Explosive Ujoyaki vase by Imai Rikei from Aomori Prefecture enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yohen Hanaike. This piece bore the brunt of the flames and embers in the front of the kiln, a coveted position which only a few pieces may share creating a dramatic charred surface covered in inclusions and embers fused to the vase by molten ash. It is 11 cm (4-1/4 inches) diameter, 23 cm (9 inches) tall, and in excellent condition, dated Showa 51 (1986).
Imai Rikei was born in Aomori Prefecture in 1947, and fires in the Ujoykai traditional manner making use of the world’s longest climbing kiln (Guinness book of world records, 103 meters long, you can see it on youtube). He has received a number of awards and exhibited with the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition (Asahi Togeiten) among others. He is the most important artist in this lesser known Northern tradition of Japanese pottery.
