This large vase by Ogawa Kinji is distinguished by its flattened shape, slender curves, and narrow, slightly inclined neck. The decoration, identical on both sides, evokes a motif of stylized stems, almost abstract bamboos, painted in ochre enamel on a plain, satiny beige background.

The vertical lines, irregular in their rhythm and spacing, give a feeling of vibration. This central motif contrasts with the sides covered in a very dark brown, almost black, glossy enamel, which accentuates the frontality of the piece.

Born in Kyoto in 1926, Ogawa Kinji belongs to a line of potters dating back to the 19th century. He is the second son of Ogawa Bunzai IV and the fifth generation of the name. Trained by Kiyomizu Rokubei VI, he made his mark in 1950 with a selection at the Nitten, before winning a series of distinctions and prizes, including the Grand Prize at the Barolith International Exhibition. He is also a professor at the Kyoto School of Art and president of the city's Ceramicists' Club. His work is characterized by a great mastery of form and constant research into the surface: irabo stoneware, cinnabar glaze, gosu, engraving, or painting, always serving a very personal balance between tradition and modernity.

Dimensions: H. 52 cm – L. 24 cm – D. 20 cm.