Suzuki Sōji (鈴木爽司), Japanese (b. 1939)

An Iron Glaze Flower Vase (鐡彩釉花瓶)

Showa Era (1926-1989) 

About the work

A striking iron glazed flower vase by Japanese ceramic artist Suzuki Soji. The tall, elongated vessel has gently rounded shoulders rising to a short neck and flared mouth, creating a balanced and elegant silhouette.

The warm brown ground is decorated with freely applied iron rich glaze in deep black and dark brown tones. Bold, sweeping forms extend across the body, interspersed with smaller circular marks and touches of golden ochre. The spontaneous, almost calligraphic decoration contrasts with the controlled form of the vessel, giving the work a distinctly expressive character. Variations in the glaze and surface texture further emphasise the material qualities of the clay and firing.

The base bears the artist's impressed mark. The vase is accompanied by its original signed wooden tomobako, wrapping cloth and artist leaflet.

Dimensions

24.8cm(h) x 9.8cm(w)

Footnote

Suzuki Sōji (b. 1939) was born in Kyoto and studied under the influential ceramic master Tomimoto Kenkichi, one of Japan's foremost pioneers of modern ceramics. After graduating from the Advanced Course of the Kyoto City University of Fine Arts in 1967, he was first selected for the prestigious Nitten exhibition in 1968 and continued to have works accepted annually through 1981. In 1973, his work was included in the Survey of Contemporary Crafts exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. He received the First New Artist Award at the Kyoto Prefectural Arts and Crafts Exhibition in 1974 before being appointed Professor at Hyogo Women's Junior College in 1977. A monograph of his work was published in 2004, recognising his longstanding contribution to contemporary Japanese ceramics and the continuing evolution of Kutani ware.