Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Kei Fujiwara, a man beloved by all for his bold, open-hearted style and warmth that shone through in his work. This piece dates from his mature later years, and its unique, dashing horseback cup shape is quintessentially Fujiwara. The entire surface features gold splashes, giving the vessel a luster as if it were coated in platinum. You can also see the "kase-goma" (dry ash glaze) characteristic of the Fujiwara school, making this a masterpiece that serves as the culmination of Kei Fujiwara’s work in clay during his prime. Original wooden box (four-sided frame)
Diameter 5.9cm × Diameter 5.8cm × Height 7.8cm Kei Fujiwara (1899–1983, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) entered the world of Bizen ware at the suggestion of Atsuo Masamune, a scholar of Japanese literature living in Honami, Bizen City. He received instruction in wheel-throwing from Ume-kage Mimura, and from 1941, he honed his pottery skills by learning firing techniques from fellow Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. Following the simplicity and boldness seen in the utilitarian wares of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, he created jars and vases with a generous and clear style. The appreciation for art he absorbed in his youth influenced his works. In 1954, he became the second person to be designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for Bizen ware, and in 1958, he became a director of the Japan Kōgei Association. In 1977, the Kei Fujiwara Memorial Museum was established in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.
Major awards: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award; Honorary Citizen of Bizen City; Honorary Resident of Okayama Prefecture; posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class, and conferred the Junior Fifth Rank.