■ Please Note: I usually ship within 24 hours after payment. However, payments made on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday will be shipped on Monday since the post office is closed on weekends. Tracking updates on Catawiki may take some time to appear. Shipping costs include insurance but not customs duties. Import taxes or customs fees may apply depending on your country, and I cannot influence or adjust them. If you disagree with the customs charges, please contact your local customs office directly. As this item ships from Japan, delivery may take longer than usual. ■ Authenticity & Handcrafted Nature: This work is an original, hand-crafted porcelain vase by Tsuji Takehiko, produced at the renowned Sōgama kiln. It is accompanied by its original tomobako (signed wooden storage box) and tomobukuro (protective cloth), confirming its authenticity and provenance. Every stage of production—forming, glazing, and painting—was executed by hand, ensuring that no two works are identical. ■ Estimated Period: Late Shōwa to early Heisei period (1985–2005) — a pivotal era in which Japanese ceramic artists actively bridged classical craftsmanship and international contemporary aesthetics, emphasizing painterly expression and refined individuality. ■ Description: This elegant flower vase represents a distinguished example of modern Japanese art porcelain, created by Tsuji Takehiko of the prestigious Sōgama kiln. Rendered in delicate underglaze blue with subtle tonal gradation, the composition depicts a tranquil nocturnal waterscape, featuring a small boat and distant architecture illuminated by moonlight. The poetic atmosphere evokes traditional Japanese pictorial sensibilities while embracing contemporary spatial abstraction. What Is the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association (Nihon Gendai Kōgeikai)? The Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association is one of the country’s most influential organizations dedicated to promoting advanced artistic craftsmanship. Membership is granted only to highly accomplished artists, and its exhibitions serve as a benchmark for excellence in modern Japanese applied arts. What Is the Nitten Special Selection (Nitten Tokusen)? The Nitten Exhibition is Japan’s most prestigious national art exhibition. The Special Selection (Tokusen) award is granted to works of exceptional artistic and technical merit. Receiving this honor places an artist among the elite figures of contemporary Japanese art. What Does It Mean to Be a Nitten Judge? Serving as a Nitten judge signifies recognition at the highest institutional level. Judges are selected from leading artists with profound influence on the direction of Japanese art, reflecting both mastery and cultural authority. What Is “Japan’s Renowned Kiln: Sōgama”? Sōgama is celebrated as one of Japan’s leading modern kilns, specializing in high-grade art porcelain that integrates classical techniques with refined pictorial expression. Works from this kiln are consistently sought after by collectors and museums for their technical precision and aesthetic sophistication. Who Is Tsuji Takehiko? Tsuji Takehiko is a highly respected contemporary ceramic artist, affiliated with the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association, recipient of Nitten Special Selection honors, and former Nitten judge. His oeuvre is characterized by lyrical landscape motifs, meticulous brushwork, and exceptional control of porcelain surfaces. He belongs to a lineage of postwar artists who redefined Japanese porcelain as a medium of fine art rather than utilitarian craft. About the Form: Flower Vase (Hanaire) In the Japanese tea and artistic tradition, the hanaire functions not merely as a container but as an independent sculptural object. This rectangular form with gently softened edges provides a balanced architectural presence, allowing floral arrangements and empty space alike to be appreciated as part of the composition. Significance of Tomobako and Inscriptions The signed tomobako and tomobukuro serve as authoritative documentation of authorship. In Japanese ceramic culture, such original packaging is integral to provenance and significantly enhances both scholarly and market value. ■ Expert’s Insight: This work exemplifies the mature phase of postwar Japanese porcelain, in which technical virtuosity is seamlessly fused with pictorial lyricism. Tsuji’s moonlit landscape demonstrates a rare ability to translate traditional ink-painting sensibilities into ceramic form. For European and international collectors, this piece represents not only a decorative object but a museum-caliber artwork situated at the intersection of craft, painting, and modern design. Its institutional pedigree and complete original accessories markedly elevate its long-term investment and cultural value. ■ Antique/Vintage Notice: This is a vintage and collectible handcrafted work. Minor variations in glaze, pigment density, and surface texture are natural results of traditional firing processes and should be regarded as authentic characteristics rather than flaws. Such features testify to the individuality and historical integrity of the piece. ■Shipping & Handling: We ship worldwide from Japan using insured and trackable services. All items are professionally packed to ensure safe delivery. Import duties or customs fees are the buyer’s responsibility. Delivery may take time depending on your location. Feel free to reach out with any questions.