Kato Takuo (加藤卓男), Japanese (1917–2005)

A Limited Edition Persian-Style Brown-Glazed Jue Vessel (ペルシャ褐釉爵)

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

About the work

A rare and important Persian-inspired jue vessel by Kato Takuo, the celebrated Mino potter and Living National Treasure designated in 1995 for his mastery of Persian and lusterware glazes. Kato dedicated much of his career to reviving lost ceramic techniques of the Silk Road, particularly those of Persia and Central Asia, merging them with the Japanese Mino tradition.

This piece, created as a special limited edition, takes the form of a ritual jue, an ancient Chinese bronze wine vessel, reinterpreted in richly luminous brown glaze with flowing accents of green and cream. The sharply flared mouth, triple-pronged rim, and tripod legs convey strength and elegance, while the warm, glassy surface recalls the opulence of Persian ceramics.

The vessel is accompanied by its original signed tomobako (wooden storage box), inscribed and sealed by the artist, with a yellow cloth and printed insert, attesting to authenticity.

Dimensions

17.5cm(h) x 16cm(w) x 9cm(d)

Footnote

Kato Takuo was a sixth-generation Mino ware master who dedicated his career to studying Silk Road ceramics. Honored as a Living National Treasure in 1995, he was instrumental in reintroducing Persian lusterware to Japanese pottery.