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

Elongated ceramic vase by Akira Miyazawa, with a taut and almost architectural form, characteristic of his work. The stretched silhouette, animated by a rectangular opening carved into the upper part, gives the piece a very strong sculptural presence. More than a vase, the object presents itself as a constructed form, conceived in space, where void, line, and mass play together.

It can be placed on a surface or hung on the wall.

The surface is one of its most remarkable aspects. Miyazawa develops here a ceramic skin with metallic reflections, in shades of bronze, deep brown, and oxidized green, which evoke the ancient patina of archaeological metal. This exploration of material effects and surface vibrations is central to his work. It gives the work a rare visual density, at once mineral, sober, and intensely decorative.

The bottom bears the artist's seal. The signed tomobako is present. The inscription on the lid most likely reads 青銅緑彩花器, which can be translated as "bronze-green glazed flower vase", a particularly fitting phrase for a piece based on a subtle variation around metallic patinas.

About the artist

Akira Miyazawa (宮澤章), born in 1950 in Akita Prefecture, belongs to that generation of Japanese ceramists who broadened the scope of ceramics towards a more sculptural expression. After studying art at Akita University, he turned to ceramics, joined Asahi Seitō in Aichi Prefecture, then established himself independently in Kita-Mashiko in 1976. His career has been marked by selections at the 9th and 10th editions of the Nihon Tōgeiten, as well as by an invited participation in the Asahi Contemporary Craft Exhibition in 1994.

His work is distinguished by constructed, powerful forms, often close to sculpted objects, and by a constant attention to ceramic skins, which he treats as living surfaces. Miyazawa's works captivate with their balance between formal rigor, material sensuality, and silent depth. This vase is a beautiful example, both for its elongated profile and for the quality of its metallic patina, which is particularly evocative.

Dimensions: 10 x 50.5 x 8 cm.