Bizen Tokkuri

This Bizen sake bottle is by the fourth generation Kazan Matsuda, an artist who faithfully inherited the traditional techniques of Bizen ware as a master of authentic tea ceramics. It is a work that captures the essence of modern Bizen produced in a climbing kiln—specifically, the *haikaburi* (ash-covered) kiln transformation—expressed simply and directly, without any eccentricities. True to the style of Matsuda, who was known for his "wood-grain Bizen" (mokume Bizen) created by pressing wood patterns into the clay surface, this piece features fine, carved spatula marks that resemble chisel marks on wood. These spatula marks add depth to the simple surface and create an interesting flow within the texture. The kiln-altered colors also display the brilliance of a veteran, balancing the rugged, ash-covered sections with areas of soft, baby-cheek-like scarlet, resulting in a well-balanced landscape. Original signed wooden box (two-way crossbar construction)
Mouth diameter 3.6cm × Body diameter 9.9cm × Body diameter 9.8cm × Height 12.0cm; Capacity approx. 350cc Kazan Matsuda IV was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1936, the second son of the renowned master Kazan Matsuda III. He learned pottery techniques from his father from a young age. After graduating from the Bizen High School ceramics program in 1955, he succeeded to the name Kazan IV. While creating his own work, he succeeded his mentor Zenji Uragami and served as an instructor in the school's ceramics department for seven years starting in 1961. He focused mainly on tea ceramics but also produced flower vases, sake vessels, and tableware. Using a semi-underground anagama kiln, he sought the raw earthen quality of old Bizen, striving for a wine-colored surface and golden *goma* (ash glaze). He received the Asahi Prize at the Contemporary Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition in 1962. From 1963, he was selected for the Japan Kogei Exhibition consecutively and became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966. He received the Kaneshige Toyo Prize in 1982 and exhibited at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition in 1997. In 2002, he was designated as a Holder of Okayama Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in 2003.
Awards: Numerous awards including the Kaneshige Toyo Prize, Okayama Prefectural Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, and the Asahi Prize at the Contemporary Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition / Prefectural Exhibition Juror