Takeharu Kobayashi (小林武春), Japanese (b. 1943)

A Shino Bamboo-Form Flower Vase (志野 竹型花入)

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

About the work

A finely sculpted Shino flower vase by Takeharu Kobayashi, rendered in the form of a traditional bamboo stalk. This piece pays homage to both natural form and functional simplicity, embodying the spirit of wabi-sabi through its rustic elegance and quiet asymmetry.
The cylindrical body mimics the segmented rhythm of cut bamboo, complete with softly rounded nodes. A rectangular opening is carved into the front, allowing it to function as a wall-mounted or upright ikebana vase. The surface is generously coated in a milky Shino glaze, which pools and crawls around the form, creating areas of froth-like texture and warm blushes from the kiln’s flame.
The vase is housed in its original tomobako (signed wooden box), emphasizing its value as both a functional object and collectible work of ceramic art.

Dimensions

24.3cm(h) x 12cm(w)

Footnote

Born in 1943 in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, a historical center of Mino pottery, Takeharu Kobayashi established his kiln, Chikurin-gama, in Hida in 1970. He is celebrated for his expertise in Shino ware and his bold, individualistic style. Alongside traditional Shino and Nezumi Shino, he has developed original variations such as Murasaki Shino (purple), Hisai Shino (scarlet), and Akebono Shino (dawn). Throughhis dedication to form, glaze, and the spirit of Mino ceramics, Kobayashi continues to expand the expressive potential of Shino ware.