Kiyomizu Rokubei VI (六代 清水六兵衛), Japanese, 1901-1980

An Iron-Painted Chrysanthemum Design Four-Sided Vase

Showa Era (1926–1989)

About the work

This striking ceramic four-sided vase is the work of Kiyomizu Rokubei VI (六代 清水六兵衛), also known by Rokusei (禄晴). The form is tall and angular, its surface richly decorated with dynamic iron-painted chrysanthemum (kiku) motifs and bold brushwork. The contrasting bands of earthy red and natural ash glaze emphasize the balance between structure and spontaneity—a hallmark of Rokubei’s mature style.

The work demonstrates the artist’s ability to merge Kyoto’s refined ceramic tradition with a more expressive, modern aesthetic. A carved artist’s seal is impressed into the foot, and the piece is accompanied by its original signed wooden box (tomobako) and cloth (tomofuku), both bearing the artist’s mark.

Dimensions

27.5cm(h) x 14cm(w)

Footnote

Kiyomizu Rokubei VI (六代 清水六兵衛, 1901–1980) was born in Kyoto as the eldest son of Rokubei V. He studied Nihonga under leading Kyoto painters such as Takeuchi Seihō and Yamamoto Shunkyo, later turning to ceramics under his father's guidance in 1925.

Active in major exhibitions including the Teiten, Shinbunten, and Nitten, he became a central figure in Showa-era ceramics. His work combined classical influences with modern design, and he was especially known for techniques such as sansai, sabi-yū, and koki-sai, drawing on his painting background.

In 1962, he was appointed a member of the Japan Art Academy, and also contributed greatly to the growth of the family kiln, Seiraku Tōen. He passed away suddenly in 1980 during the opening of a major exhibition, leaving behind a legacy deeply respected in the world of Japanese ceramics.