Porcelain vase with peacock glaze by Matsuyama Gaei, first generation.

Porcelain vase in the shape of a double-gourd with a very narrow neck and a small circular opening. The entire surface is covered with peacock glaze (kujaku-yū 孔雀釉) predominantly in red-purple, sprinkled with emerald green crystallisations characteristic of copper transmutation (yōhen). Glossy finish. Signed. Dimensions. Height: 25.5 cm — Diameter: 11 cm. Matsuyama Gaei I 初代 松山雅英 (1916–1963) Ceramicist from Tatsuno (Hyōgo Prefecture). Trained in China during the Sino-Japanese War, then with Kiyomizu Rokube in Kyoto. Founded the Kujaku-gama kiln in Tatsuno in 1947. Developed the yōhen kujaku tenmoku glaze (copper transmutation in peacock glaze) in 1951, which became the kiln's signature. His works have been presented to Emperor Hirohito (1953), Indian Prime Minister Nehru (1956), and American President Eisenhower (1960).