Item Description This striking vase is a distinguished work of Arita ware (Arita-yaki), one of Japan's most celebrated ceramic traditions, produced by the renowned Nihon-ten (Nitten) artist 藤井朱明 Fujii Shumei (born 1936). The vase features a graceful teardrop silhouette with a squared neck rising from a generously rounded body with a square cross-section — a sculptural form that bridges classical Japanese aesthetics with a bold modern sensibility. The surface is coated in a lustrous, deep black glaze (tenmoku-style), which serves as a dramatic canvas for Fujii Shumei's signature "konoha" (leaf motif) technique. A single golden-amber autumn leaf, meticulously rendered with fine veining in reddish-brown, floats against the dark glaze in a composition of extraordinary poetic stillness. The motif appears on multiple faces of the body, creating an ever-changing tableau as the viewer moves around the piece. The vase bears an authentic "Arita-yaki Tokusenhin" gold foil label, and comes in its original wooden presentation box (tomobako), hand-inscribed with the artist's signature and personal seal. An artist profile brochure from the Shumei kiln is also included. A superb example of Fujii Shumei's mastery — where the boundary between ceramic and painting dissolves into pure natural poetry. Size Height: 31 cm Width: 14.5 cm Depth: 14.5 cm Weight 1,705 g / 1.705 kg Condition The vase is in overall good condition consistent with long-term storage, with some minor discoloration and light marks on the base; the glaze and leaf decoration on the main body remain vivid and intact. Artist Profile 藤井朱明 Fujii Shumei (born 1936) is a ceramic artist from Arita-cho, Saga Prefecture, the historic heartland of Japanese porcelain. Working from the age of 15 in local overglaze painting workshops and ceramics companies, he made his first acceptance into the prestigious Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) in 1962 with the work "Kanryu," going on to be selected fifteen times. In 1974 he established his own kiln, Shumei-gama, in Nishi-Arita. His hallmark technique uses actual leaf veins as a metaphor for mountain ranges and natural scenery, translating the four seasons of Arita into vivid, meditative ceramic paintings. He has received numerous awards, including prizes at the Japan Ceramic Arts Exhibition, the Minister of Education Award at the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, and multiple commendations at the Saga Prefectural Exhibition. He is a member of the Nitten Fine Arts Society, the Saga Fine Arts Association, and the Saga Ceramics Association. NOTICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.