Today's update features a Bizen "Flying Lion" incense burner from the final years of Shunzan Kanai, a master craftsman of whom Bizen is rightfully proud, having dedicated his entire life to the art of ceramic modeling and lived through a turbulent era.
Born in the Meiji era, Master Shunzan honed his skills in the Taisho era under his mentor, Master Shunko Nishimura.
After establishing his own studio in the Showa era, he created numerous magnificent ceramic works while also devoting himself to training the next generation at institutions like the Bizen Pottery Center toward the end of his life.
He passed away in 1982, shortly after seeing the revival and flourishing of Bizen ware, but this piece, created in his final years, showcases the refined techniques of a master who lived through such transformative times.
Lion figurines have been a staple of Bizen craft since the very beginning, alongside the Hotei figure, and while they remain a highly popular motif even in the Heisei era, they serve as a litmus test for an artist, demanding a level of skill capable of standing alongside the great masterpieces of the past.
Within the long history of Bizen modeling that has continued unbroken since the late Momoyama period, this piece is a masterpiece that captivates with its exquisite craftsmanship, ensuring it stands out and commands presence.
As the lion is a mythical creature, pursuing too much realism can evoke a sense of unease, yet excessive stylization diminishes the inherent power and majesty that define the lion.
This piece maintains an exquisite balance, capturing the powerful "flying lion" with a sense of vibrant energy.
While the fierce expression is superb, the fine details—such as the tongue and fangs—truly reflect the work of a master.
Furthermore, the areas rarely seen—the junction between the lid and the lion, the inside of the openwork, the underside of the lid, and the lion’s belly—have all been finished with painstaking precision using a fine spatula, without a single compromise.
Perhaps this meticulous attention to detail is exactly what the master wished to leave behind.
(Shunzan Kanai / Bizen Flying Lion Incense Burner, with signed box)
Lion size: 9.5cm diameter x 5.6cm diameter; Lid diameter 10.0cm x Lid height 13.3cm; Price: Sold
Main body size: 19.3cm diameter (including ears) x 13.8cm diameter; Total height including lid 20.5cm
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