Bizen Chawan

This Bizen tea bowl is the work of traditional craftsman Masami Nishikawa, who honed his skills under the tutelage of Tōyō Kaneshige and captivated fans with his unique creations. The texture of the clay, highlighted by gold-colored accents, is truly beautiful—a testament to the superb quality expected of a student of Tōyō Kaneshige. The beautiful "shiso" (perilla-leaf) color seems further enhanced by the relatively understated kiln transformations of sesame-ash and "sangiri" (gray-blue) patterns. The heart-shaped foot trim, a trademark of Nishikawa-sensei, is also wonderful. (*Please note that as this is an earlier work, there is some wear to the box and signs of use on the piece.) Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
Diameter 12.7cm × Diameter 12.6cm × Height 7.9cm Masami Nishikawa was the eldest son of Seisui Nishikawa, who served as director of the Bizen Pottery Center and dedicated many years to training the next generation. From a young age, he received his father's instruction and training in pottery, and at the age of 18, he became a live-in apprentice to Tōyō Kaneshige, enduring ten years of rigorous daily training. In 1965, following his father's passing, he inherited the Chikuko Kiln and struck out on his own. He held solo exhibitions and pottery showcases in cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Okayama. In 2001, he was certified as a traditional craftsman. He passed away in April 2004.