Potter: Shunsui Mukunoki, formerly Eizo Mukunoki

Approximate size: W4.7″ by H9.9″ or 14.5 by 25.5 cm

This is a large hanaire or flower vase by Shunsui Mukunoki (1942-), which is the name Eizo Mukunoki decided to take to, late in life (likely related to Buddhism). This ovoid shaped porcelain vase is from his later years. Distinctly elegant and minimalist with powerfully, vibrant and colourful flower motifs on front and back, in what can be said to be the colours of his teacher Kanjiro Kawai. In his life he was selected for the Nihon Mingeikan Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, amongst numerous others. He also held solo exhibitions at Kyoto Daimaru and other venues.

In 1942 Eizo Mukunoki was born in the city of Masuda, which lies on Honshu island. He graduated from the prefecture’s ceramics research facility before he apprenticed himself to Kawai Kanjiro in 1958, with whom he stayed until until the master’s death in 1966.

This is an impressive and large work by a master who was in fact Kanjiro Kawai’s last, true student (from 1958-1966), who after his passing, continued to learn from Takéichi Kawai (who, along with being a close friend and family member, also worked for well over 40 years with Kanjiro Kawai). The flower motifs almost jump off the pure white backdrop (though sadly the photo on the right does not do the vibrancy of the colours any justice).

Shunsui Mukunoki is the name master-potter Eizo Mukunoki (1942-), took to, late in his life. He worked with the great Kanjiro Kawai and his family and students (Takéichi, Takekazu and Hirotsugu to name a few), until he went independent in 1968. In 1974 he build a climbing kiln in Toyooka City, located in Hyogo prefecture. This large ovoid porcelain vase can be confidently dated to his later years.

Better known under the name Eizo Mukunoki, he changed his name to Shunsui Mukunoki in 1996, becoming Buddhist monk. This piece is signed with the latter so we can narrow the time of creation to his later years. This work is large and hefty with hand-painted flowery designs, painted by hand on the front and back of the vase.

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To show respect and to mourn his sensei he quit potting for 1 year after his passing. Since then he has been repeatedly exhibited at the Nihon Mingei Exhibition, Nihon Togeiten National Ceramics Exhibition and the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Considered to be a master potter.