Potter: Ryôzô Taniguchi

Approximate size: W2.9″ by H7.4″ or 7.5 by 19.0 cm

This shapely vase was made by famous potter Ryôzô Taniguchi (1926-1996). Ryôzô Taniguchi graduated from Kyoto Municipal Second Technical High School Ceramics Department in 1942 and later in the year got a job at Nippon Steel. In 1943, he joined the Kyoto Pottery Club and studied under Rokubei Shimizu VI. Meant for use in the practice of ikebana or the arranging of flowers, a flower vase like this is often used to spotlight a single or pair of flowers. This vase is representative of Ryôzô’s later work period. Early in his career on he was prolific with a glaze that ranged from red to brown in colour but later changed his style to works with blue and green glazes in complex glaze patterns, as seen on this work. The glaze as seen on this example has a very high amount of detail and seen up close, the amount of colour variations constituting to what is the final outcome of the glaze is inspiring. What can be considered to be the ‘front’ of this work features a flowery design (in what appears to be a type of tenmoku glaze recipe).

Ryôzô Taniguchi studied under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI and was selected for the first time at the great Nitten exhibition in 1951. During his life he amassed an amazing number of awards, such as the Kikka, Nitten Special Prize and first prize at the 5th Contemporary Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition. In 1961, the Special Hokuto Award at the 4th Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. At the Japan Contemporary Craft Exhibition he took the Craft Prize and was requested to appear as a juror. Also served as a judge at the Kyoto Exhibition and the Nitten. To top it off he received the Kyoto Cultural award in 1989. He served as a part-time lecturer at Niigata University from 1975 to 1985, and as a part-time lecturer at Kinran Junior College from 1976 to 1994, providing guidance to the younger generation. He created ceramics with a unique colour called Hekisai and brought a new style to Kyoto ware.

1923 Joins Kyoto’s Pottery Club and apprentices to Rokubei Shimizu VI
1936 Exhibited “Senbana” at the 4th Nitten Exhibition and won the Hokuto Prize
1939 Invited to exhibit “Red glaze square pot” at the International Ceramic Art Exhibition
1940 Exhibited “Hekizo” at the 9th Nitten Exhibition and won the Kikuka Prize
1947 Travelled to Europe and the Middle East for training
1949 Visited France, Italy and Spain
1949 Solo exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in Tokyo
1951 Receives Tsujinaga Memorial Award at the 62nd Kofukai Exhibition
1952 Solo exhibitions at Okayama Takashimay
1953 Solo exhibition at Kyoto Asahi Gallery
1959 Solo exhibition at Takasago Welfare Center
1956 Awarded the Suda Prize for his work “Jiso” at the Kyoto Exhibition
1989 Awarded the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Achievement Award
Becomes a councillor of the Nitten Exhibition
Exhibited “Yugetsu” at the 27th Nitten Exhibition and received the Prime Minister’s Award
Solo exhibition at Takasago Cultural Center
1991 Solo exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in Tokyo

Recipient of the Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition Of Japan’s first prize, the Koyu Prize and Tsujinaga Memorial Prize at the Kofu-Kai Exhibition – prizes awarded by the Ceramic Society Of Japan for feverous participation in various international competitions and for innumerable solo exhibitions at the most prominent galleries of Japan (including the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Department Store). Ryôzô Taniguchi established himself as one of the largest names in the history of Japan’s 20th century art-scene.

This vase bears the potter’s signature on the bottom, has no chips or cracks and is in mint condition. Comes with the original quality paulownia tomobako or storage box with kiln stamp and calligraphy on the lid. Additionally comes with a dedicated tomonunu – tea cloth and pamphlet with information about the potter. More photo’s available on request.

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Kyo yaki or Kyo ware refers to a style of ceramics that spread from the Higashiyama area in Kyoto during the early Edo period of the Tokugawa rule (henceforth this family line continually ruled Japan for more than 250 years). It was around this time that the art of Chanoyu or the Tea ceremony became popular and widespread in Japan. By contrast, the pottery produced along Gojo-zaka, a street leading to Kiyomizu Temple, was called Kiyomizu yaki. Nowadays all pottery produced in Kyoto is commonly referred to as Kyo or Kiyomizu ware.