Hagi Ikebana Vase by Kyusetsu Miwa X Japanese Studio Pottery

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A stoneware vase with white dripping glaze from Hagi by Kyusetsu Miwa X (1895-1981), Showa Period. The vase is in … Read more A stoneware vase with white dripping glaze from Hagi by Kyusetsu Miwa X (1895-1981), Showa Period. The vase is in the shape of "Double Gourd" with a bulbous body and a slightly flared lip. The body displays a reddish clay with the top part covered in a free dripping creamy white glaze. It is used as ikebana for flower display during tea ceremony and comes with its original storage box tomobako with inscription of the title, the artist's signature and seal. The vase is also press signed on the base. The vase display beautiful surface with glaze, some kiln burst and crackle as well, adding a wabi-sabi character to the piece. The size shown is the vase; The size of the box is 11.625hx6.25wx6.25d.
Kyusetsu Miwa X was given the honor of Living National Treasure in Japan in 1970 for his work on reviving traditional Hagi ware. The below except is a history of Miwa family from an article written by Robert Yellin published in The Japan Times in 2003.
"The Miwa family is one of the most important potting families in all of Japan. Their kiln was established in Kanbun 3 (1663) in the Matsumoto area of Hagi (in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast) in order to produce tea utensils for Lord Mori Terumoto. The successive generations of Miwa potters have produced all sorts of works besides tea ware, including Raku ware (Kyusetsu I and IV studied in Kyoto), figurines of mythical creatures (Kyusetsu VI and VII), and vessels for the table.
In the 1930s, when there was a “Return to Momoyama” revival (the Way of Tea was crystallized in the Momoyama Period, 1573-1615), Miwa Kyuwa (Kyusetsu X) revitalized the Hagi tea world with his warm and sensuous chawan and other tea utensils, while his younger brother Miwa Jusetsu (Kyusetsu XI) added power and strength with his Oni-Hagi (devil-Hagi) chawan (see this column, Jan. 22, 2000). The brothers were named as living national treasures for their Hagi wares in 1970 and 1983, respectively." See less