Tsubo-Jar-Vase / Shigaraki / Shigaraki / Furutani Kazuya
Large Shigaraki Tsubo-Jar by Furutani Kazuya
Furutani Kazuya (b.1976) is the eldest son of Furutani Michio (1946-2000), a Shigaraki potter greatly respected for his work with the anagama, or wood-burning underground kiln. Before his death, Michio could lay claim to having the best firings in Shigaraki. Actually, it was Furutani, and Kohyama Yasuhisa, who reintroduced the anagama to Shigaraki since medieval times, and had built more anagama than any other potter during his time (30 since 1970) -his studies into anagama had produced a highly influential book as well. His sudden death in 2000 shocked the ceramic art world here in Japan. However, Kazuya has spiritedly taken over the kiln of his father/master, and his valiant firings have already labeled Kazuya a master of the anagama. A glance at Kazuya's work will quickly call to mind the firings of his father -in many ways, Kazuya has achieved what took his father decades of experimentation to produce. Born in Shigaraki, Kazuya went to Shigaraki High School focusing on design. He then studied at the Yamaguchi Art School for 2 years, and afterwards at the Kyoto Prefecture Ceramic Art School. After his studies, he apprenticed to Michio until his father's passing. The secret to the Furutani family's pottery is through the Furutani formula of clay processing, kiln loading, and firing. This masterpiece large tsubo-jar attests to that with an spellbinding 'landscapes' of flowing natural ash-glaze and rich 'clay flavor.' Never to be made again just the same way, this museum quality tsubo is 51cm.tallx48signed on base, with a signed sign board.