Fujiwara Hitoshi 藤原均 (*1948)

In 1974, Fujiwara Hitoshi embarked on his journey into the world of pottery as an apprentice to Shimizu Takeshi in Tanba. The following year, he began honing his skills in Bizen pottery under the tutelage of his uncle, the renowned Living National Treasure, Fujiwara Ken. His talent was soon recognized, with his first selection for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition in 1976.

By 1978, he had earned a place in the Chugoku Branch Traditional Crafts Exhibition and constructed his own kiln, marking the start of his independent work. His dedication and craftsmanship were further acknowledged in 1982 when he was first selected for the prestigious Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Since then, he has participated in numerous national group and solo exhibitions.

His work adheres strictly to pure and traditional methods. He strives to highlight the inherent qualities of the soil and the aesthetic of yakishime, utilizing ash glazes that are characteristic of classic Bizen wares. He is specialised in tea ceremony items and functional ware for every day use.

The tea bowl presented here is a masterpiece in terms of both shape and the quality of the glaze. The two decorations, botamochi (a reverse pattern that marks the absence of glaze) and a grayish-black area with ash encrustation, are perfectly composed on the front of the tea bowl. They play with the opposing qualities of scarcity and abundance, complementing each other like yin and yang.

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