{"product_id":"p6259","title":"Bizen sake bottle","description":"This is a Bizen sake bottle by Kei Fujiwara, an artist beloved by all for his bold, free-spirited, and warmly expressive style.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBased on the firing and form, this appears to be an early work by Fujiwara. The quiet finish of the *goma* (ash glaze) and *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings allows the inherent quality of the clay to shine through.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe shoulder features a matte-textured *goma* that sits somewhere between *kase-goma* and *ki-goma* (yellow ash), while the overlapping white thread-like *goma* created by the straw wrapped around the rim evokes the landscape of ancient Bizen jars.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe *hidasuki* at the rim is a bright, characteristic orange, providing a striking, luminous accent amidst the otherwise subdued tones of the piece.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe form also clearly reflects the characteristics of his early works, showcasing a traditional turnip shape that mirrors the silhouette of ancient Bizen pottery—a precursor to the unique turnip-shaped vessels for which Fujiwara would later become known.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThough understated at first glance, this is a quintessential Bizen ware piece that grows on you the more it is used, offering a beauty that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.\n\nSigned wooden box (double-slat lid)\u003cbr\u003e\nRim 3.7cm × Body diameter 9.5cm × Body diameter 9.4cm × Height 15.3cm; Capacity approx. 380cc\n\nKei Fujiwara (1899–1983, born in Honami, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) entered the world of Bizen pottery at the suggestion of Atsuo Masamune, a scholar of Japanese literature residing in Honami, Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe received instruction in wheel-throwing and other techniques from Baikkei Mimura, and from 1941, he refined his craft under Toyo Kaneshige, the first Bizen ware artist to be designated a Living National Treasure.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn his creative process, he aspired to the simplicity and boldness found in ancient Bizen pottery from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, establishing a clear, straightforward, and generous style that did not rely too heavily on technique.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHis artistic sensibilities, cultivated through his early interest in literature and poetry, also had a profound influence on his work.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1954, he was recognized as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture, and in 1958, he became a director of the Japan Kōgei Association.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1970, he was designated a holder of a nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property, known as a Living National Treasure.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Kei Fujiwara Memorial Museum opened in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1977.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in 1983.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMajor awards and honors include: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Honorary Citizen of Bizen City, Honorary Resident of Okayama Prefecture, Junior Fifth Rank, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class.","brand":"藤原 啓","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618043744353,"sku":"6259","price":160000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6259.jpg?v=1790231387","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p6259","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}