Hello everyone, how are you doing?
The rainy season has arrived in the Chugoku region, and we had heavy rain last night.
However, it is not yet that hot at night, so perhaps the arrival of full-blown summer is still a little way off.
Well, today I would like to introduce two new pieces from Togaku Mori’s recent Samukaze new large kiln, as we were kindly shown a jar and a flower vase by a customer.
These works, still fresh in our memory, possess a new aesthetic never before seen in Bizen ware.
The rare white sesame-seed glaze that emerged from the extraordinary firing of the large kiln has even been featured in the news, and the pieces I viewed this time also display a matte surface despite being well-fired, along with mysterious purple sesame patterns.
They beautifully blend an aesthetic reminiscent of antique Bizen with expressions that have never been seen before, even in antique Bizen.
Our shop is planning to sell works from the new large kiln by his eldest son, Kazuhiro Mori, around July, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what kind of pieces we will be able to feature.
This jar features magnificent black sesame patterns, and while its silhouette recalls the shape of antique Bizen four-eared or three-eared jars, the firing is unique, showing the purple sesame patterns characteristic of this large kiln firing.
The base is stamped with the kiln mark of the new large kiln and a mark celebrating his 77th birthday.
This is a triangular flower vase, featuring the powerful construction one would expect from Togaku Mori.
Here too, the fine sesame patterns and the meticulously refined Samukaze clay form a stunning surface.
Typically, Bizen ware has the property of becoming glossier the more it is fired, but despite being fired so thoroughly, the luster remains subtle, which speaks to the uniqueness of this large kiln firing.