This stoneware vase by Koyama Kihei is distinguished by its globular silhouette, slightly narrowed towards the opening, which highlights the intensity of its decoration. The surface is covered with a dark blue, matte and silky engobe, crossed by continuous turquoise blue lines forming a graphic pattern in arabesques of great sobriety. This subtle contrast between the two shades of blue underlines the purity of the form and reveals the mastery of fire and pigments.
The piece is kept in its signed tomobako.

Koyama Kihei was born in 1930 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He developed a passion for ceramics at an early age. After high school, he moved to Kyoto, a city renowned for its ceramic traditions.

In 1956, Kihei graduated from Kyoto City University of the Arts. There, he studied under Tomimoto Kenkichi and Yuzo Kondo, two master ceramicists who profoundly influenced his style.

In 1953, while still a student, Kihei attracted attention with a vase selected for the Kyoto Exhibition and the Shinshokai Exhibition, a renowned craft organization. This event marked the beginning of his promising career. He continued to showcase his work at Shinshokai exhibitions, becoming a member in 1960. He also participated in the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, where he won awards in 1957 and 1960.

Kihei's creations are distinguished by their technical diversity. He mastered techniques such as inlay, dyeing, colored painting, and red earth slips. He is also known for his decorative motifs using Persian blue glazes. He primarily produced vases and tea bowls.

In addition to his career as a ceramicist, Koyama Kihei taught at Kyoto City University of the Arts from 1956 to 1996, sharing his knowledge with many generations of students. His role as a professor helped perpetuate Kyoto's ceramic traditions while inspiring new generations of artists.

A member of the Shin-Takumi Fine Arts Association, Koyama Kihei has received numerous accolades throughout his career. His works, admired for their technical excellence and aesthetics, demonstrate the legacy of a master ceramist who elegantly blended tradition and innovation.

Height: 20.5 cm diameter 17 cm