Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake bottle by Kei Fujiwara, a man loved by all for his bold, open-hearted, and warmth-radiating style. Likely from his middle period, this piece retains the essence of his signature *maru-kabu* (round turnip) shape, characterized by a prominently rounded body. A black, matte *goma* (ash glaze) covers the piece, from which emerges a kesa-shaped *kase-goma* (crusty ash) pattern alongside soft scarlet hues. The neck is just the right thickness—about the size of a pinky finger—and the bottle pours with a pleasant, rhythmic clinking sound. True to Fujiwara-sensei—a man who loved both sake and literature—this is a work to be appreciated not for technical perfection on the potter’s wheel, but for the unique atmosphere radiating from its very silhouette. (There is a small chip on the rim; gold repair is possible, so please inquire if interested.) Original signed box (two-sided crosspiece lid)
Rim 3.5cm x Body diameter 9.2cm x 9.2cm x Height 14.5cm. Capacity: approx. 370cc Kei Fujiwara (1899–1983, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) entered the world of Bizen ware at the suggestion of Atsuo Masamune, a scholar of Japanese literature living in Honami, Bizen. He learned wheel-throwing from Baikkei Mimura, and from 1941, refined his skills by learning firing techniques from fellow Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. Inspired by the rustic simplicity and boldness of Kamakura and Muromachi period folk wares, he created jars and vases with a generous, clear-cut style. His deep literary and artistic knowledge, absorbed in his youth, profoundly influenced his work. In 1954, he became the second person to be designated a Living National Treasure for Bizen ware, and in 1958, he became a director of the Japan Kogei Association. In 1977, he established the Kei Fujiwara Memorial Museum in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.
Major awards: Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award; Honorary Citizen of Bizen City, Honorary Citizen of Okayama Prefecture; posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, and conferred the Junior Fifth Rank.