25449 Living National Treasure Fujiwara Kei (Bizen Vase) FUJIWARA Kei

Height 25.2cm Diameter 9.7cm

This work was made by the master craftsman Fujiwara Kei (1899-1983), who studied under Mimura Baikei and Kaneshige Toyo while also developing his own knowledge of old Bizen ware. He developed a profound style of work from the Momoyama and Kamakura periods that earned him high acclaim and led to him being designated the second Living National Treasure of Bizen ware.

Although he started making pottery at the age of 40, which is very late in the world of pottery, he was certified as a national technical preservation qualifier, following Kaneshige Toyo and Yamamoto Toshu. While studying under Kaneshige Toyo and Kitaoji Rosanjin, he worked hard to revive old Bizen pottery, and through his own training, he developed simple and generous works that were different from the strong and rough Kaneshige Toyo. After continuing to be active on the international stage, he was finally recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan and established a solid position as a representative Bizen ware master, Fujiwara Kei's work. I don't need to say much, but if you take a good look at the photos, I think you will be able to fully understand the charm of this work. It has a very refined style, such as a beautifully balanced shape. It is a work that has perfected the essence of simple and generous Bizen ware.