A harmonious set of five shallow bowls whose quiet metallic surfaces recall the subdued patina of aged bronze, by Matsushita Hiroki, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled “Fugen Kobachi.” Each bowl rests on a gently tapered foot, the broad rim forming a calm circular plane while the softly mottled surface moves between deep charcoal and warm metallic tones. Thrown with remarkable thinness, the forms possess a subtle architectural clarity that allows them to function equally as individual vessels or as a unified table setting. Part of the artist’s Fugen series, the work reflects Matsushita’s exploration of ceramic surfaces that evoke ancient metal while retaining the quiet warmth and tactility of clay. Each bowl measures 13 cm (5 inches) in diameter and 6 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall, and the set remains in excellent condition, acquired directly from the artist before his passing.
Matsushita Hiroki (1977–2024) was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture and encountered clay early in life, an engagement that deepened through formal study and culminated in a Doctorate in Fine Arts from Kyushu Sangyo University in 2009. His research on the Kakiemon style, conducted under the guidance of the Fourteenth-generation Sakaida Kakiemon and supported by the Ministry of Education’s 21st Century COE Program, placed him in direct dialogue with one of Japan’s most refined ceramic traditions. In 2017, he founded the studio-gallery Utsuwa Tsunagi (“vessels that bind”), reflecting his conviction that ceramics serve as quiet agents of human connection. Selected for the National Artists Exhibition at the Uenomori Art Museum in 2021, his career was marked by steady expansion and a sustained commitment to refinement. His works—often bearing metal-like surfaces tempered by warmth—embody a balance of rigor and grace, vessels shaped not only by discipline but by a gentle hand. Matsushita passed away in 2024. His loss is deeply felt, yet his spirit endures in the vessels he formed—objects that continue to accompany daily rituals with quiet gravity, inviting pause, touch, and connection.
