Bizen cooling vessel

This is a Bizen "samashi" (water cooler) by the master craftsman Furo Ishii, who supported Bizen ware through its difficult times and led it to its current prosperity. True to the style of Furo, who is famous for his "Hannya Shingyo" (Heart Sutra) tea pots, this piece possesses a very refined and somber presence. The base in particular showcases his signature style; deeply and sharply carved yet with just enough clay left behind, one can still feel the vigor of the spatula even after several decades. A mark left by the spatula as it swept around the side of the base also hints at the confident craftsmanship typical of a master. Original box (with shihosan-style lid) included. (As there is no original栞 (booklet) or cloth, I will include a cloth from our shop.)
Diameter 9.2cm x Diameter 8.5cm x Height 6.4cm Furo Ishii was a Prefectural Designated Important Intangible Cultural Property holder, known as a master of tea ceramics and fine carvings. His "Heart Sutra Teapot," for which he carved the Heart Sutra into 1,000 teapots, was a labor of love that spanned over a decade. In his later years, he took up the challenge of red Raku tea bowls and successfully perfected the "aka-yaki" (red-fired) technique.