Konishi Yohei (小西洋平), Japanese (b. 1941)

A Tokoname White-Clay Yokode Kyusu (白泥ボーフラ急須)

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

About the work

This Tokoname kyusu by Konishi Yohei is fashioned from fine white clay, showcasing the quiet refinement characteristic of high-level unglazed Tokoname ware. The vessel presents a compact, rounded body with a smooth surface that preserves faint wheel marks and shaping traces, giving the piece a direct sense of material and craft. The side handle is gracefully tapered with a subtly flared end, creating a comfortable angle for pouring. The spout is small, sharply cut, and aligned to deliver a steady stream. The lid sits with a clean fit, anchored by a slender finial. 

The kyusu is signed and includes its original tomobako and cloth.

Dimensions

10.8cm(h) x 14cm(w) x 11.6cm(d)

Footnote

Konishi Yohei (b. 1941), the eldest son of master potter Yusen, was born in Tokoname, one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns. After graduating from Tokoname Senior High School’s Ceramics Department in 1959, he quickly gained recognition, with early selections in the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition and the Japan Folk Crafts Exhibition. His career includes numerous accolades, such as the Silver Prize at the 6th International Ceramic Exhibition in Vallauris, France (1978), and repeated entries in the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. Internationally active, he participated in the Japan-China International Ceramic Exhibition (1983) and the Malaysia International Ceramic Exchange (1992). Konishi has been designated an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Tokoname and is a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association.