Large “Hōzō” 方象 “square figure” vase, Shibayama Yoshikuni 芝山吉邦, 1993

The vase presents itself as a vertical volume with a square cross-section, constructed on a deliberately inflected geometry. The edges remain sharp, but the walls are not perfectly flat: one face bulges and the silhouette shifts, giving the whole the presence of a sculptural object. The base is very distinctive, with wider, thicker rims that extend beyond the body of the vase and reinforce its visual presence. The opening is wide, the rim thickened and irregular, reflecting the handcrafted nature of the firing process.

The glaze ranges from anthracite gray to a lighter gray, with a satin to glossy sheen across the entire surface. Areas of more concentrated glaze alternate with a diffuse, powdery effect, like fine, light dusting, evoking a snowfall on the vase. These nuances are not limited to the base: they punctuate the entire vase and animate its surfaces depending on the light.

The original tomobako bears the title "方象", translated here as "square figure", as well as an inscription indicating that it is a work presented at the Japan Contemporary Craft Art Exhibition (日本現代工芸美術展) in 1993. The bottom of the vase is incised and dated.

Biography

Shibayama Yoshikuni (1936–2020) was a Japanese ceramicist based in Hiratsuka (Kanagawa Prefecture). Japanese sources link him to the official exhibition circuit, notably Nitten, and some of his works are held in a public collection in Hiratsuka.

Dimensions

Height: 44.9 cm; 24 × 24 cm.