Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake flask by Tomio Ochi, who dedicated himself to silently firing kilns under the tutelage of Yasuhito Abe, and continues to pour his unfulfilled aspirations into his ceramics. The reddish-brown earthy texture, reminiscent of damp fallen leaves, is actually an "Ochi-style" all-over *hidasuki* (fire-cord) pattern where the balance between the clay's natural color and the fire-cord is reversed, revealing the brown clay surface underneath. It is a highly impressive piece with a rich red background and black kiln-transmutation caused by iron content, similar to the *hidasuki* seen on large ancient Bizen storage jars created with painted-on clay. This Ochi-style gourd, possessing the surface of an ancient Bizen piece, combines a refined, austere aesthetic with a sensuous beauty of form, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind work. Signed wooden box to be provided later (please allow some time for shipping).
Mouth rim 3.7cm × Body diameter 8.5cm × Body diameter 8.4cm × Height 12.5cm Capacity: approx. 180cc Tomio Ochi graduated from Ehime Prefectural Niihama Technical High School in 1949. In 1952, he moved to Tokyo to study oil painting and sculpture. Thereafter, while working at a company, he devoted himself to painting and sculpture. In 1997, he visited Yasuhito Abe in Ushimado, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, to seek his guidance. In 1998, he built his own kiln in Ushimado, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, and has been working on Bizen ware, applying the experience he gained from his studies in sculpture and painting.