Item Description 山本陶秀 Yamamoto Toshū (1906–1994) — Bizen Ware Flower Vase (Hanaire), with Original Wooden Box A distinguished hanaire (flower vase) masterfully crafted in authentic Bizen stoneware by Yamamoto Toshū, one of the most celebrated ceramicists of twentieth-century Japan and a designated Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhō). The piece is titled Bizen Hanaire (備前 花入), as inscribed on the accompanying original wooden storage box (tomobako) in the artist's own hand, together with his seal. Wheel-thrown with superb technical mastery — a hallmark of Toshū, widely revered as a rokuro no meijin (master of the potter's wheel) — the vase presents an elegant, organic silhouette: a broad, rounded body that tapers gracefully at the waist before expanding again into a generous, cushioned neck and wide, flat-rimmed mouth. The form evokes an understated sculptural quality, balancing weight and refinement in the truest spirit of classic Momoyama-period Bizen. The surface is entirely unglazed, displaying the rich, unpredictable coloration achieved exclusively through wood-firing in the traditional anagama kiln. Deep reddish-purple (ebi) tones dominate the neck and upper body, while warm amber and golden-ochre hidasuki flashing — the result of natural ash and flame contact during the prolonged firing — sweeps dramatically across the shoulder and lower body. Areas of pale ash-grey at the base contrast beautifully with the darker zones, creating a landscape-like gradation of natural colour that is wholly unique to this piece. The dense, iron-rich Bizen clay body shows the characteristic fine-grained texture and natural grit inclusions that distinguish authentic Bizen ware. The base bears a clearly impressed artist's seal (inden). The piece is accompanied by its original paulownia wooden box (kiri tomobako) bearing the title Ransen Hanaire and the artist's signature and red seal, confirming full and direct attribution. An exceptional work by a giant of modern Japanese ceramics, this vase is a superb addition to any collection of traditional Japanese craft or tea ceremony art. Size Height: 24 cm Width: 12.5 cm Weight Condition This vase is in excellent condition consistent with its age, with no chips, cracks, or repairs; natural surface variation, ash deposits, and firing marks are intrinsic characteristics of the wood-firing process and not defects. Artist Profile 山本陶秀 Yamamoto Toshū (1906–1994) was one of the preeminent masters of Bizen stoneware (Bizen-yaki) and a designated Important Intangible Cultural Property holder (Ningen Kokuhō — Living National Treasure) of Japan. Born in Inbe, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, he entered the world of ceramics at the age of fifteen and established his own kiln in Inbe in 1933. He later studied under the influential Kyoto ceramicist Kusube Yaichi, an encounter that profoundly shaped his artistic vision. Renowned above all for his extraordinary mastery of the potter's wheel — earning him the enduring epithet rokuro no meijin ("master of the wheel") — Toshū devoted himself to researching and reviving the techniques of Momoyama-period Bizen, producing works of remarkable formal clarity and kiln-fired beauty. His career was marked by numerous prestigious honours: the Grand Prix Gold Medal at the 1959 Brussels World Exposition, the Purple Ribbon Medal, and the Fourth Order of the Sacred Treasure. In 1980, his work was presented to King Juan Carlos I of Spain; in 1981, a piece was offered to the Japanese Imperial Household. He was designated Living National Treasure in 1987. His works are held in major museum collections in Japan and internationally. Artist: 山本陶秀 Yamamoto Toshū (1906–1994) Title of Artwork: Fire & Earth — Rare Bizen Vase by Living National Treasure Yamamoto Toshū, with Box Material: Stoneware (Bizen clay, wood-fired / anagama kiln) Style / Type: Bizen ware (Bizen-yaki), Hanaire (flower vase) Dimensions: H 24 cm × W 12.5 cm Condition: Excellent Provenance / Accessories: Original paulownia wooden box (kiri tomobako) with artist's inscription and seal