Bizen tea bowl

This is a superb Bizen tea bowl by the late master Ken Fujiwara, whose work is timeless, combining both boldness and precision. It is one of the finest bowls among his works, featuring a stately profile with subtle movements—a construction that serves as a symbol of Ken’s Bizen, blending power with meticulous detail. The intense spatula marks around the waist are particularly magnificent, transitioning from the gentle, river-like rise of the body from the rim to a world of vigorous, rushing torrents. The sesame-glaze and fire-cord (goma-hidasuki) patterns, for which Ken was renowned, are well-executed, with smooth, well-melted yellow sesame glaze on the rim and a rich, bold application of fire-cord around the foot, all arranged in exquisite balance. The paulownia box bears the "Shogen" seal on the reverse of the lid. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 13.0cm x Diameter 12.0cm x Height 8.9cm Ken Fujiwara (1924–1977) began his pottery studies in 1946 under his uncle, Kei Fujiwara, and also studied under Toyo Kaneshige and Sozan Kaneshige. Later, he learned tableware production techniques under Rosanjin Kitaoji in Kamakura, before becoming independent and building his own kiln in 1956. Since then, his works were consistently selected for various exhibitions. In 1970, he devised and built a large Bizen kiln using modern fire-resistant bricks. In 1973, he was designated as a holder of an important intangible cultural property by Okayama Prefecture and was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays. Although he was expected to become a leader who would shoulder the future of Bizen pottery, he passed away at the young age of 53.