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No. 8174
Bizen Yunomi
¥55,000
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Description
Possessing extraordinary and unrivalled skills often described as almost divine, Toshu Yamamoto created numerous masterpieces and was designated a Living National Treasure. This is a Bizen Yunomi by the artist.
Yamamoto began his career as a craftsman and lived through a period of great upheaval before being designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture. This Yunomi bears the potter’s mark he used during the later years of his career.
The Yunomi was formed using Yamamoto’s exceptional wheel-throwing skills and fired under meticulously controlled temperatures. The result is a thin yet resilient form with a dignified and commanding presence.
The rim, in particular, has been finished with astonishing thinness. It is a remarkable demonstration of masterful wheel throwing, executed with such confidence that there seems to be no fear of breakage.
Despite its thin and refined appearance, the vessel is by no means excessively light. By retaining a certain thickness in areas other than the rim, Yamamoto improved both its heat retention and stability, achieving an excellent balance between elegance and practicality.
The piece was fired deep inside the kiln, where it was exposed to conditions resembling steaming. Only the areas touched by hot air developed rich dark-brown clay tones, while the remaining surfaces retained a light gray color reminiscent of unfired clay.
Yamamoto began his career as a craftsman and lived through a period of great upheaval before being designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture. This Yunomi bears the potter’s mark he used during the later years of his career.
The Yunomi was formed using Yamamoto’s exceptional wheel-throwing skills and fired under meticulously controlled temperatures. The result is a thin yet resilient form with a dignified and commanding presence.
The rim, in particular, has been finished with astonishing thinness. It is a remarkable demonstration of masterful wheel throwing, executed with such confidence that there seems to be no fear of breakage.
Despite its thin and refined appearance, the vessel is by no means excessively light. By retaining a certain thickness in areas other than the rim, Yamamoto improved both its heat retention and stability, achieving an excellent balance between elegance and practicality.
The piece was fired deep inside the kiln, where it was exposed to conditions resembling steaming. Only the areas touched by hot air developed rich dark-brown clay tones, while the remaining surfaces retained a light gray color reminiscent of unfired clay.
Details
- Pottery Type
- 湯呑
- Dimensions
- W7.8cm×7.7cm×H7.5cm
About the Artist
Toshu Yamamoto (1906–1994) was born in Imbe, Bizen City. After graduating from Imbe Jinjo Higher Elementary School, he entered the world of pottery in 1921 and trained at the Koubido and Tokeido kilns.
In 1933, he built his own kiln and began working independently. In 1938, he studied under the Kyoto ceramic artist Yaichi Kusube and further refined his ceramic techniques.
After World War II, he formed close friendships with Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi and was influenced by their artistic ideas.
Yamamoto possessed such outstanding wheel-throwing skills that he became known as a “master of the potter’s wheel.” He created numerous works distinguished by their refined forms and elegant dignity.
Beginning in 1976, he presented a series of exhibitions entitled the “Tea Ware Series” in Tokyo and Osaka over a period of five years, establishing his reputation as an artist of tea ceramics. He was particularly fond of making chaire tea caddies and produced many examples throughout his career.
He also traveled to Europe, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the United States to study ceramics from overseas.
In 1954, he was designated a Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1959, his large Hidasuki bowl, exhibited at the Brussels World Exposition, received the Grand Prix Gold Medal.
In 1970, he was appointed a director of the Japan Kōgei Association. In 1987, he became the third Bizen ware artist to be designated a national Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, commonly known as a Living National Treasure.
In 1992, he held the exhibition *Journey through the Six Ancient Kilns: Living National Treasure Toshu Yamamoto*.
Toshu Yamamoto passed away in 1994.
Major awards and honors include the Okayama Prefecture Culture Award, the Miki Memorial Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Award, the Chugoku Culture Award, the Mainichi Art Award, the Bizen City Distinguished Service Award, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette, and Honorary Citizen of Bizen City.
In 1933, he built his own kiln and began working independently. In 1938, he studied under the Kyoto ceramic artist Yaichi Kusube and further refined his ceramic techniques.
After World War II, he formed close friendships with Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi and was influenced by their artistic ideas.
Yamamoto possessed such outstanding wheel-throwing skills that he became known as a “master of the potter’s wheel.” He created numerous works distinguished by their refined forms and elegant dignity.
Beginning in 1976, he presented a series of exhibitions entitled the “Tea Ware Series” in Tokyo and Osaka over a period of five years, establishing his reputation as an artist of tea ceramics. He was particularly fond of making chaire tea caddies and produced many examples throughout his career.
He also traveled to Europe, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the United States to study ceramics from overseas.
In 1954, he was designated a Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1959, his large Hidasuki bowl, exhibited at the Brussels World Exposition, received the Grand Prix Gold Medal.
In 1970, he was appointed a director of the Japan Kōgei Association. In 1987, he became the third Bizen ware artist to be designated a national Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, commonly known as a Living National Treasure.
In 1992, he held the exhibition *Journey through the Six Ancient Kilns: Living National Treasure Toshu Yamamoto*.
Toshu Yamamoto passed away in 1994.
Major awards and honors include the Okayama Prefecture Culture Award, the Miki Memorial Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Award, the Chugoku Culture Award, the Mainichi Art Award, the Bizen City Distinguished Service Award, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette, and Honorary Citizen of Bizen City.