Saiyu Glazed Porcelain Vase by LNT Tokuda YASOKICHI III

The globular body rising to a slender cylindrical neck, covered in a glossy saiyu glaze of cobalt blue, turquoise green, pale grey and deep aubergine, running in broad vertical bands from the neck and deepening to dark blue towards the foot. Fine crackle shows in the paler passages. The recessed base is left unglazed and bears the signature in red. Accompanied by the original tomobako, inscribed Saiyu tsubo (saiyu jar), signed Masahiko and sealed, together with a yellow cloth stamped with the artist's seal and the artist's printed biography leaflet.

Tokuda Yasokichi III, born Masahiko, was a third-generation master of Kutani ware, trained by his father and grandfather in the closely guarded glaze formulas of the family tradition. He developed the innovative saiyu technique, fusing traditional Kutani colours, blue, green, yellow, and purple, deliberately omitting red, into abstract, radiant fields of colour that moved beyond conventional outline-based decoration. Among his honors are the Chairman's Award from the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Association (1977), the Grand Prize at the International Pottery and Porcelain Exhibition (1990), and the Medal with Purple Ribbon (1993). In 1997 he was designated a Living National Treasure of Japan for his achievements in polychrome enamel porcelain.

Compare:

• A larger flower vase with comparable colouring, dated 2003, H. 50,0 cm, is in the collection of the Komatsu City Museum