24946 5th generation Seifu Yohei Porcelain-painted Chang'an antique sake cup SEIFU Yohei

Height 3.2cm

Diameter 5.4cm

Seifu Yohei is a prestigious Kyoto family that has been around since the Edo period. The first generation specialised in blue and white porcelain, brocade, Kenzan and celadon, while the second generation was celebrated as a master of colouring techniques. The third generation excelled in purely orientalist works and reliefs, and was the first potter in the world to be selected as an Imperial Household Artist. The fourth generation learned techniques from his father, the third generation, and Japanese painting techniques from Tanomura Kosai, incorporating the tastes of each generation. The fifth generation, Seifu Yohei, established a style of bold brushstrokes that combined playfulness and strength, and is still considered a model for many Kyoto ware artists today.

One of Lu Zhaolin's highly acclaimed works is "Chang'an Gui." The commentary on the poem states that "it begins with a description of the bustle of the great city, Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, and gradually develops into an expression of dissatisfaction with the people who are living in the prime of their lives, and goes on to suggest that such glory will eventually fade away, concluding with a praising of those who maintain a solitary life despite the changing times. This lifestyle was actually the author's own situation."