Kuro-Bizen Tebachi

This is a black Bizen-style hand-held bowl (tebachi) by Kazuhiro Mori, who honed his craft by participating in numerous large-kiln projects as the eldest son of the Bizen prodigy, Togaku Mori. The piece is inscribed with "Mizunoto-hitsuji Heisei" (2003) on the body and "Kinoe-saru Heisei" (2004) on the paulownia storage box, indicating it was created and fired between 2003 and 2004. This work was fired in the 20-meter kiln, one of three kilns located in Ushimado. It features the quintessential aesthetic of the Togaku Mori school, with the "black Bizen" technique—a hallmark of the family—achieved through firing in a 20-meter kiln, which, while the smallest among the Samukaze kilns, is quite massive by general standards. The entire surface is speckled with a well-melted mustard-colored ash glaze (yellow goma), testifying to a very high level of firing. The intense firing has also given the black surface a stronger luster, revealing various shades such as purple and brownish-red that are inherent in the black slip. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 27.7cm × Diameter 26.7cm × Height 8.5cm (including handle) Kazuhiro Mori was born in Okayama Prefecture in 1966 as the eldest son of Togaku Mori. He graduated from the Kyoto College of Art in 1987 and the Tokyo Glass Art Institute in 1991. In 1992, he began studying ceramic techniques under Togaku Mori. He specializes in coil-building and wheel-throwing techniques, and creates works such as crane-neck flower vases. He fired his first kiln and became independent in 1995. In 1998, he was selected for the Tea Ceremony Molding Exhibition, and in 1999 and 2000, he held debut exhibitions at department stores in Okayama and Hiroshima. In 2002, he exhibited at the first Gakuen-kai Exhibition featuring the Togaku Mori school. He has been involved in large-kiln projects under Togaku Mori and participated in the firing of the new Samukaze large kiln (85m) in 2015.