Bizen Chawan

This is a Bizen tea bowl by Living National Treasure Toshu Yamamoto, an artist who created numerous masterpieces with incomparable, god-like techniques. This bowl clearly exhibits the characteristics of his final years, serving as a culmination of his work through the masterful throwing skills for which he was renowned and his mature kiln-firing techniques. It features the intense firing that results in the natural black surface characteristic of the Yamamoto school, and the use of a mixture of woods—including not only the pine firewood used as a model for Old Bizen firing, but also oak and other miscellaneous woods—has caused the sesame-seed (goma) glaze to shift into a dark green. The results of this intense firing are also evident in the interior of the bowl, where the "botamochi" marking, created with fireproof clay, has been transformed by reduction into a silvery full moon. This silver moon serves as a striking accent within the bowl's overall dark color palette. Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan) with lid.
Diameter: 13.6cm x 13.5cm x Height: 8.6cm Toshu Yamamoto (1906–1994, born in Inbe, Bizen City) entered the world of pottery in 1921 and established his own kiln in 1933. He later refined his skills under the guidance of Kyoto ceramic artist Yaichi Kusube. After the war, he deepened his friendships with figures such as Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. Known as "Rokuro no Toshu" (Toshu of the Potter's Wheel) for his exceptional wheel-throwing techniques, he created delicate works and worked vigorously on tea ceramics, primarily tea caddies, establishing his status as a master craftsman of tea wares. He had a particular fondness for tea caddies and produced many. In 1987, he was designated a Living National Treasure (Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Property). In 1992, he held the "Six Ancient Kilns Journey: Living National Treasure Toshu Yamamoto Exhibition."
Major awards include: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Mainichi Art Award, Bizen City Distinguished Service Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette, and Honorary Citizen of Bizen City.