Bizen Hidasuki Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Kei Fujiwara, a master beloved by all for his bold, open-hearted style that radiated warmth. Featuring the simple, endearing form characteristic of his work, it has a pleasant roundness that invites you to roll it in your palm and enjoy a quiet dialogue with the piece. Among his Hidasuki (fire-cord) works, this one boasts an exceptionally rich and dense scene, allowing you to enjoy a deep, almost viscous scarlet hue. The interior is also completely covered in a rich Hidasuki pattern, with colors that seem to melt, making the sake look even more delicious and lustrous. Original signed box (Nifozan style)
Diameter 6.3cm × Diameter 6.2cm × Height 5.5cm 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 received initial training in wheel throwing from Baikkei Mimura, and from 1941, he further honed his ceramic skills by learning firing techniques from fellow Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. Emulating the simplicity and boldness found in the utilitarian wares of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, he created jars and flower vases with a generous, clear-cut style. The artistic cultivation he absorbed in his youth greatly 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 Kōgei Association. In 1977, the Kei Fujiwara Memorial Museum was established in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.
Major awards and honors: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award; Honorary Citizen of Bizen City; Honorary Resident of Okayama Prefecture; posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class.