Japanese wabi-sabi ceramic vase-cup

A vase? A bowl? This very beautiful and heavy piece worked in an unglazed and non-porous gray clay can have multiple uses. We liked to imagine it as a wabi sabi vase, where with the help of a kenzan (an ikebana tool: iron base with spikes on which to fix flowers, which is now very easy to find) superb compositions can be created very simply. Perfect as a centerpiece or on a piece of furniture, the effect is superb. This vase was made by the Japanese ceramic artisan Kikuchi Tōru.

Kikuchi Tōru, born in 1974 in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Japanese ceramicist whose work reflects a deep connection with matter and a search for contemporary expressions rooted in tradition. Working with local clays, he shapes his pieces by letting the material guide their form, creating unique works imbued with spontaneity. His creations, often without glaze, highlight the raw texture of the earth and the subtle nuances revealed by high-temperature firings (1,200 to 1,300 °C), embodying the aesthetic of wabi-sabi in all its depth.