Bizen sake bottle

This Bizen sake bottle is by master potter Tosan Mori, who was born as a direct descendant of the historic Mori family, one of the six traditional Bizen kiln families, and continues to guard the ancient kiln fire to this day. The bottle is wheel-thrown into a thick, gourd-like shape, after which a spatula is used to shave away the clay from the lower section, finishing it in the traditional Ibe gourd style favored by master craftsmen of the past. The contrast between the gentle appearance of the upper section and the solid texture of the clay in the lower section is captivating, and the shaving process further draws out the rich, viscous quality of the clay, resulting in a luxurious finish full of highlights. The high-purity yellow "goma" (sesame glaze) that shines with a golden hue is also wonderful, creating a beautiful contrast between the deep shiso-red and the gold and purple tones. Signed paulownia wood box (with double-slatted lid)
Rim 3.1cm × Body diameter 7.7cm × Body diameter 7.6cm × Height 12.2cm　Capacity approx. 200cc Born into the Mori family, one of the six Bizen pottery kiln families, Tosan Mori loved creating things from a young age and chose the path of ceramics. He studied ceramic techniques under his father, Takeyama Mori, from 1957, and became independent in 1967. He built a climbing kiln in the spring of 1984 and a semi-underground anagama kiln in the autumn of the same year. He was first selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition in 1969 and became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1976. In 1983, he built an anagama kiln at Ibe Daimyojin to conduct research on the clay quality and aesthetics of ancient Bizen ware. Since his debut, he has held solo exhibitions primarily at department stores throughout Japan. In 2002, he was certified as a Traditional Craftsman by the Japanese government.