Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake bottle by Kei Fujiwara, an artist beloved by all for his bold, open-hearted style that radiates warmth. This piece dates from the artist's later years and was fired using a "mushiyaki" (steaming) technique, resulting in minimal kiln alteration. It is primarily characterized by the natural shiso (perilla-leaf) color of the Bizen clay, with deep, rich tones shifting subtly into oranges and grays, creating a profound, ethereal beauty. The shoulder features a minimalist touch of hidasuki (fire-cord) and goma (ash glaze) markings, representing the pinnacle of simplicity. (*Note: There is a small area of clay flaking on the rim.) Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan)
Rim 3.3cm x Body diameter 9.7cm x Body diameter 9.7cm x Height 12.6cm Capacity approx. 410cc Kei Fujiwara (1899–1983, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) entered the world of Bizen pottery at the suggestion of Atsuo Masamune, a scholar of Japanese literature living in Honami, Bizen. He learned wheel-throwing techniques from Baiketsu Mimura, and from 1941, he honed his skills under fellow Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige, from whom he learned firing methods. Following the simplicity and boldness seen in the utilitarian wares of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, he created jars and vases with a grand, clear aesthetic. The artistic education he absorbed in his youth greatly influenced his work. In 1954, he became the second individual to be designated a Living National Treasure for Bizen pottery, and in 1958, he became a director of the Japan Kōgei Association. In 1977, he established the Kei Fujiwara Memorial Museum in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.
Major awards and honors include: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award; designated Honorary Citizen of Bizen City and Honorary Citizen of Okayama Prefecture; posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class (Junior Fifth Rank).