Yuri-Ginsai White Silver Circular Pattern Lidded Vase

This lidded vase features Nakada Kazuo's distinctive yuri-ginsai technique, in which silver leaf and soft-toned glaze are brought into quiet harmony. Precisely cut silver leaf is applied to the porcelain body before being covered with hakugin, an original white-silver glaze. With greatly reduced color, the silver remains visible beneath its pale white surface, making the circular motifs appear almost as if seen through still water. As light shifts across the porcelain, the silver moves between a soft glow and quiet shadow.

Circular silver motifs are arranged with restrained accents of gold and freely drawn linear patterns, each occupying a different layer. The rounded body, gently tapering shoulder, and slender finial create a balanced silhouette, while the smooth surface draws attention to the changing relationship between silver and glaze.

For more than forty-five years, Nakada has refined this harmony between silver leaf and his self-developed glazes. His mastery of traditional underglaze decoration, together with the original expression he established through yuri-ginsai, led to his designation as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage, commonly known as a Living National Treasure. His work is distinguished by restraint, depth, and the changing qualities of light beneath the glaze.

Nakada Kazuo

Nakada Kazuo's porcelain is marked by remarkable clarity and depth of color, with blues that evoke the sky and sea, both rich and luminous. Even within the world of Kutani ware—famed for its vibrant polychrome palettes—his work commands an overwhelming presence. This is not achieved through traditional pigments, but through a masterful technique unique to Nakada Kazuo: a fusion of silver leaf and translucent glazes that has given birth to an entirely new realm of Kutani porcelain.

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.