhibited at prestigious museums in Japan and abroad, including the Musee Guimet in Paris.

In the early 20th century, significant collections of Chinese ceramics flowed into Europe, America, and Japan. In recent years, some of these pieces entered Mr. lse’s possession, thus, many of the works in the lse Collection possess excellent provenance. In Japan, many of the pieces were handled by Mayuyama Ryusendo, with origins tracing back to the 1930s, when they were brought to Japan and became part of the holdings of renowned collectors, and featured in various exhibitions and publications. From the 1960s to the 1980s, world-class Chinese ceramic collections were established in Japan, such as those by Ataka, Matsuoka, and Idemitsu. It is against this backdrop of history that the lse Collection can be considered the last truly great collection to inherit this tradition.