Ibe Handmade Parent and Child Lion Figurine

This is a hand-crafted Bizen ware lion and cub ornament by the celebrated master Isezaki Yozan, an Intangible Cultural Property holder born in Imbe who left behind numerous masterpieces of intricate carvings and ceramic statues. It is a work of fine craftsmanship that, while detailed and powerful, possesses a sense of playfulness that puts the viewer at ease. The depiction of the parent lion's hip and tail structure, created with bold strokes, is alluringly realistic, while the face has a somewhat whimsical finish, offering an exquisite balance for the viewer to enjoy.

With signed paulownia wood box (shiho-zan lid)
Diameter 24.4 cm x Width 17.5 cm x Height 8.6 cm

Isezaki Yozan was born in Imbe in 1902. Although he initially aspired to be a Japanese-style painter, family circumstances led him to master traditional spatula techniques at the Korakuen kiln. In his youth, he studied ceramic techniques under Tajima Yusen and established his own kiln in 1933. Skilled in intricate carvings, he left behind masterpieces in ceramic statues and ornaments, including large-scale works such as the statue of Takasugi Shinsaku in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and statues of Wake no Hiromushi and Wake no Kiyomaro. In his later years, he also worked with the potter's wheel. He restored ancient kilns in the Koya Mountains and was a holder of a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in 1961 at the age of 60. This is a hand-crafted Bizen ware lion and cub ornament by the celebrated master Isezaki Yozan, an Intangible Cultural Property holder born in Imbe who left behind numerous masterpieces of intricate carvings and ceramic statues. It is a work of fine craftsmanship that, while detailed and powerful, possesses a sense of playfulness that puts the viewer at ease. The depiction of the parent lion's hip and tail structure, created with bold strokes, is alluringly realistic, while the face has a somewhat whimsical finish, offering an exquisite balance for the viewer to enjoy. With signed paulownia wood box (shiho-zan lid)
Diameter 24.4 cm x Width 17.5 cm x Height 8.6 cm Isezaki Yozan was born in Imbe in 1902. Although he initially aspired to be a Japanese-style painter, family circumstances led him to master traditional spatula techniques at the Korakuen kiln. In his youth, he studied ceramic techniques under Tajima Yusen and established his own kiln in 1933. Skilled in intricate carvings, he left behind masterpieces in ceramic statues and ornaments, including large-scale works such as the statue of Takasugi Shinsaku in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and statues of Wake no Hiromushi and Wake no Kiyomaro. In his later years, he also worked with the potter's wheel. He restored ancient kilns in the Koya Mountains and was a holder of a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in 1961 at the age of 60.