Ceramic Pot with Carved Pattern of Grapes

Miyanohara Ken established a kiln in Matsudo City, Chiba in 1949 and continued his pottery practice there. Whether working in ceramic or porcelain, he almost completely shunned modern conveniences like electric wheels and kneading machines, favoring the precision of handcrafting until his final years. His surfaces often featured carved and damascened patterns, and the innovative designs he achieved through meticulous planning and precise calculation breathed fresh life into the Japanese crafts scene. This work, one of Miyanohara’s few ceramic works, features a design of grape clusters enveloped by leaves on the shoulder, and a patterned design on the lower body of the vessel. Even over 70 years later, the refined, modern appeal of the work remains timeless. (U.M.)