Bizen Chawan

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

Through the climbing-kiln firing techniques he inherited from his teacher, Toyo Kaneshige, Fujiwara beautifully recreates the complex clay tones associated with the Kaneshige tradition, in which multiple colors blend intricately together.

Orange, reddish purple, and brown form a complex gradation across the surface. Although the work does not display any particularly dramatic kiln transformations, it is a superb Chawan that one could happily continue admiring in the palms of the hands for hours.

Inside the bowl, subdued Hidasuki markings characteristic of Fujiwara, who was renowned as a master of this technique, unfold across the surface. The Hidasuki seems almost to melt into the reddish-orange tones of the clay.

In contrast to the thick and substantial foot ring characteristic of Fujiwara’s Chawan, the body rises toward the rim with remarkably fluid and accomplished wheel throwing. This contrast in rhythm gives the bowl a weighty presence while retaining a simple and approachable character.

The rim, too, has been given a masterfully judged outward turn. Within the otherwise quiet and restrained style of the work lies an astonishing variety of subtle techniques, each revealing Fujiwara’s exceptional craftsmanship.