Flower Vase [Carp and Wave]

This piece features a design by Chitojin, an artist associated with Imari Tōen. Born in Kyoto, Chitojin initially aspired to become a traditional Japanese painter. Though his work in that field never gained widespread recognition, he later found his calling as a ceramic artist. Devoted to pursuing his artistic vision without compromise, Chitojin’s journey was far from easy—but it was marked by unwavering pride and conviction as a true artist. His spirit continues to live on in the craftsmanship of the artisans at Imari Tōen.

After his passing, Chitojin’s work was first acclaimed not in Japan, but in the United Kingdom. In 1997, the British Museum held a solo exhibition of his ceramics—the first solo show ever dedicated to a Japanese ceramic artist.

This piece features the traditional Japanese motif of seigaiha (blue ocean waves), reimagined through a striking contrast of green and red. The carp swimming powerfully against the waves appear to embody Chitojin’s own enduring determination and inner strength.

Each piece is carefully shaped under conditions where temperature and humidity play a crucial role, relying on the artisan’s experience and intuition to maintain a consistent thickness. The vivid red pigment is original to the kiln, made by aging tea leaves for three years. As this pigment contains no glue or binder, it flows smoothly—making it extremely difficult to achieve shading and depth, a task that demands great skill.

The Yūri-mon (playful carp motif) is completed using a raised iro-enogu (colored glaze) technique, and the piece undergoes two rounds of overglaze firing to achieve its final brilliance.