Large wabi sabi vase-sculpture by Kazuhiko Sato

This large sculptural vase by Kazuhiko Sato is an extremely decorative piece whose presence immediately captures the eye and transforms the space it occupies. The balance of its form, both organic and controlled, asserts itself powerfully while retaining a profound sensitivity, fully illustrating the language developed by this great ceramist around raw materials and volume.

The deliberately textured surface has a sandy, vibrant appearance that subtly captures the light. The addition of abstract silver lines underscores the contemporary tension of the whole, in a constant dialogue between sculptural modernity and a deeply Japanese heritage.

The ceramist
Kazuhiko Sato, born in 1947 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, graduated from the ceramics department of Tokyo University of the Arts, one of Japan's most prestigious art institutions. He studied under Michi Kajimoto and Koichi Tamura, two ceramicists recognized as Living National Treasures.

His work has been featured in major international exhibitions and galleries, notably in London, New York, and Sydney, with numerous solo exhibitions. He has received several awards recognizing the excellence and originality of his work.

Decor and techniques
For this work, Kazuhiko Sato used a combination of Shigaraki and Seto clays, enriched with quartz inclusions. The piece was entirely hand-shaped using a particularly complex personal technique, giving the surface its raw, mineral character.

The dense, granular texture, resulting from this mixture of clays and the specific treatment of the material, reinforces the sculptural dimension of the form. The abstract silver lines accentuate the contrast between roughness and graphic intervention, placing the piece within the realm of contemporary art while retaining a timeless presence.

Form and use
Designed as a sculptural vase, its highly decorative format makes it a central piece intended to accommodate a composition as well as to be contemplated as an autonomous work, bringing a Japanese wabi-sabi spirit to a contemporary interior.

Signature and presentation
This sculptural vase is signed at its base "SATOH", Kazuhiko Sato's usual signature, as well as "80" for the year 1980 (year of its manufacture), accompanied by the artist's coat of arms.

The piece is kept in a traditional tatōbako made of cardboard covered with indigo washi paper, the lid of which bears a calligraphed label signed by the ceramist and marked with their seal, as well as a second label indicating the name of the work. A shiori (official document detailing the ceramist's profile) is also included.

Place of manufacture
Japan

Dimensions
Diameter 28 cm - Height 20 cm

Weight
6 kg (vase and box)

Materials
Ceramic

Condition
In very good condition