Hiroshi Nakajima (中島宏), Japanese, 1941–2018

A Set of Four Celadon Small Bowls (青磁小鉢 四客)

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

About the work

A refined set of four celadon small bowls by Hiroshi Nakajima, one of the foremost modern Japanese masters of celadon ware. Each bowl is formed with a broad, gently rounded body rising from a small foot to a softly curved rim, creating a simple and harmonious profile.

The bowls are covered in a luminous pale green celadon glaze distinguished by an extensive network of fine crackle. The darker lines of the crazing spread organically across the surfaces, creating intricate patterns that contrast beautifully with the serene green glaze beneath. Subtle variations in the density and direction of the crackle give each bowl an individual character while maintaining a strong visual unity across the set.

Nakajima was particularly celebrated for his sophisticated control of celadon, a notoriously demanding glaze. In these bowls, the restrained forms allow the glaze and its complex surface to become the principal decorative elements. Under changing light, the translucent sea green tones and fine crackle subtly shift in appearance, lending the vessels a sense of depth and movement.

The set is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako).

Dimensions

Each bowl: 5cm(h) x 13cm(w)

Footnote

Hiroshi Nakajima (中島宏, 1941–2018) was one of Japan’s foremost modern celadon artists and was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, or Living National Treasure, for celadon (seiji) in 2007. Deeply influenced by Chinese ceramic and archaeological traditions, he studied Song dynasty celadon as well as the forms of Han and Tang dynasty bronze vessels preserved in Japanese national collections. Nakajima carefully matched the tone and character of each celadon glaze to the form of the vessel, achieving remarkable control over a notoriously difficult firing process. His thick, luminous blue green glazes are often animated by intricate crackle patterns that shift subtly in colour and depth under changing light. This considered integration of historical form, glaze and surface established Nakajima as a leading figure in contemporary Japanese celadon.