Ikkei Kakutani (角谷一圭), Japanese (1904–1999)

A Cast Bronze Vase (鋳銅花瓶)

Showa Era (1926-1989)

About the work

An elegant cast bronze flower vase by Ikkei Kakutani, one of the foremost Japanese metalworkers of the twentieth century and a Living National Treasure for the art of chanoyu-gama, or tea ceremony kettle making.

The vase has a beautifully balanced classical form, with a rounded, almost spherical body rising through a gently sloping shoulder into an exceptionally long and slender neck. The mouth is subtly everted, while a small raised foot gives definition to the base. Its simplicity places particular emphasis on proportion and the precision of the casting.

The surface is finished in a rich reddish brown patina with subtle tonal variation, giving the bronze warmth and depth without additional ornament. Although Kakutani is principally celebrated for his iron tea kettles, this vase demonstrates the broader casting expertise that underpinned his practice. Its restrained silhouette and finely controlled surface translate the refinement associated with his tea utensils into a purely decorative vessel.

The base bears the artist's impressed mark. It is accompanied by its original signed wooden tomobako together with a biographical leaflet.

Dimensions

22cm(h) x 9cm(w)

Footnote

Ikkei Kakutani (1904–1999), born in Osaka, was one of Japan’s most distinguished kama-shi (tea kettle masters). Born Tadashiro Kakutani, he studied the art of tea kettle making under his father, Minosuke, from 1917. He later expanded his training under Okuni Tobee and Katori Hotsuma, mastering the broader field of metal casting. Kakutani first exhibited at the Nitten in 1947, and in 1958 he received the Prince Takamatsu Award at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, followed by many other honors. In 1978, he was designated a Living National Treasure for his work in tea kettles. He belonged to a distinguished lineage of kettle makers, with his father, his brother Shason, and his son Yūkei all continuing the tradition.