Βάζο - Πορσελάνη - Ιαπωνία - Kakiemon - 13η Γενιά Sakaida Kakiemon 酒井田柿右衛門

13th Generation Sakaida Kakiemon

Nigoshide Porcelain Vase with Peony and Bird Design
Arita, Japan, circa 1960s–1970s

This elegant porcelain vase is an important work by the 13th generation 酒井田柿右衛門, one of the leading masters of modern Japanese porcelain art and a key figure in the continuation of the celebrated Kakiemon tradition.

The work is executed in luminous nigoshide porcelain, a refined milky-white ceramic body regarded as the hallmark of authentic Kakiemon ware. The production of nigoshide porcelain is technically demanding and historically significant, requiring exceptional precision in firing and glaze control.

Against this serene white surface, delicately painted peony and bird motifs unfold in an asymmetrical composition of remarkable refinement. Rather than covering the entire vessel with decoration, the artist intentionally preserves areas of empty space, creating harmony, stillness, and a sophisticated sense of balance.

This restrained use of “negative space” reflects a distinctly Japanese aesthetic philosophy — one that values subtlety, silence, and elegance over excessive ornamentation.

The transparent overglaze enamels, rendered in soft reds, greens, and blues, display exceptional delicacy and refinement. The overall composition embodies both classical Japanese beauty and a timeless modern sensibility, allowing the work to resonate equally in traditional and contemporary interiors.

The vase is accompanied by its original signed wooden tomobako storage box, further enhancing its authenticity, provenance, and collectible value.

⸻

13th Generation Sakaida Kakiemon (1906–1982)

酒井田柿右衛門 was one of the most celebrated masters of modern Japanese porcelain and was designated a Living National Treasure of Japan for the Kakiemon porcelain tradition.

As head of the historic Kakiemon kiln established in 17th-century Arita, he played a crucial role in preserving and refining the highly sophisticated nigoshide porcelain technique, renowned for its luminous milk-white surface and elegant asymmetrical decoration.

Under his leadership, the Kakiemon tradition achieved renewed international recognition as one of Japan’s most important porcelain lineages.

Kakiemon porcelain historically influenced major European manufactories including Meissen, Chelsea, and Chantilly, and remains highly respected among collectors and museums worldwide

Historically, Kakiemon porcelain was exported to Europe through the Dutch East India Company and profoundly influenced major European porcelain manufactories including Meissen, Chelsea, and Chantilly during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Today, works by the Kakiemon family are held in major museums and respected worldwide among collectors of fine Japanese art and important porcelain traditions.

The 13th generation master played a crucial role in establishing Kakiemon porcelain not only as a traditional craft, but as a refined international art form embodying the essence of Japanese aesthetics and cultural sophistication.