Seiryūsai ceramic vase by Hironobu Andō

This vase by Hironobu Andō, a renowned figure in contemporary Mino ceramics, belongs to one of the most characteristic expressions of his work: the Seiryūsai, recognizable by its mysterious cobalt blue and remarkable material work. On this small piece with its very balanced roundness, the color reveals itself in a great diversity of textures and shades, between matte depth, relief, and the brilliance of the glaze.

The ceramist

Hironobu Andō, born in 1940 in Toki, Gifu Prefecture, is a major figure in Mino ceramics. Trained in the design department of the Tajimi Technical High School, he established his studio, Hakusan-gama, in Toki, one of the main historical centers of Mino ceramics. Since the 1960s, his work has been distinguished in major Japanese exhibitions: awarded four times at the Asahi Tōgeiten (Asahi Ceramic Exhibition), he has been selected 31 times for the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition), where he received two Chunichi prizes and became a kaiyū (associate member).

His career has been crowned notably by the Kōbei Prize in 1984 and the Mino Ceramic Art Grand Prize in 1998. In 1996, his work was selected for the permanent conservation program for Mino ceramics. His creations have also joined the collections of the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum and have been presented in several institutions dedicated to Mino ceramics. Still celebrated, Hironobu Andō was among the artists featured in 2026 during the Toki City Ceramic Art Association exhibition at the Tōshin Mino Ceramic Art Museum.

Technique and decor

The Seiryūsai is one of Hironobu Andō’s signature creations, born from his research into cobalt glazes and their transformation by fire. For this piece, the glaze is concentrated on the neck and shoulder, then evolves during a prolonged firing: it drips, accumulates, and blends on the surface, causing the cobalt to vary from nearly black blue to luminous tones.

This enamel work interacts with the dark and finely granular texture that covers the body of the vase. The contrast between this matte material and the brilliant reliefs formed by the glaze gives the surface all its depth. The round and intentionally sober form thus allows what characterizes Andō’s work to express itself: the interaction between clay, glaze, and fire, inherited from the culture of Mino-yaki (Mino ceramics), and this mysterious cobalt blue that has become the signature of his work.

Presentation

This vase is signed by Hironobu Andō on its base. It comes with its tomobako (original wooden box) bearing the name of the work, the ceramist’s signature and seal, its tomonuno (protective cloth) signed and marked with his seal, as well as its shiori (information document).

Place of manufacture
Japan, Toki, Gifu Prefecture

Dimensions
Height 14 cm - Width 13 cm - Depth 13 cm

Weight
Vase + wooden tomobako: 842g

Materials
Ceramic

Period
Late Shōwa era (1926-1989)

Condition
In very good condition