Features
Openwork carving at its finest × a precise, symmetrical aesthetic
The whole vase is worked in sukashi-bori openwork, also called pierced carving, one of the most demanding techniques in Japanese ceramics. While the clay body is not yet fully hardened, precise openings are cut by hand; the piece is then dried and fired at high temperature, and the slightest error can lead to shrinkage cracks. Here the pierced lines wind and cross like rattan, evenly paced and strongly geometric, and the workmanship has great tension.
Sometsuke blue painted decoration | a double band above and below
The upper and lower edges of the vase carry lattice and vertical-line patterns painted in sometsuke blue, answering the ideas of stability and extension respectively and forming a symmetrical, restrained decorative rhythm. The blue is bright and clear, making an elegant contrast with the pure white body and giving the piece the character of traditional craft joined to a modern sensibility.
Well-balanced form | equally suited to flower arranging and display
The lines are fluid throughout and the form stands upright — a classic straight cylindrical vase. The mouth is of moderate width, taking a single stem or a small bouquet, and it also serves as a container for dried flowers or moss arrangements. The structure is stable and the profile erect, so the vase remains decorative even when left empty.
With original wooden tomobako | complete as a collectable
Supplied with its original hand-made wooden tomobako (original signed box), the traditional standard for storing Japanese art objects. The box is finely made and clearly inscribed, showing the piece's proper provenance and original completeness — well suited to collectors for long-term keeping.
Signed "Keinen" | a distinctive artist's mark
The base carries a clear signature reading "Keinen", written with a firm, elegant hand — a ceramic signature of recognisable character. Marks of this kind are often seen on the work of studio potters from the late Shōwa through Heisei periods, giving collectors a point of reference for attribution and lineage and adding a further layer of interest to the piece.
Fits many interiors | wabi-sabi, Japanese or modern
The vase sits naturally on a wooden floor, on tatami, on a bookshelf, on a display stand or inside a glass cabinet. It suits wabi-sabi interiors, Japanese minimalism and even Nordic modern spaces, making it a piece for both everyday aesthetics and art collecting.