This is an exceptionally refined white porcelain lobed bowl by Living National Treasure 井上萬二.
Devoting his career to the beauty of pure white porcelain, Inoue Manji expresses elegance and depth through simplicity and the absence of color itself.

Inoue Manji is widely recognized as one of the foremost masters of Arita white porcelain and was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (“Living National Treasure”) for Hakuji (white porcelain) in 1995. His works are internationally acclaimed for their extraordinarily precise wheel-thrown forms and their flawless, luminous white porcelain surfaces free from any visual impurity.

Arita ware, originating in the early 17th century, is regarded as the birthplace of authentic porcelain production in Japan and has long stood at the center of Japanese white porcelain culture. Among Arita masters, Inoue Manji is especially known for emphasizing the “beauty of negative space” and a quiet sense of tension within form itself. Rather than relying on ornate decoration, his works achieve their presence through purity of silhouette and proportion.

This piece also displays a remarkably refined white porcelain body, soft lobed floral shaping, and delicate shadow expressions created through subtle faceting and contouring. The gently petaled outline retains both softness and sharp sophistication, giving the bowl a calm and serene atmosphere characteristic of high-quality modern Japanese porcelain art.

Suitable both as a serving bowl or confectionery vessel, it also possesses enough sculptural presence to be appreciated simply as an art object within an interior space. It is a work that beautifully balances practicality as Japanese tableware with the quiet elegance of fine white porcelain artistry.

Unfortunately, the original outer storage box has been lost.