23848 12th generation Nakazato Tarouemon (Karatsu tea bowl)

Height 8.5cm Diameter 15.6cm

He was the second son of the 11th Tarouemon, but his eldest son went on a different path, so Shigeo took over the family business and after graduating from Arita Technical School he worked as an engineer at Karatsu Ceramics Co., Ltd. and Karatsu Brick Co., Ltd., where he mastered the basics of pottery techniques. He was then adopted by the lumber merchant Mutsuro family for a time, but following his father's death in 1924 he took on the name of the 12th Tarouemon in 1927, and in 1928 rebuilt the tea bowl kiln that had been in use since the days of the feudal domain and built a new touen-shiki coal kiln. In 1929 he also began excavation work at the remains of the old Karatsu kilns, and devoted himself to the long-absent research and restoration of old Karatsu kilns, perfecting the hammering technique, and in 1955 he was designated an Intangible Cultural Property of Karatsu ware, and in 1967 he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon, in 1969 the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class, and in 1970 the West Japan Culture Award. In 1976 he was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for Karatsu ware. During this time, in 1959, he was ordained at Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto, given the name Muan, retired, and in the same year had his eldest son Tadao succeed him as the 13th Nakazato Tarouemon, after which he devoted himself to his own unique ceramic creation. He mainly produced tea ware, but also created vases and large flower vases that showed off the characteristics of the hammering technique, as well as excellent sculptural expressions such as lion ornaments.