Bizen Tokkuri

This Bizen sake flask is by Living National Treasure Yu Fujiwara, who expanded his vision beyond Japan to the world and widely communicated the allure of Bizen ware. It features a very large potter's mark resembling an arrow, formed by a stylized version of the character "Yu" (雄), suggesting this piece dates from the artist's early to middle period. While the entire surface is covered in an extremely fine moss-green *kase-goma* (dry sesame ash glaze), the front and back feature strikingly clear, circular "marunuke" (clear patches) that look as though they were drawn with a compass, creating a magnificent landscape. The *marunuke* on the front is fired to a particularly soft finish, revealing a moist scarlet hue, while the remaining clay surface on the front and back displays a gold luster, as if coated in platinum. While many of Fujiwara's sake flasks are large, heavy, and plump, this piece adopts the expansive, round turnip shape characteristic of his father, Kei, and has a comfortably moderate weight. Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan construction)
Rim 3.8cm x Body Diameter 9.7cm x Body Diameter 9.6cm x Height 12.6cm; Capacity: approx. 440cc Yu Fujiwara (1932–2001, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the eldest son of Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara. His approach to pottery followed the motto "simple, clear, and bold," and he was known as "Yu of the Jars" for the many jars and bowls he produced. Influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji, he was also highly skilled at creating tableware. Starting in 1972, he held a series of themed exhibitions, including the "One Hundred Jars," "Sake Flask," "One Hundred Flowers," and "One Hundred Bowls" exhibitions. He also created numerous large-scale reliefs and objects. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1967. In 1980, he was designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1996, he and his father became the first father-son duo in the history of the ceramics world to both be designated as Living National Treasures (Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties).
Major awards include the Toyo Kaneshige Memorial Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award and Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, Academia Grand Prize for Art and Culture, and the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.