Kasai Taizo (可西泰三) 1915–2007

A Takaoka Bronze Bud Vase (高岡銅器 一輪挿し)

Showa Era (1926-1989) or Heisei Era (1989-2019) 

About the work

An elegant bronze bud vase by Kasai Taizo, a distinguished artist of the Takaoka metalworking tradition. This minimalist vessel reflects the refined sensibility and technical mastery characteristic of Takaoka Doki, one of Japan’s most revered metalcraft lineages.

The vase features a graceful ovoid form that narrows into a slender neck, offering a quiet balance of proportion and contour. Its surface bears a deep, dark patina with hints of russet and subtle variations in tone, achieved through a finely controlled oxidization process. Both as a sculptural object and a vessel for a single seasonal flower, it evokes a meditative simplicity.

Signed on the base and representative of Kasai’s refined approach to contemporary bronze art, this piece exemplifies the marriage of modern design with traditional craftsmanship.

Dimensions

18.3cm(h) x 10.2cm(w)

Footnote

Kasai Taizo is a celebrated Japanese metal artist whose career spans decades of distinction in the world of contemporary bronze craft. He made his debut at the Nitten exhibition in 1950 and received multiple Special Selections and Hokuto Prizes in 1963 and 1970. By 1973, he became a full Nitten member and later served as a juror (1974, 1977, 1980) and councilor.