Pair of Mino'ware 美濃焼 ceramic okimono 置物 (sculptures) by the contemporary artist Mizuno Moriyama 水野守山 featuring beautifully crafted koi 鯉 (carps), each set on a burned cypress wooden base. The sculptures are glazed in complementary orange and white tones. Each piece is marked on the underside with the artist’s two-character name seal and was crafted in the Mino Kotobuki gama 美濃寿窯 kiln. Mizuno Moriyama is distinguished not only for creating a set of dishes for the Emperor and Empress but also for his role as a cultural exchange delegate to the USA, visiting places like Hawaii, Los Angeles, and Fresno. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious ‘Prime Minister’s Award’ 日本クラフトデザイン協会 and ‘Gifu Prefecture Governor’s Award’ 岐阜県知事賞. Additionally, he is an esteemed member of the Japan Craft Design Association 日本クラフトデザイン協会. Period: Japan – Late Shôwa period/Heisei period (Last quarter 20th century). Dimensions white koi excl. base: Height 11 cm, Length 35 cm, Width 10 cm. Dimensions orange koi excl. base: Height 9 cm, Length 31.5 cm, Width 7.5 cm. Including original signed and sealed wooden tomobako 供箱 (storage box), Japanese leaflet about the artists exploits, and an old photo of the koi.