This spectacular sculptural bowl embodies the technical virtuosity of Shigekazu Nagae, one of the greatest masters of contemporary Japanese porcelain. Visually striking, it evokes porcelain lacework, where threads of material appear to have intertwined, flowing over one another in a tangle that is both chaotic and perfectly controlled. This ribbed surface creates a complex play of textures and shadows, while the interior reveals a captivating, almost organic visual depth.

Although unsigned, this work is immediately identifiable as a Nagae creation, as this intertwined filament casting technique is emblematic of his work. Rare and delicate, this piece illustrates his constant approach: transcending the industrial uses of porcelain to achieve a unique sculptural expression.

Shigekazu Nagae, born in 1953 in Seto to a family of ceramists, was introduced to ceramics at a very early age. He graduated from the Seto Industrial Ceramics School in 1974 and began to gain attention in the late 1970s for his experimental approach to porcelain. Rather than following the tradition of mass-production through molding, he repurposed the slip-casting technique to create unique pieces, suspended, folded, or spun, as seen here.

Each of Nagae's works is the result of a complex process: forms are cast, dried, and then suspended in the kiln using rigid wires, allowing the porcelain to transform as it is fired. The elements are then joined by glazing, creating works with an ethereal aesthetic, where the material seems to dance with the light.

Shigekazu Nagae has been awarded several prestigious prizes, including the Grand Prix at the Nyon Porcelain Triennial (1998), the Mino Ceramics Festival, and the Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition (1997). His works are now held in numerous international museum collections: the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Musée National de Céramique in Sèvres, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Cernuschi Museum in Paris, the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, among others.