Kumakura Junkichi (熊倉順吉), Japanese, 1920-1985

A Yūsai Square Vase (釉彩角壷)

Showa Era (1926-1989)

About the work

A striking square vase by Kumakura Junkichi, one of the most distinctive ceramic artists to emerge from post-war Japan. Executed in his characteristic yūsai (glaze-painted) style, the vessel combines bold geometric form with a sophisticated palette of deep green, warm iron-red, and creamy white glazes. The flattened rectangular body is crowned by a small square neck, creating a sculptural silhouette that is both modern and architectonic.

The broad faces are decorated with flowing abstract bands of iron-red glaze set against a luminous white ground, while the narrow sides are covered in a rich emerald-green glaze. The composition demonstrates Kumakura's remarkable ability to balance colour, form, and negative space, transforming the vessel into a work that functions equally as sculpture and ceramic object. The crisp angles and carefully controlled glazing reveal the artist's mastery of design and his commitment to modern ceramic expression.

Created during the mature period of his career, the work reflects Kumakura's lifelong pursuit of originality and his departure from conventional decorative traditions. His innovative approach to form and colour established him as one of the leading figures in modern Japanese ceramics.

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

Dimensions

14.8cm(h) x 12.4cm(w) x 7cm(d)

Footnote

Kumakura Junkichi (1920–1985) was a pioneering figure in Japanese sculptural ceramics. A graduate of the Kyoto Institute of Technology, he apprenticed under Tomimoto Kenkichi before becoming a core member of the avant-garde Sōdeisha group. His works, inspired by jazz improvisation and bold artistic expression, earned him numerous accolades, including the Japan Ceramic Society Prize and international recognition at the Brussels World Exposition (1958) and the International Ceramics Exhibition in Prague (1962).