Vase - Pottery - Japan - 前田直紀 / 郷倉窯 (No reserve price)

Import duties*
taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost.
These charges are the buyer's responsibility.

Please note: For lots with a value of €150 or more, Catawiki does not collect VAT at the time of purchase.
You will be required to pay import duties, VAT,
and administrative customs fees directly to the courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, or Speed Post) upon delivery.

For more details, please see catawiki’s Shipping Policy.

Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding.
By bidding on this lot, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.
Thank you for your understanding."


Product Description*
前田直紀 / 郷倉窯 (Naoki Maeda / Gokura Kiln)
aoki Maeda is a ceramic artist based in Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Background: A graduate of Osaka Sangyo University, he has been working in Shizuoka since graduating. He previously taught at Gokuragama, a pottery studio run by Watanabe Shoten Co., Ltd. (currently a former instructor).

Style and Works: In Shizuoka, a city not typically known for its pottery, he pursues what he can do as an independent artist. He creates tea utensils, tableware for everyday use, and vases, ranging from pieces that evoke the warmth of clay to pieces that incorporate a more modern sensibility. He also fires his pieces in an anagama kiln, producing works with a unique texture.

Activities: He regularly holds solo and art exhibitions, and has been featured in media outlets such as the Shizuoka Shimbun. He also hosts pottery workshops for the general public, valuing communication with others while conveying the appeal of pottery.

Masami Hashimoto(橋本政巳)
Taking over from his predecessor for 60 years, he produces tea boxes, doll cases, lanterns, and other items.


Condition*
In very good condition.
There are pain and stains due to aged deterioration,but no problem with functionality.
Please use zoom to inspect all pictures closely for the cosmetic condition.
This item is sold as a collectible, decor and not intended for daily use.

Shipping*
We will send items from yabai artworks Japan.
FedEx International Priority
DHL WORLD WIDE
UPS Worldwide Saver

Handling of ceramics （pottery)
*Care for pottery (sealing treatment)*
Starch will coat the surface and prevent stains from seeping into the pottery.
1. Insert the pottery into a pot filled with starch water (from washing rice or corn or potato starch melted in water) and bring it to a boil on low to medium heat. Let it boil for around 20 minutes on low heat.
2. Let it cool down, then rinse, and allow it to dry naturally.
3. If the crevices are not totally filled after one application, you may try again until they are totally filled.

**Prevent Stains, Odors, and Mold**
If you soak the product in clean water before use and let it absorb some of the water, this will reduce the amount of impurities able to penetrate the surface. Pottery products are water absorbent, so if they are left in water for a long time, they may absorb impurities, causing stains, odors, and mold. Please wash the product immediately with detergent and dry well. When storing the container, ensure it is kept sufficiently dry. Insufficient drying may cause an odor or mold growth.
If the product does become stained or smelly, you can remedy this by dissolving baking soda or kitchen bleach in water and soaking the product in it.

***About crazing***
When pottery and porcelain are fired with glaze, a material containing characteristics similar to glass, it not only adds color and texture to the ceramics, but also prevents water absorption and discoloration. Firing at high temperatures allows the glaze to adhere to the ceramic, but as it naturally cools, cracks may appear on the surface. Cracks may also appear when a vessel is suddenly filled with something hot, and the formation of these cracks is called crazing. Physical objects have the property of expanding when heated and contracting when cooled.
Since the ceramic and the glaze have different rates of expansion and contraction, they interfere with each other as the temperature changes, resulting in crazing. Crazing does not mean that the piece is broken or damaged, and there is no impact on its usability, so please do not worry about using it. With continuous use, water and food color will seep through the crazing and give a deeper flavor to the vessel. If you wish to prevent this from happening, you can boil it in water mixed with rice or flour to fill in the cracks before the first usage.