Bottle vase
(1955)
- Medium
- stoneware
- Measurements
- 23.5 × 22.6 × 10.6 cm
- Place/s of Execution
- Kyoto, Japan
- Accession Number
- 2003.125
- Department
- International Decorative Arts
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation from the Bequest of Kenneth Hood, Founder Benefactor, 2003
© Kawai Kanjiro Estate
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited - Gallery location
- Level 1, NGV International
- About this work
-
During the twentieth century, Kawai Kanjirō was one of the main artists responsible for preserving ancient Japanese ceramic techniques and historical folk aesthetics. He also developed his own distinctive style, which continues to inspire ceramicists today. Working with a climbing (dragon) kiln in Kyoto, Kawai produced simple, traditionally influenced slab-moulded bottles, vases, boxes and dishes. Created using flat pieces of clay shaped by moulds, his works feature a decoration style of raised lines and smooth areas of glazed colour. Kawai’s interest in Buddhist traditions can be seen in this vase’s decoration of stylised blossoming flowers, like those often found in the hand of a compassionate bodhisattva (enlightened being).