Nakagawa Mamoru (中川 衛), Japanese (b. 1947)

An Inlaid Metal Flower Vase – “Sprout”

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

About the work

This elegant flower vase titled 「芽生え」(Sprout) is a refined example of contemporary Japanese metal art by Nakagawa Mamoru (中川 衛), a designated Living National Treasure in the field of metal inlay (zōgan). The vase features a slender, elongated form with a rich, dark patinated surface and subtle inlaid decoration that highlights the artist’s mastery of balance, material, and form.

Combining traditional techniques with a contemporary aesthetic, this work exemplifies Nakagawa’s ability to express quiet vitality and poetic minimalism. The piece is signed on the base and housed in its original tomobako (signed wooden storage box), which is inscribed with the title and artist’s signature.

Dimensions

25.3(h) x 5.8cm(w)

Footnote

Nakagawa Mamoru is a master of zōgan (metal inlay) and one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary metal artists. In 2004, he was designated a Living National Treasure at the age of 56, making him the second youngest recipient in history. Nakagawa has played a pivotal role in reviving and redefining zōgan as a vital form of Japanese decorative art, breathing new life into a tradition that had been in decline since the Meiji Restoration.

Renowned for his innovative use of color and his ability to infuse metalwork with expressive nuance, Nakagawa has expanded the artistic vocabulary of a medium long considered restrained and monochromatic. His deep interest in the origins of zōgan, believed to trace back to Turkey, led him to travel along the Silk Road to explore the technique’s cultural lineage.