With Original Box
Mouth diameter: 5.2 cm / Body dimensions: 13cm×18cm / Height: 23 cm.
This “henko” (flat jar) is a masterful work by Kanjirō Kawai, a central figure in Japan’s Mingei (folk craft) movement. The piece features a soft, rounded shape decorated with elegant motifs using the wax-resist (rōnuki) technique. Wax is applied to draw patterns before glazing, resulting in a striking contrast and organic rhythm on the surface. The richness of the iron glaze and the fluidity of the design harmonize beautifully, reflecting Kawai’s belief in the “beauty of utility.” A timeless work that brings both dignity and warmth to any setting.
Kanjiro KAWAI
1890 - 1966
Kanjirou Kawai was a Kyoto-based potter within the folk tradition of Japanese and Korean ceramics and a key figure in Mingei (Japanese folk art movement). He was a long-time friend of Shōji Hamada, Soetsu Yanagi, and Bernard Leach with whom he co-founded the Japan Folk Art Association in 1926. He refused all official honors, such as the designation of “Living National Treasures,” He often decorated his works with bold, semiabstract blossom motifs, which he painted freely in under-glaze cobalt blue, iron brown, and copper red.
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