Bizen ware kiln-mutation flower vase

This Bizen yohen flower vase is the work of Living National Treasure Yu Fujiwara, who expanded his vision beyond Japan to share the appeal of Bizen ware with the world. It is a magnificent piece that bears the marks of intense *haikaburi* (ash-covered) yohen, which is said to occur only in very specific spots within the kiln. The body is overwhelmed by fierce natural glaze that seems as if it might burn through the clay, with a particularly striking protrusion of black-silver *haikaburi* on the reverse side that looks as though it is piercing the surface. This ash-covering overlaps and spills over onto the front, creating yohen effects that occur in high-temperature ranges, such as *tamadare* (beaded drips) and *namako-hada* (sea cucumber skin).
Despite such an intense firing, the simple yet powerful cylindrical form, which seems to embody "plain and clear," balances out the dramatic yohen that looks as if it were showered in lava. There is a *tomonaoshi* (professional repair) by the Fujiwara family around the base.
Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter (including handles) 11.6cm × Diameter 11.1cm × Height 27.8cm Yu Fujiwara (1932–2001, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the eldest son of Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara. In his pottery, he lived by the motto of "simple, clear, and bold," and was known as "Yu of the Jars" for the many jars and bowls he created. Influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji, he was also skilled at creating tableware. Starting in 1972, he held a series of themed exhibitions, including the "100 Jars Exhibition," "Tokkuri (Sake Bottle) Exhibition," "100 Flowers Exhibition," and "100 Bowls Exhibition." He also produced numerous large-scale reliefs and objects. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1967. In 1980, he was designated as a holder of an important intangible cultural property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1996, he became the first person in the pottery world to follow his parent as a Nationally Designated Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure).
Major awards include: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award and Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize, Academia Art and Culture Grand Prize, and the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.