23252 Kanjiro Kawai (Flower Vase)

Height 22.1cm Width 15.4cm Depth 10.8cm

Together with the great masters of Japanese folk art, such as Yanagi Muneyoshi and Hamada Shoji, and the great masters of modern Japanese crafts, such as Tomimoto Kenkichi and Kuroda Tatsuaki, Kawai laid the foundations of the Japanese folk art world and played an active role as a central figure. This is the top work of Kawai Kanjiro, a great master of Japanese folk art who has been highly praised worldwide, including winning the Grand Prize at the Milan International Exhibition for pioneering new frontiers in modern ceramics with his profound and simple style that pursues "beauty of utility." This work is perfect in every respect, with its well-balanced shape, outstanding cinnabar coloring, and dynamic patterns. It is a work that overwhelms the worldview of Kawai Kanjiro, who pursued "beauty of utility" and pushed Japanese folk art pottery to the world of art. This is a masterpiece of outstanding workmanship among the flat vases that Kawai Kanjiro loved and worked on until his later years.