– Striking faceted bottle vase by Kobayashi Masami with layered decoration – Upper section with serene blue-green tones transitioning to warm earth colours at base – White slip inlay depicting bare winter branches flowing across the faceted surface – Architectural vertical faceting creating geometric structure Summary: This is a commanding contemporary vase by Japanese ceramic artist Kobayashi Masami (小林政美). The piece showcases a tall, faceted bottle form with extraordinary surface treatment that reads like a visual journey from earth to sky. The base glows with warm earth tones—ochre, olive, and burnt sienna—suggesting autumn ground or fertile soil. As the eye travels upward, white slip decoration depicting bare winter branches flows organically across the middle sections, its pale lines standing out against the darker ground like frost on bark. The upper zone transitions to serene blue-green tones reminiscent of winter sky or celadon glaze, creating atmospheric depth. Deep vertical facets carved into the body create architectural rhythm, each plane catching light differently and providing structure for the botanical decoration. This piece exemplifies Kobayashi's ability to orchestrate multiple decorative elements into harmonious whole, appealing to collectors of contemporary Japanese ceramics, lovers of seasonal imagery, and those drawn to work that balances structured form with organic decoration. Masami Kobayashi's work reflects sophisticated understanding of ceramic tradition and contemporary artistic expression. The faceted form references historical Japanese and Korean pottery, where geometric precision was valued alongside natural irregularity. The layered decoration seen in this vase demonstrates mastery of multiple techniques: throwing or slab-building to create the faceted form, slip trailing or inlay for the white tree decoration, careful glaze application to achieve the colour transitions, and precise firing to bring all elements together harmoniously. Each step requires technical control and aesthetic judgment, with the final firing revealing whether the potter's vision has been successfully realised. The vase presents tall, slender faceted form—likely octagonal or hexagonal—with well-defined vertical planes creating architectural presence. The faceting isn't merely decorative but structural, each plane creating shadow and highlight that shifts as viewing angle changes. This geometric framework provides disciplined structure within which more organic elements can play. The colour palette orchestrates dramatic journey from base to rim. The lower section displays warm earth tones—ochre yellows, olive greens, touches of burnt sienna and brown—suggesting autumn landscape or fertile ground. These colours likely result from iron-rich clay body interacting with glaze chemistry during firing, producing natural variations that cannot be exactly replicated. Moving upward, the colours cool and lighten, transitioning through grey-green zones into the upper section's serene blue-green tones. This atmospheric colour recalls celadon glazes, winter sky, or perhaps deep water—whatever the association, it provides visual calm that balances the warmer base. Against this colour field, white slip decoration depicts bare winter branches—delicate linear patterns suggesting trees stripped of leaves, their elegant bone structure revealed. The branches traverse multiple facets, some lines running vertically to echo the vase's structure, others crossing diagonally to create visual movement. The white slip stands out clearly against the darker ground, creating strong graphic contrast. This imagery evokes the Japanese aesthetic appreciation for kare-ki (枯木, withered trees)—winter landscapes where essential forms emerge unobscured by foliage, symbolising both transience and enduring strength. The technique for creating this white decoration might involve several approaches: slip trailing, where liquid clay is piped onto the surface; inlay, where lines are carved and filled with contrasting slip; or mishima, where stamps create patterns that are then filled. Whatever the specific method, the execution shows confident control—the lines are clean and purposeful, creating botanical patterns that feel natural rather than mechanical. The vertical faceting adds crucial textural dimension. These carved planes create architectural rhythm, their sharp edges catching light to create bright highlights contrasting with shadowed recesses. The faceting also provides structure for the tree decoration—branches naturally follow or cross the vertical planes, creating visual conversation between geometric framework and organic imagery. This interplay between angular structure and flowing natural forms creates productive tension that keeps the eye engaged. The form tapers gently as it rises, maintaining elegant proportions that prevent the tall structure from feeling top-heavy or unstable. The narrow opening at the rim suits single dramatic branches—bare winter wood, pussy willow, or simply sculptural twigs—though the vase equally functions as pure sculptural form without floral arrangement. The faceted geometry means the vase presents different profiles when viewed from various angles, rewarding circumnavigation and creating changing visual experience. In contemporary interiors, this vase commands attention through height, colour drama, and layered decoration. The warm earth base brings grounding presence, while the cool upper section provides visual lift. The