Yamato Yasuo (大和保男), Japanese (b. 1933)

A Four-Sided Hagi Ware Flower Vase (萩焼四面花入)

Heisei Era (1989-2019) 

About the work

A striking four-sided Hagi ware flower vase by Yamato Yasuo, distinguished by its tall architectural form and richly textured surface. Rising from a square base to a narrow circular mouth, the vessel demonstrates the artist's mastery of balancing sculptural presence with functional simplicity. The faceted body is enhanced by deeply incised diagonal and horizontal markings that create a rhythmic interplay of light and shadow across the surface.

The vase is covered in a soft translucent Hagi glaze ranging from warm ivory and pale blush tones to subtle amber and honey-coloured fire effects. Fine crackles and areas of exposed clay reveal the dynamic interaction between glaze, clay, and kiln atmosphere. The deliberate irregularities of the form and surface embody the aesthetic principles of wabi-sabi, celebrating natural variation and the beauty of imperfection.

The elongated proportions make the vase particularly well suited to displaying a single branch or seasonal arrangement in the manner of the Japanese tea ceremony. Its understated elegance allows it to function equally well as a sculptural object when not in use.

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

Dimensions

29.5cm(h) x 8.5cm(w) 

Footnote

Yamato Yasuo (born 1933) is an important Japanese ceramic artist and master of Hagi ware from Yamaguchi Prefecture. Introduced to pottery at a young age while assisting at the family kiln during the wartime shortage of craftsmen, he later trained formally under his father and developed a highly individual ceramic practice. Renowned for his innovative “ensai” works distinguished by vivid flame-like coloration and sculptural forms, Yamato has played a significant role in the evolution of contemporary Hagi ware. In 1988 he was designated a Holder of Intangible Cultural Property for Hagi ware by Yamaguchi Prefecture. His career includes numerous exhibitions and awards, among them the Japan Kōgei Association Prize and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2007. Internationally active, he also presented the “400 Years of Hagi Ware” exhibition in Paris in 2000, helping introduce modern Hagi ceramics to a wider global audience.