Yanagihara Mutsuo - Jar - Stoneware - Azure Glaze Loop Handle
06
days
02
hours
05
minutes
17
seconds
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 137914 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Lidded ceramic vessel in stoneware by Yanagihara Mutsuo (b. 1934), Japan, with an unglazed, textured body and a cobalt-turquoise azure-glazed looping lid, measuring 21 x 22 x 22 cm and accompanied by the original tomobako box.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Item Description
This striking lidded ceramic vessel is the work of Yanagihara Mutsuo (柳原睦夫 Yanagihara Mutsuo, b. 1934), one of the most influential Japanese studio potters of the postwar era. The piece is signed by the artist on the base and comes with its original wooden storage box (tomobako), inscribed by hand with the title 碧釉飾壷 (Hekiyū Kazaritsubo, "Azure-Glazed Decorative Jar") and the artist's signature and seal.
The rounded, drum-shaped body is left in an unglazed, textured stoneware finish, showing rich earthy tones ranging from ochre to deep brown, achieved through wood-firing and natural ash effects. The contrast between this raw, tactile surface and the vivid azure (碧釉, hekiyū) glazed lid is a hallmark of Yanagihara's mature style. The lid features a sculptural, looping handle reminiscent of calligraphic brushwork, glazed in deep cobalt and turquoise tones that pool and shift across the surface.
Yanagihara studied ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts under the renowned potter Tomimoto Kenkichi (1886-1963), earning his bachelor's degree in 1958 and master's degree in 1960. Teaching invitations brought him to the University of Washington and Alfred University in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, where exposure to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art profoundly shaped his artistic direction. Rather than aligning with traditional kiln lineages, Yanagihara forged an independent path that fuses Japanese ceramic craftsmanship with modernist abstraction.
He is Professor Emeritus at Osaka University of Arts and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC). His accolades include the Ravenna City Chamber of Commerce Prize at the Faenza International (1971), the Kyoto City Art Contribution Prize (1998), the Kyoto Prefecture Prize for Cultural Contribution (2000), the Japan Ceramic Society Prize (2003), and the Kyoto Art Culture Prize (2005). His work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo and Kyoto), the National Museum of Art, Osaka, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum. The azure glaze technique seen on this jar is a recurring and well-documented feature across his oeuvre.
Size
Height: 21 cm
Width: 22 cm
Depth: 22 cm
Condition
The vessel shows light surface wear, scuffs, and minor scratches consistent with age and handling, as visible in the accompanying photographs. No chips, cracks, or restorations were observed upon visual inspection. The wooden storage box shows some natural aging to the wood surface.
Additional Information
Artist: Yanagihara Mutsuo (b. 1934), ceramic artist, Professor Emeritus at Osaka University of Arts
Signature: Incised artist's mark on the base
Provenance/Accessories: Original wooden tomobako storage box, inscribed with title and signature
Country: Japan
NOITICE:
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.
Seller's Story
We have been experienced as an antique dealer for more than a decade, we select and purchase high-quality products from all over Japan. I carefully select items with good taste, whether famous or not. I offer you an encounter with unknown Japanese goods.
Owner Profile
Name: Michito Nagahiro
Born in 1986 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. From an early age, I have been fascinated by the beautiful and practical designs of Japanese art, antiques, and consumer products, as well as the mindset and dedication of craftsmen and artists. I frequently visited museums and solo exhibitions as part of my daily life.
In 2012, under the guidance of a top mentor in the industry, I established myself as an antique dealer, handling a wide range of items, including Japanese antiques and artworks. Since 2017, I have specialized in selling Japanese antiques and fine art, primarily in Europe, achieving over 20,000 successful sales to date.
In 2019, I launched a completely free service to support individuals in Japan who experience loneliness. This initiative involves personally visiting people, engaging in conversations, sharing meals, and, if necessary, providing career advice. More than 1,000 people reach out to me annually for support.
Additionally, I am committed to promoting and supporting the sales of emerging artists whose work has not yet received public recognition. My philosophy goes beyond merely selling objects—I strive to convey the stories, history, and emotions embedded in each piece. By doing so, I aim to connect people with the lives of the artists and bring inspiration to those who encounter their work.
