▲This Kuro-Karatsu (Black Karatsu) tokkuri is a masterful creation by Fujio Koyama, also known by his art name, Kozanshi. Koyama was a titan of ceramic scholarship who translated his profound understanding of ancient kilns into his own soulful pottery.
▲There is a faint white streak running vertically down the center of the sake bottle. This is the color of the glaze.
The base (foot) of the bottle features the artist's distinctive carved signature, "Kozanshi."
▲The light makes it look slightly brownish.
▲Inscribed by Fujio Koyama: “Black Karatsu Tokuri,” “White Stripe Pattern,” and “Kozanshi”.
▲ Inscribed by Fujio Koyama as “Hananoki-gama Kiln”.
Original Wooden Box
D10.5cm H14.5cm
This Kuro-Karatsu sake bottle (tokkuri) is the work of Fujio Koyama (also known as Kozanshi), a leading authority on ceramic research who translated his own exceptional aesthetic discernment into the tactile art of clay.
Across the deep, lustrous black glaze—reminiscent of pure jet—three vigorous bands of white slip strike vividly. These "white lines" (shirosuji) transcend mere ornamentation, imbuing the entire vessel with a modern rhythm and a powerful sense of vitality.
The base (foot) of the bottle features the artist's distinctive carved signature, "Kozanshi."
Fujio KOYAMA (Kozanshi)
1900 – 1975
Fujio Koyama was a preeminent ceramic scholar and potter who stands as a titan in the study of Chinese ceramics. Born in Okayama Prefecture, he was primarily based in Kamakura, where he balanced a prolific career of writing and empirical research with his own creative pursuit of the ceramic arts.
Key Highlights & Achievements:
Global Academic Renown: Koyama established his international reputation by discovering the site of the Ding kilns from China’s Northern Song Dynasty. His empirical approach to Oriental ceramic history remains a cornerstone of the field.
The "Kozanshi" Persona: While renowned as a scholar, he used the pseudonym "Kozanshi" for his own pottery, a name that has since become synonymous with a deep, scholarly appreciation for the soul of clay.
Hananoki-gama Kiln: In his later years, he established the "Hananoki-gama" kiln in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture. There, he devoted himself to creating a wide range of works, with a particular focus on tea ceremony utensils.
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