Vase-Vessel / Bizen / Bizen / Fujiwara Ken
Bizen Hidasuki Vase by Fujiwara Ken
Bizen ceramist Fujiwara Ken (1924-1977) has to rank as one of our all-time favorite potters in Japan. His pieces are poetry to me. I often wonder what happened to Fujiwara, as he passed from this world in his early fifties, fond of sake. Kaneshige Toyo (1896-1967), Bizen's first Living National Treasure (LNT), once said,"if you want to know how to fire a kiln, go see Ken." He was referring to Fujiwara Ken, the nephew of LNT Fujiwara Kei and the cousin of LNT Fujiwara Yu. If Ken had lived longer, this extraordinary potter would surely have been a LNT himself (he was already designated an Okayama Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property holder). The great artist-chef Rosanjin learned to fire Bizen by studying under Ken for 3 months- they became friends- Rosanjin the master chef would cook for Ken, and Ken for Rosanjin. Ken looked up to Rosanjin with admiration, yet the admiration went both ways. Rosanjin, never hesitant to criticize, only had the highest of praise for Ken's character and his work. Here is a simply elegant vase in form; the firing highlights the soft beige tones of the clay and the rice straw hidasuki marking accentuate the neck. A work with grace and simple beauty, in perfect condition with a signed box, signed on base, 25cm.tall.
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