▲A bold application of vibrant green glaze.
▲There is a minor peeling of the glaze and slip on the body, which is characteristic of the age and the specific decorative techniques of this period.
▲The foot ring bears the impressed "Kan" (寛) seal.
▲The piece is accompanied by a wooden box inscribed and authenticated by his nephew and foremost disciple, Kawai Takeichi.
Authenticated by Kawai Takeichi
Period: Taisho era (early 20th century)
Dimensions: Rim Diameter 9.8 cm / Max Diameter 13 cm / Height 10 cm
This is an exceptionally rare handled jar created by Kawai Kanjiro (1890–1966), a central figure of the Mingei (Folk Art) movement, during the early stage of his career.
The piece demonstrates a sophisticated layering technique: a white slip with fine crackle (kannu) is applied over a natural reddish-brown clay body, then accented with bold, vibrant green glaze. The body is decorated with dynamic bird and flower motifs, showcasing Kanjiro's exquisite technical virtuosity and deep mastery of classical ceramic traditions before he transitioned into his iconic Mingei style.
The foot ring bears the impressed "Kan" (寛) seal, a hallmark of his early works. The piece is accompanied by a wooden box inscribed and authenticated by his nephew and foremost disciple, Kawai Takeichi.
Please note that there is a minor peeling of the glaze and slip on the body, which is characteristic of the age and the specific decorative techniques of this period.
Kanjiro KAWAI（河井寛次郎）
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.
Contact about the Item