Bizen ware monkey figurine

This is a Bizen monkey figurine by Oichi Suzuki, who studied under his father, Kozai Suzuki, and Yaichi Kusube. It is an auspicious figurine for the upcoming year of the zodiac. The monkey’s somewhat vacant expression, as if gazing at a full moon rising over the mountains, perfectly captures the lovable nature of the monkey. The piece features a characteristic brownish-red Bizen clay base with sangiri firing around the waist, which evokes the monkey’s fur against a backdrop of deep, falling snow; the way its legs are crossed as if it is a bit cold adds an interesting narrative quality. Original signed box (two-way frame)
W18.8cm × D14.5cm × H18.8cm Oichi Suzuki was born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1942 as the eldest son of Kozai Suzuki. In 1961, he became a live-in apprentice to the Kyo-yaki ceramic artist Yaichi Kusube, training until 1967. He subsequently received guidance from his father, Kozai, and established his own studio in 1968. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 2003.