Hello everyone, how are you doing?
In today's update, I would like to introduce a work by Toshu Yamamoto from our Exhibition of Masterpieces.
Toshu-sensei is the third Living National Treasure in Bizen ware, following Toyo-sensei and Kei-sensei, and he is a master craftsman known as the "potter's wheel virtuoso" for establishing a style characterized by precise, symmetrical forms.
This piece features a design called a "half-moon bowl," where part of the circle is omitted, and through Toshu-sensei's unerring skill on the potter's wheel, it evokes the atmosphere of an eclipse just beginning.
It beautifully expresses both the inherent beauty of the circle, typical of a master of the wheel, and the "wabi-sabi" that arises from its intentional deformation.
Furthermore, this piece features another sophisticated touch: the "botamochi" (peony cake) marking in the center forms a perfect circle, and with the gold coloring—a characteristic of the kiln—applied to it, it looks as if a glowing red full moon has been set into the bowl.
The dark, reduced-fired sesame glaze (goma) also looks remarkably like the night sky.
It is quite romantic to see a full moon hidden within a half-moon bowl.
It is a piece where you can truly enjoy the beauty of the circle, as expected from such a master of the potter's wheel.
A glowing red full moon floats in a night sky of dark sesame glaze and natural clay texture.
Looking at it from the back, the half-moon shape is even more apparent.
(Toshu Yamamoto / Bizen Handled Bowl, size: 23.5cm diameter x 21.2cm diameter x 13.5cm height, ¥300,000)
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