Bizen Guinomi

This is a Bizen sake cup by the prodigy Juro Harada, who was described as having "frightening potential" by the great Bizen benefactor Matasaburo Katsura, with whom he studied old Bizen. This piece is from the very last kiln firing at Juro-sensei's own workshop, capturing the characteristics of "Juro Bizen"—a heavy, substantial clay texture adorned with dynamic, sweeping *goma* (ash glaze). The rich texture, packed with the knowledge and technique cultivated through his study of old Bizen, is truly exquisite, displaying a profound depth of color ranging from orange and *shiso*-red to brown and black. The overwhelming presence of the form, created through the *hizukuri* (coiled) technique, is also captivating, resembling a sake cup carved out of rock and possessing a whimsical flair. Complementing this, he chose a cross-cut foot, with the "Roku" potter's seal stamped boldly right in the center of the cross. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 7.2cm × Diameter 6.6cm × Height 6.8cm Juro Harada graduated from Meiji University and worked in a corporate role before beginning his pottery career in 1969. In 1971, he built an *ana-gama* (tunnel kiln) and the following year a *nobori-gama* (climbing kiln), dedicating himself fully to ceramic art. From 1975, under the guidance of old Bizen scholar Matasaburo Katsura, he visited ancient kiln sites to study old Bizen. In 1991, he built an *ana-gama* in Amidayama, Ushimado. He produced jars, tea utensils, and leaf-shaped dishes, primarily using the *hizukuri* (coiling) technique, though he also utilized the wheel for some pieces. He actively held solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Osaka, and elsewhere. In 1983, he held a two-person exhibition with Kenji Funaki of Fushina ware at the National Museum of Ethnology in Australia. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2000. In 2002, his work was exhibited and acquired by the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, for its inaugural exhibition. In 2005, his work was acquired by the New Orleans Museum of Art in the United States.