Vase /
Mihara Ken Vase
One of the most original and innovative potters in years has got to be Mihara Ken (1958 - ). His work is all about form softened by the smooth smoky yakishime (high-fired unglazed stoneware) blueness. His work is getting much attention here these days and last year he won the prestigious Tanabe Museum's Grand Prix in the "'Modern Tea Forms Exhibition." Past winners include the late Hagi potter Miwa Eizo, as well as Hagi's Saka Koraizaemon and Tahara Tobee, Tamba's Nishibata Tadashi, and Bizen reformer Kakurezaki Ryuichi. Kakurezaki won the award twice and that was just before his career zoomed skyward in popularity. Mihara studied with mingei potter Funaki Kenji for two years starting in 1981 and established his own soon thereafter in Shimane prefecture. All is work is coil built and fired in a gas kiln for about 40 hours with temperatures reaching about 1270 degrees Celcius. His work recalls Yayoi and Sue ancient wares, as well as the late greats Kamoda Shoji and Suzuki Osamu. Sixty works are now on display at my office here in Mishima and I shall upload his work as often as I can. To begin here is a stunning hexagonal vase with edgy sides and crescent curves around the mouth. A modern masterpiece, as is with basically all of Mihara's work----mark my words on this so I won't have to say I told you say in a few short years from now. In perfect condition with a signed box, 21.5cm.tall and 24.0cm.wide. More on Mihara Ken can be found on www.e-yakimono.net
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