Kobizen-style square sake bottle

This is a square sake flask in the style of Old Bizen, created by Tozo Konishi, an artist who was born the grandson of the master craftsman Toko Konishi and who has captivated many with his unique works backed by solid technical skill. This piece was created by Tozo when he was quite young and bears the mark of Toko Konishi. It is a reproduction of the square sake flask that was a staple product in the late Edo period of Old Bizen, featuring the traditional sangiri firing technique that is one of the hallmarks of the Konishi Toko kiln. The rectangular body is formed by joining flat slabs, and the exquisite craftsmanship, devoid of any distortion or misalignment, is quintessentially Tozo. It features the signature carvings standard for a square sake flask, with a delicate bamboo motif spanning two of its sides. Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
Mouth rim 4.5cm x Body diameter 9.3cm x Body diameter 9.3cm x Height 22.8cm Tozo Konishi is the grandson of the first Toko Konishi. After graduating from university in 1970, he dedicated himself to pottery through self-study, and from 1971, he was selected for the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition four consecutive times, becoming a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1974. He built his own kiln in 1975 and held his first firing the following year. He produces vases, tableware, sake vessels, and tea ceremony utensils. He expresses the proof of his existence through techniques such as wheel-throwing, hand-building, and slab-building. In 1997, he exhibited at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition. He received the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award in 2003 and has held solo exhibitions in various locations, including Tokyo and Nagoya.