Ceramic vase by Katsumata Chieko (勝間田千恵子), made in the 1980s and 1990s, a pivotal period in her career. The piece has a broad, slightly flared shape, with a subtly indented opening. Its surface is covered with layers of blue and turquoise slip applied through a fabric, leaving an irregular imprint that creates nuances of material and light. The interior, soberly gray, reinforces the contrast with the exterior decoration. Height 23 cm, diameter 25 cm.

Born in 1950 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Katsumata trained in Paris before continuing her chromatic research in Kyoto. She is now recognized for her monumental sculptures in the shape of large, intensely colored gourds, highly prized by museums and collectors. This vase belongs to a more intimate period, when she was still exploring the textures and layering of colors that would become her signature. Its rarity and experimental nature make it a valuable work for understanding the evolution of this major Japanese ceramist.