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Takuda Yasokichi III Vase
Takuda Yasokichi III
Vase
Shōwa period (1926 - 1989)
Japan
Porcelain, colored glaze (hekisai)
H: 11,5 cm / 4,5 inch
ø: 10 cm / 3,9 inch
This item is unique and shows signs of age and use.
Please enquire for availability.
Tokuda Yasokichi III (1933–2009)
Pioneer of Modern Japanese Ceramics
Tokuda Yasokichi III stands as a transformative figure in the history of modern Japanese ceramics, revered for fusing centuries-old traditions with a radical, contemporary vision. Born in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, into a distinguished lineage of Kutani ceramicists, Yasokichi III inherited not only the technical mastery of his forebears but also their unrelenting spirit of innovation. His grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I (1873–1956), had already redefined the possibilities of overglaze enamel in ko-kutani ware, developing new chromatic expressions that became emblematic of the family’s legacy.
Yasokichi III’s most enduring contribution was the invention of saiyū, a glazing technique of extraordinary visual complexity and emotional resonance. Characterized by vivid, intermingling hues that melt into ethereal gradations, saiyū conjures natural phenomena—auroras, nebulae, fleeting light—within the confines of fired porcelain. The technique, discovered serendipitously through experimentation with elevated kiln temperatures, signaled a bold departure from conventional Kutani motifs. While rooted in historical glaze formulas, saiyū spoke a modern visual language, situating Yasokichi III at the vanguard of late 20th-century design.
His deep fascination with the aote (blue-green) aesthetic of early ko-kutani—marked by a restrained palette eschewing red in favor of greens, purples, and blues—laid the conceptual groundwork for saiyū’s fluid, prismatic surfaces. Yasokichi III’s early promise was evident when, at just 22, he was selected for the prestigious Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, an early recognition of his singular vision and technical prowess.
In 1997, the saiyū technique was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Japanese government. That same year, he was officially named a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage, a living national treasure entrusted with the preservation and transmission of his craft.
Yasokichi III’s works are held in major public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, British Museum in London, National Museum in Tokyo, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art and many others. His legacy lives on through his daughter, Tokuda Yasokichi IV (b. 1961), to whom he passed both the technique and the family name.
Through his relentless experimentation and reverence for tradition, Tokuda Yasokichi III expanded the expressive potential of Japanese ceramics, bridging the past and the future in vividly glazed harmony.
Takuda Yasokichi III
Vase
Shōwa period (1926 - 1989)
Japan
Porcelain, colored glaze (hekisai)
H: 11,5 cm / 4,5 inch
ø: 10 cm / 3,9 inch
This item is unique and shows signs of age and use.
Please enquire for availability.
Tokuda Yasokichi III (1933–2009)
Pioneer of Modern Japanese Ceramics
Tokuda Yasokichi III stands as a transformative figure in the history of modern Japanese ceramics, revered for fusing centuries-old traditions with a radical, contemporary vision. Born in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, into a distinguished lineage of Kutani ceramicists, Yasokichi III inherited not only the technical mastery of his forebears but also their unrelenting spirit of innovation. His grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I (1873–1956), had already redefined the possibilities of overglaze enamel in ko-kutani ware, developing new chromatic expressions that became emblematic of the family’s legacy.
Yasokichi III’s most enduring contribution was the invention of saiyū, a glazing technique of extraordinary visual complexity and emotional resonance. Characterized by vivid, intermingling hues that melt into ethereal gradations, saiyū conjures natural phenomena—auroras, nebulae, fleeting light—within the confines of fired porcelain. The technique, discovered serendipitously through experimentation with elevated kiln temperatures, signaled a bold departure from conventional Kutani motifs. While rooted in historical glaze formulas, saiyū spoke a modern visual language, situating Yasokichi III at the vanguard of late 20th-century design.
His deep fascination with the aote (blue-green) aesthetic of early ko-kutani—marked by a restrained palette eschewing red in favor of greens, purples, and blues—laid the conceptual groundwork for saiyū’s fluid, prismatic surfaces. Yasokichi III’s early promise was evident when, at just 22, he was selected for the prestigious Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, an early recognition of his singular vision and technical prowess.
In 1997, the saiyū technique was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Japanese government. That same year, he was officially named a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage, a living national treasure entrusted with the preservation and transmission of his craft.
Yasokichi III’s works are held in major public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, British Museum in London, National Museum in Tokyo, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art and many others. His legacy lives on through his daughter, Tokuda Yasokichi IV (b. 1961), to whom he passed both the technique and the family name.
Through his relentless experimentation and reverence for tradition, Tokuda Yasokichi III expanded the expressive potential of Japanese ceramics, bridging the past and the future in vividly glazed harmony.