Vase - Porcelain - Japan - Pine Forest Landscape

Item Description
This is a porcelain vase by Fujii Shumei (藤井朱明), a recognised Arita ware artist and long-time exhibitor at the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition). The vase has an ovoid body rising to a flared, crane-neck (tsurukubi) opening, finished in a soft gradient of white, lavender and pale blue at the shoulder.

The lower body is decorated with a dense, layered forest-and-mountain landscape rendered in shades of grey-blue, created using Fujii's signature "tree-leaf technique," in which the veined texture of pressed leaves is used to build up the silhouettes of trees and distant hills. The base is inscribed with the artist's mark.

A wooden tablet inscribed with the artist's signature accompanies the piece, photographed alongside the vase.

Artist Profile
Fujii Shumei Fujii Shumei (1936-2017) was a Japanese ceramic artist born in Arita, Saga Prefecture, who began working at an akae (red-glaze) workshop and pottery company in Arita from the age of 15. He later worked independently as a nishikitsuke (overglaze enamel) craftsman from 1963 before establishing his own Shumei Kiln in 1974. Fujii developed a distinctive "tree-leaf technique," pressing young leaves onto unglazed porcelain so that their veins could be used to depict the mountain and forest scenery around Arita, often combined with underglaze blue (sometsuke) work. He was first selected for the Nitten exhibition in 1962 with the work "Kanryu" and was selected a further fifteen times, becoming a Nitten Associate Member and a member of the Saga Art Association. His awards include prizes at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Minister of Education Prize at the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, and the Japan New Crafts Award. His work has been acquired by the British Museum and purchased by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on six occasions.

He is a renowned and accomplished Arita ceramic artist who repeatedly exhibited at the prestigious Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) and later established his own "Shumei-gama" kiln, where he perfected original techniques such as unique tenmoku glazes and leaf-vein impression methods.

＜ Major Museums Housing His Works＞
Fujii Shumei's works are held in prominent museums both in Japan and internationally:

The British Museum (London, UK): Known as a representative international collection, highly evaluating the artistic value of his works.

Others: His works are also housed in public museums and cultural institutions domestically and internationally.

3. Major Awards & Recognition
He has received numerous awards and honors at prestigious exhibitions, including Nitten:

First Nitten Selection (c. 1962 / Showa 37): First selected for the Nitten exhibition with his piece "Kanryū" (Cold Current), going on to be selected a total of 15 times. (A prominent ceramic artist from Saga Prefecture)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acquisitions: His works have been purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a total of 6 times.

Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition: Won the Minister of Education Award. (A prominent ceramic artist from Saga Prefecture)

Japan New Crafts Exhibition: Won the Japan New Crafts Award. (A prominent ceramic artist from Saga Prefecture)

Saga Prefecture Arts and Culture Merit Award (1994 / Heisei 6)

Size
Height: 26 cm
Width: 16 cm
Depth: 16 cm

Weight
1468 g

Condition
The vase is in excellent condition overall, with no chips, cracks, or notable damage observed. Reflections visible on the glazed surface in some photographs are the result of lighting and not physical flaws.

Additional Information
Ware type: Arita ware (Saga Prefecture, Japan)
Material: Glazed porcelain
Form: Ovoid body with flared crane-neck (tsurukubi) opening
Decoration: Hand-applied landscape using the artist's tree-leaf technique

NOITICE:

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