Bizen Guinomi

Ken Fujiwara was a timeless master whose works combine boldness with remarkable precision. This is a Bizen Guinomi by the artist.

The piece was fired slowly and thoroughly in the kiln with straw placed over it, allowing one to enjoy not only powerful Goma effects but also Ito-Goma and Shiro-Goma created by the straw.

The intense Goma scenery, likely produced by placing the work close to the fire, is especially impressive. On the front, it has developed into a black flowing Goma effect reminiscent of obsidian.

Inside the Guinomi, the surface is even more dramatic, as though the vessel had been carried deep into a blazing fire and had scooped up a mass of ash directly from the flames.

The straw placed over the work during firing also played a particularly fascinating role. Especially inside the vessel, the melted straw fused with the Goma to create Shiro-Goma.

When the Guinomi is in use, this white marking appears like a single cherry blossom petal floating on the sake, or like softly falling snow, giving the work a deeply poetic atmosphere.

With a diameter of 7 cm, the somewhat broad form has a presence almost like that of a Chawan despite its small size. Fujiwara’s characteristically graceful and extended foot complements the form beautifully.

Part of the foot appears to have fused during firing and has subsequently been repaired, but this does not affect normal use.
(*Please refer to photo 7, beneath the black flowing Goma.*)

He was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture in 1924.
He started learning about Bizen ware from his uncle Kei Fujiwara in 1946.
He made a large hole type kiln (Anagama) in 1970.
He died in 1977.