Hello everyone, how are you all doing?
It is finally the end of the year and the weather has turned quite cold.
We were even able to see a light snowfall in Okayama the other day.
Please take good care of your health.
Now, in today’s update, I would like to introduce a rare item by Toshu Yamamoto.
Toshu-sensei is known for having studied under Yaichi Kusube of Kyoto.
This work is a pair of handmade kyusu teapots,
finished with a shinsha (copper-red) glaze using techniques mastered during that period.
The box lid is inscribed "Bizen ware: Shinsha Kyusu Pair,"
and the clay revealed in the unglazed sections has the distinct character of Bizen soil.
With potters like Shunko Nishimura also active at the time, I wonder if there was lively exchange with Kyoto.
Come to think of it, we occasionally come across "Bizen ware: Matcha bowls" by Shunko-sensei that are also glazed.
The original delivery slip from that time remains in the box, making this a precious piece that offers insight into a turbulent era for Bizen ware.
Shinsha is a copper-based glaze, and its appeal lies in the unique red color from which it takes its name.
The clay has a quality similar to levigated Bizen soil, perhaps reflecting a time when they were searching for what Bizen ware should be.
The base (kodai) of this one stuck to the kiln shelf during firing and has been repaired.
The combination of "Bizen ware" and "Shinsha" on the label speaks to the situation at the time.
It was likely produced around the Taisho period, when Bizen ware was in a slump;
whether it was a custom order, an attempt to pivot the business, or just a coincidence, it is a very rare item indeed.
(Toshu Yamamoto / Bizen ware Shinsha Kyusu Pair, with signed box)
size: diameter 10.4cm x diameter 6.8cm x height 7.2cm price: ¥200,000
For detailed images or information about the work, please contact us below.
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