Suzuki Kiyoshi 鈴木清, henko flat vase with flower and herb decoration

Japan, Shōwa era, circa 1950s-1960s.
Stoneware or porcelain stoneware with cream glaze, decorated with ferruginous brown paint. Original inscribed tomobako.

Flat vase of henko form, with a nearly circular body on the front, tapered on the sides, resting on a small rectangular foot. The short, slightly flared neck receives a ferruginous brown glaze that echoes the painted decoration of the body.

The main face is adorned with a decoration of flowers and herbs painted in brown. The stems cross the surface diagonally, with leaves brushed with a supple gesture and very fine floral punctuations. The decoration maintains a great sense of space. The sides, largely left bare, enhance the legibility of the form and give the piece a graphic presence.

Suzuki Kiyoshi belongs to the generation of Kyoto ceramists who revitalized decorated ceramics in the 20th century. He exhibited as early as the 1930s, received official recognition at the Bunten in 1941, then worked in Tomimoto Kenkichi's circle. In 1952, he won the Minister of Education Award at the first contemporary ceramics exhibition organized by the Asahi Shimbun. His work is distinguished by a masterful use of painted decoration, often inspired by plant motifs, treated with restraint and modernity.

This piece is representative of his work featuring flower and herb decoration. It maintains a link with the pictorial tradition of Kyoto, but without decorative overload. The brown line on a cream background creates a sober, balanced work, very suitable for display in a contemporary interior.

Original inscribed tomobako くさばな絵 扁壺, meaning “flat vase with flower and herb decoration.” Seal 清 under the base. Perfect condition.

Dimensions: height 27.2 cm; width 22.6 cm; depth 11 cm.