From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this large contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of the features of the landscape where he grew up.
Born in the port city of Shimoda, Sakiyama studied art in Osaka and then later went on to open his own kiln that he named “Hidaka” (Tall Sun). Appearing to have a natural gift for form and proportion, his pieces soon attracted the attention of galleries and collectors not only in his home country but also around the world. In 2004 one of his works was prominently featured in an exhibition of Japanese ceramics at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the following year he won grand prize at a prestigious national competition for ceramics in Japan (Nihon Togei-ten).
The Chōtō series that launched his career proved to be wildly popular and today a number of pieces are held by museums around the world including: Brooklyn Museum; Hyôgo Museum of Ceramics; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Minneapolis Institute of Art; Musée National de Céramique, Sèvres; Museum of Art & Design; New Orleans Museum of Art; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Sano Museum of Art, Mishima City; and Yale University Art Gallery.
In excellent condition, this sculptured vase is 17.3 inches in diameter at its widest point (44cm) and stands 12.5 inches tall (31.5cm). Signed by the artist on the base, it comes housed in its original box with artist’s signatures and seals, a protective wrapping cloth, and an informational insert containing details about Sakiyama and his kiln.
Additional Resources:
https://blogs.massart.edu/earthandalchemy/artists/takayuki-sakiyama-japanese/
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/72435
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/485485
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