vase | Spencer Museum of Art

Miyashita Zenji, artist

born 1939

vase, circa 1980s, Showa period (1926–1989)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: glaze; stoneware

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 55.5 x 32.5 x 13 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 21 7/8 x 12 13/16 x 5 1/8 in
Weight (Weight): 22 lbs

Credit line: Museum purchase: Friends of the Art Museum

Accession number: 1989.0019

On display: Lee Study Center

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Label texts

Form & Flux: Contemporary East Asian Ceramics and Surface Stories

Miyashita Zenji is celebrated for his non-traditional vase shapes and ceramic sculptures, distinguished by intricate layering of clay slip. In this piece, the tall rectangular vase is subtly bent into an organic curve, echoing the natural form of layered mountains that embellish its surface. The layered slip creates texture and depth, enhancing the sense of movement and transformation in the piece, reflecting Miyashita’s innovative approach to ceramics and his deep connection to the natural world.

Exhibition Label:
"Contemporary Ceramics East and West," Feb-2002, Susan Earle, Mary M. Dusenbury
Miyashita Zenji is best known for the non-traditional shapes and designs of his vases and ceramic sculptures and for the intricate layering of clay slip that forms the surfaces of his work. Here, the tall rectangular shape of the vase is bent into a slight curve, a more organic form that echoes the curves of the layered mountains that embellish the surface.