Sazameku Cascade Tall Japanese Flower Vase

Traditional Kutani glazing techniques meet a sculptural, asymmetrical form in the Sazameku Cascade Tall Vase by Yamaura Saori. The vertical silhouette rises freely, its elongated cascades revealing the precision required to arrest the glaze at its exact moment of suspension.

Layers of deep green and white descend across the surface in sweeping flows. During firing, the glaze gathers and stretches downward, forming pronounced yudare that appear suspended mid-descent. From a distance, the movement reads as expansive and rhythmic.

Up close, a quieter intricacy emerges. Within each white drift, delicate cellular patterns unfold—lace-like networks formed through heat and gravity. Each cascade contains its own internal landscape, revealing subtle variations to the attentive eye.

The rim is edged in silver, lending refined luminosity to the opening. In contrast, the foot presents a geometric composition in red and black—a deliberate counterpoint to the organic movement above. The upper and lower sections speak in distinct visual languages while remaining unified within a single form.

The murmur of rippling water, sazameku, is intensified and held in suspension just before the drip reaches the base. Each firing produces singular results; no two surfaces are identical.

Seen from afar, the surface appears as a continuous surge of motion; at closer range, fine cellular patterns within the white cascades come into focus. The height invites a single branch or a simple flower, though the vase holds its presence even without adornment.

Yamaura Saori

Among today’s Kutani ware artists, Yamaura Saori brings a distinctive presence. Working from her home studio, she lets her hands guide her through subtle curves, gentle distortions, and soft transitions. Her pieces are not bound by convention, yet they are unmistakably rooted in craft. At once fluid and precise, intuitive and technical, her ceramics speak of a moment captured in time.

Kutani Ware

Kutani ware is a pottery produced in the Kaga region of Ishikawa Prefecture, with a history spanning over 350 years. It is characterized by the heavy brilliance of the five colors of navy blue, red, purple, green, and yellow that are applied to the bold and daring lines. Its long history has evolved through the tireless efforts and enthusiasm of people who have sought innovation while maintaining tradition.