Polychrome Bizen ware tea bowl

This is a Saishiki (polychrome) Bizen tea bowl by Anjin Abe, an artist who possesses profound insight into and an aesthetic sense for antique ceramics, creating one-of-a-kind works through his unique research and firing techniques. It is a piece where the intense impact of the colors and the impact of the Bizen tea bowl’s form seem to vie with one another. The carved paulownia crest (go-san no kiri) combined with the white glassy glaze creates the appearance of paulownia flowers covered in snow. It is a visually captivating piece from every angle, possessing a presence akin to an objet d’art. Signed wooden box to be provided later (currently in production; please allow some time for delivery).
Diameter 12.3cm × 11.6cm × Height 8.9cm Anjin Abe was originally a Western-style painter. While collecting ceramics as a hobby, he felt a lack of satisfaction with contemporary Bizen ware and began working in ceramics in 1972 to create pieces he could be truly satisfied with. He frequently creates water jars (mizusashi), flower vases, flat flasks, bowls, sake bottles (tokkuri), and sake cups (shuzan). All of his works are wheel-thrown and finished with a spatula. He centers his ceramic production on the antique Bizen style of the Momoyama period and is deeply particular about his firing methods. He is also involved in diverse forms of creative expression, exhibiting works that combine various materials and techniques, including ceramics, lacquer, oil painting, and bronze (mixed media). He holds solo exhibitions energetically both in Japan and overseas, including in Tokyo, Osaka, New York, and Paris.