Japan, porcelain vase with crab by Hara Kosei, born in 1934

Akira Arakawa, born in 1950 in Hamamatsu and a graduate of Kokushikan University’s Department of Architecture, has carved a unique path in Japanese ceramics. Although trained in architecture, he is a self-taught ceramic artist, renowned for his exceptional mastery of crystallized glazes. This intricate technique demands precise temperature control, reaching extreme levels of 1250°C to 1300°C to melt the glaze components thoroughly. As the temperature slowly decreases, crystals emerge, forming delicate flower or snowflake patterns on the glazed surface. By adding zinc or rutile, Arakawa can manipulate the size and shape of these crystals. This meticulous process results in captivating works like this deeply carved vase, where blue crystals stand out against earthy backgrounds, creating striking contrasts between crystallized and vitrified areas. Arakawa’s technical excellence has earned him numerous accolades, particularly in Japan’s ceramic competitions and exhibitions. Arakawa’s work has been featured in prestigious events, including multiple selections for the Nissin Noodle Bowl...

Born in 1953 in Seto, renowned for its long ceramic tradition, Shigekazu Nagae has established himself as one of the emblematic figures of contemporary abstract porcelain. Raised in a family of potters, he learned traditional ceramic techniques from a young age before transcending them with a resolutely modern approach. A graduate of the Seto ceramics school, he perfected his mastery of Ikomi, a porcelain casting technique, which he reinvented by integrating it into an innovative artistic approach. This vase, circa 1991, bears witness to this constant exploration of the material and aesthetic limits of porcelain. Its fluid form, enhanced by delicate undulations, seems to capture an eternal movement, evoking both the softness and tension of the molten material. These undulating patterns, forming a slight relief on the surface, already announce Nagae's current sculptural research, where forms, freed from all constraints, stretch and curve like waves frozen in time. Nagae's work, although deeply rooted in Japanese tradition, has won international recognition. His pieces are now included in the collections of some of the most prestigious museums in the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Musée National de Céramique in Sèvres, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. In his most recent creations, Nagae continues his quest for the perfect form, transforming porcelain into a living, almost organic material. Each piece, although shaped by the chance of the firing process, is the result of a unique technical mastery and artistic vision, making Shigekazu Nagae an essential pioneer of contemporary ceramic art. Nagae uses casting, a technique traditionally associated with mass production. However, he diverts this process to shape forms, challenging the limits of the technique. As with this vase, his creations begin by casting rectangular pieces in slip, which are then left to dry and undergo an initial firing. The joints are then vitrified by the application of glaze, fusing the pieces into a single entity. He quickly progresses to abstract forms for which he uses the same technique and then suspends the slip sheets in his kiln using...

This porcelain vase, created by Inoue Haruo, embodies the elegance and finesse of Kyoto ceramics. Its spherical shape softened by harmonious curves, is topped with a slightly flared ...

Japanese Ceramic Vase with Horses, Somayaki, Japan circa 1830 This rare two-handled baluster vase from the late Edo period is a typical example of Ōbori Sōma pottery. Its surface fe...

The Vase is in Pottery. It is cover up with sea shells. Grey Color. It has been done in France, circa 1970.

A very stylish and well made hand-crafted Japanese studio pottery vase decorated with octopus tendril designs dating from the early 20th century. The heavily made hand-thrown vase is...

Japanese Sumida Gawa pottery vase decorated in relief with two boys gathering seashells. The pottery is named after the Sumida River where the pottery center was located until reloca...

A big ceramic vase to La Borne. Perfect original conditions. circa 1970. Signed at the base.