Large Contemporary Ceramic Moon Jar by Akiko Hirai

A large and unusual stoneware moon jar made by Akiko Hirai (1970-) in 2023. Unlike most of her moon jars in white and celadon colors, this exceptional piece is unique in its near black profile. Iconic to her Moon Jar series, the jar was fashioned with crushed porcelain fragment addition and covered in magnesium glaze as well as thick Ash glaze. This gives the surface a thick creamy texture, almost entirely black except an area of dark brown natural ash. The oxidation process in the kiln also created scattered "hot spots" of crackled clay patches in white with burnt orange hues. The pot stands mysteriously with a quietude that is powerful. When rotating the jar, different views come to the eyes like storytelling. The base is signed and marked with 2023 as shown.
Born in Shizuoka, Japan in 1970, Akiki Hirai arrived in London in the 1990s and unintentionally embarked on a journey to become one of the most sought-after ceramists working in UK nowadays. Her work was deeply rooted in traditional Japanese and Korean pottery and driven by the philosophy of Wabi-sabi, not only as an aesthetic but also as a practice in the studio. Her most iconic works are the moon jar series, inspired by the white porcelain jars made in Korea during Joseon Dynasty (15-19th century). These jars embody the essence of humbleness in the contemporary Confucius society by embracing the imperfections and honoring the hand-crafting process.
By using layers of different glazes including slip, wood, ash, magnesium, celadon with surface manipulation such as her iconic explosive porcelain fragment addition, she controlled the kiln firing process while allowing all spontaneous "accidents" to happen during the process, to ultimately achieve a unique aesthetic that is both modern and ancient.
Provenance: from a UK collection.
Included with the piece is a custom-made wood crate and original packing material.