Japanese Ceramic Jar with Inlay Design Tatsuzo Shimaoka with Tomobako

A handsome Japanese ceramic stoneware vase in rectangular form by Tatsuzo Shimaoka (1919-2007), an important member in Japanese Mingei folk art movement. Made in the unique Jomon-Zogan style for which the artist was celebrated for, the vase took a modern form that completely departs from Japanese tradition. This bespoken Jomon-Zogan style, however, was inspired by two ancient pottery decorating processes: The rope-pressing decorating process found in Jomon ceramics and the white slip inlay underglaze decoration during the Korean Josen Dynasty, notably for Buncheong ware.
This vase was decorated with a complex white slip inlays where the permeated impressions pressed down by "rope" were filled with to create the overall pattern. Each facade of the vase showcases a roundel with a grass motif design in the center, also outlined with white slip. The vase is marked underneath with the artist's insignia. It comes with the original wood tomobako, which has the inscription of the title and the artist's name and seal under the lid.
Tatsuzo Shimaoka studied under Shoji Hamada and in 1997, he became the second Living National Treasure of Mashiko, Japan, chosen for his unique Jomon Zogan style of pottery, and his mastery of many slip decorating and firing techniques for pottery.
For another comparable square form vase, see the item 2013.83.69 in the collection Brooklyn Museum.
For a ceramic cup with near identical decorative grass motif, see item FE.2-1978 in the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum in London.