Morino Taimei (森野泰明), Japanese, b. 1934

A Pear-Shaped Vase titled “Cloud Blue”

Heisei Era (1989-2019)

About the work

A striking ceramic vase titled Unran (雲藍, “Cloud Blue”) by the distinguished Kyoto
ceramic artist Morino Taimei. Executed in the artist's celebrated blue glaze, the vessel features an elegant pear-shaped form with a gently flaring neck. The luminous
turquoise surface is overlaid with intricate bronze and dark metallic patterns that
spread organically across the body, creating an appearance reminiscent of drifting
clouds, flowing water, or branching forms found in nature.

The rich contrast between the vivid blue ground and the textured metallic overlays
demonstrates Morino's exceptional command of glaze chemistry and firing
techniques. The surface possesses remarkable visual depth, with subtle variations in
colour and texture revealing themselves as the vessel is viewed from different angles.
While firmly rooted in the Kyoto ceramic tradition, the work embodies a distinctly
modern sculptural sensibility, transforming a functional flower vase into an expressive
work of contemporary ceramic art.

The balanced proportions and refined silhouette are complemented by the dynamic
surface decoration, resulting in a vase that is equally compelling as a display object or
as a vessel for floral arrangements. The title Unran (“Cloud Blue”) aptly reflects the
atmospheric quality of the glaze and the artist's ability to evoke natural phenomena
through abstraction.

The vase is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako) and
artist's information sheet.

Dimensions

16cm(h) x 9.8cm(w)

Footnote

Morino Taimei (森野泰明, born 1934) is one of Japan's most celebrated contemporary ceramic artists and the son of renowned Kyoto potter Moria Kakõ(森野嘉光). A graduate of Kyoto City University of Arts, he first gained national recognition through the Nitten Exhibition, receiving the prestigious Hokuto Prize in 1960. From 1962 he lectured in ceramics at the University of Chicago, helping introduce modern Japanese ceramics to international audiences. His distinguished career includes the Minister for Foreign Affairs Award (1968), the Minister of Education Award (1983), the Kyoto Prefectural Culture Prize (1996), designation as a Person of Cultural Merit (2021), and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (2019). In 2007 he received the Japan Art Academy Prize, and in 2010 became a member of the Japan Art Academy while also receiving the Gold Prize of the Japan Ceramic Society.