Porcelain ‘Enso’ Vase

A hand-built porcelain vase of flattened, disc-like form, its open ring recalling the brushed circle of enso, with an asymmetrical gap at the upper opening reading as a deliberate break rather than an unfinished join. The body is covered overall in a pale, softly bluish-white glaze, smooth and even in tone. The rim at the opening is left as a straight, faceted cut, exposing the warm buff-coloured clay body beneath the glaze. The foot is unglazed. The wooden tomobako is inscribed Hakuji Hanakaki ("White Porcelain Flower Vessel") on the lid exterior, with the artist's signature, Kiyoshi, and an accompanying red seal on the lid interior.

MIYAGAWA Kiyoshi was born in Osaka in 1943 and graduated from the Faculty of Ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts. He studied under Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo and under Kiyomizu Kyubei, and is a member of the Japan Craft Art Society (Nihon Kogeikai). Working chiefly in porcelain, he is known for sculptural, geometric vessel forms, often in pale glazes, and has received numerous national awards in Japan, including honours at the Kinki regional Traditional Craft Art Exhibition.