Engraved and enameled plaque, Asano Masaru (born 1944), Japan, circa 1980

Dimensions: 43.2 × 22.3 × 3 cm – Tomobako signed

Created in the 1980s by Asano Masaru, this glazed stoneware plaque demonstrates a rare mastery of surface and material. Engraved in the clay and then coated with a sober, mineral glaze, it embodies the discreet and rigorous aesthetic of Mashiko's school, while bearing the artist's singular mark.

Born in 1944 in Miyagi Prefecture, Asano Masaru opened his own kiln in Mashiko in 1973. This historic ceramic center, the cradle of modern Japanese ceramics, became a field of expression for him, blending tradition and abstraction. His approach is deeply rooted in the spirit of mingei, while engaging with the visual languages ​​of the 20th century.

His work, both sculptural and meditative, has been repeatedly recognized at major Japanese exhibitions such as the Exhibition of Traditional Japanese Arts and the Exhibition of Japanese Ceramic Art. Present in the collections of the Artizon Museum in Tokyo and the Brooklyn Museum in New York, Asano Masaru enjoys solid institutional recognition.

On the art market, his work is attracting increasing interest. In 2023, a 33 cm stoneware vase, with a decoration similar to this plaque, sold for USD 12,090 at Sotheby's in London. This price confirmed Asano's place among the major figures in contemporary Japanese ceramics.

Delivered in its original signed tomobako, this piece resonates as much with collectors as with interior designers in search of sensitive materials and Japanese horizons.