Large Japanese Blue and White Vase by Mazuku Kozan Meiji Period

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A striking blue and white vase from the studio of Japanese Potter Makuzu Kozan, also known as Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), … Read more A striking blue and white vase from the studio of Japanese Potter Makuzu Kozan, also known as Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), one of the most established and collected ceramist from Meiji Period. Born as Miyagawa Toranosuke, Kozan established his pottery studio in Yokohama around 1870s and later became one of the appointed artist to the Japanese Imperial household. His work was exhibited in many international fairs that the Meiji government participated at the turn of the century and won many grand prizes.
With a relative large size, this vase is decorated with underglaze cobalt blue using the novel technique developed by Kozan called Fuki-e (the blow painting), in order to achieve the striking dimensional misty winter landscape. The pine trees with upright trunks and down-sweeping branches appear receding into the depth of the mist, forming an visually unending forest. Known as one of the most creative ceramists, around 1880s, Kozan started experimenting with new chemical colors from the West in the format of his porcelain glaze. New colors allowed him to create underglaze design that appeared bright, smooth and glossy. He even invented his own receipt of cobalt blue to achieve a much brighter yet softer shade, as evident on this vase. To create landscape that is realistic and dimensional, more common in the western paintings, he was inspired by the native Japanese ink painting technique developed around 1900 by Yokoyama Taikan (nd Hishidan Shunso (alled Morotai (Hazy style), and used cobalt blue on the porcelain like ink on paper. The fuki-e technique was demanding and uniquely featured in the works of Kozan studio.
The vase is decorated in a full circle of the continuous landscape, which unconventionally climbed the shoulder to reach the mouth rim, another characteristic of the Kozan's work. It was signed underneath in the artist's seal.
For similar blue and white vases by Makuzu Kozan,
See EA2000.47 in the collection of Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, UK.
Figure 242 in Khalili collection "Splendors of Imperial Japan Arts of the Meiji Period from the Khalili Collection" P. 344.
For reference on the technique described above, see Figure 2 of "Bridging East and West, Japanese Ceramics from the Kozan Studio" Walters Art Gallery. Emerson-Dell P.30. See less