Shimizu Uichi 清水 卯一 Japanese, 1926-2004
H16.5 × Dia 18.8 cm
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This celadon water jar by the celebrated Japanese ceramicist Shimizu Uichi (1926-2004) has a beautifully rounded form, anchored by a carefully constructed foot. A subtle glaze effect offers a soft, darkened “drop-shadow” at the base, giving the impression of a floating shadow beneath the vessel, softly illuminating the piece. While Shimizu Uichi is best known for his metallic iron glazes, he also worked beyond them, producing pieces such as this celadon jar that reflect his mastery of glazing and firing. His celadon works glow with a sense of mystery. In postwar Kyoto, Shimizu, alongside celebrated artists such as Hayashi Yasuo, was part of the avant-garde group Shikokai (四耕社). Active in the 1950s–60s, the group reimagined ceramics beyond established traditions, moving away from lineage-based authority and toward individual artistic expression. In 1985, he was designated as Living National Treasure, possessing the important intangible cultural property "Iron-glaze Ceramics.”