Today, I would like to introduce one of the pieces by Kazuhiro Mori that arrived the other day. Although the lighting in the photos makes it look like a light brown, in reality, it has a dark purple—a deep, dark reddish-purple—hue. Yes, it is the exact same color as the text composited into the first photo. Now, for those of you who have a question at this point: you are very sharp! This sake bottle (tokkuri) is one of Mori-sensei’s "Bizen tokkuri." That should mean it is a piece based on a bright caramel brown and pure white clay. So, you might wonder, why is it a dark, deep reddish-purple? Actually, this tokkuri is a hybrid, a transitional piece between Kuro-Bizen (black Bizen) and standard Bizen. The artist applies a slip (a liquid made from iron-rich clay) to the piece, and through the composition of the slip and precise temperature control during firing, it developed this purple coloration. The purple hue of this piece is dramatically sophisticated. The extremely fine yellow sesame glaze (kigoma) and the black fire-cord (hidasuki) effect from the slip application pair perfectly with the purple surface. This kind of subtle shift in a single point leads to changes in the whole, and the way these combinations expand infinitely is perhaps the greatest joy of pottery, and the reason why it has been loved for decades and centuries. I look forward to seeing how this single tokkuri, as a unique work in itself, will influence the broader world of Bizen pottery. Acting as a bridge for those changes is one of the joys for us as dealers as well. size: Rim 3.3 cm x Body diameter 10.6 cm x 10.5 cm x Height 12.3 cm price: 21,000 yen For detailed photos of the piece or any inquiries, please contact us at the information below. Tel: 0869-67-2210 Fax: 0869-67-2220 E-mail: info@tourakuen.jp