Ken Matsuzaki (松崎建), Japanese (b. 1950)

A Hai Kaburi Yōhen Shino Yunomi (灰被 燿変志野 湯呑)

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

About the work

A substantial Shino ware yunomi by celebrated contemporary ceramic artist Ken Matsuzaki. The tall, gently irregular vessel has a powerful hand formed character, its surface transformed by the interaction of Shino glaze, natural ash and intense wood firing.

The exterior presents a richly varied landscape of creamy white, olive brown, amber and deep reddish brown. Areas of thick Shino glaze contrast with darker passages of natural ash and dramatic firing effects, while the interior develops into a particularly deep, lustrous brown. Rather than presenting a controlled, uniform surface, the vessel records the unpredictable movement of flame, ash and heat within the kiln, giving each side a markedly different appearance.

The term haikaburi (灰被) refers to surfaces naturally covered with ash during wood firing, while yōhen (耀変) describes transformations in colour and surface produced through firing. In this work, Matsuzaki combines these effects with Shino to create a complex surface in which pale glaze appears to emerge through darker layers of ash and vitrification.

The work is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako) and documentation.

Dimensions

10.8cm(h) x 8.5cm(w) x 8.3cm(d)

Footnote

Ken Matsuzaki, born in 1950 in Tokyo, is a renowned ceramic artist trained at Tamagawa University's School of Fine Arts. After apprenticing under Tatsuzo Shimaoka in Mashiko, he established his kiln, Yuushin Gama. Known for blending traditional Shino, Oribe, and yohen glazes with modern aesthetics, his works are celebrated worldwide and included in prestigious collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.