WAKAO KEI (1967-) A Flower Vessel Heisei era (1989-2019), 2019Important works of art from an American private collectionWAKAO KEI (1967-)A Flower Vessel Heisei era (1989-2019), 2019The crackled and variegated celadon-glazed dark brown clay vessel in the form of a lotus bud and with a separate gold-painted finial, the base with an impressed artist's markWood tomobako storage box inscribed Yōhen seiji kaki (Celadon Flower Vessel with Kiln Color Change) and signed and sealed Kei 17.6cm (6 7/8in) highWakao Kei's practice is based on his early study of Chinese ceramics of the Southern Song dynasty (1128-1279), in particular wares with seiji (celadon) glazes created by firing iron oxide in a kiln atmosphere deliberately starved of oxygen. He applies seiji glazes to bodies made from an unusually dark brown clay and creates a crackled effect using ash from the evergreen winter hazel.