Bizen Hidasuki Sake Bottle

This is a Bizen hidasuki (fire-cord) sake flask by Living National Treasure Yu Fujiwara, who expanded his horizons beyond Japan to share the appeal of Bizen ware with the world. This is a work from his middle period, featuring the widely flared, trumpet-shaped mouth characteristic of his style. The clay texture, developed with his father Kei, is a reddish-azuki bean color with bold hidasuki markings, and has a very smooth, tactile quality that makes it pleasant to use. True to his nickname, "Yu of the Jars," it would also be interesting to use this piece as a miniature jar. Signed wood box (nifosun style)
Rim 4.4cm x Body diameter 8.8cm x Body diameter 8.7cm x Height 11.8cm, Capacity approx. 210CC Yu Fujiwara (1932–2001, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the eldest son of Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara. In his pottery, he followed the motto of "simple, clear, and bold," and was known as "Yu of the Jars" for the many jars and bowls he produced. Influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji, he was also highly skilled at tableware. Starting in 1972, he held a series of exhibitions, including the "100 Jars Exhibition," "Tokkuri (Sake Flask) Exhibition," "100 Flowers Exhibition," and "100 Bowls Exhibition." He also created many large-scale reliefs and objects. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1967. In 1980, he was designated a holder of an important intangible cultural property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1996, he became the first person in the history of the ceramics world to become a second-generation, father-son Living National Treasure.
Major awards include: The Toyo Kaneshige Prize, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award and Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, Academia Grand Prize for Art and Culture, and the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.