Vase, raku, Bernard Leach, Tokyo, Japan, 1913

Vase of pale buff earthenware, thrown, with deeply turned base. Throwing rings are visible on the exterior and are pronounced on the interior. The sides of the vase are decorated in an abstract grape and vine design, with incised curving lines and blue and red slip under a clear glaze. Raku-fired. The pot is heavily crazed and has three vertical cracks, stained red. The cracks and crazing probably the result of the firing. A ring of calcium deposits is present on the interior of the vase towards the top. The rim has a small glaze chip.

Leach appears to have made a number of raku vases of this design during his period in Japan. At least two further examples are known. He intended them for use in the tea ceremony. The stylised design of vine-leaf and grapes also appears on other raku pieces from this period. This particular vase remained in Leach's possession throughout his life, and was selected for inclusion in the major retrospective of his work held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1977. Following Leach's death two years later, it was passed from his wife Janet to a third party, coming to light again as part of the sale of ceramics from Bernard Leach's collection held at Christies South Kensington in 2013.

C.138-2013