Bizen Hidasuki Gourd-shaped Sake Bottle

This Bizen Hidasuki gourd-shaped sake flask is an earlier work by Tsuneo Osawa, an artist who entered the world of Bizen ware out of a passion for Old Bizen and who continues to work with great vigor. The slightly tilted neck evokes a wonderfully wabi-sabi atmosphere. The rich, bold scarlet Hidasuki markings draped over the somewhat coarse clay texture pair perfectly with the crisp, wheat-colored finish of the fired earth. The contrast in the coloration is excellent, and the thick, unbroken Hidasuki lines are a perfect match for the wild, rugged form. (This is a slightly earlier work and includes a biographical record up to 2007; there are almost no signs of use.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 2.6cm x Body diameter 9.4cm x Body diameter 9.5cm x Height 14.8cm Capacity approx. 300cc Tsuneo Osawa aspired to become a Bizen ware artist out of a desire to express the profound presence of Old Bizen in contemporary works. He studied pottery techniques under Taisetsu Sueishi in 1982. In 1997, he built an anagama kiln and established his own studio, Koshin-gama. He creates tea ceramics, sake vessels, and tableware using hand-coiling and wheel-finishing techniques. He pursues the style of Old Bizen, characterized by a rustic, powerful aesthetic that highlights the inherent texture of the clay itself. He is committed to carefully executing every step—from molding to kiln packing and firing—to bring out the characteristics of the clay to their fullest. In 1989, he was selected for the Ceramics Biennale, the Prefectural Art Exhibition, and the Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition. He has held solo exhibitions in Tokyo and Okayama.