A luminous porcelain vessel where misty forests and distant peaks emerge from a gentle, graduated blue—an evocative meditation on nature rendered in the sometsuke tradition. Description: This large, globular vase presents a full, generous form with a narrow neck crowned by a distinctive sculptural mouth, which curls gently outward in a petal-like silhouette. The vessel's smooth, pristine white porcelain body serves as a canvas for a continuous painted landscape encircling its entire surface. The decoration depicts successive ridges of coniferous forest, rendered in underglaze blue (sometsuke). Near the base, the trees are darkest and most densely detailed, their pointed forms creating a rhythmic visual texture. As the scene rises, the forest recedes through bands of soft, milky mist, with the trees gradually fading from deep indigo to pale, silvery blue and finally into pure white near the shoulder. The effect mimics the atmospheric perspective of early morning light over a mountainous landscape. Faint, triangular peaks emerge in the middle distance, barely visible through the haze, evoking a sense of quiet depth and spaciousness. The foot ring is cleanly finished in unglazed white porcelain. The base bears an incised mark identifying the artist. The work is accompanied by its original signed and sealed wooden storage box (tomobako), inscribed with the title and artist's signature. Cultural & Art Context: Arita ware is a traditional Japanese porcelain that originated in Arita, Saga Prefecture, in the early 17th century. It is known for its pure white porcelain body and delicate hand-painted designs, often in cobalt blue or colorful overglaze enamels. Arita porcelain was among the first Japanese ceramics exported to Europe, becoming highly prized for its beauty and craftsmanship. The term “Imari ware” is often used for export pieces shipped from the nearby port of Imari. Today, Arita ware continues to be produced by skilled artisans who blend tradition with modern techniques. It remains one of Japan’s most respected porcelain styles, valued by collectors worldwide. Collector Appeal: A substantial exhibition-quality vessel by an award-winning artist, this piece offers collectors a refined example of contemporary Arita porcelain. The combination of traditional technique with a poetic, painterly sensibility makes it appealing both as a decorative object and as a work of modern Japanese ceramic art. Artist Profile: Shumei Fujii was a highly respected Japanese ceramic artist from Arita, Saga Prefecture — one of Japan’s most historic centers of porcelain production. Born in 1936, he began his career in ceramics after working for a porcelain manufacturer and later established his own kiln, Shumeigama (朱明窯), in 1974. Fujii’s works are celebrated for their refined balance between traditional Arita porcelain techniques and modern aesthetic sensibilities. He mastered various decorative methods such as underglaze blue (sometsuke), engraving, and his signature “konoha-gihō” (“leaf technique”), which creates delicate and poetic surface textures. Throughout his long career, Fujii exhibited at major national art competitions including the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition (Nitten), the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and the Japan New Craft Exhibition, earning multiple awards and recognitions. In 1985 he became a Nitten Kaiyu (friend member of the Nitten society), and in 1994 he received the Saga Prefecture Cultural Achievement Award for his contributions to Japanese ceramics. Fujii’s artistry lies in his ability to harmonize flowing natural motifs with the purity of porcelain form, producing works that are both serene and dynamic. His pieces continue to be sought after by collectors for their craftsmanship, elegance, and timeless expression of Japanese ceramic tradition. Shipping / Policy: Carefully packaged and shipped from Japan by Japan Post or DHL with tracking. If you purchase multiple items, combined shipping is available. Please contact us if needed. Import duties, VAT (or equivalent consumption tax), and any other fees are the responsibility of the buyer. Guarantee: Our shop is a licensed antiques dealer in Japan. We guarantee the authenticity of this work.