Impressive Signed JAPANESE Studio Vase - Anyone Recognize?

Had this since the 80's, about 14" tall, professional work, makes me think it could be a good piece. Look familiar to anyone?

(I had more of a story but this is the third time I've tried posting this and I'm getting tired of typing it out...)

No idea who made it, but I think it's nice and well executed.

Wow, that is gorgeous.
 
I've not seen anything like that before. I think you should get it professionally appraised at one of the big auction houses that has a specialist department for Far Eastern ceramics.
Some of them have online forms you can fill in and send with photos, rather than have to visit them in person.

I'm not convinced it was made in Japan though, the cut decoration like that seems more American Studio to me.

Celadon glaze and incised decoration is more common in Korea, but they go for more flowery decoration. I haven't seen anything this monumental except in very early stuff (archaeological), and I can't see evidence in the photos that this is pre-20th Century.

As Potty suggests, it could be by a Japanese ceramicist visiting or living in the US.

It looks very skillfully made but I don't recognise the style................... and was just beaten to asking you whether you think it might be by a Japanese potter, who worked in the States?

Well, when I titled it as "Japanese" I was referring to the potter, not where he was when he made it. I don't know if it was made in America or Japan.

Yeah its definitely not ancient or even pre-20th. I doubt its earlier than 1950. And they aren't hangul characters, so I wouldn't think Korean.

I sent photos to Rago but didn't hear back. These houses will only give you the time of day if you're interested in consigning.

What's so frustrating is that I stumbled upon this exact work on a website somewhere, wrote down the name, and LOST THE PIECE OF PAPER... It was a valuable artist too

You could try asking on gotheborg.com . Normally they Id Japanese and Chinese porcelain, but they may have come across this potter, or may be able to translate the name on the base.

Gotheborg may be a good idea. Do they have a studio pottery section? I can't remember seeing one there. He actually returned one of my inquiries once before, maybe I'll shoot some photos over to him

Thanks

I'll see if one of my Japanese friends can read the script or part of it.

Well gee, that would be great

I tried matching the characters with kana/kanji before but they're just too stylized for me to interpret

I asked one of my Japanese friends and she has come up with part of the name being Kisaku or Kihei, which hasn't helped me but may be of help to you.

There is a kiln near Kyoto run by Yuichi Ikai that is known as the Kihei kiln but it isn't his work..... so that's all I can say at the moment.

Wow, thanks a lot studio-pots! That was really kind of you to go out of your way for an unknown stranger

I'm kind of embarrassed, I don't know what to say. Thank you very much sir

I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't wanted to and was interested myself.

Further digging has thrown up a name that is a possibliity - Kawamura KIHEI. I haven't found anything that looks exactly like your vase but he did decorate by cutting away at the surface as is the case with your vase.

i don't know exactly but i think i've seen this signature at modish.net some time ago... might be worth searching there as well

Well what do you know, I recognize that golden shovel from Collectors Weekly. How are you? I'll check out modish.net when I get home today