Yanagihara Mutsuo (柳原睦夫), Japanese, b. 1934

A Red Oribe Chawan (紅織部茶碗)

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

About the work

A dynamic Red Oribe chawan by Yanagihara Mutsuo, one of the foremost figures in postwar Japanese ceramics. This bowl exemplifies his bold reimagining of Oribe ware, uniting traditional forms with striking contemporary coloration.

The vessel is distinguished by the interplay of its deep, earthy brown clay body with a vivid red glaze flowing across the rim and interior, dramatically accented with patches of bright yellow. The effect is painterly and abstract, evoking both the freedom of modern art and the strength of Mino tradition.

The chawan is accompanied by its original signed tomobako (wooden storage box) and protective cloth.

Dimensions

8.8cm(h) x 13.7cm(w)

Footnote

Yanagihara Mutsuo (b. 1934) is celebrated as a pioneer of contemporary Japanese ceramics. Originally intending to study design, he was encouraged by Tomimoto Kenkichi to pursue ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts, where he trained alongside future Living National Treasures and avant-garde innovators. Time spent in the United States during the 1960s exposed him to Pop Art and modern culture, which reshaped his vision of the ceramic vessel. Drawing on both Sueki forms and modern sculptural language, he developed a style that merges traditional utsuwa with bold, abstract expression. His Oribe works, such as this chawan, embody that synthesis of tradition and innovation.