Koinuma Michio’s ceramics stay within the stoneware tradition that characterises Mashiko production. His works works that seem to originate in an archaeological dig but are in reality contemporary productions. In particular, he was inspired by Chinese bronze forms excavated from archaeological sites in ancient Han dynasty China, as well as the warring states period. Not only does he frequently practice this archaic referencing, he also blends these forms inspired by the geometric abstraction movement in the US. The result are these sleek, modern ceramic forms that are historically rooted. This jar is covered with gray ash, evoking an aged surfacescape. His works have been collected by the Brooklyn Museum, NY; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; The Palace Museum, Taipei; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and more.