white tree decoration adds linear interest and seasonal poetry. The faceted structure creates sculptural presence even when empty. Display it on console table, bookshelf, or within gallery-style wall alcove, and it becomes focal point—the kind of object that draws visitors across rooms for closer inspection. The seasonal imagery makes this piece particularly appealing for those who appreciate Japanese aesthetic traditions of marking time's passage through material culture. The bare winter branches suggest the season when nature rests, when essential structures emerge unadorned—a period valued in Japanese culture for its austere beauty and contemplative quietness. Displaying this vase during winter months creates visual harmony with the season outside, whilst using it year-round provides reminder that every season has its distinct beauty. For collectors, Kobayashi's work represents the sophisticated middle ground of contemporary Japanese ceramics—technically accomplished enough to execute complex multi-layer decoration, aesthetically confident enough to combine geometric structure with organic imagery, commercially accessible enough to appeal beyond specialist markets whilst maintaining artistic integrity. His pieces bridge folk-craft traditions (the faceting recalls mingei aesthetics) with contemporary design sensibilities (the colour palette and proportions feel thoroughly modern). The vase's proportions and decoration also speak to international audiences. The tall, slender form suits contemporary interiors with high ceilings and minimal clutter. The colour palette—earth tones transitioning to blue-greens—harmonises with current design trends favouring natural, muted palettes over primary colours. The tree decoration provides accessible narrative that requires no specialist knowledge to appreciate, whilst carrying deeper cultural resonance for those familiar with Japanese seasonal aesthetics. Functionally, the vase serves multiple purposes. Use it for ikebana-style arrangements featuring bare branches—the narrow opening naturally limits and structures arrangements, whilst the tall form suits long-stemmed materials. Or display it empty as pure sculpture, allowing the colour transitions, tree decoration, and faceted structure to create complete aesthetic experience. The substantial height and dramatic decoration mean it functions as statement piece rather than background element, commanding visual attention wherever placed. Condition appears excellent throughout. The glaze shows no crazing, chips, or structural damage. The white slip decoration remains intact without flaking or loss. The faceted edges are crisp and undamaged. The base shows no wobble or unevenness. The piece appears to have been carefully preserved, likely displayed rather than subjected to heavy functional use, though stoneware's durability means it could certainly withstand regular service as flower vase. The colour variations, particularly in the earth-toned base section, are intentional aesthetic features resulting from glaze chemistry and firing atmosphere rather than flaws or damage. These natural variations add visual interest and authenticate the piece as handmade rather than industrially produced. Each viewing reveals new details—subtle colour shifts, the precise path of individual branch lines, how light plays across the faceted planes. For collectors building comprehensive surveys of contemporary Japanese studio pottery, this piece demonstrates Kobayashi's distinctive approach—combining structured geometric forms with flowing natural decoration, orchestrating dramatic colour transitions, and balancing folk-craft traditions with contemporary design sensibilities. For those focused on seasonal imagery, it provides sophisticated example of winter aesthetics. And for those furnishing contemporary interiors who seek statement pieces with cultural substance, it offers authentic Japanese studio pottery that functions beautifully in modern spaces whilst maintaining connection to deeper aesthetic traditions. The vase also serves educational purposes for those learning to evaluate Japanese ceramics. It demonstrates how faceting creates sculptural presence, how slip decoration can create contrast against darker grounds, how colour transitions add visual drama, and how seasonal imagery connects objects to larger cultural frameworks of marking time's passage. Encountering this piece, viewers experience multiple aspects of ceramic craft simultaneously: throwing or forming technique, surface decoration, glaze chemistry, firing mastery, and aesthetic composition. If you collect contemporary Japanese studio pottery, if you appreciate objects that balance geometric structure with organic decoration, if you value work demonstrating technical versatility and aesthetic confidence, if you seek pieces that function as both utility and sculpture, this vase deserves consideration. Display it year-round and it will bring quiet satisfaction through its colour harmonies and elegant proportions. Use it seasonally for winter branches and it will create visual dialogue with nature outside. Whatever role it assumes, it will demonstrate that serious contemporary craft can synthesise multiple aesthetic traditions—folk-craft faceting, seasonal imagery, atmospheric colour—into objects that feel both rooted in tradition and thoroughly contemporary. Shipping & Handling We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. 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