25758 Shiho Kanzaki Shigaraki Flower Vase

Height 26.0cm
Diameter 11.5cm

Kanzaki Shiho was born in Shigaraki Town, Shiga Prefecture in 1942. He was aiming to enter the legal profession at Kansai University's Faculty of Law, but after graduating he decided to pursue a career in pottery. However, it seems that his path to pottery was full of difficulties. He went through many hardships in the process of pursuing the beauty of the natural glaze that is characteristic of old Iga and old Shigaraki.

He never participates in public competitions, and has always focused on solo exhibitions. Perhaps this is the reason why he is more highly regarded overseas, in countries such as Germany and the United States, than in Japan. American ceramics magazines and quarterly magazines have also published feature articles featuring Kanzaki Shiho and his works on their covers.

Peter Vaucos, known as the pinnacle of American ceramics, was also very interested in Kanzaki Shiho's work and ceramic activities and visited his kiln in Shigaraki.

Kanzaki Shiho's works are first made by stacking the pieces in a string and then finishing them with water from bottom to top. They are then fired in a semi-underground anagama kiln for more than 10 days. A distinctive feature of Kanzaki Shiho's works is the scenery. The anagama kiln has a firebox where the firewood thrown in burns and a firing chamber.

The pieces that are fired on the shelves in the firing room are called Shigaraki. The distinctive feature of these pieces is that they are made with natural glaze. When natural glaze is applied, a thick layer of natural ash falls on the items in front of the fire, and as it melts with the high heat, the color changes. This is the scenery. Pieces that have a rich color change and are in harmony with the work are highly valued.

Iga works are made by throwing in firewood. The charring caused by the strength of the flames is a distinctive feature. These charring marks are the charcoal marks left by the firewood as it burns. The charring caused by the strong flames increases the value of the work.