This refined Kyo-yaki (京焼) vase is a work by Kimura Morinobu 木村盛伸, a respected Kyoto ceramic artist known for his uncompromising dedication to materials and firing technique.
The vase presents an elegant, rounded form with a slender neck rising from a gently swelling body. It is finished in a soft, natural ash glaze (灰釉) that creates a nuanced surface of smoky blue-grey tones with subtle depth and variation. The glaze flows smoothly over the contours, pooling slightly at the shoulder and thinning toward the base, where the unglazed foot reveals the warm, iron-rich clay beneath.
Kimura Morinobu is a self-taught artist, having learned the fundamentals of pottery by observing his elder brothers and craftsmen in the family workshop. His approach is deeply material-focused. Because the clay he uses contains iron that can cause unwanted spotting, he takes great care not to disturb or contaminate the surface when applying slip or scraping white engobe layers.
He is particularly meticulous about ash preparation, often producing his own pure ash to ensure consistent glaze quality. Aware that commercially obtained ash varies in composition, he burns carefully selected materials himself, using controlled hearth conditions to prevent impurities. Even the degree of burning is precisely monitored, as it directly affects the character and tone of the glaze. This dedication to balance and control is clearly reflected in the subtle harmony of this piece.
The vase comes with its original signed wooden tomobako, inscribed “灰釉 一輪生” (Ash Glaze – Single Flower Vase), emphasizing its intended use for a single stem arrangement in the tea aesthetic tradition.
Size: 9 x 9 x 15cm
11 x 11 x 19cm (Box)
