Vase / Ame-yu / Shimane / Funaki Michitada
Am-Yu Square Bottle-Vase by Funaki Michitada
Highly influential and one of the biggest figures of the Mingei Movement, deeply associated with Bernard Leach, and with works heavily represented in all museums focusing on Mingei, here is a ame-yu-iron-glazed square combed vase by Funaki Michitada (1900-1963), the father of Funaki Kenji. Funaki Michitada was the 4th head of a rural kiln in Shimane Prefecture called the Funaki Gama, a maker of the local Fushina-yaki ware which had prospered due to its patronage by the local feudal lord. The kiln's fortunes began to dwindle after the Meiji Restoration, and Michitada was in financial difficulty, until Bernard Leach and the Mingei Movement saved this once-obscure kiln and elevated it into one of the Mingei kilns. Thanks to Leach's help (and influence), Michitada prospered to become one of the major potters of the Mingei in Western Japan. This very shibui and mysterious aura vase is evidence of Michitada's sensibilities and is very rare piece representative of Michitada's work. An important piece for any serious Mingei collector's collection. This piece is 28.5cm tall, 11cm wide, comes with a signed box by Michitada's son Kenji, and is in perfect condition.
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