228 - TOKUDA YASOKICHI III (DESIGNATED LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE): A FINE KUTANI GLAZED PORCELAIN VASE

TOKUDA YASOKICHI III (DESIGNATED LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE): A FINE KUTANI GLAZED PORCELAIN VASE By Tokuda Yasokichi III (1933-2009), signed Kutani Masahiko Japan, late 20th century, Showa (1926-1989) to Heisei period (1989-2019) The globular body supported on a short broad foot and rising to a slender cylindrical stem-form neck, covered overall in a rich, lustrous, finely crackled, blue-green streaked glaze, save for the white foot and base signed KUTANI MASAHIKO below an impressed foliate design. HEIGHT 24.6 cm Condition: Excellent condition. With the original wood tomobako (storage box), signed and sealed by the artist. Tokuda Yasokichi III was designated a Bearer of Important Intangible Cultural Assets (a ‘Living National Treasure’) in 1997 for his mastery of the innovative saiyu glaze technique, based on traditional Kutani colored glaze enamels as handed down from his grandfather and father, Tokuda Yasokichi I (1873-1956) and Tokuda Yasokichi II (1907-1997). Before he succeeded his father in 1988 as Tokuda Yasokichi III, the artist was known as Tokuda Masahiko. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related Kutani glazed porcelain vase of near-identical design, by Tokuda Yasokichi III, dated to the late 20th century, 27 cm high, at Zacke, Fine Japanese Art, 16 June 2023, Vienna, lot 166 (sold for EUR 7,150).