Masami Kobayashi, Kasama Ringed Sculptural Vase, Dark Dotted Glaze, 20.5 cm - Porcelain - Kobayashi Masami - Japan - Reiwa period (2019 - present)
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A porcelain Ringed Sculptural Vase by Masami Kobayashi, Kasama, with a dark dotted glaze, 20.5 cm high and 8 cm wide, from the Reiwa period, authentic and in excellent condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
A Vase to Walk Around: Masami Kobayashi's Ringed Sculptural Vessel from Kasama
– By Masami Kobayashi (小林政美, born 1952), a Kasama ceramic artist exhibited across Europe
– Applied circular loops, raised bands and a flared mouth create a sculpture in the round
– Dark charcoal, brown and metallic glaze scattered with white dots; approximately 20.5 cm high
Summary: A contemporary Japanese ceramic vase by Masami Kobayashi, made in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture. It stands approximately 20.5 cm high and 8 cm wide. A broad, rounded lower body, wrapped in raised horizontal bands, rises into a tall, narrowing conical neck and a widely flared mouth. Circular loops project from both sides of the upper body, and the surface is glazed in deep charcoal, brown, grey and muted metallic tones, scattered with small white dots and warming to reddish-brown clay tones towards the base.
This is a piece best enjoyed from every side. Seen face-on, the loops frame the neck like a pair of open rings; turned in profile, they stack and overlap into a rhythmic column. Set on a freestanding shelf, sideboard or open cabinet, ideally under directional light, it casts shifting shadows through its loops, and the silhouette changes as you move around it.
Kobayashi's career has an unusually strong European thread. Born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, in 1952, he later established his practice in Kasama. In 1993 he took part in an exhibition of Japanese and German artists in Germany, and his work has since been shown in Spain, Italy and Finland. In 2001 he received a Grand Prize at an art exhibition held at Gaudí's Casa Batlló in Barcelona, and in 2006 his ceramics were included in an exhibition of Japanese ceramic avant-garde and tradition at Sèvres in France.
That outlook suits Kasama, one of Japan's leading centres for independent potters, known less for a single house style than for creative freedom. This vase sits firmly on the experimental side of Kobayashi's work: the structure of the clay itself becomes the decoration, yet it remains a working vessel. The horizontal bands bring order, while the loops, the dotted glaze and the movement of colour add spontaneity.
Look closely at the surface and it becomes almost stone-like, mottled where the glaze thickens and thins in the firing. Against that dark ground, the irregular white dots read like snowfall or stars, lifting what could otherwise be a heavy palette. A single tall branch, a few grasses or dried reeds would echo its upward thrust, but it needs no flowers to succeed.
The vase appears to be in good overall condition. Variations in glaze, texture, firing and applied elements are natural to handmade studio ceramics, and minor signs of age, handling or previous display may be present. The base bears an incised mark. Please view the images closely for the overall condition.
A bold, architectural work of contemporary Kasama ceramics, as much sculpture as vase.
This listing contains AI Visualisations. Please refer to the original photographs for the actual object condition.
Shipping & Handling
We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer’s responsibility.
Seller Guarantee
We specialise in authentic Japanese ceramics and guarantee this piece’s authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours.
Seller's Story
Hello, and thank you for visiting my page. I primarily handle Japanese antiques, as well as Western antiques, art pieces, and pre-loved items that have been cherished in Japan. Growing up in a family of historians—my grandfather was a historian and my father was an archaeologist—I have always been captivated by the eras and stories these historic objects and works of art carry with them.
My listings feature collections from both Japan and the West, pieces that have stood the test of time and remained beloved through the ages. Through these rare treasures, I hope to share with you the delight of ownership and discovery. As a professional, I strive for honest and sincere transactions to ensure customer satisfaction, always leveraging my experience and eye for quality.
I strongly believe in not letting buyers down, so I describe items as accurately and thoroughly as possible, prioritizing secure and careful packaging. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. It would be my pleasure to help enrich your collecting experience.
Thank you for your interest, and I look forward to doing business with you.
