Miwa Kyusetsu XI (Jusetsu) (十一代 三輪休雪), Japanese (1910-2012)

A Kaku Hanaire (角花入)

Showa Era (1926-1989) 

About the work

This striking square-form flower vase by Miwa Kyusetsu XI (Jusetsu) exemplifies the powerful sculptural aesthetic that defined modern Hagi ware in the postwar period. Executed in a tall faceted form, the vase is covered in a luminous white glaze that flows naturally across the angular surfaces, revealing warm earthen tones beneath and creating subtle variations in texture and colour.

The sharply defined geometry of the body contrasts beautifully with the softness of the glaze, producing a harmonious balance between strength and quiet refinement. The elongated vertical silhouette gives the work a strong architectural presence, while the intentionally irregular contours preserve the spontaneity and warmth associated with hand-built Hagi ceramics.

Miwa Kyusetsu XI’s celebrated white glaze, often referred to as “Kyusetsu White,” is particularly evident here, displaying delicate pooling, pinholing, and natural kiln effects that enrich the tactile surface of the piece. The work reflects the artist’s ability to reinterpret traditional tea ceramic aesthetics through a distinctly modern sensibility.

The vase is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako).

Dimensions

24.3cm(h) x 6cm(w)

Footnote

Miwa Kyusetsu XI (Jusetsu) (十一代 三輪休雪, 1910-2012), also known as Miwa Jusetsu, was one of the most important Hagi ware potters of modern Japan. Born into the prestigious Miwa kiln family in Yamaguchi Prefecture, he inherited the Kyusetsu name in 1967 and became renowned for revitalising Hagi ceramics through bold sculptural forms and innovative glazing techniques. His signature white glaze, known as “Kyusetsu White,” became a defining characteristic of his work. In 1983, he was designated a Living National Treasure for Hagi ware in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Japanese ceramic art and the preservation of traditional pottery culture.