Kozo Kato (加藤孝造), Japanese (1935-2023)

A Shino Chawan (志野茶碗)

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

About the work

This Shino chawan exemplifies the hallmark style of Kato Kozo, one of Mino’s most celebrated contemporary masters and a Living National Treasure for Shino ware. The bowl displays a soft, pale pink feldspathic glaze characteristic of Kozo’s kiln, with areas of snow-white shino pooling and softly blushed hi-iro from the kiln's fire path. Its surface is marked by the artist’s distinctive crackled and pinholed texture, giving the piece a tactile depth and organic presence. The form is powerfully thrown with a thick, generous body, a rounded silhouette, and a well-carved foot that reveals the warm, iron-rich clay beneath. The interior is fully glazed in a pale pink tone, further enhancing the quiet elegance of the work. 

Dimensions

9.5cm(h) x 13.4cm(w)

Footnote

Born in 1935 in Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture, Kozo Kato was a key figure in the lineage of Mino ceramics. As a third-generation successor of the Mino tradition, he carried forward the legacy established by first-generation master Toyozo Arakawa. Kato served as president, honorary president, and advisor of the Mino Ceramic Society and was honored as a citizen of merit in Mizunami, Tajimi, and Kani.