Iga Faceted Gloss Japanese Flower Vase

This vase by Iga ware artisan Fukushima Kazuhiro embodies vitality and clarity. Its tall, faceted form rises with sharp edges that catch and release light, the exterior shifting between tension and openness. The confident cuts extend from the wheel-thrown base to the final shaping.

The surface reveals Fukushima’s interpretation of mentori and shinogi, techniques of cutting planes and ridges into the clay. In this work, they appear not as decoration but as the very language of form—angular, assertive, and filled with movement.

Fired in an anagama, a traditional wood-fired cave kiln, the vase carries the marks of fire and ash. Placed at the front of the kiln for hikidashi, a unique method in which the vessel is pulled out at around 1300°C (2370°F) mid-firing, it is then exposed to rapid cooling that locks the surface into brilliance—lustrous, shiny, and almost sparkling. The colors shift along the body, with iridescent earthy tones near the top giving way to deep black at the base, where the firing has left its most intense imprint. Here, carbon from the ashes has sunk deep into the clay. The risk of cracking in this process is ever-present, yet when successful, the result is a finish alive with motion and intensity.

Fukushima considers carefully before working the clay, but once shaping begins he moves without hesitation, knowing doubt would weaken the edges. This balance of preparation and unrestrained execution gives rise to work that embodies both discipline and freedom, carrying forward the spirit of Iga ware while opening new paths of expression.

Fukushima Kazuhiro

Born as the eighth-generation successor of the Mukai Kiln, which has thrived in Iga for over three centuries, Fukushima Kazuhiro creates ceramic works that combine the profound presence of earth with the translucent beauty of vidro glaze and the distinctive, crackled kairagi texture. While deeply rooted in tradition, his work embraces a contemporary sensibility, transforming the seemingly accidental patterns formed by fire, clay, and ash into deliberate expressions of artistry. Through this process, Fukushima opens new horizons for Iga ware, infusing each piece with striking individuality and life.

Iga Ware

Iga ware, produced in the Iga region of Mie Prefecture, is celebrated for its deep roots in Japanese ceramic history and its distinctive character. With a lineage stretching back some 1,200 years, Iga ware rose to prominence during the Momoyama period (1573–1615 CE), when it became closely tied to the aesthetics of the tea ceremony.

As a form of traditional Japanese pottery, Iga ware is admired for its robust clay, earthy texture, and the organic beauty that emerges through various firing methods. The natural ash glazing and translucent green, glass-like vidro effects created by the intense heat of the kiln reveal the expressive artistry that defines Iga ware.