Original Wooden Box
D25cm H23cm
An impressive jar by Kawai Kanjiro, a pivotal master of the Mingei movement renowned for his dynamic ceramic forms and expressive glaze work.
This piece features a richly rounded body transitioning into a crisp, square-shaped mouth—a striking contrast between geometry and organic form that imparts a dignified, sculptural presence. Viewed from above, the interplay between the angular rim and the soft curvature of the shoulder highlights Kanjiro's mastery of three-dimensional design.
The rich interplay between the reddish-brown persimmon (kaki) tones and the deep black iron glaze reveals complex textural gradations, perfectly embodying the strength and quiet elegance of Kanjiro's artistry.
Kanjiro KAWAI（河井寛次郎）
1890 - 1966
Kanjiro 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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