Flower Vase

Artist: Tomoo Hamada

Born in 1967 in Mashiko, Japan, Tomoo Hamada is a celebrated contemporary ceramic artist who continues the esteemed pottery lineage of the Hamada family. As the grandson of Shoji Hamada, a National Living Treasure and pioneer of the mingei (folk craft) movement, Tomoo grew up immersed in the rich traditions of Mashiko pottery. His work bridges the gap between heritage and modernity, creating pieces that honour the past while embracing contemporary aesthetics.

Created by third-generation Mashiko potter Tomoo Hamada, this wide flower vase features an exciting combination of traditional techniques and striking modern elements. It has been made using the ancient shioyaki (salt-firing) method, where the salt reacts with the clay creating unique, unpredictable variations. The broad form is decorated with impressed circle motifs, with one side featuring blue decoration on a pale ground, reversed to a lighter design on blue on the other.

Tomoo Hamada’s style blends a deep reverence for traditional Japanese pottery with innovative elements, featuring natural ash, salt, and iron glazes that evoke Japan’s landscapes, and salt-firing techniques that create rustic textures with subtle colour variations. 

This item comes with its own wooden box and tied in a traditional Japanese ribbon.

Dimension: 32 x 17 cm