Ueda Tsuneji (上田恒次), Japanese, (1914–1987)

A Nerikomi Bowl (練上手 碗物)

Showa Era (1926-1989)

About the work

This bowl by Ueda Tsuneji is a refined example of nerikomi (layered clay) technique, in which differently colored clays are carefully combined to produce intricate patterns throughout the body of the vessel. The bowl has a rounded, slightly compressed form with a gently inward-curving rim, giving it both visual balance and a comfortable presence in the hand.

Across the exterior, rhythmic feather-like motifs emerge from the layered clay, forming a continuous decorative field. The glossy glaze enhances the contrast between the earthy browns, creams, and greenish tones of the clay body, allowing the pattern to shift subtly as the vessel curves. Inside the bowl, the marbled layers radiate toward the center, creating a sense of depth and movement. 

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

Dimensions

8.5cm(h) x 13cm(w) x 13.3cm(d)

Footnote

Ueda Tsuneji (1914–1987) was a Japanese ceramic artist associated with the Mingei (folk craft) movement. Born in Kyoto to a kimono merchant family, he became interested in ceramics after reading Tomimoto Kenkichi’s writings. He studied ceramics at the Kyoto Municipal Second Technical School and later worked under major figures of modern Japanese pottery, including Kawai Kanjiro, and Shoji Hamada. In 1937 he established the Kino Sarayama kiln. Ueda later served as an assistant to Kawai Kanjiro and was permitted to inherit aspects of his techniques. His works were exhibited widely, including at the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art’s International Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramics in 1963.