Bizen teabowl

This is a Bizen tea bowl by Kei Fujiwara, an artist beloved by all for a warm style that exudes both bold, open-heartedness and kindness. Judging by the pottery mark and the character of the clay, this appears to be a work from the artist's middle period. It features a wonderfully soft clay body made from high-quality material, a hallmark of his middle period. Fired while stacked with another bowl, the areas directly exposed to the flames show a thick, beautifully melted yellow sesame glaze (ki-goma), while the areas that were covered show a rich scarlet fire cord (hidasuki) that immediately reveals the quality of the clay. The interior also displays outstanding clay quality, with a soft, rich, bright brown tone that can arguably be called the pinnacle of Bizen clay. The simple and robust form is quintessentially Fujiwara—a man who shunned pretense and flashy techniques, instead imbuing the clay with his true feelings as if reciting a poem. (Please note: there is no staining, but there is overall wear and signs of use.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 12.0cm × 11.8cm × Height 8.4cm Kei Fujiwara (1899–1983, born in Honami, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) entered the world of Bizen pottery at the recommendation of Atsuo Masamune, a scholar of Japanese literature who lived in Honami.

He received instruction in wheel-throwing from Baikei Mimura, and from 1941, he refined his ceramic techniques by studying firing methods under Toyo Kaneshige, the first Living National Treasure for Bizen ware.

In his creative process, he aspired to the simplicity and boldness found in ancient Bizen pottery from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, establishing a simple, clear, and generous style that did not rely too heavily on technique.

His artistic education, cultivated through his aspirations toward literature and poetry in his youth, also greatly influenced his work.

He was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture in 1954 and became a director of the Japan Kogei Association in 1958.

In 1970, he was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property by the national government, commonly known as a Living National Treasure.

The Kei Fujiwara Memorial Museum opened in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1977.

He passed away in 1983.

Major awards and honors include: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Honorary Citizen of Bizen City, Honorary Resident of Okayama Prefecture, Junior Fifth Rank, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class.