Kato Sho, 1927-2001 Japan, Seto circa 1997

This stoneware vase, a mature work by Kato Sho (1927–2001), is a powerful work, illustrating the originality of modern Japanese Seto ceramics.

Standing 29.3 cm tall and 16.8 cm in diameter, it was crafted using a rigorous technique, with vertically applied relief elements that punctuate the entire piece. Each band, structured like a chain, accentuates the vase's verticality and gives a controlled tension to the cylindrical shape. The top closes in on itself with handles folded like rings that reinforce this feeling of contained strength.

The dark brown glaze, punctuated by a very light metallic dusting, highlights the contrast of the reliefs and reveals in places the grainy texture of the sandstone. The surface vibrates according to the light, combining the austerity of the material with a certain discreet preciousness.

This is a unique piece, halfway between sculpture and container, designed to interact with space.

Kato Sho, a Japanese master ceramist from a line of potters active for over 700 years in Seto, has successfully evolved the local tradition into a modern and personal expression. A graduate of the Tokyo University of the Arts, he established himself on the national art scene in the 1960s with numerous distinctions (Nitten, Prime Minister's Prize, etc.), before being designated an Intangible Cultural Treasure of Aichi Prefecture in 2000. His works are featured in major public collections: the Seto Prefectural Ceramic Museum, the Furukawa Museum in Nagoya, the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art, and the Tokyo Tech Museum.

This vase is kept in its original wooden box (tomobako), signed, guaranteeing authenticity.

It is yet another original example of modern Japanese ceramics, combining formal rigor, expressive materiality, and virtuosity of gesture. A collector's item that will appeal to both art lovers and decorators looking for a powerful and unexpected work.

29.3 x 16.8