花瓶 - Stoneware - Japan - 彫刻波形の花瓶 - Mihara Ken 三原研(1958年生)





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Large hand-built unglazed stoneware vase by Mihara Ken (b. 1958) from Izumo, Japan, with a dense incised wave pattern, dimensions 37 cm high by 33 cm wide/depth, weight 7.55 kg, in good condition and accompanied by its original tomobako wooden storage box.
Description from the seller
Item Description
This is a large, sculptural ceramic vessel by Mihara Ken 三原研 (b. 1958), one of the most celebrated names in contemporary Japanese ceramics. Born in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Mihara trained under Funaki Kenji of the Fujina tradition before establishing his own studio in his native Izumo, where he continues to work today.
The globular form rises to a narrow, cylindrical neck and rests on a rounded, unglazed base marked by natural firing effects from the kiln. The entire surface is covered in a dense, hand-incised pattern of flowing, wave-like lines that follow the curvature of the pot, creating a rhythmic, almost topographic texture across the body. The warm, earthy tones of the iron-rich clay deepen toward reddish-brown at the lower section, a result of carbon (tanka) firing rather than applied glaze — a hallmark of Mihara's technique, in which colour and surface variation are achieved entirely through firing conditions and clay composition.
This is a substantial, gallery-scale work, well over a foot in every dimension, and makes a striking sculptural statement as a floor vase or display piece. It is accompanied by its original wooden storage box (tomobako), a traditional mark of authenticity and studio provenance for Japanese ceramic works.
Mihara's pieces are held in more than 40 public collections worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. He has received major honours such as the Japan Ceramic Society Award (2008) and the Grand Prize at the Chanoyu-no-Zokei exhibition (2001, 2008).
Size
Height: 37 cm
Width: 33 cm
Depth: 33 cm
Weight
7550 g / 7.55 kg
Condition
The vessel is in good overall condition, consistent with a hand-built, wood-fired ceramic work. Minor surface wear and light soiling from age are present, along with natural firing marks to the base, which are inherent to the carbon-firing process rather than damage. Please refer closely to the accompanying photographs for a full visual assessment of surface and condition.
Artist Profile
Mihara Ken was born in 1958 in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. He initially studied civil engineering at university before discovering ceramics through a college club activity. In 1981 he became a student of Funaki Kenji, a noted master of the Fujina ware tradition, and after two years of training he became independent, opening a studio in his hometown before later relocating his workshop to Shinji-cho, Matsue.
Working without glaze, Mihara builds his sculptural forms by hand and develops their surfaces through repeated high-temperature firings, drawing inspiration from the ancient cultural landscape of the Izumo region. His restrained forms and richly textured, iron-rich clay surfaces have established him as one of the leading figures in contemporary Japanese ceramics.
His accolades include the Grand Prize at the Chanoyu-no-Zokei ("Forms of the Tea Ceremony") exhibition in 2001 and 2008, the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2008 — one of the most prestigious honours in contemporary Japanese ceramics — the Paramita Ceramics Competition prize in 2006, the Energia Art Award in 2002, and Shizuoka Prefecture's Cultural Encouragement Award in 2009. His works are held in more than 40 public collections worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
Additional Information
Artist: Mihara Ken, born 1958, Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Technique: Hand-built unglazed stoneware, carbon (tanka) firing with incised linear decoration
Accessories: Original signed wooden storage box (tomobako)
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
Item Description
This is a large, sculptural ceramic vessel by Mihara Ken 三原研 (b. 1958), one of the most celebrated names in contemporary Japanese ceramics. Born in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Mihara trained under Funaki Kenji of the Fujina tradition before establishing his own studio in his native Izumo, where he continues to work today.
The globular form rises to a narrow, cylindrical neck and rests on a rounded, unglazed base marked by natural firing effects from the kiln. The entire surface is covered in a dense, hand-incised pattern of flowing, wave-like lines that follow the curvature of the pot, creating a rhythmic, almost topographic texture across the body. The warm, earthy tones of the iron-rich clay deepen toward reddish-brown at the lower section, a result of carbon (tanka) firing rather than applied glaze — a hallmark of Mihara's technique, in which colour and surface variation are achieved entirely through firing conditions and clay composition.
This is a substantial, gallery-scale work, well over a foot in every dimension, and makes a striking sculptural statement as a floor vase or display piece. It is accompanied by its original wooden storage box (tomobako), a traditional mark of authenticity and studio provenance for Japanese ceramic works.
Mihara's pieces are held in more than 40 public collections worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. He has received major honours such as the Japan Ceramic Society Award (2008) and the Grand Prize at the Chanoyu-no-Zokei exhibition (2001, 2008).
Size
Height: 37 cm
Width: 33 cm
Depth: 33 cm
Weight
7550 g / 7.55 kg
Condition
The vessel is in good overall condition, consistent with a hand-built, wood-fired ceramic work. Minor surface wear and light soiling from age are present, along with natural firing marks to the base, which are inherent to the carbon-firing process rather than damage. Please refer closely to the accompanying photographs for a full visual assessment of surface and condition.
Artist Profile
Mihara Ken was born in 1958 in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. He initially studied civil engineering at university before discovering ceramics through a college club activity. In 1981 he became a student of Funaki Kenji, a noted master of the Fujina ware tradition, and after two years of training he became independent, opening a studio in his hometown before later relocating his workshop to Shinji-cho, Matsue.
Working without glaze, Mihara builds his sculptural forms by hand and develops their surfaces through repeated high-temperature firings, drawing inspiration from the ancient cultural landscape of the Izumo region. His restrained forms and richly textured, iron-rich clay surfaces have established him as one of the leading figures in contemporary Japanese ceramics.
His accolades include the Grand Prize at the Chanoyu-no-Zokei ("Forms of the Tea Ceremony") exhibition in 2001 and 2008, the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2008 — one of the most prestigious honours in contemporary Japanese ceramics — the Paramita Ceramics Competition prize in 2006, the Energia Art Award in 2002, and Shizuoka Prefecture's Cultural Encouragement Award in 2009. His works are held in more than 40 public collections worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
Additional Information
Artist: Mihara Ken, born 1958, Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Technique: Hand-built unglazed stoneware, carbon (tanka) firing with incised linear decoration
Accessories: Original signed wooden storage box (tomobako)
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.

