Hello everyone, how are you all doing?
It is April now, and the weather has become much warmer.
With spring in full swing, the cherry blossoms at our shop have also started to bloom little by little.
Although it is now April and the best time to see plum blossoms has passed,
in today's update, I would like to introduce some wonderful plum blossoms made of Bizen ware.
These are "E-Bizen" (painted Bizen) fan-shaped plates by Juhō Kakumi, who is currently the eldest among all Bizen ware artists.
In 2010, Juhō changed his name from Seihō to Juhō to commemorate his 90th birthday (Soju).
Since changing his name, he has been creating works that are even more full of playful spirit than ever before,
and this work is a masterpiece that combines the craftsmanship and playful spirit characteristic of Juhō, who has studied various crafts.
These come as a set of five, and you can enjoy a different painting on each one.
In the best sense of the word, these feature very charming paintings that one wouldn't expect from such a venerable veteran artist.
In this work, the painting is done while fully utilizing the characteristics of Bizen ware as "E-Bizen."
Rather than simply adding extra paint onto a well-fired surface that is already beautiful on its own,
he incorporates the firing process and the "hidasuki" (fire-cord) markings—key characteristics of Bizen ware—into the paintings themselves.
By arranging the hidasuki in stick-like patterns and firing them in a reduction atmosphere to bring out a grey tone,
he then paints flowers and buds on these to resemble plum branches,
truly creating a style of painting that can only be achieved with Bizen ware, as the name "E-Bizen" implies.
If there were only simple stick-like hidasuki, the Bizen ware would look a bit bare, so
the composition of the painting remains very clean and uncluttered.
It is a brilliant technique typical of Juhō, who is well-versed not only in Bizen ware but also in maki-e lacquerware, watercolors, and calligraphy.
(Juhō Kakumi / E-Bizen fan-shaped plates, set of 5, with signed box)
size: Width approx. 19.7cm × Depth approx. 10.0cm × Height 1.6cm price: ¥100,000
For detailed images of the works, please contact us below.
Tel 0869-67-2210 Fax 0869-67-2220
Email to Kawaguchi Tourakuen (Clicking will open the email sending screen)