Stoneware vase with purplish-blue ground and inlaid decoration by Yoshihashi Mitsuo

Japan, late 20th century or early 21st century.

Large stoneware vase of ample form, with a high belly and constricted opening. The entire surface is worked with inlaid decoration, in a range of pastel shades set against a purplish-blue ground. The decoration is not painted on the surface: it is integrated into the very material of the stoneware, which requires great technical mastery. The motifs develop like ribbons, flexible fragments, and colored passages that enliven the volume without making it heavy.

The piece is particularly interesting for its balance between density and lightness. The purplish-blue ground gives a muted, almost nocturnal depth, while the light tones introduce a softer vibration. In the upper part, a large cream ribbon provides rhythm to the silhouette and brings a decisive light. It lightens the volume, guides the eye towards the opening, and gives the whole a very subtle breath.

The inlaid decoration creates a complex, almost textile-like surface. The pastel ribbons, cream passages, bluish areas, and darker fragments do not describe a figurative motif. They construct a skin, a very elaborate visual material, where each element seems to be captured in the earth. The work stands out for this tension between the strength of the stoneware and an unusually soft palette.

Yoshihashi Mitsuo is a Japanese ceramist active in the field of exhibition ceramics. His name appears in the official lists of the Nitten as an associate member in the decorative arts section. A work titled Wind is documented in a reorganized Nitten exhibition, which places his work in the Japanese circuit of major applied art exhibitions. He is also mentioned as a master by several younger ceramists, notably Kanai Shin’ya, who states that he studied with him before continuing his training in Seto. These elements outline the career of an artist recognized in the contemporary Japanese ceramics community, both as an exhibitor and a transmitter.

This piece falls within this demanding register. The choice of stoneware, the density of the purplish-blue ground, the unusual softness of the pastel shades, and the complexity of the inlays show a very structured approach to the surface. The work demands a slow reading, based on material, repeated gestures, technical precision, and the luminous balance of colored ribbons.

Dimensions: height 39 cm; diameter 32 cm.