A Vase to Walk Around: Masami Kobayashi's Ringed Sculptural Vessel from Kasama
– By Masami Kobayashi (小林政美, born 1952), a Kasama ceramic artist exhibited across Europe
– Applied circular loops, raised bands and a flared mouth create a sculpture in the round
– Dark charcoal, brown and metallic glaze scattered with white dots; approximately 20.5 cm high
Summary: A contemporary Japanese ceramic vase by Masami Kobayashi, made in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture. It stands approximately 20.5 cm high and 8 cm wide. A broad, rounded lower body, wrapped in raised horizontal bands, rises into a tall, narrowing conical neck and a widely flared mouth. Circular loops project from both sides of the upper body, and the surface is glazed in deep charcoal, brown, grey and muted metallic tones, scattered with small white dots and warming to reddish-brown clay tones towards the base.
This is a piece best enjoyed from every side. Seen face-on, the loops frame the neck like a pair of open rings; turned in profile, they stack and overlap into a rhythmic column. Set on a freestanding shelf, sideboard or open cabinet, ideally under directional light, it casts shifting shadows through its loops, and the silhouette changes as you move around it.
Kobayashi's career has an unusually strong European thread. Born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, in 1952, he later established his practice in Kasama. In 1993 he took part in an exhibition of Japanese and German artists in Germany, and his work has since been shown in Spain, Italy and Finland. In 2001 he received a Grand Prize at an art exhibition held at Gaudí's Casa Batlló in Barcelona, and in 2006 his ceramics were included in an exhibition of Japanese ceramic avant-garde and tradition at Sèvres in France.
That outlook suits Kasama, one of Japan's leading centres for independent potters, known less for a single house style than for creative freedom. This vase sits firmly on the experimental side of Kobayashi's work: the structure of the clay itself becomes the decoration, yet it remains a working vessel. The horizontal bands bring order, while the loops, the dotted glaze and the movement of colour add spontaneity.
Look closely at the surface and it becomes almost stone-like, mottled where the glaze thickens and thins in the firing. Against that dark ground, the irregular white dots read like snowfall or stars, lifting what could otherwise be a heavy palette. A single tall branch, a few grasses or dried reeds would echo its upward thrust, but it needs no flowers to succeed.
The vase appears to be in good overall condition. Variations in glaze, texture, firing and applied elements are natural to handmade studio ceramics, and minor signs of age, handling or previous display may be present. The base bears an incised mark. Please view the images closely for the overall condition.
A bold, architectural work of contemporary Kasama ceramics, as much sculpture as vase.
This listing contains AI Visualisations. Please refer to the original photographs for the actual object condition.
Shipping & Handling
We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer’s responsibility.
Seller Guarantee
We specialise in authentic Japanese ceramics and guarantee this piece’s authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours.
Seller's Story
Hello, and thank you for visiting my page. I primarily handle Japanese antiques, as well as Western antiques, art pieces, and pre-loved items that have been cherished in Japan. Growing up in a family of historians—my grandfather was a historian and my father was an archaeologist—I have always been captivated by the eras and stories these historic objects and works of art carry with them.
My listings feature collections from both Japan and the West, pieces that have stood the test of time and remained beloved through the ages. Through these rare treasures, I hope to share with you the delight of ownership and discovery. As a professional, I strive for honest and sincere transactions to ensure customer satisfaction, always leveraging my experience and eye for quality.
I strongly believe in not letting buyers down, so I describe items as accurately and thoroughly as possible, prioritizing secure and careful packaging. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. It would be my pleasure to help enrich your collecting experience.
Thank you for your interest, and I look forward to doing business with you.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Reiwa period (2019 - present)
Number of objects
1
Artist
Kobayashi Masami
Country of Origin
Japan
Material
Porcelain
Height
20.5 cm
Width
8 cm
Title of artwork
Masami Kobayashi, Kasama Ringed Sculptural Vase, Dark Dotted Glaze, 20.5 cm
Condition
Excellent condition
Authenticity
Original/official
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