Bizen Guinomi

This is a Bizen sake cup by the prodigy Juro Harada, who studied ancient Bizen alongside the great Bizen benefactor, Dr. Matasaburo Katsura, who famously remarked that Harada’s talent was "frighteningly promising." The body, shaped quite thickly using the coil technique, is perfectly complemented by the wild and energetic applied foot that has become a symbol of Harada’s Bizen work. The thick, well-melted yellow sesame glaze resembles a fine mist, appearing as if it has been absorbed into the very surface of the clay. The iron content within the soil has reacted sensitively to the masterful kiln firing of Harada, who possessed an exhaustive knowledge of ancient Bizen, resulting in a rich, dark, and captivating fired surface. (Please note in advance that there is a small contact mark on the area shown in the 7th photo.) Signed wooden box (shiho-zan) with lid
Diameter 7.0cm × Diameter 6.9cm × Height 6.0cm After graduating from Meiji University and working in the corporate world, Juro Harada began his journey in ceramics in 1969. In 1971, he built a small climbing kiln (ana-gama), followed by a larger climbing kiln the next year, and devoted himself fully to pottery. Starting in 1975, under the guidance of ancient Bizen researcher Matasaburo Katsura, he visited ancient kiln sites to conduct extensive research. In 1991, he built an ana-gama kiln on Mt. Amida in Ushimado. He created jars, tea utensils, and leaf-shaped dishes, primarily using the coil technique, while occasionally incorporating the potter's wheel. He held active solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Osaka, and elsewhere. In 1983, he held a two-person exhibition at the National Museum of Australia alongside Kenji Funaki of Fushina ware. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2000. In 2002, his work was exhibited and acquired for the opening commemorative exhibition of the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu. In 2005, his work was acquired by the New Orleans Museum of Art in the United States.