Hyoka Mon (ice decoration) ceramic vase by Hideo Miyaoka

A vase by Hideo Miyaoka, a Japanese ceramicist renowned for his subtle work with glazes and surface textures. The piece's slender silhouette is structured by deep vertical flutes that rhythmically define its volume, lending it an almost architectural presence. The surface is covered with a hyoka mon (ice) decoration, characterized by a blue-gray glaze traversed by a network of crystalline cracks reminiscent of the natural formation of ice. The edges of the flutes capture the light, while the recesses retain deeper tones, creating a subtle interplay between relief and depth. The piece reveals great technical mastery and a particular sensitivity in the relationship between the sculptural form and the glaze effects.

The ceramist

Hideo Miyaoka is a Japanese ceramist born in 1940 in Saitama Prefecture. He trained in Kyoto where he studied ceramics at the Kyoto Prefectural Vocational School of Ceramics and then at the city's Municipal Industrial Testing Center, ceramics section.

He then became a student of the ceramist Satoshi Hayashi before continuing his research on glazes and firing techniques. He also studied the Mino yaki (ceramics) tradition in Gifu Prefecture, where he later set up his own kiln.

His career also includes an experience in the United States, in the state of Vermont, where he taught ceramics at Marlboro College. He also spent time in Korea to study the Koryo yaki (ceramics) tradition, an influence that is noticeable in his work with glazes and in his pursuit of deep, nuanced surfaces.

Hideo Miyaoka has held numerous solo exhibitions in Japan. His works are particularly appreciated for the richness of their glaze effects and for the cracked surfaces evoking natural phenomena, as in his vases with hyoka mon (ice) decoration.

The technique and the decor

The vase's shape is first created on the potter's wheel, then further refined to create the deep vertical flutes that structure its entire form. This post-throwing reworking gives the piece its distinctive rhythm and accentuates the verticality of its silhouette. The sharp edges of the flutes also allow for control over how the glaze is applied and reacts during firing.

The surface is covered with a thick, blue-grey glaze which, during firing, develops a network of cracks reminiscent of the natural formation of ice. This type of effect, characteristic of hyoka mon (ice) decoration, results from the tension between the glaze and the body of the piece during the cooling process in the kiln, producing controlled cracking of the surface.

On the edges of the grooves, the glaze stretches, revealing lighter areas where light reflects more intensely, while in the hollows it accumulates slightly, creating deeper tones and accentuating the textural effect. This contrast between relief and crackling gives the surface an almost mineral appearance, where light gradually reveals the richness of the textures.

Presentation

The piece is signed by the ceramist under its base. It is accompanied by its signed paulownia wood protective box (tomobako), a protective cloth (tomonuno) bearing the artist's seal, and an information document (shiori) detailing the ceramist's profile.

Practical information

Place of manufacture
Japan (Gifu)

Dimensions
Height 24 cm - Width 15 cm

Weight
Vase + box: 3 kg

Materials
Ceramic

Period
Heisei Era (1989-2019)

Condition
In very good condition.