Japanese vase signed Matsuyama Gaei II, Kujaku-gama kiln

This Japanese ceramic vessel is housed in its original tomobako, bearing the handwritten signature of Matsuyama Gaei II (Tsutako), heiress of the Kujaku-gama kiln in Tatsuno, Hyōgo Prefecture. After the death of her husband, Matsuyama Masaide (Gaei I, 1916–1963), the founder of this lineage, Tsutako continued production alone and became one of the few female potters to run a kiln in Japan in the 1960s.

Specializing in the spectacular yōhen kujaku tenmoku-yū enameling—known as "peacock feather glaze"—the Kujaku-gama is now extinct. Works from the second generation, signed Gaei II, are very rare. Each piece was conceived as a technical experiment aimed at reproducing the iridescent reflections of the peacock's plumage, the workshop's emblem.

This vase perfectly illustrates the modernity and uniqueness of post-war Japanese ceramics, blending tradition and experimentation. Its direct provenance from the Kujaku-gama kiln, its legible signature, and its excellent condition make it a sought-after collector's item for lovers of modern Japanese ceramics and interior designers.

35.8 x 21cm