Snow and Sparrows Round-Window Japanese Flower Vase

This circular Kutani ware vase by Nakamura Toshito presents a winter scene shaped as much by form as by painting. The body is flattened into a rounded silhouette and opened with a single circular window, a “peeking” aperture that defines the vessel’s surface and presence.

Across the soft gray glaze, powdery white specks settle in the air like a light drift. Extending beyond the front surface, a branch dusted with white becomes a resting place for three sparrows in the rounded, feather-fluffed form known as fukura-suzume, a traditional sign of wealth and prosperity.

Through Nakamura’s delicate brushwork, the sparrows’ rounded chests, warm brown crowns topped with snow, and subtle feather markings come gently into view. 

The snowfall effect is achieved through Nakamura’s signature furi technique, where pigment is scattered using a fine metal mesh and brush to form a layered, natural spray. This veil of white allows the branch and sparrows to remain the focus without visual heaviness.

Standing as a small seasonal tableau, this vase balances form, open space, and detail to capture winter’s stillness, where sparrows huddle close in a scene that feels soothing through Nakamura’s meticulous artistry.

Toshito Nakamura

Nakamura Toshito es reconocido por su excepcional realismo, que realza la belleza de la naturaleza en las superficies de la cerámica Kutani. Su obra trasciende los motivos tradicionales, combinando representaciones intrincadas y realistas de la flora, la fauna y la vida silvestre con refinadas técnicas de pincel. La meticulosa atención al detalle de Nakamura invita al espectador a conectar profundamente con la tranquilidad y el equilibrio que se encuentran en la naturaleza. Su arte inspira consuelo, creando un momento de calma en medio del ajetreo cotidiano.

Cerámica Kutani

La cerámica Kutani se produce en la región de Kaga, en la prefectura de Ishikawa, con más de 350 años de historia. Se caracteriza por el intenso brillo de sus cinco colores: azul marino, rojo, morado, verde y amarillo. que se aplican a las líneas audaces y atrevidas. Su larga historia se ha desarrollado gracias al esfuerzo incansable y al entusiasmo de quienes han buscado la innovación manteniendo la tradición.