26445 Living National Treasure: Manji Inoue - White Porcelain Round Jar

Height: 32.0 cm
Diameter: 32.5 cm

As a leading master of wheel-throwing, he studied under the 12th generation Kakiemon Sakaida, and has been a driving force behind Arita white porcelain through his exceptional technique and wealth of experience. While Japanese pottery often embraces accidental elements like warping or kiln changes as part of a piece's charm, white porcelain demands absolute perfection, where not even the slightest flaw—whether in form, pinholes, or blemishes from impurities—is tolerated.

True to his words that "the beauty of white porcelain lies in its form," this piece highlights the exquisite aesthetics of the medium. In his ceaseless challenge to master white porcelain, the curves of his "spherical" forms, the opening of the rim, and the height continue to evolve with each passing day. The meticulously balanced composition radiates a beauty that is both dignified and refined.

In Arita, a region steeped in the traditions of overglaze enamel such as Aka-e and Nabeshima, this is a tour de force by Manji, an artist who has pushed the monochrome world of white porcelain to its absolute limits.