Hitoshi Nakajima

1937 - 1981, Japan 

Nakajima Hitoshi was a distinguished Japanese ceramic artist and older brother of Nakashima Hiroshi, also a celebrated ceramic artist and designated Living National Treasure. Born in Takeo, Saga Prefecture, he studied at the Department of Crafts at Osaka University of Arts before establishing his studio in his native region, an area closely associated with the tradition of Takeo ware ceramics. 

At 43 he was named a judge for the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition. He is mostly recognized for his masterful work in white porcelain with intricate line work, as well as his interpretation of traditional Chinese style Jun ware, reddish purple cinnabar glazes that are manipulated by the kiln temperature. Nakajima died at the age of 44 having only produced a small number of works. Many of those surviving works were included in a retrospective at the Kukushima Takehiko Memorial Hall titled “The Glimpses of an Early-Passed Genius: Ceramic Artist Hitoshi Nakashima Exhibition.” His brief but important artistic practice is said to have inspired his brother, Hiroshi, in his pursuit of artistic excellence. 

These vases were made separately but show the high level of skill and craftsmanship needed to replicate a fine design by hand. Featuring a celadon glaze that appears white but has a slight blue undertone, these works display why Saga ceramics are so highly regarded. Each vase comes with its own signed tomobako, artist made paulownia-wood boxes, and can be sold separately or as a pair.