信乐烧 球形花瓶，天然灰釉 — 署名 Meizan，附原装友箱 - 石器 - 明山 Meizan - 日本 - 1900–2000

Item Description
明山 Meizan Shigaraki Ware Flower Vase
A beautifully crafted Shigaraki ware flower vase, signed by the artist Meizan, working within the tradition of the historic Meizan Kiln, one of Japan's most historically significant pottery workshops, founded in the early Edo period (circa 1622) in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture — one of Japan's six ancient kilns.
This generously proportioned globular vase showcases the quintessential beauty of Shigaraki ware: a warm, unglazed stoneware body in soft blush-pink and violet tones, born from the natural transformation of clay in the kiln's heat. Encircling the upper shoulder of the vessel is a bold, asymmetric band of natural ash glaze (bidoro), flowing in an organic crescent across the surface. The ash glaze ranges in color from rich olive-gold to a luminous, glass-like drip, where the silica in the wood ash has melted and fused dramatically with the clay — a hallmark of authentic Shigaraki high-temperature wood firing.
The body displays the gentle horizontal striations characteristic of wheel-thrown work, creating a tactile, layered depth across the surface. The warm terracotta-pink tones shift subtly to cool lavender-grey toward the lower body, reflecting the nuanced atmospheric effects of traditional kiln firing. The foot ring is clean and unglazed, revealing the sandy, iron-flecked Shigaraki clay in its raw state.
The vase comes with its original signed wooden box (tomobako), inscribed with "花瓶" (Flower Vase), "信楽窯" (Shigaraki Kiln), and "明山作" (Made by Meizan), affirming its authenticity.
A rare opportunity to own an authentic piece of living Japanese ceramic history, bearing the mark of an artist working within one of Japan's oldest and most revered ceramic traditions.

Size
Height: 22 cm
Width: 24 cm (diameter)

Weight
2,502 g

Condition
The vase is in excellent unused condition, having been stored carefully for an extended period; no chips, cracks, or restoration are present, and the natural ash glaze and clay surface appear exactly as fired.

Artist Profile
明山 Meizan is an artist working within the tradition of the Meizan Kiln, one of Japan's oldest continuously operating Shigaraki ware workshops, founded in 1622 in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture. Shigaraki is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, celebrated for its distinctive iron-rich clay and the unpredictable beauty created through high-temperature wood firing. The natural ash glaze (bidoro) and the warm, flame-kissed terracotta tones seen in this vase are hallmarks of the Shigaraki tradition — effects that cannot be reproduced artificially and are unique to each firing. Works bearing the "明山作" (Made by Meizan) seal represent the highest expression of this 400-year legacy.

NOITICE:

The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation.
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