Norio Asano (苧野 憲夫), Japanese, b. 1947

A Flower Motif Vase (花文様花器)

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

About the work

A refined Kaga-yaki vase by Norio Asano of Kyokusen Kiln, Ishikawa Prefecture. The work features a rounded, softly balanced form with a narrow mouth, its surface elegantly decorated with incised and brushed floral motifs. The matte glaze transitions gently from deep earthen brown to silvery gray, enhancing the quiet sophistication of the design. Subtle tonal variation and textural contrast reveal Asano’s deep sensitivity to both material and natural light.

Asano’s ceramics are celebrated for their serene presence—rooted in traditional Kaga-yaki sensibilities yet imbued with a contemporary refinement.

Accompanied by its original signed tomobako (wooden storage box).

Dimensions

10.5cm(h) x 14.2cm(w)

Footnote

Norio Asano graduated from Tokai University’s Faculty of Engineering in 1970. He first studied under Hiroyama Shinkai and joined the Kyoto Ceramic Artists’ Club in 1972. In 1981, he apprenticed with the renowned ceramic artist Fujio Kitade and established his own kiln, Kyokusen-gama (旭泉窯), in Kaga. A member of the Ishikawa Ceramic Artists Association, Asano has exhibited primarily through solo shows and in galleries and department stores nationwide. His works are admired for their understated elegance, technical precision, and quiet evocation of nature’s grace.