Vase c. 1940

ceramic

egg art

ceramic

vase

japan

culinary art

appetizing

food illustration

stoneware

wash background

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

food photography

watercolor

This stoneware vase, created by the renowned Japanese potter Hamada Shōji, is a prime example of Mingei, a Japanese art movement emphasizing simple, functional objects. Dating back to c. 1940, the vase displays a rich brown glaze with subtle black and gray accents, showcasing Hamada’s masterful control over his materials. The dynamic and free-flowing forms of the vase reflect the natural world, a hallmark of Mingei. Hamada Shōji (1894–1978) was a prominent figure in the Mingei movement, dedicated to promoting the beauty of everyday objects and traditional craft techniques.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Designated a "Living National Treasure" in 1955 for his folk art style ceramics, Hamada was enormously influential in Japan as well as in the West. Along with Yanagi Soetsu (1889-1961) and Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966), he founded the Japan Folk Art Association and provided the inspiration for Japan's folk art movement. He trained in the decorative porcelain tradition under Itaya Hazan and Tomimoto Kenkichi, but after working with the British potter Bernard Leach in the early 1920s, he became interested in utilitarian folk ceramics. This interest took him to Korea and Okinawa. He ultimately developed a sturdy style characterized by rapidly applied glazes and painted motifs that are remarkably spontaneous and self-assured.