Kazuo Yagi : Tiger figurine

Tuesday February 22nd, 2022

Kazuo Yagi's artistic activities started as a sculptor and soon became a ceramic sculptor, but he gave up his activities during the war. After the war, he restarted his career as a ceramic artist.

This is a rare work titled "Okimono" with a motif of a tiger stretching its back and glaring at us.
This work is from his heyday, when he was actively producing black pottery objects using the "hand-bending" technique, but he dared to create this work using the "kata" technique that he had developed during his time as a ceramic sculptor.
This work is a manifestation of Kazuo Yagi's modeling ability.

Ash-glazed flat bowl

Sunday February 20th, 2022

This is an ash-glazed flat bowl produced in Seto, Aichi Prefecture in the early Muromachi period.

It is marked in the box as [Tsubaki-gama-horinote Flat Tea Bowl] by Tokuro Kato .

There are traces of old repair work, such as the filling of a stone goby in the edge.

Ryoji Koie : Sake cup

Sunday February 20th, 2022

Ryoji Koie, who was the most unique figure in the world of contemporary ceramics, was an internationally active potter who held exhibitions in Japan and abroad from the late Showa to the Heisei era.
At the time, he was known as a prolific potter, but in the last ten years of his life, he devoted himself to recuperating from illness and rarely produced ceramics, which surprisingly limited the total number of works he produced during his life.

This is a drinking cup from the "White Series," which is neither white porcelain nor white glaze, and which Koie began producing in the early 1970s and continued to produce until the end of the 1980s.

It is a drinking cup that shows off the work of Ryoji Koie, who was said to be one of the best masters and masters of the potter's wheel in modern times. Since it is a small drinking cup, it is made by skillfully using the tip of the little finger.

What is most surprising about this piece is the construction of the base.
It is common for the base to be carved out, but this piece is made with a "tsuke-kodai" design.
This is the essence of Ryoji Koie's obsession with pottery, which is a time-consuming and labor-intensive method.

Rosanjin Kitaoji: Tea bowl

Thursday February 17th, 2022

This is a tea bowl of Benishino, which has become a synonym for Mr. Rosanjin Kitaoji.
This tea bowl, which presents a firing process that can be considered ideal, is both practical and pleasing to the eye.
Benishino, which is produced using the technique of mouse Shino, produces a strong contrast between red and white, and therefore the vigorous line engraving of Mr. Rosanjin is very visible.

The words that the old critics commented on Rosanjin's teacups are nowhere to be found in this teacup.
It is a good teacup to fall in love with.

The signature of the work may have been buried under the Shino glaze, but I cannot find it.

Rosanjin Kitaoji　北大路魯山人

1883
Born in Kamigamo Kitaoji, Kyoto. 
1907
Began his career as a calligrapher in Tokyo. 
1916
Wandered around Korea, China, Shiga, Fukui, and Kanazawa. Returned to Kyoto. 1919 Opened his antique shop in Tokyo. 
1921
Began 'Bishoku club' (Gourmet's club) which serves his food with his collections. 1925 Began 'Hoshigaoka Saryo'. (Members-only restaurant) 
1928
Built 'Hoshigaoka kiln' in Kamakura for producing dishes used in the restaurant. His reputation rose as his works exhibited in department stores and the restaurant. 
1935
Started focusing on producing ceramics. 1936 Left the management of the restaurant.  
1937
The first exhibition of his new works held at Ginza Kuroda Touen. 
1939
The Hoshigaoka kiln was blisk holding about 50 staff around this year.  
1942
Evacuation in Ishikawa prefecture. Produced lacquer ware there. 
1954
Held a solo exhibition in New York, invited by Rockefeller Foundation. Visited U.S. and Europe.  
1955
Declined certification of a living national treasure. 
1956
Actively held exhibitions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya. 
1959
Passed away at the age of 77.

Chikushun Kawase I: Water jar

Thursday February 17th, 2022

Chikushun Kawase I 　川瀬竹春

1894 Born in Gifu.
1907 Moved to Seto city, and began ceramics.
1910 Moved to Kyoto. Apprenticed to Yohei SeifuⅢ.
1915 Apprenticed to Chikusen MiuraⅡ.
1919 Began producing works at Higashiyama, Kyoto.
1927 Moved to Higashiyama Gojo, Kyoto.
1941 Solo exhibition in Shanghai.
1949 Invited to a kiln owned by Mitsui Family in Oiso.
1953 Moved to Oiso, Kanagawa prefecture.
1955 Designated a Living National Treasure.
1966 Received a Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.
1970 Received the Order of the sacred treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
1979 Handed the reigns of the family over to the first son, Junichi, and named himself as Chikuou.
1983 Passed away at the age of 89.

Rosanjin Kitaoji: Bizen ware of flower vase

Thursday February 17th, 2022

This cylindrical flower vase was made and fired in Kamakura using Bizen clay imported from Bizen by Rosanjin Kitaoji.
The towering figure is beautiful, and the sharp spatulas that Rosanjin applies are strong and severe.
With only three engraved lines, it fascinates the viewer.
Rosanjin drilled a hole just below the nail engraved "ㇿ" sign on the back of the vase for hanging it, but it is now filled with lacquer.

Tesshi Nagano : Iron kettle

Thursday February 17th, 2022

This Iron kettle was made by Tesshi Nagano, a leading tea ceremony potter of the Showa era and a living national treasure.

The waist is decorated with a delicate hail pattern, and the body, with its beautiful iron skin, is decorated with a design of four small sparrows resting on a reed branch.
This is a masterpiece that shows the extreme artistic spirit of an anthill artist who aspired to be a painter in his younger days.