225 - FUKUMOTO FUKU: FROST ON THE MOON

FUKUMOTO FUKU: FROST ON THE MOON By Fukumoto Fuku (b. 1973), signed Fukumoto Japan, dated 2014, Heisei period (1989-2019) Exquisitely potted from three separately thrown porcelain elements, comprising two flared bowls supporting a globular vessel surmounted by a fitted cover with a stalk-like knop. The components are joined by a lustrous bluish glaze with subtle orange iridescence, while the top of the cover is beautifully finished in a deep-blue glaze echoed on the underside of the vessel. The artist's stylized mark incised beside the foot FUKUMOTO. HEIGHT 21.6 cm, DIAMETER 17.7 cm Provenance: Joan B. Mirviss Ltd., New York. A private collection, Boston, United States, acquired from the above, by repute. Condition: Excellent condition. With the original wood tomobako (storage box), inscribed Tsuki no shimo [Frost on the Moon], signed Fukumoto Fuku, and sealed Fuku. Fukumoto Fuku (b. 1973) is a leading figure among the second generation of female ceramic artists who have helped reshape contemporary Japanese ceramics. Born to a family of accomplished textile artists, she pursued ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts, studying under the celebrated ceramic sculptor Akiyama Yo. Drawing inspiration from celestial phenomena, particularly the moon, sun, and stars, Fukumoto creates ethereal porcelain compositions that contrast the soft radiance of unglazed white surfaces with lustrous glazes in varying shades of blue, from teal to powder blue. Her innovative approach to traditional ceramic forms has earned her considerable international recognition, with works held in important museum collections in Japan and the United States. Characteristic of Fukumoto's distinctive artistic practice is the assembly of several delicately potted porcelain elements, each individually glazed before being stacked and refired. During the second firing, the molten glazes fuse the components together, sometimes allowing them to shift subtly within the kiln. This delicate balance between precision and unpredictability introduces a remarkable sense of movement and spontaneity into her compositions. The present mizusashi exemplifies this approach, transforming the traditional fresh-water jar into an evocative sculptural interpretation of celestial imagery. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related blue-glazed porcelain mizusashi from the same series, titled 'Frost in Moonlight', by Fukumoto Fuku, dated 2012, 19.1 cm high, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 2025.91.11a, b. Auction comparison: Compare a related set of three nesting blue- and green-glazed porcelain bowls, titled 'Moonlight', by Fukumoto Fuku, dated 2003, 47 cm diameter, at Sotheby's, Modern and Contemporary Japanese Art, 31 October 2023, London, lot 40 (sold for GBP 4,064 or approx. EUR 5,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).