Title: Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property)
Item: Hanaire (Flower Vase)
Style: Bizen Ware (Okayama, Japan)
Material: Stoneware (Unglazed)
Accessories: Original signed wooden box (Tomobako)
ConditionExcellent. Please note: There is a natural firing crack (kiln flaw) on the mid-surface of the body, formed during the high-temperature wood-firing process. It is superficial, does not penetrate to the inside, and poses no risk of water leakage. In Bizen ware, such natural flaws are appreciated as part of the unique landscape created by the flames.
The Object A cylindrical unglazed Bizen ware vase. The striking contrast of colors—the deep reddish-brown (Hidasuki/Sangiri) and the dark grey patterns—is the direct result of the chemical reaction between the clay, wood ash, and fierce flames inside the kiln.
The Artist Yu Fujiwara was designated as a Living National Treasure for Bizen ware in 1996. He is the eldest son of Kei Fujiwara, who was also a Living National Treasure. He is highly regarded for his profound understanding of the unpredictable nature of wood-firing.
