Kozo Kato (加藤孝造), Japanese (1935-2023)

A Shino Vase (志野花入)

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

About the work

This tall Shino hanaire by Kato Kozo, a Living National Treasure for Shino ware, demonstrates the refined firing expression and disciplined form central to his mature work. The vessel rises in a slender cylindrical profile, subtly tapered and marked by natural undulations that preserve the rhythm of hand-forming. A soft, milky Shino glaze blankets the surface, breaking gently into warm orange hi-iro where thin areas reveal the iron-rich clay beneath. Fine crackling and kiln-induced texture add depth, while delicate iron brushwork provides quiet accents. The base exposes the vivid Mino clay and bears Kozo’s brushed signature. 

Accompanied by its original signed wooden box and printed insert.

Dimensions

26cm(h) x 12cm(w) x 11cm(d)

Footnote

Born in 1935 in Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture, Kozo Kato was a key figure in the lineage of Mino ceramics. As a third-generation successor of the Mino tradition, he carried forward the legacy established by first-generation master Toyozo Arakawa. Kato served as president, honorary president, and advisor of the Mino Ceramic Society and was honored as a citizen of merit in Mizunami, Tajimi, and Kani.