23618 Living National Treasure HAMADA Shoji (Ryukyu Kiln Red Tea)

Height 8.5cm, diameter 13.2cm

A work by Living National Treasure Hamada Shoji.

A precious red-glazed tea bowl created in Okinawa. It has a nostalgic and gentle red-glazed design, unlike the typical red-glazed design.

He is one of the leading figures in the world of Japanese ceramics in the 20th century. He has travelled around the world and is the most famous Japanese ceramicist, having established the "Mingei" style that connects art and life. His sugarcane patterns on square bottles, plates and flat jars are simple yet powerful, and are immensely popular both in Japan and overseas. As Hamada himself said, "I found my way in Kyoto, started in England, studied in Okinawa and grew up in Mashiko," the works he created in Ryukyu hold a very important position among his works, and compared to his works in Mashiko, there are very few of them, making them rare gems. This work is a superb piece with a wonderful finish.