Okabe Pitcher

Q: What can you tell me about this piece and its value? I know that Okabe, the name in the mark, was a Japanese potter.

A: Okabe Mineo, born Kano Mineo (1919-1990), was a Japanese potter who worked under the name Kato Mineo for several years after 1927. He changed his name to Okabe in 1978 to honor his wife. He introduced revolutionary techniques for glazing and firing pottery and his work sells for high prices today. But there were times during his career when he didn’t have enough money to pay his bills and had to sell kitchen utensils. His most expensive pieces have green glazes. They sell for as much as $4,500.