Japanese Ceramic Boxes

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Tadashi Mori 森正 (Nagoya, Japan) Read about this artist in the latest Ceramics Art & Perception Vol. 66, p.30 - 32. Mori Tadashi (b. 1940) has been a driving force behind contemporary ceramic movement in Japan. Mori started his career as a designer in the Yokkaichi ceramic factory, a position that made him an expert in decorative glazes. He was strongly influenced by renowned designer Hineno Sakuzo, who once commented that Mori's work had magical power to draw the audience into a mysterious world. In 1960s, inspired by the freedom of American ceramists, Mori began to experiment with free-spirited forms and decorations. He resigned from his job and traveled to Rome, Italy. Upon returning to Japan, he became a full-time artist, immersing himself in creating original work, for which he received many awards. Mori also studied Thai folk art. Some of his most important work, including his monumental "Women Who Like to Whisper", could trace their aesthetic influence to his exposure to international arts. Mori emphasizes spontaneity and freedom, his work exhibits complex personalities. In 1997, Mori was selected among twenty-one noted Japanese artists profiled in a book entitled Toward a 21st Century Renaissance in Ceramics in recognition to his contributions to contemporary Japanese ceramics.

Tadashi Mori 3-tier Oribe box with gold and silver leaf 7.5"h x 6"w x 4.5"d (3 views) Sold

Shinya Ono　尾野晋也 (Matsue, Japan) The word Mingei (folk art) was originally coined by the great scholar of philosophy and aesthetics Soetsu Yanagi. In the 1920’s, Yanagi, together with potters Shoji Hamada and Kanjiro Kawai started the Japanese folk art movement by traveling throughout Japan to study local arts and crafts. These visionaries not only kindled interests in folk art within Japan, but also brought Japanese aesthetics to the western world. Their work profoundly influenced many contemporary western artists, including English potter Bernard Leach. During their travels, one of the places that intrigued Soetsu, Hamada, and Kawai was the city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture. There, they were joined by a third-generation Matsue potter, Toshiro Ono. Toshiro passed his knowledge to his son, Shinya Ono, who is now the sole heir of Matsue pottery. Yanagi attributed beauty of mingei to simple design and robust materials meant for actual usage, rather than contrived elegance. Shinya Ono is strongly influenced by this aesthetic concept. His ceramics are known for crisp clean lines, simple forms, and tasteful decorations, a timeless study in beauty and grace in the purest form.

Shinya Ono Glazed ceramic box No. 2 11"w x 8"d x 5"h (3 views) Sold

Shinya Ono Glazed ceramic box No. 3 7.5"w x 7.5"d x 5.5"h (3 views)

Moriyuki Ando 安籐百利行 (Gifu, Japan) Moriyuki Ando (b. 1944), head of the Mizunami Ceramics Guild in Mino, is best known for his innovative glazed pottery. In the past four decades, he has developed some of the most beautiful and distinctive award-winning finishes on ceramic. The current exhibition features his Hai-yu Kai-ra-gi (Ash glaze of Japanese apricot blossom) and Hai-yu Sai-mon (Ash glaze of colored pattern) styles.

Moriyuki Ando Ceramic box No. 5 w/ Haiyu Kairagi glaze 8.5"w x 8.5"d x 3.5"h (2 views) Sold

Moriyuki Ando Ceramic box No. 4 w/ Haiyu Saimon glaze 7.5"w x 7.5"d x 3.5"h (2 views) Sold

Moriyuki Ando Ceramic box No. 6 w/ Haiyu Kairagi glaze 5"w x 5"d x 5"h (2 views)	Moriyuki Ando Ceramic box No. 7 w/ Haiyu Kairagi glaze 5"w x 5"d x 5"h (2 views) Sold

Hiroyuki Wakimoto 脇本博之 (Bizen, Japan) Hiroyuki Wakimoto (B. 1952) received art training in Osaka Art College. He apprenticed under George Yamashita, an accomplished ceramist who studied under Bizen Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. With a great interest in forms and training in design, Wakimoto creates some of the most interesting works in contemporary Japanese ceramics. His works are instantly recognized by bold, sophisticated forms with clean lines and beautiful fire markings. What sets Wakimoto apart from many of his peers is his ability to produce an astounding body of innovative work without abandoning the cultural connection of this art form. Discussing the evolution of his style, Wakimoto recalled, "In the beginning, I cared too much about making my work unique, my hands struggled with the clay. Then one day, I set my hands free to express my feelings without thinking too hard. From that day, my work became spontaneous." The Achilles heel of many innovative ceramists is in their firing techniques, especially with a wood kiln. Wakimoto’s mastery of the firing process is legendary. He does a 14-days firing once a year. This working style requires extraordinary confidence and impeccable technical expertise. Wakimoto;s work won many prestigious awards, including the Grand Prize of Yakishime Exhibition.

Hiroyuki Wakimoto Wood-fired ceramic box No. 8 6.5"w x 4.5"d x 3.25"h (2 views) Sold

Kiyoharu Ichino 市野清治 (Tanba, Japan) Kiyoharu Ichino was born in 1957 in Tanba Tachikui into an extended family steeped in pottery-making tradition. When he was twenty, he moved to Seto to study pottery under a master of Akatsu-Yaki. Upon returning to Tachikui, he launched his career with the Tanba Group Kiln. In 1983, he established his own kiln and began showing in galleries all over Japan. Ichino's work emphasizes the strength and natural beauty of Tanba clay. He often leaves raw edges on his pieces to show the clay body. He has been a permanent member of The Japan Crafts Association since 1995. His work has been selected repeatedly for the prestigious juried Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition.

Kiyoharu Ichino Wood-fired ceramic box No. 9 5.5"w x 4.5"d x 4.5"h (3 views) Sold

Kiyoharu Ichino Wood-fired ceramic box No. 24 6"w x 3.5"d x 4"h (3 views)

Keiichi Shimizu 清水圭一 (Tanba, Japan) Keiichi Shimizu (b. 1962) is a 4th-generation Tanba potter. He studied ceramic at Kyoto City Vocational School. Since started his productive career in 1984, he has established himself as one of the most innovative ceramist in Tanba. Shimizu is interested in three-dimensional interplay of lines and surfaces, developing his original forms from slab-built surfaces using clay of contrasting colors and textures. His works show a strong minimalist influence, with clean lines and taut surfaces. Curves are used sparingly and purposefully, to introduce tension that seems to hold together the stark geometry. The results are deceptively simple forms that belie great conceptual sophistication and meticulous attention to details, a perfect balance between quiet traditional Japanese aesthetic and dynamic modern interpretation.

Keiichi Shimizu Ceramic box No. 10 w/ white clay decoration 6"w x 5"d x 5"h (2 views) Sold

Keiichi Shimizu Ceramic box No. 11 w/ white clay decoration 5.75"w x 5"d x 4.5"h (2 views) Sold