Akira Miyazawa (宮澤章), elongated ceramic vase with metallic patina, circa 1993

Elongated ceramic vase by Akira Miyazawa, with the taut, almost architectural form characteristic of his work. A rectangular opening cut into the upper section animates the extended silhouette and gives the piece a powerful sculptural presence. More than a vessel, it appears as a constructed form conceived in space, in which void, line and mass interact.

The work may either stand on a surface or be hung on a wall.

Its surface is among its most remarkable features. Miyazawa created a ceramic surface with metallic reflections in shades of bronze, deep brown and oxidised green, evoking the ancient patina of archaeological metal. This exploration of material effects and subtle variations across the surface lies at the heart of his work, giving the piece a rare visual density that is at once mineral, restrained and intensely decorative.

The artist’s seal appears on the underside. The work retains its signed tomobako. The inscription on the lid most probably reads 青銅緑彩花器, which may be translated as “bronze-green decorated flower vessel”—an especially apt description of a work based on subtle variations in metallic patina.

About the artist

Akira Miyazawa (宮澤章), born in Akita Prefecture in 1950, belongs to the generation of Japanese ceramic artists who expanded the medium towards a more sculptural form of expression. After studying art at Akita University, he turned to ceramics and joined Asahi Seitō in Aichi Prefecture before establishing himself independently in Kita-Mashiko in 1976. His career includes selections for the ninth and tenth Nihon Tōgeiten and an invitation to participate in the Asahi Contemporary Craft Exhibition in 1994.

His work is distinguished by powerful constructed forms, often approaching sculpture, and by sustained attention to ceramic surfaces, which he treats as living skins. Miyazawa’s pieces balance formal rigour, material sensuality and a quiet sense of depth. This vase is a particularly fine example, both in its elongated profile and in the evocative quality of its metallic patina.

Dimensions: 10 × 50.5 × 8 cm.