Bizen sake bottle

This Bizen sake bottle is by Tadashi Yoshimoto, a devoted pupil of the Bizen ware Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara, whose philosophy and style he continues to uphold. It features the traditional Fujiwara Bizen "rolled-rim turnip-shaped" design, a form pioneered by the revered Master Kei Fujiwara and passed down to his disciples, including Yoshimoto. The piece exhibits a unique coloration that is instantly recognizable as Yoshimoto's work: the overall clay body displays a caramel-like, orange-hued depth, while the transition zones into the *goma* (ash glaze) shift into a deep *shiso* (perilla) purple that endlessly captivates the viewer. The back of the piece perfectly captures the "sunset" effect that is the hallmark of Fujiwara Bizen, beautifully distilling the profound appeal of Bizen ware. (Please note that while this is a slightly earlier work, it shows almost no signs of use.) Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan)
Rim 3.6cm x Body diameter 9.3cm x Body diameter 9.2cm x Height 13.4cm; Capacity approx. 380cc Tadashi Yoshimoto became a live-in apprentice to Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara in 1964, studying under him for 19 years until the master's passing. In 1975, he built his own kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City, and became independent. His first kiln firing saw his works selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition, and the East Chugoku Branch Exhibition; he became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1986. He boasts a distinguished artistic career, having been selected for and winning awards at exhibitions including the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, the East Chugoku Branch Exhibition, the Toshinkai Exhibition, the Chunichi International Ceramic Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Ceramic Art Biennale, and the Yakishime Ceramic Open Competition. He has also been highly active in holding solo exhibitions since 1977 at major department stores in cities such as Okayama, Fukuyama, Mihara, Hiroshima, Tottori, Yonago, Kumamoto, Himeji, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, all of which met with great acclaim. In 1988, he was honored with the Kaneshige Toyo Award, and in 2007, he was designated a holder of the Okayama Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property.