Slender vase by Eiko Kishi

Strength and delicacy combined in this very slender vase by Eiko Kishi, a major figure in Japanese female ceramics.

To create this unique piece, Eiko san incorporated colored chamotte directly into Shigaraki clay, creating sculptures whose incised surface reveals a palette of hidden colors. She began by hand-shaping a block of clay, which she stretched and sculpted to give her work this abstract and slender form.

Using knives and needles, she traced precise lines on the surface of the still-wet material, bringing structure and dynamism to the piece. Each chamotte granule was pierced with small holes in which she then applied, using a fine brush, various colored engobes, thus adding additional nuances to her creation. Once this step was completed, a transparent glaze was applied to fix and sublimate the whole. After an initial biscuit firing at 850°C, this vase underwent a main firing at a temperature of 1250°C in an electric kiln, thus consolidating its structure and final shine.

The vase has been signed by the artist (engraving on the base) and comes with a beautiful wooden protective box closing with a sanadahimo cord on which the artist's name and official seal are affixed, guaranteeing its authenticity. A rare and precious piece.

About Eiko Kishi:

Eiko Kishi, born in 1948 in Nara Prefecture and now living in Kyoto, is a renowned ceramic artist (her works are present in around thirty museums around the world). She creates clay sculptures dotted with colored chamotte, revealing rainbows under their incised surfaces. A pioneer in the recognition of Japanese women artists, Eiko san paved the way for a new generation. Her creations combine meticulousness, innovation and respect for traditional craftsmanship, embodying a tribute to beauty and technique.