Fumio Kawabata (川端文男), Japanese, b.1948

A Bizen Flattened Sake Flask (備前扁壷徳利)

Showa Era (1926-1989), Heisei Era (1989-2019) or Reiwa Era (2019-present)

About the work

A Bizen ware tokkuri by Fumio Kawabata, formed as a distinctive flattened flask with a full oval body rising to a short, narrow neck. The asymmetrical profile and gently faceted surfaces give the vessel a sculptural quality while retaining the practical proportions of a traditional sake flask.

The unglazed surface displays the natural effects associated with Bizen firing. Warm reddish brown clay is overlaid by broad areas of pale grey and silvery ash, creating markedly different surfaces across the vessel. Subtle firing marks and granular deposits animate the otherwise restrained form, while the transitions between exposed clay and ash covered areas reveal the direct influence of flame and kiln atmosphere.

Kawabata's handling of the form is particularly evident in the sweeping lines that define the flattened body. Rather than relying on applied decoration, the work derives its visual character from the clay itself, the shaping of the vessel and the unpredictable effects of firing.

The base bears an incised artist's mark. The piece is accompanied by its original signed wooden tomobako and cloth. 

Dimensions

15cm(h) x 10.5cm(w) x 10.7cm(d)

Footnote

Fumio Kawabata, a Yokohama native, uniquely contributes to Bizen pottery by incorporating his own distinct style. Awarded the Grand Prize at the Modern Tea Forms Exhibition at the Tanabe Museum of Art, he has also been honored with several prestigious recognitions, including the Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Arts, and Chanoyu Zokei (Modern Tea Forms) Exhibition. His works are known for their distinctive creativity and fresh interpretations of Bizen aesthetics.