Item Description
This striking lidded ceramic vessel is the work of Yanagihara Mutsuo (柳原睦夫 Yanagihara Mutsuo, b. 1934), one of the most influential Japanese studio potters of the postwar era. The piece is signed by the artist on the base and comes with its original wooden storage box (tomobako), inscribed by hand with the title 碧釉飾壷 (Hekiyū Kazaritsubo, "Azure-Glazed Decorative Jar") and the artist's signature and seal.
The rounded, drum-shaped body is left in an unglazed, textured stoneware finish, showing rich earthy tones ranging from ochre to deep brown, achieved through wood-firing and natural ash effects. The contrast between this raw, tactile surface and the vivid azure (碧釉, hekiyū) glazed lid is a hallmark of Yanagihara's mature style. The lid features a sculptural, looping handle reminiscent of calligraphic brushwork, glazed in deep cobalt and turquoise tones that pool and shift across the surface.
Yanagihara studied ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts under the renowned potter Tomimoto Kenkichi (1886-1963), earning his bachelor's degree in 1958 and master's degree in 1960. Teaching invitations brought him to the University of Washington and Alfred University in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, where exposure to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art profoundly shaped his artistic direction. Rather than aligning with traditional kiln lineages, Yanagihara forged an independent path that fuses Japanese ceramic craftsmanship with modernist abstraction.
He is Professor Emeritus at Osaka University of Arts and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC). His accolades include the Ravenna City Chamber of Commerce Prize at the Faenza International (1971), the Kyoto City Art Contribution Prize (1998), the Kyoto Prefecture Prize for Cultural Contribution (2000), the Japan Ceramic Society Prize (2003), and the Kyoto Art Culture Prize (2005). His work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo and Kyoto), the National Museum of Art, Osaka, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum. The azure glaze technique seen on this jar is a recurring and well-documented feature across his oeuvre.
Size
Height: 21 cm
Width: 22 cm
Depth: 22 cm
Condition
The vessel shows light surface wear, scuffs, and minor scratches consistent with age and handling, as visible in the accompanying photographs. No chips, cracks, or restorations were observed upon visual inspection. The wooden storage box shows some natural aging to the wood surface.
Additional Information
Artist: Yanagihara Mutsuo (b. 1934), ceramic artist, Professor Emeritus at Osaka University of Arts
Signature: Incised artist's mark on the base
Provenance/Accessories: Original wooden tomobako storage box, inscribed with title and signature
Country: Japan
NOITICE:
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.
Seller's Story
We have been experienced as an antique dealer for more than a decade, we select and purchase high-quality products from all over Japan. I carefully select items with good taste, whether famous or not. I offer you an encounter with unknown Japanese goods.
Owner Profile
Name: Michito Nagahiro
Born in 1986 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. From an early age, I have been fascinated by the beautiful and practical designs of Japanese art, antiques, and consumer products, as well as the mindset and dedication of craftsmen and artists. I frequently visited museums and solo exhibitions as part of my daily life.
In 2012, under the guidance of a top mentor in the industry, I established myself as an antique dealer, handling a wide range of items, including Japanese antiques and artworks. Since 2017, I have specialized in selling Japanese antiques and fine art, primarily in Europe, achieving over 20,000 successful sales to date.
In 2019, I launched a completely free service to support individuals in Japan who experience loneliness. This initiative involves personally visiting people, engaging in conversations, sharing meals, and, if necessary, providing career advice. More than 1,000 people reach out to me annually for support.
Additionally, I am committed to promoting and supporting the sales of emerging artists whose work has not yet received public recognition. My philosophy goes beyond merely selling objects—I strive to convey the stories, history, and emotions embedded in each piece. By doing so, I aim to connect people with the lives of the artists and bring inspiration to those who encounter their work.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Title additional information
Azure Glaze Loop Handle
Number of objects
1
Country of origin
Japan
Material
Stoneware
Designer/artist/maker
Yanagihara Mutsuo
Style
Contemporary
Colour
Multicolour
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of ageing
Height
21 cm
Width
22 cm
Depth
22 cm
Estimated period
1900-2000
Sold by
