This large ceramic vessel by Sakamoto Motoyuki is distinguished by the softness of its surface and the balance of its arched form. The slightly trapezoidal body has a discreet oval opening at the top. Its subtly nuanced cream-white glaze includes passages of ivory, beige and pale grey, like layers of cloud. Alternately matt and satin-like, the colour transitions create a subtle depth that catches the light without excessive sheen. The overall effect is that of a serene mineral landscape, each tonal variation emphasising the vessel’s regular yet deliberately imperfect modelling.

Sakamoto Motoyuki (坂本素行), born in Tokyo in 1950, initially worked as an automotive designer for Nissan before turning to ceramics in the mid-1970s. Fascinated by the restraint of Korean celadons, he taught himself techniques of surface treatment and inlay. He was selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 1976 and left industry in 1980 to devote himself entirely to his art. Characterised by a keen sensitivity to texture and the nuances of ash glazes, his work has been shown in major Japanese department stores and galleries, including Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya and Kuroda Tōen, as well as internationally, notably in New York. Several of his works are now held in Japanese public collections, including the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, and the Seto City Art Museum, which preserve examples of his work with inlaid glazes.

Dimensions: 52 × 12 × 36 cm.

Accompanied by its signed tomobako.