Hagi potter Miwa Eizo turned this vase in a full, round form and then flattened its back and front. This is a “henko” form, a flask shape with roots that date back centuries to ancient Roman, transmitted over the Silk Road through Tang China and then Korea. While being efficient for packing and travel, the flat sides also provided surfaces to decorate. The Korean buncheong flattened bottle vases were often carved with opposing fish or floral motifs.

Miwa did not decorate this henko vase; he let the thick white Hagi glaze speak for itself. It crawls nicely, especially around the foot, to show the vibrant and groggy, iron-rich clay underneath. The shoulder also features subtle and delicate crazing, adding to the pot’s aged character. The absence of decoration emphasizes the vase’s form. Both flat and round, the “face” gives the impression of a round, bright moon.

Miwa Eizo was the second son of Miwa Kyūsetsu XI, the Living National Treasure for Hagi ware. While Eizo died suddenly at the age of 52, prematurely ending a promising career, he nonetheless enjoyed success and wide recognition for his modern and minimal ceramics. Eizo made pots that recall classic forms while at the same time remain true to the essence of Hagi clay and glazes.

Comes with the signed, stamped, and titled wood box, stamped wrapping cloth, and CV.