Hayashi Shotaro (林正太郎), Japanese (b. 1947)

A Shino Jar (志野壷)

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

About the work

A robust Shino jar by Hayashi Shotaro, a celebrated Mino potter known for his sculptural forms and bold reinterpretations of Shino glaze. This compact yet powerful vessel exemplifies his ability to merge tradition with contemporary ceramic expression.

The jar features a squared, faceted body rising to a narrow neck and small mouth. Its surface is coated in thick feldspathic glaze, producing a milky white ground richly mottled with vibrant scarlet tones from iron underglaze. The heavily textured surface enhances its tactile presence, recalling both the earthy vigor of Momoyama-period Shino and Shotaro’s modern sculptural sensibility.

The work is accompanied by its original signed tomobako (wooden storage box), cloth, and paper insert, attesting to authenticity.

Dimensions

15.5cm(h) x 9.5cm(w)

Footnote

Hayashi Shotaro, born in 1947 in Toki City—a region renowned for its Mino ceramics—initially pursued a career as a salaryman in Nagoya before returning to his roots to study pottery under his brother. His innate talent soon flourished, earning him accolades such as the highest award at the Gifu Prefectural Art Exhibition in 1968 and the Governor’s Award at the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition in 1971.

An official Beholder of Intangible Cultural Property of the Mino Prefecture, Hayashi has had his works included in numerous museum collections both in Japan and internationally. His robust forms and masterful use of traditional Shino techniques have cemented his status as one of the foremost figures in modern Japanese ceramics, while his contemporary innovations, such as the Manyosai glaze, continue to inspire new generations of ceramic artists.