Kyuzaemon Orihara (折原久左衛門), Japanese (1931-2018)

A Cast Bronze Flower Vase (鋳銅花挿)

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

About the work

This striking bronze hanaire (flower vase) by Kyuzaemon Orihara 折原久左ヱ門 the artist’s signature sculptural aesthetic—melding precise geometry with raw, organic surfaces. Cast in bronze with a refined, minimalist silhouette disrupted by a jagged, molten-like opening, the piece balances architectural discipline with natural spontaneity. The engraved lines across its form suggest symbolic connections or pathways, reinforcing Orihara’s long-standing thematic interest in human relationships and spiritual expression through metalwork.

Dimensions

21cm(h) x 7.2cm(w) x 7.2cm(d)

Footnote

Kyuzaemon Orihara (1931–2018) was a celebrated Japanese metal artist from Yamagata Prefecture. Initially trained in education, he turned to metal arts under the influence of Shosuke Yoshitake and later became a key figure in contemporary Japanese metalwork. Orihara’s early works explored folded and hammered iron forms, but due to hearing loss from years of forging, he shifted toward casting and welding techniques in the 1970s. Using materials like bronze, aluminum, and brass, he created both intimate flower vessels and monumental public sculptures across Hokkaido. His works often explored themes of connection, ritual, and guidance, earning him the Japan Art Academy Prize and the Minister of Education Award.