Shoji Hamada (濱田庄司), Japanese, 1894-1978

A Persimmon-Glazed Slipware Plate (柿釉抜絵皿)

Taisho Era (1912-1926) or Showa Era (1926-1989) 

About the work

An exceptional persimmon-glazed slipware plate by Shoji Hamada, one of Japan’s most influential modern potters and a designated Living National Treasure. This hand-thrown stoneware piece showcases Hamada’s hallmark kaki-yū (persimmon glaze), accentuated by a striking central resist slip design rendered in iron glaze. The spontaneous brushwork forms an abstract calligraphic motif, embodying the natural rhythm and fluidity central to the Mingei (folk craft) aesthetic.

The piece is presented in its original tomobako (signed wooden box), bearing the artist’s inscription and seal, further confirming its provenance.

Dimensions

4.4cm(h) x 27.5cm(w)

Footnote

Shoji Hamada was a leading figure in the Mingei folk craft movement, which sought to preserve traditional craft techniques and elevate their status as high art. Born in 1894, Hamada studied under Itaya Hazan at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and learned kiln techniques at the Kyoto Ceramic Research Institute. He was a lifelong friend of Kanjiro Kawai and collaborated with Bernard Leach, with whom he worked in both Japan and England. Hamada's dedication to ceramics earned him the designation of Living National Treasure in 1955, and he received the Order of Culture in 1968, cementing his legacy as one of Japan's most revered ceramists.