Pair of Japanese porcelain Vases, Arita Porcelain, Imari Decor, Japan, 19th c

Blue white Japnese porcelain ewer, Japan, Arita, circa 1660-1680. A rare Japanese porcelain ewer with continuous decoration of figures in a woo...

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 ...

A large Korean celadon vase with decor of flying cranes and clouds. Some firing defects as usual in this kind of ceramic but no chips and no hairli...

Sharing with you this lovely Japanese Imari bowl from the Meiji period. The intricate floral designs on the exterior, including the graceful chrysanthemums, symbolize longevity, resi...

A good quality pair of large 19th century Japanese flared neck Arita vases, each with lacquered panels depicting scenes of two girls in the garden, ...

Pair of 19th century Japanese Imari Porcelain vases with slender necks depicting floral and bird motifs in shade of red and cobalt.

A stunning and high quality pair of Japanese 19th century Imari Porcelain and French Louis XV st. Ormolu mounted vases. These gorgeous vases are supported by circular Ormolu bases wi...