Bizen Hidasuki Syuhai　second son's woodenbox

This is a Bizen hidasuki sake cup by Kei Fujiwara, an artist beloved by all for a warm style that radiated his bold, open-hearted nature. It features the large-scale modeling characteristic of his later years, with a deep, spacious interior indicative of a master known for his love of drink. The base is a bluish-gray clay with a slightly strong reduction-fired tone, over which the hidasuki cord markings are applied in a soft, gentle coloration that perfectly captures the essence of Fujiwara Bizen. In some places, the hidasuki has acquired a sheen, creating a smooth, wet-like texture that provides a delightful contrast to the original gritty texture of the clay body. Keisuke-signed box (shihōsan style)
7.6 cm diameter × 7.3 cm diameter × 5.8 cm height 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 learned wheel-throwing and other techniques from Baik ei Mimura, and from 1941, he further honed his skills under the tutelage of fellow Living National Treasure Tōyō Kaneshige, from whom he learned firing methods. 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 and clear style. The artistic education he absorbed in his youth greatly influenced his work. In 1954, he became the second person designated as a Living National Treasure for Bizen ware, 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, Sanyō Shimbun Award, Chūgoku Cultural Award; named an Honorary Citizen of Bizen City and Honorary Resident of Okayama Prefecture; and posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class, and the Junior Fifth Rank.