7:41A vessel that defies time — forged from earth, fired into something ancient and new. This handled bowl (te-tsuki hachi) is a commanding work by Koinuma Michio, one of Japan's most singular and uncompromising ceramic artists. The octagonal form is built with architectural precision — eight faceted sides rising to a flat rim, anchored by four stout feet and crowned with a bold arched handle. The surface is entirely covered in a dense, matte glaze in deep charcoal and steel grey, scattered with white ash deposits that evoke the texture of excavated bronze or ancient stone. This is not a decorative object. It is a presence. The weight and solidity of the form, the raw industrial texture of the surface, the complete absence of ornament — all of it reflects Koinuma's lifelong obsession with ancient artefacts: Bronze Age vessels, haniwa figures, archaeological fragments pulled from the earth. The piece sits somewhere between sculpture and vessel, between the prehistoric and the contemporary. Artist Profile Koinuma Michio (1936–2020) established his kiln, Ichimoku-gama, in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture in 1969. Self-taught, he developed a deeply personal aesthetic rooted in ancient Japanese and Chinese Bronze Age forms. He received the Kita-Kanto Art Exhibition Excellence Award (1974), held solo exhibitions at Kuroda Toen, Ginza (1975), Seibu Department Store Ikebukuro (1976), and received the Tochigi Prefecture Maronie Cultural Award (1991). His work was the subject of a major retrospective at the Mashiko Ceramic Art Museum in 2022. He passed away in August 2020 at the age of 84. Works by Koinuma Michio are no longer in production. This is a finite body of work. Condition Excellent. The surface patina, ash deposits, and variation in glaze colour are inherent to the high-temperature firing process and are defining characteristics of this work, not flaws. No chips, cracks, or repairs. Shipping Carefully packed with professional-grade materials and shipped with full tracking from Japan. Comes with original signed wooden box (tomobako). ※Important Information – Please Read Before Bidding※ Customs duties, VAT, and import clearance fees are not included in the shipping cost and are the responsibility of the buyer. These charges vary depending on your country's import regulations and are beyond the seller's control. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. All items are carefully packed and promptly shipped with tracking to ensure safe delivery. Please bid with confidence.