Bizen Bowl

This is a new bowl by Masao Akitani, an artist who studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and creates works brimming with unique originality amidst a new spirit. The bowl is distinguished by the vibrant scenery created by the traditional wood-fired climbing kiln of the Isezaki school; while the form is simple, the beauty of the clay surface is the true highlight. The interior features a landscape where a storm of "sesame" ash glaze seems to be raging, with vivid *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings and intense ash deposits evoking the scene inside a kiln where crimson flames and embers dance. Conversely, the exterior showcases a delicate landscape typical of earthenware, where *hidasuki* takes center stage, wrapping around the clean, beautiful white clay surface in brilliantly clear colors. Although the form is quite simple, the sharp-edged design of the base gives the bowl a sophisticated atmosphere characteristic of Akitani’s work. No box
Diameter 22.0cm × Diameter 20.7cm × Height 8.1cm Masao Akitani was born in Saitama in 1968. He studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki starting in 1998, and after a 10-year apprenticeship, he built his own kiln in Bizen and became independent in 2008. He held his first kiln firing in 2009. His work has been selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art’s "Tea Ceremony Forms" exhibition and the Japan Kōgei Association Chugoku Branch exhibition, and he has received awards including the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Prize and the Encouragement Award.