Potter: Kitamura Takashi (1946-)

Approximate size: W3.9″ by H9.5″ or 10.0 by 24.3 cm

This exquisite celadon vase was made by the famous Kutani artist Kitamura Takashi (1946-). This vase is shaped alike the lotus flower with 8 fluted points on the rim. The celadon crazing shows long streaks from top to bottom with multiple layers of intertwining crackles connecting them in between. Celadon pieces are not often seen by this potter and he works in the more typical styles of Kutani.

Kitamura Takashi was born in Komatsu which lies in Ishikawa prefecture. He became determined to go into potting and while still young he apprenticed himself to master potter Asakura Isokichi. Eventually this lead him to go independent with great success, being was selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition and the Modern Fine Arts of Japan exhibition. He’s a member of the Fine Art Association of Japan and is active in multiple fields aside from modern Kutani pottery, such as the production of ko-Kutani and being done of painting in Kosho Shimizu’s style.

When viewing celadon pottery it is key to look at the area’s where the glaze runs thinnest as this is where you will see the most defects, in this case the rim. Due to the difficulties celadon production it has since its earliest appearance a highly valued type of ceramic. The ware was immensely popular because of its beauty; the Chinese also valued it because it resembled jade.

Seiji or celadon is a glaze that usually turns to a jade green colour. The firing of the iron in the glaze produces its beautiful colour, which is brought out by reduction firings in a kiln at temperatures exceeding 1200°C. The origin of celadon stoneware lies in China where during the Tang Dynasty (±618 till ±907), production started and found a willing and wealthy client base amongst the elite and intellectuals. A little later during the Sung Dynasty (±960 till ±1279), the supply lines for the resources used in celadon wares became stable which caused export of celadon ceramics all through out eastern Asia and eventually to Japan around the 11th century.

The vase is stamped by the potter on the foot and has no chips or cracks. Condition is excellent. Comes with the original paulownia tomobako, storage box with kiln stamp and calligraphy on the lid.