Chawan / Ezaki Issei
Ezaki Issei Chawan
For a Japanese pottery connoisseur some names in recent history are important to know even if they never became 'popular' or were named Living National Treasures. One such name is Ezaki Issei(1918-1992). He was responsible for reviving Tokoname wares like Kaneshige for Bizen or Miwa for Hagi. If you're familiar with Kamoda Shoji's early work you'll notice a jewel-like emerald ash glaze; he learned that from Ezaki. Ezaki established his kiln in 1952 and won the Japan Ceramic Society Prize in 1973. A few years before that he was part of the legendary three person exhibitions along with Kamoda and Mori Togaku. Ezaki's pieces rarely come on the market here, especially his chawan. In the 1972 book titled 'Gendai no meiwan'(Modern Tea Bowl Masterpieces) published for a special exhibition at Kuroda Toen, Ginza, there is a very similar Ezaki chawan. Others in this book include Arakawa, Miwa, Nakazato,Kato, the list goes on. This chawan is in an Ido(deep well) shape and has a finely crackled bluish gray glaze. The mikomi('prospect') is wonderful and the kodai(footring) is in a bamboo node form(takenofushi); well-balanced in the hands. Perfect condition with a signed box, 'Chawan, Issei' and is 9.3cm.tall and 15.7cm.across.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
